Howa shooters , Chim in

[Six5x39]

I just wanted to share my observations and wanted to hear your experiences on howa factory heavy barrel with reloads .

It shoots factory ammo great . I could get real tight on my good days .

I have been not so lucky with test loads .. but it shoots sub moa on my AR ( same loads testing side by side )

I figure heavy profile bolt action rifles supposed to be more accurate than semi platform ... it's not like my ar 16inch barrel is high end (Odin)

I have been playing with CFE , XBR , LVR as powders and most of grendel pills . And found only 1 that likes . Which is LVR w/ 123gr ELD

Any howa fellas were in same boat as I am ? After lot of trail and error , we're you only able to come up with few loads for howa ?

[A5BLASTER]

My 127 LRX handloads will do 5 at are under 1/2 at 200 yards.

Not finished working up my 85 maker trex, 123 eld-m loads but so far both have produced 5 shot 1/2 inch groups while working up their ladders.

Seating depth was the key for the 127 LRX bullet. I have pics of it somewheres on here.

[Six5x39]

^ Im sure I have note of your data as well as other awesome contributors . XBR does great on AR , but not so much on howa for me using 107gr SMK , 95gr Vmax , and Barnes 120gr TSX BT

[splashy]

28gr of 8208 behind 123gr SST shoots clover leaves all day in mine.

[Mitdr774]

While mine isnt a heavy barrel, it does seem to like IMR 3031 pushing 123 SST or 120 Pro Hunter bullets. Hopefully tomorrow I can see what the Magnetospeed says they are doing. Last time I checked a load with a 100gr TTSX and the range of what Barnes lists for that bullet with RL-15 I was disappointed. Using their max load I hit a whopping 2550 FPS. Groups sucked as well. 100/120 NBT seem to group okayish from my rifle, but nothing to write home about. The 123 SST and 120 PH at least hold sub 1" C-C for a three shot group at what looks to be about my max for this rifle, even though Quick Load has me at right around 47K PSI. Velocity figures will help a lot with sorting the QL data out.

[Six5x39]

I will try xbr with 123gr eld and sst next .

[slayer]

I have had very good accuracy out of my 20" Heavy Barrel Howa 1500 6.5GREN. Using various Sierra and Hornady Bullets from 100grain to 129grain. I am using Win748 powder.

It has been consistently accurate for me, without a doubt, with several different loads. Is there something wrong with your barrel?

[Six5x39]

thats good to hear . I think my barrel is okay . Ive talked to few , and they say its normal some barrel being picky . I guess I expected too much from switching semi - bolt action .

[rookie7]

I am getting very good results with H4895, Fed 205, and Hornady 123 SST and the Sierra 120 PH.

The Sierra?s are shooting the best with multiple 3 shot groups around 1/2? at 102 yards off of a Harris bipod and rear bag - prone.

I have the heavy barrel in the factory plastic stock.

[Mac86951]

I found the exact opposite to be true; my Howa does ok (1moa) with factory ammo; and handloads are fantastic.

First question is what are your rifle specs? Are you using the original Howa stock, factory barrel light or "heavy"?

Next questions are related to your reloading specs; brass, sizing / seating dies, what are you measuring in your process and how?

If your rifle is shooting factory better than handloads, I wonder if it's not something in your handload process?

In my experience handloading, I've found a few process steps I was doing that wasn't beneficial to accuracy and I found a few process steps that are critical to accuracy. Those step differences are not the same between AR and Bolt rifle.

-Mac

[Robert8904]

My mini action 6.5 Grendel 20" HB shot factory ammo to about 1.5 moa. Reloads were better, .75 to 1.25 moa. Tried TAC with 123 SMK's loaded long, much better! .375-.50 moa regularly. This with the standard plastic stock and sandbags. These rifles are a bargain!

[BD264]

Mine shoots very well with aa2520 and the 120g Sierra Prohunter