Howa 1500 6.5 PRC accuracy issues

[razorsharptokill]

I bought a Howa 1500 carbon barreled action from Brownells. I put it in a HS precisions stock, torqued to their specs. I have a vortex diamondback 6x24 diamondback that has previously done well on my grendel. I have about 70 rds through this rifle now and the accuracy at 100 yards is troubling. I am capable of MOA or under with any rifle that will shoot that well. Attached are some group pics.

After breaking in the barrel the groups would have two pretty good shots then one flier, always in a different direction. I glass bedded the action, took it out yesterday and the groups are even worse. Barrel is free floated. I'm shooting factory 143 gr eld-x. I tried loosening the action screws from 65 as HS states, to 45 in lbs. No real improvement.

 

[ssimo]

Did you try different ammo?

 

[razorsharptokill]

Also tried 20 rds of eld-m 147gr, similar results

 

[menhaden_man]

Folks will show up here shortly to bang on your scope. But I might be inclined to try another one you have just to confirm.

 

[razorsharptokill]

Yeah, scope performed on my Grendel upper shooting sub 1/2 MOA. I have a Leupold mkIV that I KNOW is a proven performer. I may try that to be sure. If it wont shoot the ELD stuff, I'd say there is an issue. Perhaps tom slight upward barrel pressure up front might settle it down? The barrel is carbon, 1st one that I have had. There is a bout a 1/16" gap between it and the scope bell. Could it flex enough to come into contact?

 

[grfox92]

Could be the scope. Maybe not. I have had a 3x9 Diamondback since 2017 that at this point looks like it fell off a cliff and it still functions flawless and holds zero.

Howa has a 1moa guarantee, and from what I understand, they care of it when it happens. It seems to be rare for Howa but every company has their lemons.

Sent from my SM-G990U2 using Tapatalk

 

[ssimo]

Before changing the scope you should definitely try some other factory ammo. This is the most improtant variable by far.
Also make sure to let the barrel cool down a bit after the first 2 shots. I have never seen a rifle producing a flier just after 2 rounds because of heat, especially in winter, but any barrel is different so who knows. This way you can exclude another possible reason without too much effort.
If the problem was in the scope i doubt you would get the first 2 shots grouping decently. And before the bext range trip reinstall the scope accordingly to scope manufacturer specs. Make sure to torque action screws to spec, too.

Also try to to make a 6 shot group made only by 3 first 2 shot groups.

If you are not 100% sure about your shooting skills, let another more experienced shooter try the rifle.

Only after all that i would start questioning the mounting of the scope and after that the scope itself.

Maybe it's just a lemon

 

[PredatorSlayer]

6.5 PRC recoil is significantly more than a 6.5 grendel. Are you using a brake or a can? Have you had somebody else shoot it?

 

[JGRaider]

2 shot close together, then a flier would make me check bedding, barrel free float, action screws, mounts, etc before the scope, especially the bedding/barrel.

 

[razorsharptokill]

I can shoot sub MOA groups with handloads out of my .308 Howa . I think the recoil is similar between the two. No one else has shot tit yet but I am very confident in my abilities. Curious if a brake would affect harmonics enough to alter group size. It's the inconsistent fliers that concern me most. It's not always the third shot. I could live ( but not thrilled with) 1 MOA as long as it was consistent.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

Are you letting the barrel cool between shots?

 

[razorsharptokill]

Yes. It was 15 degrees the first time I shot it, and 25 degrees yesterday. The barrel never heated up.

 

[hereinaz]

Start torquing the action screws together and bring them tight together to keep it flat.

Because the front action screw goes into the recoil lug, there is the possibility of pulling it tight and creating torque on the action by creating a pivot point. You can see what I am talking about it by tightening the front one first and you can see the rear of the action lift.

Carefully tighten both of them slowly so that the action stays flat. Its important to get the rear action screw tight enough first.

 

[razorsharptokill]

Yes, I incrementally tightened them alternately and equally until torque was reached.

 

[General RE LEE]

Dump it and go get a Tikka.

Thank you I will be back again at 11:00. Don't forget to tip the bar and servers.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

Yes. It was 15 degrees the first time I shot it, and 25 degrees yesterday. The barrel never heated up.

Dump it and go get a Tikka.

Thank you I will be back again at 11:00. Don't forget to tip the bar and servers.

Tikkas have their fair share of problems like any other mass produced rifle. It just isn’t a popular point to discuss on this forum.

 

[ssimo]

Tikkas have their fair share of problems like any other mass produced rifle. It just isn’t a popular point to discuss on this forum.

Of course, i agree 100%. Answers like "just get a tikka" are so frequent and so crazy at the same time

 

[General RE LEE]

Tikkas have their fair share of problems like any other mass produced rifle. It just isn’t a popular point to discuss on this forum.

I was kidding. I am interested in a Howa Mini Action build at some point.

 

[grfox92]

Tikkas have their fair share of problems like any other mass produced rifle. It just isn’t a popular point to discuss on this forum.

Tread lightly my friend. I hear the pitchforks coming.

Sent from my SM-G990U2 using Tapatalk

 

[razorsharptokill]

Boxed it up and will ship it back to Howa. Brownells offered no help and referred me to Howa. I read one review that was the same as my exact issue. I have given this action a valiant effort. Over 80 rounds of quality factory ammo and I was lucky to get ONE group that was .995". (the Howa standard) Most are more like 1.8" and a few were even over 2"! The fliers are always in a different direction and at different times in the group.