unwise11
Member
Alright, for those of you who dont know me, I am J.D. a 14 year old shooter, I was gifted a Howa M-1500 for my 14th birthday from My dad, I got it a couple weeks early. In late September, I was in love with the rifle from the first time I handled one, In the Stockbridge Army Navy Store.
So, I returned a couple weeks after looking at it, and dad let me pick it out.
I was very happy, It included a Nikko Stirling 3.5-10x44 Illuminated Reticle scope, some cheap rings I was not too impressed with after the slipping started, and a nice solid EGW 20 MOA if I'm right, base.
The total cost of the Howa, was about $550.00 out the door, and they were nice enough to let me have a box of Hornady A-Max 168 grain ammo.
I was like a dog with his head out the window, really exited.
I got to shoot it two days later, I at first thought it was the ammo, but I realized, it was me, I had developed a terrible flinch I am now over, but I was all over a target at 100 yards.
After that I was shooting with an adult who was watching me, and corrected my flinch.
Thats when I realized the rifle's ability to group, and how rewarding it is too shoot something so accurately, I had always been a squirrel sniper with the Model 67 Winchester single shot .22 but the .308 is a different game.
The rifle has produced groups recently that are 1 inch or under with Hornady factory match ammo.
down to some .5" 3 shot groups, and some .75" 5 shot groups.
I am now a big fan of Howa, the fit and finish from factory is good.
The trigger is at about 5 pounds, with a little creep, but I have yet to correct it. It doesn't bother me much anymore, and hasn't hurt the accuracy much.
The rifle has not shot accurately with Winchester Powerpointammo, or Remington Core-lokts.
It does, however shoot well with Hornady A-max 168, Hornady Interlock 165 grain BTSP, and Federal Gold Medal 168, it will shoot about anything 2 MOA, but with the listed ammo Mine has shot the tighter groups.
I have today, ran 150 grain Hornady BTSP in a Hornady match case, over 46.5 grains of Varget, I don't load myself yet.
These loads were by Don, the rangemaster cooked em up for me, and It's what I have favored over others, due to the recoil not being as fierce as the heavyer bullets.
So, after about 3 months. All I can say is WOW.
I'm happy.
The bolt is silky smooth, and the Hogue stock it came in is good enough for anyones hunting or casual shooting needs, and the rifle can easily be dropped into a Bell and Carlson if desired.
although it is a sporter barrel, my scale says the rifle weight 9.5 Lbs.
It balances well in hand, and feels tough.
I have shot it out to 300 yards today and was impressed with the group, since I have never shot that far before, and I didn't test the loads at 200 yards, so I guess I went out on a wild hair and did it, I fired 5 shots of the 150 grain hornady handload, all hit, and 3 federal GMM 168 grain, all missed.
But were more likely due to the heavier bullet dropping faster and the group was already low on the target.
I know, I know, get it over with..
Wrapping it up I give this rifle a rating of 8 out of 10, the only thing to be desired is a smoother bore, because this rifle will foul after about 200 rounds if you don't use a copper solvent, sorry Hoppes No. 9 original guys. Didn't work.
Thanks for reading if you did, here are the pics of targets from the range today. Along with a picture of the rifle.
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First group shot, with 150 grain handloads.
[/IMG]
Second group shot, also 150 grain handloads, after adjusting scope.
[/IMG]
Third group shot, With 175 grain BTHP M118 L-R Sniper ammo.
[/IMG]
Heres the fun part, 300 yards, a little wind, Moved Up 12 clicks in scope, which I returned to zero afterwards. still hit low, 3 shots of Federal GMM missed. The 5 150 grain loads fired hit, and groups fair if you ask me, I have never shot out to 300 yards before.
[/IMG]
Thanks for reading any questions about the Howa you may have are cool.
So, I returned a couple weeks after looking at it, and dad let me pick it out.
I was very happy, It included a Nikko Stirling 3.5-10x44 Illuminated Reticle scope, some cheap rings I was not too impressed with after the slipping started, and a nice solid EGW 20 MOA if I'm right, base.
The total cost of the Howa, was about $550.00 out the door, and they were nice enough to let me have a box of Hornady A-Max 168 grain ammo.
I was like a dog with his head out the window, really exited.
I got to shoot it two days later, I at first thought it was the ammo, but I realized, it was me, I had developed a terrible flinch I am now over, but I was all over a target at 100 yards.
After that I was shooting with an adult who was watching me, and corrected my flinch.
Thats when I realized the rifle's ability to group, and how rewarding it is too shoot something so accurately, I had always been a squirrel sniper with the Model 67 Winchester single shot .22 but the .308 is a different game.
The rifle has produced groups recently that are 1 inch or under with Hornady factory match ammo.
down to some .5" 3 shot groups, and some .75" 5 shot groups.
I am now a big fan of Howa, the fit and finish from factory is good.
The trigger is at about 5 pounds, with a little creep, but I have yet to correct it. It doesn't bother me much anymore, and hasn't hurt the accuracy much.
The rifle has not shot accurately with Winchester Powerpointammo, or Remington Core-lokts.
It does, however shoot well with Hornady A-max 168, Hornady Interlock 165 grain BTSP, and Federal Gold Medal 168, it will shoot about anything 2 MOA, but with the listed ammo Mine has shot the tighter groups.
I have today, ran 150 grain Hornady BTSP in a Hornady match case, over 46.5 grains of Varget, I don't load myself yet.
These loads were by Don, the rangemaster cooked em up for me, and It's what I have favored over others, due to the recoil not being as fierce as the heavyer bullets.
So, after about 3 months. All I can say is WOW.
I'm happy.
The bolt is silky smooth, and the Hogue stock it came in is good enough for anyones hunting or casual shooting needs, and the rifle can easily be dropped into a Bell and Carlson if desired.
although it is a sporter barrel, my scale says the rifle weight 9.5 Lbs.
It balances well in hand, and feels tough.
I have shot it out to 300 yards today and was impressed with the group, since I have never shot that far before, and I didn't test the loads at 200 yards, so I guess I went out on a wild hair and did it, I fired 5 shots of the 150 grain hornady handload, all hit, and 3 federal GMM 168 grain, all missed.
But were more likely due to the heavier bullet dropping faster and the group was already low on the target.
I know, I know, get it over with..
Wrapping it up I give this rifle a rating of 8 out of 10, the only thing to be desired is a smoother bore, because this rifle will foul after about 200 rounds if you don't use a copper solvent, sorry Hoppes No. 9 original guys. Didn't work.
Thanks for reading if you did, here are the pics of targets from the range today. Along with a picture of the rifle.
First group shot, with 150 grain handloads.
Second group shot, also 150 grain handloads, after adjusting scope.
Third group shot, With 175 grain BTHP M118 L-R Sniper ammo.
Heres the fun part, 300 yards, a little wind, Moved Up 12 clicks in scope, which I returned to zero afterwards. still hit low, 3 shots of Federal GMM missed. The 5 150 grain loads fired hit, and groups fair if you ask me, I have never shot out to 300 yards before.
Thanks for reading
any questions about the Howa you may have are cool.
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