Weatherby Vanguard Series 2-Thoughts?

[jamesjett]

I was looking at the Weatherby Vanguard Series 2....anyone own/shoot one?

[fisheral87]

I just picked one up in 7mm from a member here.

This gun made me look good. At 100 yards I easily confirmed their 1MOA claim.

My trigger has a slight amount of take up but it breaks well and is adjustable so I may try to adjust to remedy the take up but it did not seem to affect my accuracy.

The synthetic stock and inserts may bother some but I found the grips pleasant in hand and the Monte Carlo stock to be more than satisfactory if not a joy to shoot.

It is a pound heavier than my kimber .325 was, 6.5 vs. 7.5, but I doubt I will notice.

One down side that I did find was that the bolt came back far enough to hit my face, this was not the case with the 325wsm and Is probably just an adjustment I will need to make, not really a strike against the gun. The action is smooth and clean otherwise.

If you are ok with its utilitarian looks then I think you may be pleasantly surprised.

Al

[Jekemi]

I own a Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 and I am very happy with it. I took a nice 10 point deer in Eastern WA two years ago with it. I have taken it to the range many times and consistently get two inch groups at 100 yards. If I were very meticulous about accuracy I know I could get one MOA. The gun is finished well, has a great synthetic stock, and a very crisp trigger. Check out August 2012 issue of GUN'S magazine. Page 30 is an excellent article on the Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 rifle. The story is by Dave Anderson. I completely agree with his findings. My Weatherby is in .270. I reload all my own ammo for it and I would definitely buy another one in another caliber.

[Huntbear]

I own a Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 and I am very happy with it. I took a nice 10 point deer in Eastern WA two years ago with it. I have taken it to the range many times and consistently get two inch groups at 100 yards. If I were very meticulous about accuracy I know I could get one MOA. The gun is finished well, has a great synthetic stock, and a very crisp trigger. Check out August 2012 issue of GUN'S magazine. Page 30 is an excellent article on the Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 rifle. The story is by Dave Anderson. I completely agree with his findings. My Weatherby is in .270. I reload all my own ammo for it and I would definitely buy another one in another caliber.

2 inch groups at 100 yards???  No Where Near CLOSE to accurate enough for me...  that is 2 MOA..  I require 1/2 MOA in my rifles and handloads...    If you are handloading and only getting that kind of accuracy,  you might want to consider bedding the stock, and making sure everything is tight...  I had rifles that shot patterns like that.. sold them as fast as I could..

You get out to 300 yards that is a 6 in. group...  at 400 yards that is an 8 in. group..   

[Jekemi]

huntbear: I think you missed the second part of the statement. "if I were really concerned about accuracy I could get one MOA." Most of my range shooting with a .270 hunting rifle is to make sure I can kill a deer at 200 yards. That's really all I care about.

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

Yeah I had the original vanguard and it shot 1 moa all the time at the range at 100,  they are great rifles.  Only time it shot bad was when I was flinching.    I really wanna try the series 2 out some day.  Maybe when they offer it in 340 weatherby mag!

Best rifle out there in that price range.

[gunnarnewt]

I too have owned several Vanguards and have found them to be exceptional rifles as far as accuracy, dependability, and workmanship. I haven't bought a series 2 yet, but my brother needs a new gun and is buying one as we speak, and I can see one in a .243 in my immediate future!

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

Besides a different trigger and safety and a garuntee tighter groups than the original vanguard, I don't see much of a difference.    They seem to have just made improvements to the vanguard and kept the price in the same ball park.  Or is there an earlier vanguard that predates the newer series we are referring to?

[jamesjett]

Thanks for all the input.  I have yet to find any bad reviews.  I guess HOWA makes the actions for it. 

[winshooter88]

The Vangards are Howa rifles with the Weatherby name stamped in them.

[CAMPMEAT]

I've got a 257 Weatherby Mag Vanguard I bought last year. Are they stamped with a " 2 " on the barrel ? Mine shoots great.

[fisheral87]

Just because you require 1/2 MOA doesn't mean a gun that gets 2 MOA is somehow unfeasible as a hunting rifle.

I'll add to my previous statement by saying that I actually shot 1 MOA out of my V2 with the cheapest soft point ammo I could find.

This rifle will get it done very nicely at a great price point.

[WoodlandShooter]

When it comes to Weatherby, dont waste time with Vanguards....

get a Mark V. The action is significantly stronger, and the feel is much tighter!!! The only thing a Vanguard has over a Mark V is the ability to have a detachable magazine.

I picked up my Mark V back in 1995 while stationed in Bremerton. It is a rare one, 9 lug action, but chambered in 270 winchester. Out of the box it was a 1 MOA shooter (not a huge deal by todays standards)

had it re-barreled last year with a 27 inch 1/9 twist palma contour tube with muzzle brake...still in 270 winchester...it's a shooter (fully equiped it weighs 14 pounds tho)....5 shot group is ~.5MOA (pictured is a 200 yard grouping from a prone shoot on a basic harris bipod).

[fisheral87]

Apples to oranges. My V2 with scope was $500, Mark V is $1900, it had better be more quality for that price.

[jeepasaurusrex]

I shoot a Howa 1500 chambered in .270 that I have had for 20 years. That thing is a tack driver. I free floated the barrel and did some adjustments to the trigger, but other than that I left it alone. I can shoot sub MOA groups @100yds all day with it.  I made a believer out of a guy last year with it, hitting the 1/2" steel rod on a swinging target multiple times at 100yds. My wife has a Remington 700, and the best groups I can get with it is about 1.5" @100. My Dad shoots a Winchester Model 70, and its close (1" @100) and a nice rifle. But I will still never get rid of my Howa. I may upgrade the scope on it next, but that's it.