Rebarreling a howa mini action

R

Roger London

New member
I have a howa mini action that I'm thinking of having rebarreled. It is currently chambered in 222 rem. It will deliver about 3-4 barely moa groups immediately after cleaning then settles into a very consistent 1 1/2" group rifle. I've tried several bullets and powder combos and they all tend to produce similar results. I've bedded it into a boyd's stock and replaced the bottom plastic with the DIP industries aluminum. I think I would take a beating now to sell it, so I'm thinking of having Hart(or some one else) put a 221 fireball barrel on it. Will 221 FB feed from a 222 magazine?
 
Was the rifle new when you got it? Any idea of round count? Are you shooting bullets compatible with the twist? Did it use to shoot good and now it doesn't? Sorry for the questions but the 222 is usually a very accurate round and not hard on barrels. And Howa's generally shoot very good.
 
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I would be willing to bet there is something else influencing the groups other than the barrel it self. Bedding, mag box pressure, action screw torque, barrel-to-stock contact.
 
I bought it new. I'm guessing 250 rounds or so. I've tried factory Remington 50 grain psp, Hornady 50 gr. Vmax superformance. I've hand loaded 50 gr. Hornady sp, Speer TNT, nosler BT, Sierra blitz and the 40 gr. NBT, and Sierra HP. Powders used, H4198, H322, IMR 8208 XBR and Ramshot Exterminator. At the rate I'm going I'll have a barrel paid for in components, lol. I can see wood between the top of the DIP bottom metal and the action, so that shouldn't be the issue. I've tried 50 and 35 in-lbs of action screw torque, with the same results. I can run hoppe's gun wipe all the way to the recoil lug. It shoots ok immediately after a cleaning, it just seems to lose it really fast. After about 15 shots it seems like groups open about a half inch and remain consistently 1.25 to 1.5 inch for as long as you want to keep shooting.
 
You might try calling the company and telling them. They might make it right. Is this a heavy barrel or sporter? Are you letting it cool between groups? Skinney barrels get hot quick and have a tendency to throw rounds after they get hot.
 
My intention for this rifle is a short range woods coyote/bobcat rifle. Something with a milder report. If I'm honest, 1.5 MOA will do everything I'd ask of this rifle. I have 2 very accurate 223s, an accurate 22-250 and 243 if I were in a situation to need to reach out. It just tweaks my melon a little to have a caliber with such an accuracy history be my least accurate rifle. Plus, I've never had a custom barreled rifle before.
 
There are tons of companies that offer barrels and services. You will just have to kinda surf around and decide which barrel to use or if you have a local smith, maybe talk to him and see what he suggests.
 
Thanks. I'm actually kind of excited. I really like the action, I'm looking forward to seeing how it turns out. I think I will stick with 222 so I can be confident my mags will work. Decisions, decisions.
 
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