Howa barrel quality

[Bama67]

I only had one Howa, a heavy barreled .308
I never could get it to shoot as half as accurately as my cheap Ruger American .308 so I sold it.
I wasn't blown away by the fit and finish either, especially for the Japanese manufacture.

 

[cbuck516]

I own three Howas and all factory barrels have been capable of at least 1/2MOA with load development.

 

[AZ_Hunter]

I don't use short action chamberings in long action receivers, so Tikka. I hate the wing ding safeties, so any with Mauser style action, including model 70s. I will not stalk or walk into a stand through thick terrain with a rifle without a bolt lock, so model 700 styles are out unless it's basically a clear walk into a ladder or box stand. I seem to only use these on easy hunts with newbies, as I have some nice shooting youth rifles which are 700 style.

So what actions do you use?

 

[KyleR1985]

Took a brand new Howa mini 6ARC and reamed the factory barrel to 6Dasher.

Cut it to 16” and threaded.

“Crowned” the end of the barrel with a brass button head screw and valve compound in a drill.

I bedded the action with relief under the recoil lug, with contact behind lug and the first inch of chamber.

20 shots or so were fired by guy who did the work to make sure everything functioned and to test speed at 22”,18”, 16”.

I loaded various stuff in virgin brass to get a sense of what will work for me before I have fire formed brass and start development.

These are shots 30-35 (or there about).

108eldm factory seconds, f205’s, virgin peterson seconds brass, 32gr Varget, 2.315” OAL.

Off the bench with a rest under front of rifle.

I’m 2/2 with Howa factory barrels I’m lucky I guess.

 

[KenLee]

So what actions do you use?

Browning a-bolt 1&2, x-bolt, real Ruger M77 w tang safety, Savage 10,11,110, 111. Steyr prohunter.

 

[General RE LEE]

Something I've noticed with my Howa. The barrel doesnt like to be hot. 2-3 shots are tight and then it needs to cool. I know other barrels do better with heat, but my Howa is finicky.

If anyone is getting a good group and then starts getting fliers, let it cool.

 

[cbuck516]

Something I've noticed with my Howa. The barrel doesnt like to be hot. 2-3 shots are tight and then it needs to cool. I know other barrels do better with heat, but my Howa is finicky.

If anyone is getting a good group and then starts getting fliers, let it cool.

I think this is probably dependent on barrel profile and cartridge. I have a pencil thin Howa 300PRC that behaves as you described, but a Heavy profile 6.5CM that can handle 20 shots before it gets anywhere close to hot, but groups never move around. Many Howa barrels are that thinner profile though.

 

[mainbeam pursuit2]

The two Howa's I have are very good shooting rifles. Like any of the other thin barreled rifles I have, they will heat up. Mine are 22-250 and 243.