Weatherby/Howa trigger and stock questions

S

shelton573

Active member
Hey guys,

I bought one of the Walmart vanguards when they were on sale and I am about to start load development with the new Sierra bullets. Usually if I buy a factory rifle, I start to modify it as soon as possible. With deer season right around the corner, I don’t have time or really want to spend the money to fix it all up. So I had a few questions for you guys.

If you all replace the trigger, what trigger are you using? I have looked at the timney and rifle basix, but only the timney says it is compatible with the HACT trigger model. Does anyone know if the RB works with the HACT model? I will try to call them as time at work allows

Second question, do you guys free float the barrel on these rifles or shoot them with the pressure points on the barrel? Thought about sanding the stock but will likely shoot it first to find out how it shoots. Just curious what your experiences have been

Any info is much appreciated!
 
the trigger isn't terrible if you lighten the spring up a coil or 2. still has a little creep, but its usable. the only trigger ive found is the timney, but maybe i didnt see the rifle basics.

my 243 got glass and pillar bedded into a grs laminate hunter, which is an awesome stock personally, floated barrel. it took some work in 243 but finally got the velocity I was after with decent accuracy, about .75 5 shot groups. a different bullet may have changed that but I wanted to use the 87 gr sierra and that's good enough for deer out to too far for a 243.
 
I have a stainless Vanguard S2 in 257 Wby that I've owned for a couple of years and recently bought a Walmart Select in 243.

I'm not a fan of 2 stage triggers in bolt rifles and the S2 trigger doesn't adjust light enough for me so both rifles had Timney's #611 installed. The 257 shoots 1/4" 3 shot groups with H1000 and 110 accubonds. The 243 is still in the load development stage but so far I've gotten a couple 1/2" groups with IMR4350 and Speer 85 BTSP bullets.

I haven't seen a need to change stocks with the way both shoot.
 
Thanks for the info guys! I may try to trim the spring first, then go the trigger replacement route, but like ghostman said I'm not a fan of the two stage triggers.
 
Just a quick update for anyone who may want a trigger for their Howa/vanguard. I purchased the rifle basix Weatherby-V trigger which is 12 oz-1.5 lb directly from rifle basix. I got it installed and it does replace the HACT trigger with no issues. Seems to be a pretty good trigger just from messing with it. I will be doing some load development tomorrow so I’ll know a bit more then.
 
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