Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 Back Country .30-06 Rifle
By Randy Wakeman
May 17, 2019 Weatherby’s rich heritage began in 1945 located in Southern California. A true family business operated by third-generation leader Adam Weatherby headquartered in Sheridan, Wyoming. Located minutes from public hunting access in the Bighorn Mountains, and endless grassland prairies. Approximate serial number ranges for the Japanese made Mark V Rifles NOTE: These serial numbers are very approximate, and cover the period 1972 through 1992, which is the year the book “Weatherby - The Man, The Gun, The Legend” was written by Gresham & Gresham. The data in the table below was derived from data contained in that book. Went to South Africa on safari in May of 2018. I took two Weatherby Vanguard Weatherguard centerfire rifles, a Springfield.30-06 and a 300 Winchester Magnum. Did not pull out the 300 Win Mag from the case. Hunted with the.30-06 and it performed flawlessly. Both rifles were equipped with Nikon Bushmaster 4-12×40 scopes.
New for 2013 is Weatherby's Back Country version of their popular VanguardSeries 2 bolt action rifle, which uses a push feed, Mauser-style, dual opposed lug design. Theaction, barrel length of 24 inches, controls, etc., are unchanged from therecently reviewed Vanguard Series 2 Sporter. (See the Rifle Information -Reviews index page.)
The Back Country's chrome moly barreled action is coatedwith a CeraKote Tactical Grey finish for improved external weather resistanceand it has a fluted barrel. The Weatherby Monte Carlo composite stock is pillar-bedded and finishedwith spiderweb accents. Together, these features are designed to shave weightoff of the standard Vanguard Series 2 rifles. That they do, dropping about ¾ poundfrom the standard synthetic and walnut Vanguard models. Unfortunately, recoil increases proportionally and the 2013MSRP is increased from $649.99 (standard synthetic) to a substantial $1399 for the Back Country.
Out of the box, the two-stage trigger was lackluster, breaking at four pounds afterthe first stage take-up. Of course, the Vanguard Series 2 trigger is useradjustable, so you can set the release weight where you want. Just dropthe barreled action out of the stock to adjust the trigger. The pullweight is adjusted by means of a screw with lock nut on the front of the alloytrigger assembly. This allows adjustment between approximately 2.5 and 4.5pounds. Loosen the lock nut and back out the adjustment screw to decrease thepull weight; turn it in to increase the pull weight. Trigger adjustmentinstructions are provided in the Owner's Manual.
Specifications
·Type: Bolt actionhunting rifle
·Model: Vanguard Series2 Back Country
·Caliber: .30-06Springfield (five other calibers available)
·Metal finish: CeraKoteGrey
·Barrel: 24', #2contour, fluted, cold hammer forged
·Twist: RH 1:10 inches
·Trigger: Two-Stage Trigger ; hand-honed,factory-tuned and inspected for a clean, crisp break. Fully adjustable down to2.5 lbs.
·Trigger pull weightas tested: 4 pounds
·Safety: 3 position
·Sights: None;receiver drilled and tapped for scope mounts
·Magazine capacity: 5rounds
·Stock: Composite,Spider web with Monte-Carlo comb
·Drop at comb: 7/8'
·Drop at Monte Carlo:1/2'
·Drop at heel: 1-1/4'
·Length of pull: 13-5/8inches
·Overall length: 44-1/2inches
·Approximate Weight:6-3/4 pounds
·Country of origin:Japan
·2013 MSRP: $1399
After scoping this rifle with a Sightron SII Big Sky 3-9x42mmon top of steel Warne 2-piece bases and Warne Maxima rings, I headed off to therange. Three types of premium ammunition were used: Remington Premier 180 grain SwiftA-Frame (MV 2700 fps), Winchester Supreme 180 grain E-Tip (MV 2750 fps) andFederal Premium Vital-Shok 165 grain Trophy Bonded Tip (MV 2800 fps).
Weatherby Vanguard Rifles Serial Numbers History
All Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 rifles are guaranteed to shoot a 3-shot group of.99' or less at 100 yards (SUB-MOA) when used with Weatherby factory orpremium ammunition. Unfortunately, the test rifle was unable to meet thatstandard with the three factory loads I had on hand, none of which grouped particularly well. The best of thebunch was easily the Remington Swift A-Frame in this rifle. However, even theSwift A-Frames struggled to get three shots into 1-1/2 inches (1.5 MOA) at 100yards, unimpressive for a Weatherby Vanguard with a SUB-MOA accuracy guarantee andpoor compared to the 3/4 MOA Vanguard .270 Winchester I recently reviewed. (All rifles are ammo sensitive to somedegree and our guess is that none of the tested loads were among this rifle's favorites. -Editor)
My conclusion, based on this testrifle, is not highly favorable. Although the Vanguard Back Country delivers onits promise of less weight, the just adequate accuracy, heavier than idealtrigger out of the box and salty price all point to the Vanguard Sporterinstead of the Back Country. The Vanguard Sporter is a far better-looking rifleat a more modest price.
Note: There is an in-depth review of a Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 Stainless Syntheticrifle on the Product Reviews page.
Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 Back Country .30-06 Rifle
By Randy Wakeman
New for 2013 is Weatherby's Back Country version of their popular VanguardSeries 2 bolt action rifle, which uses a push feed, Mauser-style, dual opposed lug design. Theaction, barrel length of 24 inches, controls, etc., are unchanged from therecently reviewed Vanguard Series 2 Sporter. (See the Rifle Information -Reviews index page.)
The Back Country's chrome moly barreled action is coatedwith a CeraKote Tactical Grey finish for improved external weather resistanceand it has a fluted barrel. The Weatherby Monte Carlo composite stock is pillar-bedded and finishedwith spiderweb accents. Together, these features are designed to shave weightoff of the standard Vanguard Series 2 rifles. That they do, dropping about ¾ poundfrom the standard synthetic and walnut Vanguard models. Unfortunately, recoil increases proportionally and the 2013MSRP is increased from $649.99 (standard synthetic) to a substantial $1399 for the Back Country.
Out of the box, the two-stage trigger was lackluster, breaking at four pounds afterthe first stage take-up. Of course, the Vanguard Series 2 trigger is useradjustable, so you can set the release weight where you want. Just dropthe barreled action out of the stock to adjust the trigger. The pullweight is adjusted by means of a screw with lock nut on the front of the alloytrigger assembly. This allows adjustment between approximately 2.5 and 4.5pounds. Loosen the lock nut and back out the adjustment screw to decrease thepull weight; turn it in to increase the pull weight. Trigger adjustmentinstructions are provided in the Owner's Manual.
Specifications
·Type: Bolt actionhunting rifle
·Model: Vanguard Series2 Back Country
·Caliber: .30-06Springfield (five other calibers available)
·Metal finish: CeraKoteGrey
·Barrel: 24', #2contour, fluted, cold hammer forged
·Twist: RH 1:10 inches
·Trigger: Two-Stage Trigger ; hand-honed,factory-tuned and inspected for a clean, crisp break. Fully adjustable down to2.5 lbs.
·Trigger pull weightas tested: 4 pounds
·Safety: 3 position
·Magazine capacity: 5rounds
·Stock: Composite,Spider web with Monte-Carlo comb
·Drop at comb: 7/8'
·Drop at Monte Carlo:1/2'
·Drop at heel: 1-1/4'
·Length of pull: 13-5/8inches
·Overall length: 44-1/2inches
·Approximate Weight:6-3/4 pounds
·Country of origin:Japan
·2013 MSRP: $1399
After scoping this rifle with a Sightron SII Big Sky 3-9x42mmon top of steel Warne 2-piece bases and Warne Maxima rings, I headed off to therange. Three types of premium ammunition were used: Remington Premier 180 grain SwiftA-Frame (MV 2700 fps), Winchester Supreme 180 grain E-Tip (MV 2750 fps) andFederal Premium Vital-Shok 165 grain Trophy Bonded Tip (MV 2800 fps).
All Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 rifles are guaranteed to shoot a 3-shot group of.99' or less at 100 yards (SUB-MOA) when used with Weatherby factory orpremium ammunition. Unfortunately, the test rifle was unable to meet thatstandard with the three factory loads I had on hand, none of which grouped particularly well. The best of thebunch was easily the Remington Swift A-Frame in this rifle. However, even theSwift A-Frames struggled to get three shots into 1-1/2 inches (1.5 MOA) at 100yards, unimpressive for a Weatherby Vanguard with a SUB-MOA accuracy guarantee andpoor compared to the 3/4 MOA Vanguard .270 Winchester I recently reviewed. (All rifles are ammo sensitive to somedegree and our guess is that none of the tested loads were among this rifle's favorites. -Editor)
My conclusion, based on this testrifle, is not highly favorable. Although the Vanguard Back Country delivers onits promise of less weight, the just adequate accuracy, heavier than idealtrigger out of the box and salty price all point to the Vanguard Sporterinstead of the Back Country. The Vanguard Sporter is a far better-looking rifleat a more modest price.
Weatherby Rifle Serial Number Search
Note: There is an in-depth review of a Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 Stainless Syntheticrifle on the Product Reviews page.