Howa Superlite 308win Field Evaluation

TheGDog

WKR
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Jun 12, 2020
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View attachment 754289

On the left (1,2,5) are groupings from my Tikka .223. Shots next to (3),(4) can be ignored as I was just testing for pressure signs/velocity going up in powder charge from (2). (1) is 55gr V-Max w/ Varget (2) is 55gr V-Max with TAC, (5) is 75gr ELD-M with Varget.

On the right are 3 3-shot groupings from my 6.5 CM super-lite that I've attempted to 'improve' by fixing the inletting so it feeds, clearancing the barrel channel, and glass bedding. I've tried several different bullets and loads with this gun and nothing seems to get it to shoot, they all basically look like this load (100gr BT w/ Staball Match) which was a hail mary attempt to see if it would shoot lighter bullets better. I'm glad that some folks have had better luck with theirs.

If anyone wants mine, it's for sale.
Have ya tried reaching out to them re: getting it replaced? I'm sure with all the documented evidence you've I'm sure got, you can show them you did your due-diligence in trying to find a load that works with it for you, but to no avail. They can learn things when receiving ones back to them like this. IF they bother to try looking for the reasons why. AND they can come off as smelling like a Rose by showing how they were more than willing to work with you on replacement. That sorta thing.
 

matchu865

FNG
Joined
Feb 20, 2023
Messages
27
Have ya tried reaching out to them re: getting it replaced? I'm sure with all the documented evidence you've I'm sure got, you can show them you did your due-diligence in trying to find a load that works with it for you, but to no avail. They can learn things when receiving ones back to them like this. IF they bother to try looking for the reasons why. AND they can come off as smelling like a Rose by showing how they were more than willing to work with you on replacement. That sorta thing.
I got the original poor fitting stock replaced by Legacy with another poor fitting stock, then did the bedding/inletting myself. They'd probably tell me that I screwed it up or something. Unless they promise to rebarrel it for me I'd rather just sell the thing with the caveat that I couldn't get it to shoot. I don't think it's worth the $$$ to take it to a smith for a new barrel, which if I also added aluminum bottom metal would be ~$800-$1000 to have a functional rifle.
 
Joined
Jul 18, 2019
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Just skimmed the latest issue of G&A, looks like this same rifle (is it?). This ad has been running for a while.

9D28DB5A-E8CD-46D1-8EFE-92B7515A5A90.jpeg
 

xsn10s

WKR
Joined
May 3, 2022
Messages
468
Well a very early morning, not enough coffee, purchase of one of Stocky's blem carbon fiber stocks caused me to get one of Brownell's Howa Superlite barreled actions. When I received the action the picatinny rail wasn't installed and there were no screws shipped with it. So I called Brownells and they sent me out some long screws to grind to fit. Being a bit worn out from life's responcibilites I decided to call up Howa to just buy some screws from them. A week latter I got the screws in the mail for free. So I'm pleased with the customer service. The bottom metal did flex when I torqued down the action screws to 35 in/lbs but it feeds just fine so we'll see how it shoots. With an old Leupold VariXIII 2.5-8x32 Mildot reticle it weighes 5lbs 10 ounces. I'll size down some 308 win brass to 7-08 and workup 162gr ELDM's for it.
 

Bama67

Lil-Rokslider
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May 28, 2017
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166
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Sandpoint ID
I'm always surprised when I see Howa get recommended on here so much. I had one of their precision .308 rifles and I was very unimpressed. Fit and Finish wasn't much better than my Ruger American that cost less than half as much, and I could never get the Howa to shoot nearly as well as the Ruger.
Sold it, no interest in another.
 
Joined
Dec 28, 2019
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1,918
I skimmed through the thread and went and tested my Howa Mini action for the cycling/trigger issue.

No issue on mine. Trigger pulls exactly the same after Lee Harvey Oswalding it several times.
 

xsn10s

WKR
Joined
May 3, 2022
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468
I just finished necking down some .308 Win brass to 7-08 and sighted in with 162gr ELDM's/ SB 6.5. Ran into some pressure with a mid-book load so I'm neck turning the brass and tuning the dies for better runout. I don't find the recoil bad at all for such a light rifle.
 

Igloo

FNG
Joined
Jul 2, 2023
Messages
87
I was able to recreate the "heavy trigger phenomenon" on a Vanguard chambered in 6.5 CM. Took a few tries though, and working it with some mustard lol. Think it was Sun_and_steel who asked me to try in the first place actually.
 

Luke S

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jul 7, 2019
Messages
255
Does the heavy trigger thing happen for just the one shot after working the bolt or is it stuck that way?
 

Igloo

FNG
Joined
Jul 2, 2023
Messages
87
Just one shot after having worked the bolt hard/fast enough for the sear/trigger to catch each other as meant to.

its back to normal afterward

Personally I think unless you're working the bolt with "Battle of Mons" intensity its not really gonna happen...but it does happen.
 

TheGDog

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Jun 12, 2020
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I am also wondering how much this rifle is effected by the recoil of the 308 and if the 6.5 or .243 would have preferable results.
Obv recoil is different for each person. Lot of it depends on damage you already have, like to your shoulders. I've had a few tears in there over the years, and surgical correction on my shooting side.

This UltraLite, in 6.5cm, was SO MUCH nicer to shoot then my much heavier Savage Trophy Hunter in .308 Win. w a heavy (21oz) scope on it, with that 168gr TTSX load. (Personally I wouldn't like to go much higher than that in terms of recoil. But that's just me.)

I liked the difference so much so, that for my needs (just Mule Deer and hopefully Bear some day), I decide to drop down to 130gr TTSX on the .308 Win. Which essentially gives you the same thing as the 6.5cm. Just that the 6.5cm overtakes it in retained energy past 400yds, due to the better B.C. since less frontal area.
 
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Sep 10, 2014
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hawai'i
@Formidilosus

Thanks for doing exactly what I'd like to see before buying this rifle.

With modern manufacturing methods, this type of quality and accuracy should be non-existent.
He saved me some money too. I wanted to try one so bad due to the weight but thought it'd function worse and that's not rly worth it I. The long run. Got another Tikka instead
 
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