Just wondered if any one on here had one of the heavy barrel Howa varmint rifles. An if so how do you like it and your thoughts.
I bought a Howa heavy barrel wooden stock 223 for my son from Westside Loan a few years ago. I cut the barrel down to 18", Devconed (is that a word) the stock and slicked up the trigger. It is a nice shooting and very well made rifle. It is also a very smoth rifle. Most parts interchange with Weatherby rifles. I like them myself.
I load for the wife's Howa. Being a 12 twist it likes lighter bullets. Her 532 yard prairie dog was taken with white box Winchester 45 gr HP before I started reloading. I stay with 50 gr and lighter bullets for the gun. The 12 twist will not stabilize longer/heavier bullets. We actually tried some 62 gr steel core penetrators when we ran out of ammo at the range one day. With 50 VMax she was shooting one-hole groups at 100 yards. When we ran out, she tried the penetrators and couldn't hit a 4'x4' cardboard. We moved to the 25 yard line and the penetrators were hitting the target sideways. They are very long for weight. Length being the problem.
Thats a heck of a shot at that distance with such a light weight bullet. Nice shooting!
You've confirmed my thoughts Rob. I was thinking of picking up some 50gr Amax or some 52gr Hornady match for load testing. What kind of powder were you running, I normaly have been using Varget in all my match loads for the 308 that I load.
Yea I have heard good things about the 308caliber models, just know one I know or have talked to has shot much of the 223 howa's. Sounds like from the digging Ive done they seem to be spot on accurate though.
I've never handled one in .223, but I have a Howa 1500 in .204 Ruger, and it shoots better than I do.