I have a Weatherby Vanguard 270 that has the [bleep] trigger I have ever found on a rifle, no amount of work or tinkering will get it to let of nice and crisp, or light. What drop in triggers are available at a reasonable cost?

Rifle Basix is my #1 go to replacement for the vanguard.

Timney

Worth every penny.

Look out on Fleabay and buy a Timney.

+1

I have them on six of my rifles. (plus one late-70's Canjar)

I only have 2 rifles with factory triggers - my Remington 552 22 rifle and a Weatherby Vanguard S2

Have been told the later Howa/Weatherby 2, 2 stage triggers can be retrofitted and work a treat. Anybody with any experience? The problem I have is that Timneys are $300-$350 here in NZ!

I assume you're talking about the original Vanguards. Everyone knows they had lousy triggers. I argued with Wby. for years that they needed to upgrade. The standard cure has long been a drop-in Timney, which upgrades from a two-position to a three-position safety. When installing, you may have to dremel out or cut a small notch in the stock to allow for the greater forward travel of the safety lever.

The Vanguard S2, on the other hand, has quite a nice trigger. It took them a while, but they finally addressed that shortcoming in an otherwise solid rifle.

I know you're in NZ, but can't you order a Timney direct from a US supplier?

For that matter, try contacting Timney directly. In my experience, they have great customer service.

The factory trigger can be stoned with a gunsmith stone and adjusted very light, I have done it a few times on the older vanguard triggers. Its all about knowing what your doing and how to do it. I have taken the factory trigger pull to a touch over 2lbs and safe. If you think you are up to the task just study the trigger its actually a very simple design.

Timney and you may have to dremel a small relief for the adjustment screw.

Your results obviously don't match mine with the old vanguard trigger. I guess if you find the right gunsmith it is entirely doable but I had 3 triggers on 3 separate rifles done by 3 gunsmiths and not a one came within a Timney in performance. Might be easier to just buy the Timney for 100 bucks then pay an amateur like the 3 I used and throw money away.


None of these gunsmiths grasped that the sear engagment screw has to be trimmed down in the nose of the trigger so that the safety would work.

Thanks Danny, have done a few triggers so tried Google and followed the instructions on a Youtube video. No amount of work or stoning will make this particular trigger light and crisp, worst machined trigger unit I have ever worked with. As its a rifle for my hunting clients to use, I need the trigger to be spot on. Will try Timney direct in the New Year.

Try stoning the trigger to a 45degree angle on the breaking point so the trigger does not have as much sear contact. This is how I lightened mine up. Also what stone are you using? I use two different stones one for taking material off and an ultra fine stone for smoothing to a mirror finish making less friction on the contact surfaces.

http://www.erniethegunsmith.com/catalog/i177.html

here is a trigger spring from Ernie that could lighten it up even more.

http://www.jardinc.com/weatherby-vanguard/

says on the bottom of the page ** International orders will have a $15.00 charge added to order and only ship one trigger at a time.**

Many opitions besides paying $300 to $350 for a timney

The old Vanguard trigger is a good design. Easy to get to less than 3 lbs and crisp with a little stone work.

I'd much rather have the early trigger than the new 2 stage with the take-up and that cheap looking sheetmetal safety lever.

Update - thanks guys for all the words of wisdom. Looked at several options and asked my local gunshop to see if we could get hold of a later model trigger to try. Arrived today, looked a million dollars compared to the old one. Took off old trigger, put new one in place, and no it wasnt the 2 bladed one, and it looked excellent except for one small detail - the hole for the attachment screw was 2mm closer to the front. Thought about machining the locating bump on the front to allow the screw to fit, but that meant the bolt was 2mm further back and wouldnt close without forcing it. Looked at filling the hole on either the trigger or the action and relocating it, perfectly doable, but another hour or 2 of labour I'd have to pay for. Tried the trigger by holding it in place and it was sweet, very crisp and light. Desperately wanted to make it work. But in the end decided I'd import a jacd trigger.
And then the gunshop owner said he could get me a Timney for $170! Way less than other retailers, so I have ordered one and hope to get it first week in the New Year. Why he didnt offer that in the first place I dont know, but hopefully will be remedied real soon.

A few years ago I had a gunsmith lighten up the trigger on my Vanguard as low as it would go. It was improved over what it had been, he got it down to 4 1/4 lbs. But wanted it to match my other rifles, so I had him order a Timney and install it. Total cost was about $140. Now it's perfect and set at 2 1/2 lbs.