Weatherby Vanguard S2 SS Review Part 2

[@oncall21]

Great review and great rifle. I work in a major gun shop in Melbourne, Australia and these Weatherby Vanguard S2 rifles have one of the best triggers I've tried and a brilliant stock design as well. I own a safe full of Sako rifles but last week at work I bought a Howa 1500 stainless with a Bell and Carlson stock that we had held in stock for a couple of years. It was a new rifle and I only had to pay AUD $600 which today is about US $400. It's in .338 Win Mag and I'll buy a cheap (but excellent) VX Freedom 3-9x40 scope for it. It's kind of a project gun and I intend to use it on sambar deer here. I'm going to load lighter 185gr and 200gr pills and see how she shoots. We sell a lot of Weatherby Vanguards/Howa rifles down under and have so for a long time and not one has ever come back ever requiring a warranty repair or a complaint about poor accuracy. Great rifles and thanks for sharing!

[@robertbrandywine]

The factory triggers are crisp but I replaced my two with Timneys so that I could get a 2 1/4 pound pull, which I like.

[@charlesbuckskin2820]

I have a Vanguard 7mm-08 and killed five bucks two Bulls and one Big horn sheep very accurate rifle with Shot groups under 1/2 inch. I'm going to get a Vanguard meat eater in a .257 Weatherby Mag. Love Weatherby Rifles.

[@sparky_-mf2cs]

I got the 270 meat eater 👌👍

[@ckiefner715]

I have the standard S2 with 24” barrel in .257 Wby. It is one hell of a rifle. I love to suggest them as well and I like how Adam and the guys at Weatherby listened to us about putting 26” barrels on the Magnums.

[@colemiller4899]

270 win all the way hands down I’ve had 7mm-08 didn’t like it have 300 mag I like it just not round I’ll shoot every day or at coyotes just hard to beat speed of 270 win as standard caliber and will kill anything in North America and ammo super easy to find pre pandemic

[@bmoorear]

Nice rifle, I have an S2 in 25-06. Shoots Barnes 80 and 100grn Barnes TTSX with Reloader 17 and 22 powder into half inch. It was a little picky with standard cup and core bullets but it loves the Barnes. I have talley rings with a Leupold VX Freedom 3-9x40 on it. Solid rifles for 499 bucks.

[@jacobbcox1985]

I have 3 Vanguard S2 BC 270, S2 243, and S2 223. A Vanguard was also my first rifle but not a S2 back when I was 11. I think where I have used a vanguard all my life I feel it is best hunting for the price. I have a Remington 700 30-06 and 25-06 but always go back to the Weatherby.

[@thegeneral1100]

I found them “new in the box” for $349. I bought two 243’s for my two grandsons and a 270 and 30-06 for myself ( they were out of 308). That’s used gun price!!! Guaranteed sub MOA out of the box, SWEET!!!!

[@rickybristersmusic3658]

dennis hartsock at wal mart. I found the same thing. Bought a 308

[@seabass22]

don h lol. I waited til they got that low before I bought them. I had been eyeing a 30-06 sporter since January. Wound up buying a 270 sporter (wound up turning into my favorite rifle) a 243 sporter (they had it tagged as a “select”) a 308 and 30-06 in synthetic “select.” Couldn’t pass them up at those prices. Took my first buck with the 270 last week.

[@REDNECKROOTS]

The vanguard are awesome for 3shots. Then let cool. Or the 4th and others after are all over. But cold bore 3shots it's a half moa gun all day. It's a hunting rig. Only need 1 maybe 2 shots

[@dubltap7216]

Just purchased the 6.5-300 in the vanguard.👍 Had 2- 378 Mark V's. Excellent shooters.

[@Nick-wn1xw]

First thing you should do with a new one is torque the action screws. It makes a huge difference in accuracy. Follow the manual torque specs to a ‘T’. This means use a torque driver-not the “this feels about right” method. If you are serious about shooting you should have a torque driver and use it every time.

[@Drivapete]

After 40 or so rounds in my 257 Vanguard 2 the accuracy fell off a bit, cleaned the gun and still the same. Opened up to 3 inches. The screws on the bottom had come loose, torqued to specs and back to shooting 3 shots touching.

[@sparky_-mf2cs]

By the action screws you mean the screws on the stock?

[@DOC-Jake-]

I own a 300 win vanguard shoots really good. I also have a mark v. In 270 win that’s a great deer rifle 🦌 very accurate 100 3 shot group in a dime. With factory federal 130s. Good luck in the woods stay safe. .

[@easttexan2933]

Have you always talked real fast? just curious. I can't keep up with what you're saying. Probably just me. Great review of what I could understand. Vanguards are great guns regardless of the price.

[@jesseg6708]

I have a weatherguard model in 30-06. Only thing is I’m not a fan of two stage triggers, I’m going to put a single stage Timney in it. Other than that I really like it. I have an xbolt in 7mm08 and it kicks the same as my weatherby in 30-06 so I’m really impressed with it.

[@donhitchc1]

Jesse G what is a good price for vanguards? wally mart has them on clearance for 349 with the plastic stock 499 for deluxe

[@jesseg6708]

don h I got mine from budsguns for $540ish I think. It has a cerakote finish that looks like stainless.

[@donhitchc1]

just got a deluxe in 243. 499.00 couldnt pass up the price.

[@seabass22]

I didn’t think I would like the 2 stage trigger, but this one is so nice, I don’t mind. I know as soon as I take up that slack, the next little bit is firing the rifle.

[@workingr]

Going to get one of these in .375H&H.

[@PracticallySquared1]

Robert W great choice! I just shot a 375 about a week ago. Great caliber!

[@bublzzix]

I have S2 already for 6 years. Only issue for my is that cartridges with soft point (especially round lead) bullet tip stucks when loaded from left position internal magazine. So I use only ballistic tip or hollow point with small hole. More than 20 roe deers, one wild hog, two elks, one moose and lots of vermin got with this rifle (hunt in europe, LV).

[@donweb9689]

Just picked this up in 7mm Remington magnum

[@PracticallySquared1]

donweb Nice!

[@roco8511]

This & the howa 1500 are the same action. Watch for sales as these are great rifles. I bought my daughter a 7/08 howa on sale for 450$. 20 inch barrel with 120 gr bullets make a great handling, low recoil. Sub moa out of the box

[@Drivapete]

We couldn't find a Weatherby Vanguard 7-08 for my daughter anywhere. So, I recommended the Howa 1500, same rifle right? Not so fast pops, "it's not a Weatherby". Finally, a gunsmith friend called and said he found one with a 20 in barrel and exactly what she wanted. Ge and I can both appreciate a woman who knows what she wants!

[@REDNECKROOTS]

There the same base action. But weatherby does all the finish work lapping painting and assembly ect. The tolerance are also slightly tighter by request from weatherby . That's why there smoother n fit n finish is better then the howa 1500. The barrels are also diff rifelng pattern hammered in.

[@donaldmartin4980]

You had better be a reloader, .257 weatherby ammo is about $5 a shot !!

[@edsmercina7157]

Waiting for Christmas Day to open my Weatherby badlands 30-06!!!! I’m worse than a little kid! Come on Christmas Day. LOL

[@cristianhernandez3440]

Own one for 6 yrs now in .308 Killed 5 deer and a few yotes with it. Great gun. Patterned well with Barnes 168 grain. Never had any issue with it. Got my $$ worth with my purchase. I seen guys say its a 1:12 twist in a lot of videos, but saw it was a 1:10 online. Which one do you all say it is?

[@REDNECKROOTS]

1in 10. Hammer forged

[@bkb5668]

I also like the 7mm-08 but for elk the .270 win is like a magnum 7mm-08. The .270 pushes a 150gr. bullet 200fps faster. I wish 280 ai was more available I would buy one for my wife for elk, it truly is the magnum version of the 7mm-08, thanks for the videos!!!!

[@ryangee9182]

Having watched every YT vid on Tika, Bergara, Weatherby, Rem, Savage, Ruger...what company doesnt "guarantee" sub MOA anymore. Feel that guarantee is diluted these days...especially with all the caveats: Be a good shooter, use some (but not all) factory ammo and eventually ine will work, use a bench rest, shoot multiple grouos and eventually one (might) be sub MOA 🤔

[@franksanchietti7108]

300 weatherby great caliber

[@mmarciniak]

“...this one out here doesn’t count, and these three that are closest together COUNT.” LOL

[@rjones93257]

I won a vgd2 30.06 legend blaze camo. Haven’t shot it yet.

[@REDNECKROOTS]

Great rifles. Tippy top tier of the mid range.

[@robinj.9329]

Maybe I'm showing my age, but I literally HATE anything with an injection molded "Plastic" stock! Give me some fine walnut with actual "cut checkering" every time. Sure it will cost more, but wouldn't you rather have something a bit "Special" to leave to your Grandchildren then just injection molded plastic? Those monstrosities are everywhere!

[@DeezCheez69]

Its a nice synthetic stock to be honest and i hate plastic stocks. Also weatherby offers one or two models with the features youve described. Also not everyone can afford nice walnut stocks like that or theyd rather have something they wont scratch.

[@joshlower1]

id rather have a gun that wont rot away on me so it can actually last to my grandkids

[@joshlower1]

and its not injection molded its cnc cut out of a solid piece of polymer

[@robertbrandywine]

I like the look of wood, but if you take your rifles into the field the wood quickly gets damaged and looks pretty bad then.

[@thesaltypanda1160]

Josh lower it won’t rot if you take any kind of care of it other than leaving it outside in the elements until you are old enough to have grandchildren

[@cavscout62]

0-450 yards you can’t do better in a hunting rifle in the .257W in a Vanguard or Howa 1500 for the $$$

[@nancykeller8716]

What scope mounts are on it?

[@Drivapete]

I have the very same rifle, and they are Leupold bases and rings. Various manufacturers have the same rings and mounts. You can also get Weaver style or a picatinny style base. I prefer Leupold style, they are solid as a rock.

[@tomfisher3117]

I have an early model Vanguard in .308. Basically shoots a 1 1/2" group at 100 yards. Not really a good rifle to me. I have a Leopold 2x7 on it. You can't reload for it and expect any better group because it has a deep throat. You can't get close to the lands even with a 200 grain bullet. I called Weatherby and they said they did it because of liability of people reloading and leaving the bullet up against the lands. I guess there may be some idiot our there doing that but not me. Their suggestion was self-centering dies. Poor answer if you ask me. I've loaded for myself and friends, different manufacturers, with reloading methods and loads and virtually all shoot sub-inch groups. I would never recommend Weatherby but if you think groups of 1 1/2" are good, by all means, go ahead. I think it's a poor effort by Weatherby at any price. Check this out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3StdZhmfJZ1arM draw your own conclusions.

[@robertbrandywine]

I'm sorry yours didn't work out. Everybody has their own experience. I have a .270 Win and a .300 Win Mag and they both shot good groups with my handloads. However, both these rifles have front pressure points and taking the barreled action out of the stock and putting it back in can ruin the accuracy if you don't follow their procedures. They say to somewhat tighten the back action screw first and then hold the barrel centered in the fore-end and then tighten the front screw to 35 inch-pounds, and then finish tightening the rear action screw to 35 inch pounds. Try that and see if you get improved accuracy.

[@darrellelliott4052]

1 1/2 " groups were considered the standard in accuracy by all rifle makers until the early 2000's when improvements in manufacturing made it possible to produce rifles much more economically that were capable of shooting Sub MOA. If you purchased an early Vanguard that shot 1.5 inch groups at 100 yards then that was considered the minimum it could do although often even those early Vanguard rifles often surpassed expectations.