Weatherby Vanguard S2 Backcountry?

[wilkup]

Anybody have/use one of these for their hunting?
I have an opportunity to purchase one of these at an awesome price but can't seem to find too much information on them.
The couple reviews I've been able to find say I'd have to spend far more to get a rifle of noticeably higher quality.
Thanks.

 

[the444shooter]

Depends on what the "awesome" price is. You might be just as well off buying an S2 and a Bell and Carlson stock to put on it. You'd be forgoing the cerakote and fluted barrel, of course....

No personal experience with them, and I love the concept, but it's hard for me to swallow their listed price.

But based on my experience w/ the standard vanguard s2, if it's truly a great price being offered to you, I'd jump on it.

 

[Jim in Cali]

I shoot Vanguards I actually made my own Backcountries due to the fact they do not offer them is a short action version. To build one yourself cost just about the same as a factory one. and you can go what ever colors and stocks you want. Mine are 308 and 243.

 

[barracudadave6]

I have a Vanguard S2 in .308, and it is super accurate, with my hand loads. I like it so much I just bought another in .243 win, Which I havn't shot yet. I think the Vanguard S2 is an great rifle for the price. I say get it and enjoy shooting it.

barracudadave6

 

[MudRunner2005]

I have the big brother to the S2 Backcountry...The Mark V Accumark in .257 Wby. And if the S2 Backcountry is 1/2 the rifle the Accumarks are, then you'll be happy with it. I have literally shot blades of grass in half @ 75 yards that were blocking my target (have a couple witnesses). I haven't had the chance to shoot any of the S2 Vanguards yet, but I haven't heard anything negative about them, other than needing a trigger job, which my Accumark is in desperate need of one. That's the only complaint I have about my Accumark, is that the factory trigger sucks. I've been wanting to buy a Jard setup for mine for a while.

 

[wilkup]

I just learned there's actually a few other rifles available to me right now in the same price range as the Weatherby.

I'd be curious to see what you think is the best value for $$$.

Weatherby Vanguard S2 Backcountry
Remington m700 CDL SF
Winchester m70 Extreme Weather SS
Savage 12 VLP DBM
Browning A-Bolt Stainless Stalker

After finding they're all in the same price bracket for me, I'm leaning less towards the Weatherby but thought I'd pitch it to you all as well.

Thanks for the replies and advice so far. This site is great!

 

[MudRunner2005]

I just learned there's actually a few other rifles available to me right now in the same price range as the Weatherby.

I'd be curious to see what you think is the best value for $$$.

Weatherby Vanguard S2 Backcountry
Remington m700 CDL SF
Winchester m70 Extreme Weather SS
Savage 12 VLP DBM
Browning A-Bolt Stainless Stalker

After finding they're all in the same price bracket for me, I'm leaning less towards the Weatherby but thought I'd pitch it to you all as well.

Thanks for the replies and advice so far. This site is great!

Here's how I would re-arrange your list, based on my personal experiences and preferences... With a few modifications, of course.

1) Remington m700 CDL SF
2) Browning A-Bolt Stainless Stalker
3) Weatherby Vanguard S2 Backcountry

 

[wilkup]

Here's how I would re-arrange your list, based on my personal experiences and preferences... With a few modifications, of course.

1) Remington m700 CDL SF
2) Browning A-Bolt Stainless Stalker
3) Weatherby Vanguard S2 Backcountry

You wouldn't even place the Winchester on your list? Right now, I think the m70 and m700 are tied for my top picks. FN is supposedly responsible for putting out the new m70 and based on reviews it's an awesome gun I wouldn't have to make any changes to. If the m700 I'm looking at was offered in the same configuration but with a non walnut stock, there wouldn't be a question for me. I could get the Sendero for a little more but its just too heavy for what I need it for. I know I could also sell the walnut and get a lighter composite stock or one just like the m70, it just seems like a PITA when the m70 comes ready to go.
I don't know much about the Browning but it fit my criteria (backpacking rifle under 8# scoped and loaded) I've heard the A-Bolts are excellent guns.

 

[MudRunner2005]

You wouldn't even place the Winchester on your list? Right now, I think the m70 and m700 are tied for my top picks. FN is supposedly responsible for putting out the new m70 and based on reviews it's an awesome gun I wouldn't have to make any changes to. If the m700 I'm looking at was offered in the same configuration but with a non walnut stock, there wouldn't be a question for me. I could get the Sendero for a little more but its just too heavy for what I need it for. I know I could also sell the walnut and get a lighter composite stock or one just like the m70, it just seems like a PITA when the m70 comes ready to go.
I don't know much about the Browning but it fit my criteria (backpacking rifle under 8# scoped and loaded) I've heard the A-Bolts are excellent guns.

I wouldn't, personally...But I am a very biased individual when it comes to my guns (atlest I'm honest about it).

The Remington 700 CDL SF will be a tack-driver with the right loads, and a trigger swap. I absolutely hate the X-Mark Pro triggers, but a well-tuned old style Remington trigger is a great and inexpensive option. And Browning A-Bolt II's are some of the most accurate off-the-shelf rifles you can buy. For the Brownings, I also recommend the $20 Rifle Basix 1.5lb trigger spring, takes 10 minutes to install. Weatherby has always produced exceptional rifles, and they are great out of the box (minus the triggers).

I have never really cared much for the Win 70 actions (Mauser style), and I don't like Savage rifles. Nothing at all wrong with either of the 2 brands, I just don't care for them.

 

[Dr. Vette]

Here's how I would re-arrange your list, based on my personal experiences and preferences.

1) Weatherby Vanguard S2 Backcountry

There were other rifles on the list?

Now here are my thoughts -

Ed Weatherby admits that currently one of his favorite Weatherby rifles is the S2 Backcountry - and this from the guy who can choose any of them. I have yet to see a Vanguard that doesn't shoot well, and the Backcountry should do as well as any. I suspect it will shoot better given the upgraded stock.

An alternate is to buy a Vanguard in stainless and drop it in a Bell & Carlson stock in the color of your choice (which I just did). No, it's not fluted or Cerakoted, but it's less expensive and just as good. Notice that this idea has been mentioned a few times now on this thread. lightbulb

Savages are usually very accurate, but that laminate stock on the VLP is quite heavy. It's a 10# rifle without the scope! That's 1.5 pounds more than a Sendero that you already think is too heavy.

Remingtons (other than Senderos) seem to be so spotty with regard to quality and accuracy lately that I have a hard time recommending them. Brownings are pretty, but they don't seem to have any reputation for reliable accuracy. I've never been a Winchester M70 fan either, and suspect I'll never own one.

That's how I see it.
Now it's your turn to go check out the rifles yourself and see which one turns you on.

 

[wilkup]

Why no love for the m70? I've read plenty of reviews on here and other places of how great it shoots and how well it's been put together.

If I don't get a Weatherby, I want to get the rifle chambered in 270WSM. Since Weatherby doesn't offer this chambering in any of the guns I'm looking at from them I settled on the 257 Weatherby instead. I believe I'd be happy with either caliber and know they'll both take care of the game I plan to hunt in a humane manner. The m70 controlled feed I'm assuming will feed the WSM more reliably than the alternative push feed from other companies listed.

 

[Dr. Vette]

The Vanguard isn't currently offered in 270WSM, but it used to be, so they're out there if you want one:

Weatherby Vanguard Sporter : Bolt Action Rifles at GunBroker.com

I've always found the argument about feeding design to be much hoopla about nothing, especially for a North American (i.e. I'm not shooting a Cape Buffalo running at me) usage.

 

[MudRunner2005]

Brownings are pretty, but they don't seem to have any reputation for reliable accuracy.

WHAT??? Brownings have a long history of accuracy and reliability. Both of the A-Bolt II's i've had (a thief got the first one, so I replaced it with the 2nd one) would shoot like fire! The first one shot good, but this newest one will stack 'em on in there with handloads. I'm talking tight cloverleafs, and that gun is completely stock, other than the Rifle Basix 1.5lb trigger spring.

I know it has a 9.5 twist barrel, but I can't wait to see if I can get it to shoot these Berger 180 Hybrids.

 

[MudRunner2005]

Why no love for the m70? I've read plenty of reviews on here and other places of how great it shoots and how well it's been put together.

If I don't get a Weatherby, I want to get the rifle chambered in 270WSM. Since Weatherby doesn't offer this chambering in any of the guns I'm looking at from them I settled on the 257 Weatherby instead. I believe I'd be happy with either caliber and know they'll both take care of the game I plan to hunt in a humane manner. The m70 controlled feed I'm assuming will feed the WSM more reliably than the alternative push feed from other companies listed.

Alot of people underestimate it, but the .257 Wby is one hell of a deer and plains game caliber. I've been shooting whitetails with mine since 2008, and never had one run farther than 40-50 yards with a solid vitals (double-lung) shot using the Nosler 110 Accubonds. This year I will be trying my luck with the Berger 115 VLD's on deer to see how well they'll perform. But the 110 Nosler Accubonds is a solid performer for the .257 Wby.