Thread: Opinions and experiences of Howa 1500 mini heavy barrel 223

It's a hobby horse of mine - if you already have a Tikka and are used to it, then get another tikka:
Same trigger pull, magazine release in the same place, magazine inserted the same way, stock height and length is the same, bolt feels the same when manipulating, same hold on the stock at the same place, scope height is the same, etc...

I've seen too many people swap around rifles and not get unconsciously familiar with any of them, leading to many mistakes.
(as most on here will own many rifles....... sitting back and waiting for the flame war!!!)

I've had 2 X Blued Howa Mini Varmint 223, both were sold to mates cause they shot like stink with Fiocchi ammo.

I bought a new Stainless Mini Varmint 223 earlier this year, 5 shot handload group were 0.5 moa so I pulled the barrel and its now on my hornet. Still shoots good, 5 shot groups at 200m went 0.6moa

and just this week I ordered a Stainless Howa mini 223 sporter 22inch which should turn up today, will test fire over the weekend with some 51gr Mono's and then run a 22 ARC reamer up it for a lightweight walk about gun. Stainless barrelled action are available over here for between $660-725 ( Sporter 22 inch/ 20inch Varmint) and represent outstanding value.

The heavy barreled Howa minis particularly with new botton metal, and tourqed correctly are very good shooters. Pm @Tentman

I had a heavy barrell Howa 223 in a Knoxx stock (normal action - pre dated the mini action) . Sold the Knoxx Axiom and got a Boyds Walnut varmint stock. It shot brilliantly with anything under 50gr. It really liked the 35gr Vmax in reloads.....With 55gr pills it was fussy- some it liked such as Hornady 50box bulk and American eagle. Others like the superformance, Highland and fedral it really hated. If I tried 69 gr or copper frangibles 55gr - these shot like a shotgun with a 'nice' open spread.....

It has a 1:12 or 1:12 twist and was really made as a varmint rig rather than the 1:7 ish twists of a lot of other 223 made for the heavier 55-69gr pills.

These were well made and shot really well with the lighter grain ammos. but it was heavy with the bull barrel. Not a 'carry it all day ' rifle .....but it stayed accurate after a pack or so through it in quick succession....

I regret selling it, but I enjoy the motorcycle it helped pay for...

Expectations? Of the rifle and your own shooting. For a start 3 and 5 shot groups are dammed near a waste of time in establishing if a rifle will actually shoot or not and are definitely bloody useless at diagnosing what's going on with either rifle or shooter. About all they tell you is what not to pursue, a large group of 3 is never going to get smaller, but even then it can be the "nut behind the butt".

Here is the first set of groups (I think, I forgot to date it) from @Norwest s heavy barrel mini - this came to me used, I don't know the round count but probly somewhere between 50 and 200 - bore looked new and is particularly nice. Some pretty interesting results, right from the start it looked like it wanted to shoot. But there are six different ammos on this target, which is a bit of a luxury, and not practical for a lot of people. Two of the factory ammos were pretty ordinary, way not MOA. All of the groups have a "solid core" or cluster, which I think is usually indicative of a rifle that will shoot well (eventually). And shoot well it does, see the graphic on the "3 Identical Factory Rifles" thread.



Now here is the first target shot with a brand new Howa mini heavy barrel. It had one round fired then clean with ammonia break-in regime for ten rounds.

The group top right were the next 8 rounds, sent shoot two, clean, supposed to be 10 but that's all I had of that ammo. The rifle was only bore sighted so the group ended up off my bit of paper between two shots already present - normally I discard this sort of thing, but saved it this time out of ego.

I then shot to bottom row, but the wind was getting up and I didn't feel I was shooting that well. The two top groups were fired with junk rounds that had either misfired in another rifle, or were otherwise damaged ( most of them by using the wrong seater).

This rifle (most Howa's from my experience and what I've read) probably needs 100-200 rounds through them before it "settles down".



So if I'd just gone off that first "group" you might think I had a real zinger, the 5 shot ones aren't bad either. If you went off any of the ten shot groups you might be a bit disappointed. But all this is is a rifle where you have to set your ego and expectations aside and shoot it some more, always asking the question, am I shooting well today (usually I like to take a proven rifle to the range and give myself a wee test)? And what is the rifle telling me?

Hope this helps.

Originally Posted by Westie

Hi all,

I am in the difficult process of narrowing down a rifle for my next 223. Unfortunately I purchased a Extreme Hunter in 223 which turned out to be a complete lemon, this has now put me off Bergara, so I'm left with a Howa or Tikka.

A bit of background: I already own a fantastic Tikka T3 in .270 which happily prints sub MOA groups if I do my part, and I am a big fan of the action and trigger on the Tikka's however it's hard to go past the value in a Howa barreled action.

The 223 will mostly be used for paper punching and some goats etc so I'm leaning more towards a heavy barrel profile like the Howa.

What are your experiences with the Howa Mini heavy barrel in 223, is it on par in terms of accuracy with a Tikka? I will be hand loading for this so that should help a bit. I have also heard there can be some problems with the magazine release and reported feeding issues.

If you currently own a Howa or have had experience with them, positive or negative, It would be great to hear.

Thanks.

**This picture is a recent three shot group from my T3 in a GRS berserk stock running 130gn Hornady interlock behind AR2209 at 200m**

Attachment 283043

I like shooting at that place

Thanks for everyone's inputs! At this stage I'm going to build up a rig from a Howa heavy barreled action, seems good value and can't fault the good reviews on here.

I own a howa mini 223 heavy stainless barrel. Very accurate and happy so far. Mag release is a pain but getting the guard to solve that. Mag springs are weak if using for pest control no good, my old man has gone through 6 mags with his shooting roos and now uses an aftermarket one.
I added a large bolt knob to mine saves knuckles hitting scope (silly 90 degree throw)
But for what i do its been fine. Il prob also get the after market mag and bottom
Metal at some stage. Just done a wee vid of my son shooting it at some steel the other day, will add link if your keen to watch. Cheers
https://youtu.be/Jxx3Z8wLRZY?si=9FZ9HgFV0GX9BRoM

Bit off topic: Whats your 300wsm load you are running there?

Hi mate, it's a .270 using ar2209 and Hornady 130gn interlock

Any news @Westie? How does the Howa go?