phsnt hntr
Member
I just purchased a Howa Mini in 223 with a 20 inch barrel. Just wondering if anyone else has one and what load does it like? I think it has a 1:9 twist. Any ideas would be great. Thanks
New Howa 223
- Thread starter phsnt hntr
- Start date
AWS
Custom Accessory Maker & Retired PM Staff
To be with the in crowd you need to lob the heaviest piece of lead your gun will shoot accurately.
I've al;ways had very good luck with a 50gr NBT over 3031, the bullets and powder always seem to be in supply even during the shortages. I'm kind of an old school guy and I started using that after my supply of Herter's bullets and powder dried up. It shoots accurately and kills everything I hit with it, never saw the need to experiment any farther with the 223.
I've al;ways had very good luck with a 50gr NBT over 3031, the bullets and powder always seem to be in supply even during the shortages. I'm kind of an old school guy and I started using that after my supply of Herter's bullets and powder dried up. It shoots accurately and kills everything I hit with it, never saw the need to experiment any farther with the 223.
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phsnt hntr
Member
If I need to do that I will just shoot my 243 instead.
Originally Posted By: phsnt hntrI just purchased a Howa Mini in 223 with a 20 inch barrel. Just wondering if anyone else has one and what load does it like? I think it has a 1:9 twist. Any ideas would be great. Thanks
Bought a cheap little Weatherby Vanguard 223 (aka Howa) on sale at Sportsmans Warehouse about 10-12 yrs ago for little over $300. It had a non fluted 20in. heavy barrel 1-12tw barrel. Trigger was the worst POS I've ever had on a new gun but that was easly fixed with a new Timney. It turned out to be one of the best shooting factory guns I've ever owned. Shot mostly 40gr Vmax & Nosler Ballistic Tip bullets with Hodgdon Benchmark.
I, personally, don't have a need to shoot the heavies in any of my 223's, have other guns for that, so my bullet selection is usually in the mid to lighter weight range. Pretty much since they came out my go to bullet has been the 53gr Vmax driven by Hodgdon Benchmark and 205m's but in all honesty, the 223 is one of the least finicky cartridges around and they have a very wide range or recipes that work well
Bought a cheap little Weatherby Vanguard 223 (aka Howa) on sale at Sportsmans Warehouse about 10-12 yrs ago for little over $300. It had a non fluted 20in. heavy barrel 1-12tw barrel. Trigger was the worst POS I've ever had on a new gun but that was easly fixed with a new Timney. It turned out to be one of the best shooting factory guns I've ever owned. Shot mostly 40gr Vmax & Nosler Ballistic Tip bullets with Hodgdon Benchmark.
I, personally, don't have a need to shoot the heavies in any of my 223's, have other guns for that, so my bullet selection is usually in the mid to lighter weight range. Pretty much since they came out my go to bullet has been the 53gr Vmax driven by Hodgdon Benchmark and 205m's but in all honesty, the 223 is one of the least finicky cartridges around and they have a very wide range or recipes that work well
phsnt hntr
Member
I will be trying 8208 and Benchmark for the powder. I will probably start with 50gr. BT and test fire some dog town bullets to see how they shoot out of it.
Originally Posted By: WyoBullOriginally Posted By: phsnt hntrIf I need to do that I will just shoot my 243 instead.
Yep! Varmint calibers are made to shoot smaller pills that go fast! If you are going to shoot a heavier bullet, use a larger caliber! That's my way of looking at it anyway.
With something that only has the case capacity of the 223, I completely agree with you but in some of the different, overbore, wildcats a lot of use have, I prefer to shoot heavy for caliber bullets.
Yep! Varmint calibers are made to shoot smaller pills that go fast! If you are going to shoot a heavier bullet, use a larger caliber! That's my way of looking at it anyway.
With something that only has the case capacity of the 223, I completely agree with you but in some of the different, overbore, wildcats a lot of use have, I prefer to shoot heavy for caliber bullets.