Vanguard S2 Owner Opinions
- Thread starter Striker1
- Start date
I got one in 243 Winchester and really like it. Pros are it is very accurate, affordable, and fit and finish is good for its price point. Its only con is it's a little heavier than other rifles in its class. I was so impressed by mine I let a friend shoot it who was in the market for a new rifle and he was so impressed he got one in 270 WSM. Both rifles shoot 3 shot .75 MOA groups consistantly.
Have one in .308 with my old Leupold VX1 3x9 on it using the Vanguard rings and bases.
Weight and balance and fit is good.
Very comfortable to shoot.
I like the synthetic stock and grip inserts.
Also like the palm swell.
I like the 3 position safety.
The trigger is great.
10 shot group with my reloads at a hundred yards is at an inch firing a round a minute with no stringing.
I guess I cannot come up with any complaints.
For the price and the accuracy, mine is well worth the money I have into it.
Clarence
Weight and balance and fit is good.
Very comfortable to shoot.
I like the synthetic stock and grip inserts.
Also like the palm swell.
I like the 3 position safety.
The trigger is great.
10 shot group with my reloads at a hundred yards is at an inch firing a round a minute with no stringing.
I guess I cannot come up with any complaints.
For the price and the accuracy, mine is well worth the money I have into it.
Clarence
CarJunkieLS1
New member
I had a Weatherby Vanguard S2 7-08 and I really like the rifle,but I wouldn't hit the broadside of a barn. I was shooting 4-5 inch groups at 100 yards no matter what I tried. Different scopes and rings/bases no change. I tried handloads and 4 or 5 different factory loads. Still didn't shoot good.
Called Weatherby and I was told "I'd be wasting my time and money to send the rifle in" I had a local gunsmith put in a different stock, rifle basic trigger, barrel swap, and blue printed the action.
I shot a group of .230 @ 100yds today so long story short my Weatherby experience wasn't good.
Called Weatherby and I was told "I'd be wasting my time and money to send the rifle in" I had a local gunsmith put in a different stock, rifle basic trigger, barrel swap, and blue printed the action.
I shot a group of .230 @ 100yds today so long story short my Weatherby experience wasn't good.
CarJunkieLS1
New member
Yeah precisely the person I talked to said that 95% of the rifles they test for accuracy pass the test and I'd be wasting time and money to send it in. So Weatherby will not EVER get my business again.
I have a S2 in 243, first day out with it with reloads it shot a .75 at 200 yds and has done better since, have shot many many 1 enlarged hole 3 shot group with many different bullet weights, I was thinking about putting a boyds thumbhole stock on it but it shoots so well and the synthetic stock feels and looks great. I would buy another!!!
turkeestalker
New member
I own two, one in 30-06 and one in 7mm Remington Magnum. Both shoot very well with what ever I've tried in them, better with some diets.
The thing to keep in mind is that these are built on the same tooling that the Japanese made Mark V was produced on via the same process. You're just getting a 2" shorter barrel and less luster in the bluing on it, but the barrel is essentially the same, which is where the accuracy comes from. I'm not saying that it couldn't happen, but I've never heard of a Weatherby that shot as poorly as to produce 4 to 5" groups at 100 yards until today. My opinion is that the Vanguard is an exceptional deal for what you're getting.
The thing to keep in mind is that these are built on the same tooling that the Japanese made Mark V was produced on via the same process. You're just getting a 2" shorter barrel and less luster in the bluing on it, but the barrel is essentially the same, which is where the accuracy comes from. I'm not saying that it couldn't happen, but I've never heard of a Weatherby that shot as poorly as to produce 4 to 5" groups at 100 yards until today. My opinion is that the Vanguard is an exceptional deal for what you're getting.
Thanks guys. Right now I'm leaning towards one in .223 Rem. So far I'm interested in the WBY-X Vanguard TR with 22" #3 barrel.
http://www.weatherby.com/products/rifles/wbyx-rifles/vanguard-kryptek-569.html
http://www.weatherby.com/products/rifles/wbyx-rifles/vanguard-kryptek-569.html
I own one in 3006 , the 150 gr power shoks touch each other @ 100 yards .
When I first got mine, I cleaned the powder out of the barrel from their pressure test, and the first 2 shots was 1 inch apart at 25 yards , after the 6 th round at 100 yards they were touching .
When I first sighted in a rifle years ago , I was shooting it off of a hard surface at 100 yards and the groups were very spread out.
When I first got mine, I cleaned the powder out of the barrel from their pressure test, and the first 2 shots was 1 inch apart at 25 yards , after the 6 th round at 100 yards they were touching .
When I first sighted in a rifle years ago , I was shooting it off of a hard surface at 100 yards and the groups were very spread out.
I was able to handle one today and it seems very solidly built (except for the safety lever). The stock also seemed sturdy compared to some other plastic stocked rifles I've handled. I did notice the barrel is NOT free-floated but then again, neither is my CZ 550 and it is pretty accurate.
Now to try and find the best deal locally.
Now to try and find the best deal locally.
Be aware that if you go for the walnut stock, you might get one that is so attractive you are reluctant to take it into the woods. This happened to me, my 243 vanguard came with a figured walnut stock that was simply gorgeous.
Accuracy is everything stated above. trigger is great. A little heavy for a 243, but in 30-06 and up, that weight is your friend.
The monte carlo stock used to be the height of fashion, but now not so much... but monte carlo stocks fit some people better, me being one of them.
My buddy has one in 308 with a synthetic stock. We have not noticed any difference in accuracy between the two in any weather or temperature. Both of them will string shots vertically if the barrel gets too hot, but the barrel has to get HOT before it happens, as in burn you hand hot. It is what it is... it is not an AR-10.
Accuracy is everything stated above. trigger is great. A little heavy for a 243, but in 30-06 and up, that weight is your friend.
The monte carlo stock used to be the height of fashion, but now not so much... but monte carlo stocks fit some people better, me being one of them.
My buddy has one in 308 with a synthetic stock. We have not noticed any difference in accuracy between the two in any weather or temperature. Both of them will string shots vertically if the barrel gets too hot, but the barrel has to get HOT before it happens, as in burn you hand hot. It is what it is... it is not an AR-10.
Sweet Shooter
New member
My S2 (.223) would shoot groups in the .75"s week after week. It wasn't until I started loading specifically for it that it showed real accuracy. Then I got bored with the humdrum of .3"s, .25's week after week. The torture. It had to go.
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