Thread: Howa 223 not shooting well and my quest to fix it

If it's new, and didn't shoot right I'd just take it back for another one under the Consumer Guarantees Act.... Probably too late now though if it's been bedded....

I've got one in 7.62 x39 shoots 1 inch groups and goats with chinese mil surp, can't complain.

I've done the pen spring job in a couple of rifles, works a treat. Absolutely no safety or reliability issues. The 3.5" floppy shutter spring works well on the Marlin Semi's too.

yeah iv done it on countless 22s too
probably on centerfires too
you gotta break a lot of pens to find the "right spring" dont use the first one you find

I still have 3 Howas, In 7RM, 708 cut down and a 223. so Obviously i'm sold on them. I have had a play with the old Tekka and wasn't impressed, didn't like the feel but that's just a personal preference thing.

To be honest if I bought one that couldn't thread a needle I'd just take it back and ask for a replacement.

I have bedded and stiffened the fore-end on my RM but the others I have just left as is. all of them i have polished up the trigger and adjusted where I want it. As for getting it so light you need a pen spring I just don't see the point for a hunting rifle. I personally don't think it is worth it, Triggers don't make rifles more or less accurate, factory with a little tickle up they are good to go. for the lighter 20" light 1500, there is plenty of clearance on the fore end. I only did it on the big boy as I run a bi-pod.

so how did it shoot

Originally Posted by northdude

so how did it shoot

Will be finding out Monday/Tuesday we are waiting on a new scope for it
Well new to him a fixed 12x leupold target scope
Hasn’t arrived yet
Won’t be going on the rifle full time but will be perfect for accuracy test/ load development
@northdude ive finished with your tool
I’ll return it tomorrow at some point
I’ll text you

in a technical sence @William is right a bad trigger heavy or creepy dosnt make a rifle more accurate or less accurate the only affects the shooters ability to shoot it accurately

although i have never met anyone capable (who has good enough trigger control) to shoot a 5lb trigger as well as a 2lb trigger
and i know alot of very good shooters

Originally Posted by rambo-6mmrem

in a technical sence @William is right a bad trigger heavy or creepy dosnt make a rifle more accurate or less accurate the only affects the shooters ability to shoot it accurately

although i have never met anyone capable (who has good enough trigger control) to shoot a 5lb trigger as well as a 2lb trigger
and i know alot of very good shooters

This is true and I agree, I'd prefer a nice, crisp, light trigger.
That is what I was getting at that the trigger isn't a technical component to accuracy. Practical accuracy might be a different story.
My point is more that the trigger they come with are very usable for hunting as they aren't that bad and are user adjustable.

I've never had a problem with either of the mini actioned 223, x39 or 6.5 grendel. simply Point, aim & shoot. Accuracy has been great ...if I aim straight. Rabbits, goats & deer all fall over so no worries.

geeze you guys dont know what a bad trigger is...when I first got my winchester model 70 lightweight...you found a deer,dug a strainerpost hole,rammed in a strainer,tied the rifle to it and then hooked up a D7 to the trigger and pulled the winchrope lever....the rifle would fire just before Caterpillar motor stalled and hopefully the rifle was still pointed at deer!!!!!

that trigger is the easiest thing to adjust,right down to silly light in weight....I did have it way light but found 2lb is about right for me.
will watch this thread with interest as mates looking for a new rifle and any tips n tricks to get what he MIGHT buy are good to have.

Soo I finally got out to the range/farm paddock with a bench
I had some handloads i had cooked up with some 50gn sp sx hornady and cfe223
Accuracy improved a long way the rifle can now be called a consistent shooter Of arround the 1-1.1 inch 5 shot groups at 100m
It’s consistent that’s the main thing just gotta find a bullet it likes now

And im sure it will be a half inch gun like the rest

those spsx are SUPER soft....they used to do very nasty things to wallabies.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

those spsx are SUPER soft....they used to do very nasty things to wallabies.

So im told
This rifle didn’t really like them though Shot them good enough to tell me ive fixed the issues
And its now just a matter of finding the right projectile/load��

rebarrel to 6x45 problem solved 🤔🤣😉