Howa 223 - Hunting and target shooting rifle

[Gwion]

According to a post on another site from someone who contacted the Howa importers about the 223rem twist rate, serial numbers from B312235 onwards are 1-9" twist.

There will be some old stock so you may need to specify an order.

I've got the DNZ GameReaper mounts on my Howa 223rem Heavy Barrel. They work very well, you should be happy.

The rifle was set up with similar purposes to yourself but i found that the 24" heavy barrel was too cumbersome in the field so had 6" taken off the end. Made an amazing difference to weight and pointability of the rifle. Still not light but manageable to carry around and even shoot off hand.

It is also a 1:12 and shoots 40gn acceptably and 50-55gn quite well indeed. Haven't tried any heavier.

If you question accuracy of a shorter barrel i'll post a pic of the first test run for recent load development. You might get the barrel lopped when it's in getting bedded and the trigger done. Might cost $100. Just an option to consider for making the rifle manageable in the field,on foot.

Cheers

This group shot @ 100m on a windy day. The wind is very changeable at my place as it bounces around a hollow. This was only the second test round for a new load development.

BM8208-test-02.jpg (153.05 KiB) Viewed 6855 times

[NukeBOMB88]

Damn the serial on my Howa is b315837 , I wish I'd waited a bit longer to buy it and got the 1-9" twist

[chrispy88]

Ok great, thanks. I will make sure when I order. Should be able to get up to the big smoke Thursday to order her.

Hadn't even thought of getting the barrel lopped. Was going to get fluted to reduce weight, I take it this will stop me lopping it though?

[Tiiger]

Hadn't even thought of getting the barrel lopped. Was going to get fluted to reduce weight, I take it this will stop me lopping it though?

Normally when they add flutes they'll do the the length of the barrel but leave an inch of unfluted barrel at the muzzle. I hadn't thought about it before but I guess the fluted section is arguable weaker when not supported on both sides, if you get what I mean. Without having the full-thickness cap on the end of the fluting.

Honestly though that's a bit of a guess and I could be wrong. I've just never see a barrel fluted to the end without an untouched section so I'm assuming there is an argument made that it shouldn't be done. Would pay to speak to a smith who does the work and why/if they don't do it that way.

I'd give some thought to shortening it first and see how likely you are to go down that road with it. Shorten first, flute second would be ideal if you expect to do both.

[Mich]

This is probably becoming more trouble that it's worth, but FYI.

Depending on the depth/length of the flutes, if you did flute it first with keeping a length of full thickness at the muzzle end then wanted to shorten it without going into the fluting, you could possibly reverse the barrel, thread the former muzzle end of the barrel for the action, and shorten the former-action end of it where it wasn't fluted.

Only possible with a bull barrel and completely dependant on the particulars of the barrel, maybe not even possible in this instance, but I've seen it done.

[Korkt]

I hadn't thought about it before but I guess the fluted section is arguable weaker when not supported on both sides, if you get what I mean. Without having the full-thickness cap on the end of the fluting.

Honestly though that's a bit of a guess and I could be wrong. I've just never see a barrel fluted to the end without an untouched section so I'm assuming there is an argument made that it shouldn't be done. Would pay to speak to a smith who does the work and why/if they don't do it that way.

It's been done. I'm not a gunsmith, haven't done it, haven't test the effect on the muzzle etc. myself. But it's been done.

With a bull barrel my guess is there is no problem at all. The thinnest section of the barrel where fluted would likely be thicker than another of the same rifle with a sporter profile barrel anyway.

[chrispy88]

I ordered the barrelled action Thursday night. Turns out they don't do the fluted barrel in stainless so I just went with stainless bull barrel n might lop a little off the end.

Also buying a Boyd's stock from Die Judicii on here for it so getting close now. Just waiting for the PTA to come back. Pics soon!

[Wes]

Just waiting for the PTA to come back. Pics soon!

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