New Howa 1500 308 barreled action - Bullet recommendations?

[Linko]

I just purchased a Howa 308 1:10 twist 26" heavy barreled action from Brownells. I would like to shoot this 100/200 yds target plinking. Can anyone with this action/barrel recommend a bullet for this?

 

[Straightshooter1]

I just purchased a Howa 308 1:10 twist 26" heavy barreled action from Brownells. I would like to shoot this 100/200 yds target plinking. Can anyone with this action/barrel recommend a bullet for this?

168 gr SMK's

 

[AJC]

Depending on how you roll I would be looking at a 155 grain high quality bullet. Your range is short and heavies help buck the wind better further out. The lapua 155 is very popular.

 

[Ned Ludd]

I just purchased a Howa 308 1:10 twist 26" heavy barreled action from Brownells. I would like to shoot this 100/200 yds target plinking. Can anyone with this action/barrel recommend a bullet for this?

The twist rate of this rifle will be capable of handling bullets from 155 to 215 gr, which means the sky is almost the limit in terms of bullet choices. The length of the freebore (throat) may limit you to a certain length (weight) of bullet. Bottom line is that without chamber/throat measurements, there is no way to know with absolute certainty what bullet might load and seat optimally. Nonetheless, there's a pretty good chance as a production rifle that it will have a very generous throat length. Given the barrel length, I'd probably choose a good mid-weight bullet to start...something forgiving and easy to tune, maybe with a tangent ogive, and a decent BC. For example, something like Berger's 175 OTM Match bullet would be a very good choice. They are extremely forgiving and easy to tune, have a pretty decent BC for the weight, and are highly unlikely to exceed the throat length of the rifle, even in the absence of any direct measurements at this point.

 

[stacy]

ALL YOU NEED IS 155GR BERGERS AND SOME IMR 4064 AND OUT GOES THE LIGHTS!!!!!!!

 

[Linko]

thanks for the inputs. This is a magazine length rifle so not much opportunity to seat long. The 175 OTM Ned suggested sounds good since Berger specifically indicates its good for magazine length seating.

Have no idea what kind of chamber this rifle is chambered with, other than getting the stony point measurements. I'll order some bullets and see how it goes.

 

[stacy]

thanks for the inputs. This is a magazine length rifle so not much opportunity to seat long. The 175 OTM Ned suggested sounds good since Berger specifically indicates its good for magazine length seating.

Have no idea what kind of chamber this rifle is chambered with, other than getting the stony point measurements. I'll order some bullets and see how it goes.

YOU''LL FIND OUT THAT THAT HOWA WILL SHOOT

 

[10at6]

155 Scenar..great for targets or hunting,and Varget of course

 

[Straightshooter1]

thanks for the inputs. This is a magazine length rifle so not much opportunity to seat long. The 175 OTM Ned suggested sounds good since Berger specifically indicates its good for magazine length seating.

Have no idea what kind of chamber this rifle is chambered with, other than getting the stony point measurements. I'll order some bullets and see how it goes.

BTW: The Berger 175 OTM Match is a very good bullet. The reason I suggested the less expensive 168 SMKs over Burger is it's price point (if that's an issue at all for you), not jump sensitive and easy to tune for a very accurate load.

 

[Linko]

Well there you go, two great suggested bullets. I will try a box of each and see what they look like. For powders I have H4895 and W748, Both are listed in the loading tables for Berger and Sierra.

(I have Varget but I would like to save that for other rifles)


(I will note that I tried some Speer 150TMJ 's with CFE 223 in this Howa, and had better groups with my Mossberg 500)

 

[stacy]

Well there you go, two great suggested bullets. I will try a box of each and see what they look like. For powders I have H4895 and W748, Both are listed in the loading tables for Berger and Sierra.

(I have Varget but I would like to save that for other rifles)


(I will note that I tried some Speer 150TMJ 's with CFE 223 in this Howa, and had better groups with my Mossberg 500)

I PROMISE YOU THAT IT WAS THE POWDER/BULLET COMBO I'VE YET TO SEE A HOWA THAT WOULD SHOOT 1/2 OR BETTER

 

[Linko]

I PROMISE YOU THAT IT WAS THE POWDER/BULLET COMBO I'VE YET TO SEE A HOWA THAT WOULD SHOOT 1/2 OR BETTER

you meant to say wouldn't didn't you?

 

[stacy]

you meant to say wouldn't didn't you?

YOU WILL SEE STICK TO THE BASIC THAT WORKS AND IT WILL SHINE I HAVE SEEN IT TO MANY TIMES BEEN SEVERAL LEFT MY SHOP THAT WHERE EYE OPENERS AT THE RANGE

 

[Straightshooter1]

Well there you go, two great suggested bullets. I will try a box of each and see what they look like. For powders I have H4895 and W748, Both are listed in the loading tables for Berger and Sierra.

(I have Varget but I would like to save that for other rifles)


(I will note that I tried some Speer 150TMJ 's with CFE 223 in this Howa, and had better groups with my Mossberg 500)

The H4895 worked REALLY well with my 168's giving me single digit SD's AND ES's. . . and grouping really well (like in the low 3's). Velocities with my 26" Krieger barrel was at 2720 fps.

 

[Ned Ludd]

The H4895 worked REALLY well with my 168's giving me single digit SD's AND ES's. . . and grouping really well (like in the low 3's). Velocities with my 26" Krieger barrel was at 2720 fps.

I've also been using H4895 with the 175 OTMs with excellent results. They tuned in at ~2800-2805 in a 28" 10-twist barrel, seated at ~.024" off the lands (COAL = 2.857"). In my hands, the 175 OTMs seem to shoot well between about .020" and .030" off the lands. I'd imagine that somewhere around 2750 fps would be readily attainable with the 175s in your 26" barreled rifle using H4895. It's a fantastic powder for medium weight .30 cal bullets.

 

[Linko]

thanks everyone.

 

[loud_noise]

Thanks for raising this thread. I have also acquired a Howa .308 with a 1:10 24” Varmint barrel and wondering what to feed it. I will the try the projectiles suggested above as well and let you all know the results.

 

[Mr.Knowit all]

Obviously what groups well will dictate what bullet you pick but I would look at a lighter faster bullet with less drop at those ranges.
I like BLC(2) and 4064 with some 155 gr.
The heaviest bullet isn't always the best. All depends on the ap.

 

[hunter67]

Varget! You can buy more as you will have to anyway. Let the rifle tell you. Good luck

 

[Rdlningcltchdmpr]

I just purchased a Howa 308 1:10 twist 26" heavy barreled action from Brownells. I would like to shoot this 100/200 yds target plinking. Can anyone with this action/barrel recommend a bullet for this?

Try light match bullet's 112-125 or light hunting bullet's 110-125. Out to 200 yards they are unbeatable. One load i shot out of a factory 308 barrel was 56-cfe223 with 110 vmax = 3350 fps out of a 22" barrel and the group was under .200".