6mm/204 ???

Hello Folks

I have a Howa model 1500 with a shot out barrel, Headcase (from the other forum) sold it to me as such and I don't think he was telling any porkies when he stated it had had 4000 plus rounds through it. It still shoots about 30-40 mm groups but thats not so interesting for a 223. It has the Howa 10 shot mag.

So I got to thinking after my first plan for a truck gun didn't quite meet my expectations . . . . how about rebarrel the Howa to 6mm-204 - it should be the ducks nuts for anything "rabbit to redskin".

I see a few guys have had a go with them, Kiwi Greg's one being a case in point.

The Mag on my Howa could be adapted to take quite long loads as its got a spacer in the back, I'd also have to modify the bolt stop.

I was sorta thinking a Criterion barrel, profiled to the same weight as the Howa Alpine, 1:8 twist, and 18" long.

Has anyone had any recent experience with this cartridge . . . recommendations for a smith with the reamer (although I understand you can use a 204 reamer with a 6mm pilot) and dies, looks like some people at least are using a modified Redfield "S" die.

Thoughts??

I would just do it, I have a 6.5TCU (6.5/223 if you prefer) and its by far my favorite and I can hit stuff further than you would think with it. When I wear the barrel out it might become a 6.5-204 but then I wouldn't get free brass anymore.

Desert guns in Cromwell has 6x45 reamer if that helps

Go ahead and do it, I was so close to doing the same build with my Jongmans in .223 but as I have 2 barrels for it a 1/8 and a 1/12 with only a few hundred through each Barrel and they probably wouldn't fit any other action I canned the idea.What would I do with the barrels?

Think KG might have the only reamer. Could use Redding S dies for a 204 and swap out the bushing for the 6mm.
Ive got a 6x45 and really rate it, dies off the shelf and plenty of brass around. However if you want the extra fps and have the mag space go for the 6-204 in a 1:8

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4k shots for a .223 seems fckall to wear out a barrel . . get it recrowned first before you chuck it out

Very sound advice, had a savage trophy hunter I bought 2nd hand the owner was up front said it shot so so. It did, was thinking of passing it on but took it to a guy who has done a few rifles for me. His first statement was crown. $50 later and it shoots 5 shots touching at 100m. Round count is now over 6k and the groups havnt opened up.
Makes me wonder how many rifles have been sworn at and sold off when the fix was so simple.

Well despite all advice including my own (and the "voice of reason" eh @Kiwi-Hunter) I've now spent the truck gun dollars allocation - got a Howa mini blued 223 with a cheap scope in steel rings (Panamax 3-9) that was on special for $700 all up.

The Mini has a 1:9 twist and from reports seems to stabilize up to 75gn projectiles - that'll have to do, and from two reviews it looks like it shoots different projectile weights very close to the same POI. Mag length is just over 58mm so a little bit of room to play with COAL.

Cheap, not too nasty, and will fit in the tool tub. Not threaded but I don't want it suppressed anyway.

The Howa Stainless 1500 223 in the Houge stock (one major reason for not going with it, the rubbery feeling of the Houge just doesn't do it for me) is now for sale - $450 plus post

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Originally Posted by Marty Henry

Very sound advice, had a savage trophy hunter I bought 2nd hand the owner was up front said it shot so so. It did, was thinking of passing it on but took it to a guy who has done a few rifles for me. His first statement was crown. $50 later and it shoots 5 shots touching at 100m. Round count is now over 6k and the groups havnt opened up.
Makes me wonder how many rifles have been sworn at and sold off when the fix was so simple.

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I was going to say the same thing, get it checked.... might be an option to ream it out to a .22-.243 something I'm thinking of with my .22-250 which is looking at a faster twist barrel... or perhaps the new 224 Valkyrie...

Not sure you get a 20cal pill big enough for deer?