Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Weatherby Vanguard Series 2

To all:
Just picked up a new Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 in .270. Still unfired after a single day but have had time to look it over with some degree of detail. Would appear to be a well constructed, sturdy piece of equipment. Don't hear too much about them and was wondering if other owners could share their opinion.
Thanks in advance for your time.

welcome JG

is that the Vanguard made by Howa?

I have three of them 2 in 6.5 Creed and 1 in 223. All are good shooters, with the 6.5 Creed being the most accurate out of the box with factory ammo CF rifle that I've owned. I don't love the stocks and have swapped to McMs to make them more user friendly.

If your's doesn't shoot MOA, or really close to it, with Hornady American Whitetail 130 grain factory loads, you probably had a loose screw somewhere.

JG, I can't believe you can own a gun in New jersey....however, I have a Vanguard (30-06) and it is a very nice rifle.
You won't have any trouble with it and Jack is all smiles.

I have 2, both S2 models. The 7mm-08 is in the 'basic' stock it comes with - grey colored with some sort of 'grip' on the pistol portion and the fore end. The other is in one of their camo patterns and is a 243.
Both are sub-moa shooters with both factory and handloads. The 7mm-08 prints 140 gr NBT's into .6 groups consistently and the 243 likes both the 85 gr Nosler partition and the 90 gr Accubonds. Printing those into 10 shot groups (5 from each) under an inch at 100 and the same point of impact.

To all,
Thanks for your responses. Am looking forward to range testing this .270. Aside to 358Dog. This JG now lives in a free New England state.

Trying to decide between a Weatherby S2 stainless or a Tikka T3 stainless myself.

Most rave about the Tikkas and I read a lot of good reports on the Weatherby S2 rifles as well.

Decisions, decisions.....

I own two Weatherby Vanguard S2 rifles - one in .30-06 Sprg and one in .243 Win. They are both solid sub-MOA shooters and a pleasure to shoot. The S2 trigger is very good. The build quality is excellent. They are an exceptional value for the price.

That's down to personal preferences. You'll have to check'em out at the LGS and go with the one that rings your chimes...

DF

Aside from mechanical differences there is weight and possibly twist differences to aid your choice...depending on your choice of caliber.

Aren't they all made by Howa?

I just bought an S2 7mm08 in the matte blue version. My intention is to cerakote the barrel and reciever as soon as I decide on a color.

I have a few of them, but I have not shot any. I have a new S2 stainless in .30-06 that I have had for about a year... never fired. I have a new S2 in .257 Weatherby Magnum that I have had since the S2 was first released, still unfired. It is dawning on me that I need to spend more time shooting.

I am really liking the idea of owning one in .240, but I have a nice custom built .240 Weatherby Magnum. Just seems to me that a new one for $550 would be a good option to have sitting around. Just in case that ammo builds up on me too much

[quote=TopCat][quote=Dixie_Rebel]Trying to decide between a Weatherby S2 stainless or a Tikka T3 stainless myself.

Here's a radical idea. Buy one of each in the same caliber so you can truly drive yourself rifle looney..... just saying... misery loves company :-)

Keep us posted. IMO the vanguard/1500 rifles are great. They may have just two downsides, weight, and metric barrel threads (which isn't really an issue IMO, but some feel it is).