As good as any money can buy.

Mobuck

Moderator
Wby Vanguard in .223. I was doing scope check today and shot a couple of groups using handloads with 50 grain Nosler bullets. Alternating Ballistic Tips and SHOTS(2 each bullet type) produced 4 shot groups between .5 and .75" @ 100 yards. This is a sporter weight barrel with a 3-9x40 Sightron scope mounted and the aiming point was really too big for precision. In addition, I wasn't wasting time being super careful watching the light cross wind.
I've never shot a cloverleaf with this rifle but have numerous groups with 2 of 3 holes overlapping.
 
Man those Weatherby's love to shoot dont they? My Weatherby Vanguard would shoot 5different handloads well under moa at 100 yds...
Looks like you have one of those dudes...congrats.
 
Many informed shooters consider the Howa/Vanguard the best value in rifles on the market.

I own a Vanguard, 300WBY, and for a cannon like this the accuracy is impressive. Mine is a 2006 version, and the factory target is between.6-.7". That said it takes some practice to shoot really consistent groups.

These rifles are manufactured the old way using modern CNC equipment. The receiver is machined from a solid billet. The bolt also, handle and all. They have a genuine integral recoil lug, seldom seen these days, when receivers are drilled from bar stock, bolts are fused or partially hollow, and recoil lugs are washers, and the poor owners believe that this is good stuff. When most affordable rifles use plastic trigger guards, Vanguards are all steel.

I'm not bashing modern affordable rifles, they are quite serviceable, and accurate. They just aren't as solid as rifles made the old way. So, as I see it Vanguards are best of both.
 
I picked up a Vanguard S2 in 243 Winchester a couple of years ago and it has turned out to be a really accurate rifle.

243:

attachment.php



I was so impressed I told a friend and he picked one up in 270WSM and it too shoots sub inch groups regularly.

270WSM:

attachment.php
 

Attachments

  • 270WSM.jpg
    270WSM.jpg
    13 KB · Views: 207
Last edited:
Only problem with the Howa/Vanguard is the safety - when the trigger is adjusted as far/good as it will go (to about 5 lbs), the safety stops working. Back the screw off to 5.5 or 6.0 lbs, and it works again. At least on the 3 I've had.
 
Dremel, I put a Timney on mine, because of that very reason. The Timney was set at 2.5 lbs and broke like a piece oc glass....beautiful..
 
Mine is an S1 and I also replaced the trigger with a Timney. I am told the S2 has a factory 2 stage trigger that is fabulous out of the box.:)
 
Only problem with the Howa/Vanguard is the safety - when the trigger is adjusted as far/good as it will go (to about 5 lbs), the safety stops working. Back the screw off to 5.5 or 6.0 lbs, and it works again. At least on the 3 I've had.


The S2's do not have that issue.
 
Had a serious case of "gun lust" the other day at my local gun store. They had the vanguard s2 in .257 wby mag, the stainless version. I have the s1 in 300 win mag and its great and all but the fit, finish, and feel of the s2 is just so much better. And that 257 seems so impractical but.....I want one!
 
Back
Top