Just back from a LONG day at the range putting a new Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 Back Country rifle through its paces for an upcoming review. To cut to the chase, I'm impressed. Key specs: weight 6 3/4 lb.; 24 in. No.2 fluted CeraKoted barrel; caliber (as tested) 30-06; aluminum bedding block (announced as pillar bedded, but changed); trigger pull 2 lb. 10 oz.; three-position safety. Wind was a PITA, varying 0-15 mph. Tested six different factory loads, 150-168 gr. Average for ALL groups fired was 1.1 inch. Velocities for all but one load were mildly faster than advertised.

Biggest takeaway: This rifle purely loves mid-weight copper. Federal Trophy Copper 165 gr. averaged 0.87 in. with a best group of 0.27 in. Barnes VOR-TX 168 gr. TTSX averaged just 0.64 in. with a best group of 0.35 in.

A few photos:

How much will they sell for?

MSRP is $1399.

Thanks. Good looking rifle.

Nice rig, good shootin'

I want one in 257 wby mag.

You're in luck. They'll be chambering them in .240 Wby. Mag., .270 Win., .257 Wby. Mag., .30-06 Springfield, .300 Win. Mag. and .300 Wby. Mag.

Great review, Thursday I drove up to Weatherby's headquarters in Paso Robles, CA my new Vanguard S2 240 weatheryby trigger did not want to adjust lower than 4 lbs. While they worked on it I checked out a few local gunshops, and found a new 257 Weatherby mag Back Country for $1119.00. It is a sweat gun and I cant wait to shoot it!!!

BTW for anyone that has a standard S2 and wanted to lighten it up call weatherby and order a back country stock. I had asked to buy one for my .240, I paid for the stock and they glass bedded it for no additional $$ while it was there..By my scales the gun is now 10 oz lighter!!

old willys - That's my old stompin' grounds. Lived in Ventura County and hunted the Central Coast, with lots of friends in Paso, for close to 30 years before making the jump to Texas. Did you make the mandatory dinner stop at AJ Spurs in Templeton? I COULD NOT go to Paso without eating there...

Nice Looking rig.


I wonder if the lightweight stock is available for the older non-S2 Vanguards?

That rifle is sexy as all get out. I'm not prone to slumming a push feed, but when I do, the Vanguards are high on my list.

If they all shoot like that, weatherby has hit one out of the park.

Actually I ate at Mclintock's Salon in Paso Robles since I had to kill time waiting on the Weatherby gunsmith. My phone doesnt take great photo's but I like the Blued Vanguard in the new backcountry stock. Plan to flute the barrel later on..it will be a faux Back Country.

Cant wait till I can pick up my new .257 backcountry, 8 more days...

Try AJ Spurs when you get a chance. You won't regret it.

That blued Vanguard in the backcountry stock actually looks quite a bit like the original Vanguard (or sub-MOA model) in what they once called the Fiberguard stock. I still have a couple (257 Wby and 300 WSM), both of which were upgraded with Timney triggers that gave you a three-position safety, just as the new trigger does.

The weight reduction in the Back Country doesn't sound like much, but I definitely notice the difference. What's not to like about a 6 3/4 lb. tack-driving rifle with a 24 in. barrel?

I can only speak for a sample of one, but it's worth noting that they do come with a sub-MOA guarantee when using specified Wby factory or premium ammo.

Yeah, nice, but do the come in a left hand version?

Doesn't look like it. You might check with them to see if/when they might expand the line for lefties.

I thought that the Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 was selling for under $500. What am I missing here? Is it the "back country" label that costs so mush?

KC

That is top of the line Vanguard.

Most guns also sell for less than MSRP.

The standard Vanguard series 2 is guaranteed by the mfg to shoot sub-MOA out of the box. It retails for less than $500, but it doesn't have a fancey looking stock, fluted barrel or Ceracote.

A Beautiful rifle AND a Beautiful target.

Good stuff.

NB

Thanks, I'll get to use the rifle in a couple of weeks on a scimitar horned oryx hunt.