A friend of mine brought me his sons Howa 1500 7mm 08 to look at after missing a couple of deer. We shot it and it gave us a couple of 4-5” inch groups . Wow! This lil rifle would shoot 1” all day for the last 4 years with federal premium ammo. It came with a youth stock and full size hogue stock so went ahead and switched stocks because he’s grown into it anyhow and put a known good scope on it. All screws were checked and torqued and Cleaned he barrel . Bore sight was on paper and shot 3 groups with 2 different bullets. The gun printed two 4” groups and one 3/4” group! I ate lunch and let it cool completely and it shot a 5” group with the bullets that gave me the 3/4” earlier!! I’m lost on this one. The rifle has about 100 rounds through it and is in great condition. The crown
Check the barrel channel and if there isn't 1/16" clearance the whole length, sand, file or otherwise provide clearance. Also, check the receiver bedding by removing screws, then wiggling the barrel to see how much play there may be. If it wiggles in the bedding, consider using bedding compound to minimize movement. Pillar bedding is always a good thing.
If you go the bedding route, be sure to put two layers of masking tape on the sides, front and bottom of the recoil plate, then remove all traces of it after hardening/action removal.
Good luck in making accuracy better. It's a good rifle and just may a little "love" to make it great.
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My experience is that bedding Howas helps.
looks fine. In the bad groups we would get 2 holes touching, then the next one would be 4” away. Mostly strung them horizontal , up and down wasn’t terrible.
