Howa Varminter?

[JonB]

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4756335

Any of you guys have experience with Howa Varminter in .223?

I have looked at Tikka (nice) and Savage (nice again), and came across this one at a Walmart of all places. Looks very similar to a CZ in price.

Only thing that may be an issue is the 1:12 twist rate, but CZ Varminter has the same. Tikka and Savage are both 1:9 (I think, or maybe one of them is 1:8)

 

[SUBMOAS]

Great shooter!!!

Purchased a .223 for my friend as a gift two years ago. With to the range to break it in with 52gr HPBT Ultramax ammo. That rifle shot 1" groups with that ammo????
We did some reloading for it and it now is a .65"-.80" rifle.... A great BANG for the Buck....
Needless to say we were very impressed.
With that 1-12 twist you can shoot some light and fast bullets....

Also remember that the Weatherby MOA Vanguard is a Howa built rifle.

 

[JonB]

Cool thanks. So probably on par with any other $500 rifle in .223. I did find a review at Sniper Central ( http://www.snipercentral.com/howa.htm ) that said the pretty pepper laminate stock I want is definitely right hand only. I shoot left handed so that won't work. Stocks are from Boyd's I believe.

Walmart price puts them almost the same as what I can get a Savage 12BVSS for. Tikka T3 Lite is around 550 or so.

 

[MachIVshooter]

I bought one 5 years ago and plopped a Bushnell 6-18x 50mm scope on it. Hard to beat a $550 set up that is sub-MOA with nearly every type of ammo. The slower rifling does not lend itself to the heavier bullets (over 70 grains), but no one I know uses the heavy match-type bullets on vermin anyway. I use 40 grain V-max's almost exclusively.

With carefully manufactured handloads, this rifle has produced consistent 13/16" 5-shot 100 yard benchrest groups using the 40 grain V-max (3-shot groups average 11/16"). Only mod I made was adjusting the trigger down to 8.2 ounces with 0.040" pull. I will warn that turning it down this far renders the safety inop. I did not find this to be an issue with a benchrest/varmint rifle, but some folks may disagree.

For the last couple years, it has been a backup to my Weaver 4-16x 42mm fine reticle-topped Remington 700 LVSF .17 rem. It is either lent to a friend when we go or used in a busy praire rat town when the .17 gets too warm.

Tough to beat the M1500 for a budget varmint gun.

 

[locobombero]

Just as a suggestion check budsgunshop.com. I have 2 Howas and buds was able to beat my Walmart by just a few dollars after figuring tax at walmart vs. shipping/FFL. If your not in a huge huge hurry buds may be the way to go.

 

[rangerruck]

I would not do any varmint gun with a 1.12. twist rate, i would settle for no less than 1/9. the cz kevlar varmint is a 1/9 or 1/8 twist. the cz 527 is 1/12. the most it will do grain weight wise is, about 60 grains. a 1/9 will do a 75 grainer.

 

[JonB]

Twist (rate) and shout

Exactly why I was looking more at the Tikka and/or Savage. Seems with a tighter twist I would have more variety of ammo to plink with. I don't reload so not sure that it would matter much.

I haven't bought any of the above because I can feel and AR in my future as well - maybe a RRA with 20" varmiter barrel with a Wylde chamber - 5.56 or .223 in just about any wieght. That would be an all around flexible and fun gun to have. Maybe not as accurate as a bolt gun, but probably more accurate than the gun running it anyway (me).