Weatherby Vanguard Sporter

[Captcurt]

Just tried out my new Vanguard today. Pretty nice piece of wood, with matte finished metal. I stuck a 3X9X40mm Vari-X2 on it in Leupold mounts, adjusted the trigger down as low as I could get it,boresighted it and hit the range. The trigger was very disappointing. Four pounds is as low as it would go and it felt like it had gravel in it with a fair amount of creep. At 25 yards I was 1/2" low with the first shot. Moved back to 100 and had a 3 shot group about 1" center to center. It has potential.

I do have some issues though. For one, the trigger is a piece of junk. I pulled the stock and removed the trigger to find what looks like a cast sear that looks to be made from pot metal. Another gripe was the Weatherby ammo. I noticed from the start that the cases were not trimmed to the same length. The ammo was cheap and I really bought it for the brass but this is Weatherby. You would think that the sub-contractor who loads their ammo would have better quality control than that.

Now, do I buck up and shoot the thing as is, put a new trigger in it, or sell it and get another Bergara? The B-14 Woodsman is looking better all of the time.

 

[LoonWulf]

What caliber is that?

Is the trigger the same as the one on the Howas? Looks like it should be from wbys website. If so i actually had good results just cleaning it out and giving the mating surfaces a quick polish.

That would be a hard choice for me, both the b-14 and the howas 1500/wby vanguards, are some of if not my favorite push feed actions.
Id give the wby some elbow grease and see if your happier with it, then if not move on.

 

[cdb1]

We have four Vanguard S2’s in the family, one wood sporter and three synthetic. Mine is the Sporter and is a .243. The triggers on all four are excellent, I think maybe you got a lemon. They are all accurate. We are happy with them. I’d call Weatherby customer service, it is the best I’ve ever dealt with, CZ being a close second.

That being said I believe a Bergara is a little better quality rifle.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I have always been pleased with my Vanguard in .30-06. Very accurate.
My only knock is that it is a heavy rifle. But I mostly hunt box stands, so it's fine.

I haven't looked at the trigger mechanism. You've got me curious now.

 

[Glockula]

My Vanguard in .270 Winchester is one of the most accurate rifles I own. While not terrible, the trigger is not the best. I would give her a little tlc and see what happens. Good luck!

 

[mshootnit]

My dads Vanguard was a 1.5 moa with terrible trigger. I liked the idea of being GTG to 400 yds so I swapped him out of it. I traded it for a stainless one, same caliber. The darned thing shoots great and has a perfect trigger. It is the only rifle I have never taken apart. A screwdriver head has not even touched a takedown screw. Never needed to. It was scary accurate out of the box and I have not messed with it. Has accounted for some big bucks dropped usually at around 200 yds. I think it has a very nice strong action, great barrel, and the stock fits me well. The stock has a high amount of glass fill in the polymer which may or may not be an issue as it wears. This is a series 1 stainless rifle.
Its only fault is that it says Made in Japan on the side, but the rifle doesn't know that, and I won't tell it if you won't.

 

[TN Outlaw]

Every series 2 i have experience with have been great rifles and better shooters. Mine has an excellent trigger for a hunting rifle. Its one of the best shooting rifles i own. I won it in a raffle with a $30 ticket.

Maybe you got a lemon, maybe they didnt clean the trigger group up enough, idk? I would slick up and clean the group then buy a few diff boxes of ammo and find what it likes the best. Chances are itll shoot well.

What caliber?

 

[Corn-Picker]

Is it a Vanguard Series 2? You’re not confusing trigger creep with a two stage trigger are you? My Weatherby Vanguard S2 has the best factory trigger of any rifle I own; are you sure you didn’t muck it up when you adjusted it (was it terrible before you adjusted it)? I would send it back to Weatherby for service, they generally take care of their customers.

 

[CoalTrain49]

I have two Howas. My 1500 has a better trigger than my Mini but both are good two stage triggers. Neither have any creep and break clean. Never had to adjust mine. They feel like about 3-3.5 pounds.

I'm wondering if Weatherby uses their own trigger. I know they assemble their rifles here in the US using Howa barreled actions. My understanding is Howa builds to Weatherby specs, whatever that means.

 

[cdb1]

Before Weatherby came out with the S2, Vanguards and Howas had the same triggers. The S2 has a different trigger and is much better. Howa started using a new trigger a year or so ago called the HACT. I’m 99% sure it is the same trigger that’s in the current Vanguard S2.

 

[SwampWolf]

I'm happy with the trigger on my Weatherby (Howa) Vanguard. It's not a Timney but it's pretty darn good in terms of smoothness, lack of creep and break-point. I wish it was a couple of pounds or so lighter, though.

 

[Sniper66]

I've recently been researching the Vanguard and found lots of trigger complaints. The answer has usually been to replace it. The good news is I found few complaints about accuracy.

 

[mshootnit]

Before Weatherby came out with the S2, Vanguards and Howas had the same triggers. The S2 has a different trigger and is much better. Howa started using a new trigger a year or so ago called the HACT. I’m 99% sure it is the same trigger that’s in the current Vanguard S2.

It is not better than mine. Fluke maybe, but real.

 

[Captcurt]

This is my 4th Vanguard and my second one in 257 Mag. The first two shot very well and had good triggers. In fact the 223 was one of the most accurate rifles that I have owned. The third was ok, but nothing special. This one's trigger is nothing like the ones in the other three and it is a two-stage. I usually adjust the trigger as soon as I get one.

 

[cdb1]

I've recently been researching the Vanguard and found lots of trigger complaints. The answer has usually been to replace it. The good news is I found few complaints about accuracy.

I’ve heard many complaints about the old ones and they are warranted, but none about the new ones. The one older one we have got a Timney.

 

[mshootnit]

I’ve heard many complaints about the old ones and they are warranted, but none about the new ones. The one older one we have got a Timney.

Which I would recommend because when you adjust a Weatherby Vanguard trigger down where you want it, the safety does not work.

 

[Captcurt]

Which I would recommend because when you adjust a Weatherby Vanguard trigger down where you want it, the safety does not work.

The old ones were like that but I turned this new one every way that I could. It would not go below 4 lbs, it has a lot of rough travel after the two stage and the safety still worked. Nothing like my old ones. My first 257 was an old Vanguard and the 223 was a S2. Both had excellent triggers and shot sub-MOA.

 

[TN Outlaw]

Are the trigger complaints being found in reguards to the series1 or series2 Van?

Ive heard and seen several problems with the series1 triggers. This is the 1st im hearing about any probs with the series2 triggers if thats in fact what is being said.

 

[Captcurt]

Are the trigger complaints being found in reguards to the series1 or series2 Van?

Ive heard and seen several problems with the series1 triggers. This is the 1st im hearing about any probs with the series2 triggers if thats in fact what is being said.

The trigger works as does the safety, but the the inability to adjust it below 4 lbs and the roughness of the release of the sear is the issue. I can get a Kimber or a Bergara for the same price as this Vanguard and they both have better triggers. The 84M Hunter that I had was the best trigger on any gun that I have owned so far.

 

[LNK]

The trigger works as does the safety, but the the inability to adjust it below 4 lbs and the roughness of the release of the sear is the issue. I can get a Kimber or a Bergara for the same price as this Vanguard and they both have better triggers. The 84M Hunter that I had was the best trigger on any gun that I have owned so far.

Call Weatherby. They will make it right. If it is as accurate as you say with a lousy trigger, imagine what it will do when corrected...

 

[CoalTrain49]

Call Weatherby. They will make it right. If it is as accurate as you say with a lousy trigger, imagine what it will do when corrected...

I think you can just remove the trigger group and send it in. They can install it in an action and test it. My bet is you have a lemon and they will make it right. Don't get too worked up over this because it's a mechanical device. It can be fixed.

 

[TN Outlaw]

The trigger works as does the safety, but the the inability to adjust it below 4 lbs and the roughness of the release of the sear is the issue. I can get a Kimber or a Bergara for the same price as this Vanguard and they both have better triggers. The 84M Hunter that I had was the best trigger on any gun that I have owned so far.

Im trying to figure out if you have the series1 or series2? Pretty significant diff in the triggers between the two.

My series2 has a 2 stage trigger that came set at around 3.5lbs but felt nice. I didnt change it until i put it in another stock i bought, thats when i adj it down to right at 3lbs but id swear it feels like 2lbs. Take up the 1st stage and it breaks nice and smooth and plenty light for a hunting rifle.

Im not a salesman for Wby but they make a fine product and stand behind any issues you may have. Its ez to let one small issue turn us off to an entire brand but that should be a pretty painless prob to solve and at least give the rifle its due before deciding.

Or give me that horrible rifle and i will dispose of it properly.

 

[GooseGestapo]

My older Vanguard (probably '05-09 production) had a different trigger than a Howa. Trigger REALLY sucked.
I installed a Timney. It's not all that much better. I'm disappointed with it. It will only go down to about 4lbs. But, it's better than the Weatherby that would only go to about 7lbs, rough and creepy.
Rifle is very accurate. Especially with Norma 100gr Spt. It's the only factory ammo I've shot as I bought it for the brass, as it was cheaper than Weatherby boxed brass!! (Also made by Norma).

My bigger disappointment with the rifle is that it only has a 24"bbl.
I bought it cheap at a pawn shop as no one wanted to pay $$ for the ammo. Having reloaded for a .257Robt for 30yrs, I had plenty of bullets. Also, large stock of WC860, for a .300RUM. So, I only needed brass...

 

[cdb1]

Timney makes excellent triggers. If yours will only adjust down to 4 lbs then it is defective. Why didn’t you contact Timney?

I heard two years ago that Weatherby was going to start using 26” barrels on Vanguards in magnum cartridges. They finally have for 2018.

 

[MarkVI]

I've got a Weatherby Vanguard II in Heavy Barrel 308 topped with a Trijicon Accupoint 5-20. The trigger is great, accuracy is .75 with decent ammo. No complaints at all, I find it outshoots my Remington 700V easily. This is my go to hunting rifle, dependable and well refined. Can't imagine a bad trigger on a Weatherby?