Howa varmint real life use

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Re: Howa varmint real life use

Post by Member-Deleted » 12 Mar 2019, 10:16 pm

Cal,
Are Howa 24" varmint barrels too heavy for field use? No.
Walking all day is not a chore (although it would obviously be easier with a sporter.)
Shooting free hand? Not a chance for me but supported off sticks or a tree or post or dropping down to a kneeling or seated or prone position is a breeze.

How will your mate mostly use it? I got a varmint barrel because i managed to get in 3 hunting trips last year but 42 weekend visits to the range.
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Re: Howa varmint real life use

Post by Stix » 12 Mar 2019, 10:30 pm

A short barrel 243... :shock:

Not in my car when out spotlighting...!!

You'll have your fingers rammed into your ears up to your elbows... :lol:

Be a good bit of entertainment around the camp fire though... 8-)
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Re: Howa varmint real life use

Post by Cal-ApeR » 12 Mar 2019, 10:46 pm

Yeah, for me 243 is already loud enough. Cutting it down would deafening the hell out of me. Recently took a mate out spotlighting. He had some fancy 223 Remington pump with 18" or so barrel. Deafening and a bloody flame thrower. Horrible firearm.

Will show him this thread tomorrow. My money is still on a regular sporter as it can be multipurpose more so than the varmint.
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Re: Howa varmint real life use

Post by Stix » 12 Mar 2019, 10:54 pm

Chappo wrote:I was also of the assumption that a heavy barrel equals longer life. I thought this was because hotter steel wears quicker. Am I wrong?


No you're not wrong Chappo, just not quite right...

So lets say 5 shots fired in a sporter barrel.

The same 5 shots fired in a heavy barrel.

These shots generate the same amount of heat that contributes to the same amount of thtoat/barrel wear.in both barrels.

The difference is, the varmint barrel is heavier & therefor resists "bending" (throwing shots) for longer, because it is more rigid...so all 5 shots hit the bull...
But it takes longer for that heat to travel through the thicker steel to its surface...
However, because the surface area is greater it disipates the heat quicker (once the heat is at the surface).

The sporter barrel starts to "move" (bend (?)) from the heat after only 2 or 3 shots because ot is less rigid, so the 5 shot group is a little "looser"...
But given the steel is thinner, the heat travels to the surface quicker...
However, takes longer than the heave barrel to get rid of the heat (again, only once the heat is to the surface).

Bottom line, my experience tells me a sporter barrel cools quicker...noticsble if shooting groups & waiting for barrel to cool between groups..

Not sure ive explained it that well but its the best i got right now... :drinks:
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Re: Howa varmint real life use

Post by Cal-ApeR » 13 Mar 2019, 10:54 am

All very interesting.

Member-Deleted, all good points. Anything can work with the shooting sticks. I guess its more about carrying weight.

He is off to the local this Arvo. Will see how he goes.
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Re: Howa varmint real life use

Post by TassieTiger » 13 Mar 2019, 2:47 pm

Stix wrote:
Chappo wrote:I was also of the assumption that a heavy barrel equals longer life. I thought this was because hotter steel wears quicker. Am I wrong?


No you're not wrong Chappo, just not quite right...

So lets say 5 shots fired in a sporter barrel.

The same 5 shots fired in a heavy barrel.

These shots generate the same amount of heat that contributes to the same amount of thtoat/barrel wear.in both barrels.

The difference is, the varmint barrel is heavier & therefor resists "bending" (throwing shots) for longer, because it is more rigid...so all 5 shots hit the bull...
But it takes longer for that heat to travel through the thicker steel to its surface...
However, because the surface area is greater it disipates the heat quicker (once the heat is at the surface).

The sporter barrel starts to "move" (bend (?)) from the heat after only 2 or 3 shots because ot is less rigid, so the 5 shot group is a little "looser"...
But given the steel is thinner, the heat travels to the surface quicker...
However, takes longer than the heave barrel to get rid of the heat (again, only once the heat is to the surface).

Bottom line, my experience tells me a sporter barrel cools quicker...noticsble if shooting groups & waiting for barrel to cool between groups..

Not sure ive explained it that well but its the best i got right now... :drinks:


This ^^^^^^ - spot on!

I did a lot of research for a walker - I’ve got several other heavier barreled rifles, inc a 20” 260 that shoots straight as but is loud as proverbial. It’s also got a brake on it and ppl standing behind me feel the blast / noise quite significantly...from in car? I reckon it would brake all the windows.
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Re: Howa varmint real life use

Post by Chappo » 13 Mar 2019, 5:35 pm

Stix, cheers mate I understand the physics, good to get my head around it’s practical implications.

Cal sorry again for hyjackin’ your thread.
Tell your mate to loosen the purse strings and buy something he’ll be happy with. I’d be surprised if he stops at just one though :drinks:
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Re: Howa varmint real life use

Post by Cal-ApeR » 13 Mar 2019, 9:55 pm

All good chappo. I learnt a bit as well.

Showed him this thread. Going back on weekend to put money down on sporter. Haha.
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Re: Howa varmint real life use

Post by bigfellascott » 13 Mar 2019, 10:08 pm

I use quite a few different Howa Varmints - great rifles and can't fault em at all and all deadly accurate, awesome value for money.

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Re: Howa varmint real life use

Post by Diamond Jim » 14 Mar 2019, 12:38 am

My experience of my brother's rifle in .223 is the Varmint is too heavy to carry comfortably and shoot offhand. Off a rest it is a laser and great value as well.If you are after a walk-around rifle then look at a different model.
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Re: Howa varmint real life use

Post by Cal-ApeR » 14 Mar 2019, 5:41 pm

Big fella, you just wanted to show off then!

He bought a sporter but is now thinking of a varmint 223. Win win.
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Re: Howa varmint real life use

Post by PCHammond » 14 Mar 2019, 6:12 pm

I'm tossing up between a Howa 1500 in 223 and a T3x Varmint.

This thread is making it real hard to ignore the Howa...
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Re: Howa varmint real life use

Post by in2anity » 14 Mar 2019, 7:45 pm

PCHammond wrote:I'm tossing up between a Howa 1500 in 223 and a T3x Varmint.

This thread is making it real hard to ignore the Howa...


Tikka hands down - like comparing a Hyandai to a BMW
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Re: Howa varmint real life use

Post by bigfellascott » 14 Mar 2019, 9:19 pm

Cal-ApeR wrote:Big fella, you just wanted to show off then!

He bought a sporter but is now thinking of a varmint 223. Win win.


No just some of us do know Howa rifles real well and speak from real life experience using em not just waffling on about something they read somewhere about em :D

If you are young and fit the weight won't be an issue, if you ain't the weight will get to you after a while, hence the recommendation to go something lighter that will still get the job done fine out in the paddock and out the window of the ute too. :drinks:

Oh if you are wondering how they shoot they shoot just fine. :D

3 shots in the larger hole and 1 in the single hole - not bad for factory ammo :lol:
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3 shots in the larger hole and 1 in the single hole - a different brand of factory ammo :D
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Re: Howa varmint real life use

Post by Cal-ApeR » 14 Mar 2019, 10:52 pm

Nice work mate. Good shooting.

PCHAMMOND - owned a tikka before buying a Howa. Both shot well but the tikka was slightly more accurate and much smoother bolt . Trigger was very crisp too. The Howa was bought new for a great price. It suffered from a crappy trigger though. They have improved significantly since then. It copped a beating and I didn't feel bad. The $900 difference in cost had me being way too protective of the tikka. Babied it too much.

Both get the job done well. If cost was an issue, I'd definitely recommend the Howa, especially over the cheap line ups of today, i.e Ruger American, remember 783 etc. If mid range budget, you'd be very happy with a tikka. Big budget would have me buying Sako any day. The Howa to me is a tool that does the job well. Look after it and you can't go wrong. I convinced my mate to go this way. Can't go wrong
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Re: Howa varmint real life use

Post by Member-Deleted » 15 Mar 2019, 9:10 am

Cal,
I only own and use 2 Howas with varmint barrels so I only have half the real life experience with them :allegedly:

i only have the bog standard Hogue rubber stocks on them so they're ugly brutes to look at but the triggers are an easy fix, even for a home handyman... back out one screw, snip off half to a full coil off another spring and you've got a much smoother lighter trigger. there's tons of videos on youtube and others.

and they shoot for what they are. my 308 and 223 at 100 yards, 3 shot groups.
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Re: Howa varmint real life use

Post by bigfellascott » 15 Mar 2019, 10:41 am

They go alright the ol Howas hey Skeet. My Tikka doesn't even come close to shooting like my Howas with factory ammo sadly, having said that I've only tried the one projectile weight and brand so hoping something will shoot in it better (I will reload for it) hopefully that will see it improve a bit too but in all honesty it doesn't really worry me as it's only got to shoot minute of pig or deer and their target areas a good 6" or so and it shoots around 1/3 that so all good for now.

What I do like about my Tikka is it's light, nice and easy to walk the hills with (I wouldn't even dream of taking any of my Howas on those sorts of hunts, way too heavy for me to hall up and down the hills.

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Re: Howa varmint real life use

Post by Cal-ApeR » 15 Mar 2019, 12:43 pm

Ah, love a dead pig. Yeah very true big fella. Weight is definitely nice on tikka.
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Re: Howa varmint real life use

Post by PCHammond » 15 Mar 2019, 4:50 pm

Cal-ApeR wrote:Nice work mate. Good shooting.

PCHAMMOND - owned a tikka before buying a Howa. Both shot well but the tikka was slightly more accurate and much smoother bolt . Trigger was very crisp too. The Howa was bought new for a great price. It suffered from a crappy trigger though. They have improved significantly since then. It copped a beating and I didn't feel bad. The $900 difference in cost had me being way too protective of the tikka. Babied it too much.

Both get the job done well. If cost was an issue, I'd definitely recommend the Howa, especially over the cheap line ups of today, i.e Ruger American, remember 783 etc. If mid range budget, you'd be very happy with a tikka. Big budget would have me buying Sako any day. The Howa to me is a tool that does the job well. Look after it and you can't go wrong. I convinced my mate to go this way. Can't go wrong


I completely understand this.

I know the Tikka would be better, but for the price of a Tikka you can get a Howa in a chassis. But on the other hand, a Tikka is a Tikka and I could choose to improve it in the future too. For the price difference between the Tikka and the Howa, I could improve the glass by alot though. And threads like this showing how good the Howa groups makes it real difficult!
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Re: Howa varmint real life use

Post by Die Judicii » 19 Mar 2019, 9:31 pm

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If yer mate is thinking heavy, he can come and carry mine for a while,,,,,,,,,,, :lol:
I have a non fluted varmint Howa in 22/250,,,,,,, and believe me it's a "sit,,,,,,,,,, wait,,,,,,,,,,, and,,,,,,,, snipe rifle.

Love it to bits,,,,, but F@ck me it's heavy.
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Re: Howa varmint real life use

Post by duncan61 » 19 Mar 2019, 10:17 pm

That HOWA looks a lot better than my effort with a paint tin.In 22/250 it would have some reach as well
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Re: Howa varmint real life use

Post by bigfellascott » 19 Mar 2019, 10:20 pm

duncan61 wrote:That HOWA looks a lot better than my effort with a paint tin.In 22/250 it would have some reach as well


It's a bloody good cal I reckon, it certainly smacks em hard and at long ranges too, I love that real thump sound when it hits home :D
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Re: Howa varmint real life use

Post by duncan61 » 19 Mar 2019, 11:42 pm

One of my adjoining properties when I did roo culling were keen on me cleaning up their block and the nephew turned up to show me around the area.He bought along his 22/250 man he could get from a long way but I would venture it made twice the bang my softloaded .222 did
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Re: Howa varmint real life use

Post by bigfellascott » 20 Mar 2019, 6:56 am

duncan61 wrote:One of my adjoining properties when I did roo culling were keen on me cleaning up their block and the nephew turned up to show me around the area.He bought along his 22/250 man he could get from a long way but I would venture it made twice the bang my softloaded .222 did


Yeah she's running quite a bit more powder so it stands to reason she goes off with a good bang :D I like the little 222 it's a nice mild cal to shoot and gets the job done very well within it's limits but the 22/250 really lets you tag stuff way out yonder with good authority, I can happily shoot the 222 without ear muffs but not keen on doing so with the 22/250 well not for long anyway. :lol:

The good ol earsplitloudenboomer as I call it. :D
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Re: Howa varmint real life use

Post by Die Judicii » 20 Mar 2019, 4:29 pm

bigfellascott wrote:
The good ol earsplitloudenboomer as I call it. :D


I call it "ROATS" mate,,,,,,,,,,,,

Reach Out And Touch Something

:lol:
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Re: Howa varmint real life use

Post by Die Judicii » 20 Mar 2019, 4:36 pm

duncan61 wrote:That HOWA looks a lot better than my effort with a paint tin.In 22/250 it would have some reach as well


The camo on the stainless barrel etc. is that "stretch and stick to itself" fabric.
Good stuff, and cheap to boot. :thumbsup:
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I've come to realize that,,,,, the two most loving, loyal, and trustworthy females in my entire life were both canines.
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Re: Howa varmint real life use

Post by bigfellascott » 20 Mar 2019, 6:01 pm

Die Judicii wrote:
bigfellascott wrote:
The good ol earsplitloudenboomer as I call it. :D


I call it "ROATS" mate,,,,,,,,,,,,

Reach Out And Touch Something

:lol:


:lol: :lol: I like it, they sure can smack em at long distances alright, I remember red misting a fox at 260 odd metres one night, it looked like a firecracker went off behind it with the blood spray :D
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Re: Howa varmint real life use

Post by Diamond Jim » 23 Mar 2019, 3:04 am

The difference in price between a Howa and a Tikka can buy an awful lot of ammunition to sort out the idiosyncrasies of the Howa. I don't own Howa, I have a CZ but my brother has Howa and it is great value for the money. It's a Varmint model and it is a beast to carry and to shoot offhand. From a rest it is a laser.
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