Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters New Rifle Choice: Weatherby Vanguard S2 Range Certified vs Browning Xbolt Medallion

I would get the Vanguard and not the A Bolt.



Travis

Thanks for nudging me over the edge. Here goes:

I've only played with one X-Bolt. That was for a feature review of the new Eclipse Hunter. It performed quite well in testing and I had no issues with it, but I didn't hunt with it. If your tastes run to laminate thumbhole stocks, this may be your cup of tea. Or not.

I have decades of experience hunting with four different Vanguards. The first was an original Vanguard Deluxe in .270 bought off the blemish rack at Weatherby's old retail store. The rifle was a looker, and very accurate, but had a tendency to walk if the barrel heated up. I replaced the trigger with a Timney and eventually put it in a synthetic stock. I used it for many years before selling it to fund something else.

The second was an original Vanguard in tupperware stock in .257 Wby Mag. I immediately junked the trigger for a Timney and dropped it into what Weatherby then called their "Fiberguard" stock, tan with black webbing. To this day, it remains one my favorite rifles, and I have killed a pile of game with it. Many people have tried to buy that rifle off me, but it is not for sale and likely never will be.

I also acquired, somewhere along the way, an original Vanguard sub-MOA model in 300 WSM. It is, as you would expect, quite accurate, and has served me well.

The newest addition to the flock is the new Vanguard S2 Back Country in 30-06. Don't tell my other Vanguards I said this, but... it may just be the best of the lot.

SAKO or Tikka

Don't Vanguards have a problem with the bolt-stop screw? Some people have worked the bolt -- or tried to work it -- and had the bolt come out of the action.

I've owned Model 70s, Model 700s, M77s, A-bolts, and just bought a Savage 116. All except the Model 700 worked without problems (came with defective extractor).

But my next rifle will be a Vanguard or Howa, just to give one a try.

I've never had that issue.

I agree with Mo Ed. The Browning X also provides a 60' bolt lift and has a switch on the bolt for easy extraction. More accurate across a much wider choice of ammo. I have had both.

tack

Corvette or Chevette.......

No one here has much respect for our opinions, we're from Missouri.

Whichever one fits you better...

W

I went with the Weatherby S2 Vanguard Range Certified in 30.06.

Good choice indeed!

Whats the difference between the RC and Synthetic S2 VG?

The RC has the Bell and Carlson stock. It also says RC on the magazine floor plate (which means nothing). The barrel and action are hand selected as being more accurate during testing than the others. I think they look cool as well.

Thanks......good luck with your new rifle.