New Howa 1500 in .223

[Gunracer]

For some unexplained reason I bought a .223 Howa barreled action from Brownells. 20” heavy barrel, the all important “Tactical Bolt Handle”, and the detachable magazine conversion. Put it in a Boyd’s AT-One stock (which required a little shimming with washers), grabbed some rounds for my old AR and went to the range. Here is a three shot group with 77 TMKs, 24.0 H4895, Wolf primers, magazine length. I was really impressed. I didn’t think the 1:9 twist would stabilize the 77 grainers but it works at 100 yards.

 

[Knifeman]

Nice group

 

[stacy]

I HAVE NEVER OWNED A HOWA THAT WOULD NOT SHOOT AND I'VE GOT SEVERAL AND THEY HOLD THERE OWN AT THE RANGE LOVE THE MINI'S SWEET THEY ARE

 

[AZLongGunner]

For some unexplained reason I bought a .223 Howa barreled action from Brownells. 20” heavy barrel, the all important “Tactical Bolt Handle”, and the detachable magazine conversion. Put it in a Boyd’s AT-One stock (which required a little shimming with washers), grabbed some rounds for my old AR and went to the range. Here is a three shot group with 77 TMKs, 24.0 H4895, Wolf primers, magazine length. I was really impressed. I didn’t think the 1:9 twist would stabilize the 77 grainers but it works at 100 yards.

Hello, I am interested about the stability of the round at 500y, I too have a 20" 1:9 heavy contour in a Rem 700 action shoe horned into a boyds. Have you shot at 500 yet with that pill?

 

[Downeast]

Here's mine in 6.5 CM. They could be sisters! LOL! I'll see if I can find some targets. I'll take a Howa over a 700 any day.

 

[grovey]

Now all that's left is to fine tune it with different thicknesses of washers.

 

[Gunracer]

Hello, I am interested about the stability of the round at 500y, I too have a 20" 1:9 heavy contour in a Rem 700 action shoe horned into a boyds. Have you shot at 500 yet with that pill?

No yet. Hope to be getting out in the next week or so.

 

[Gunracer]

Hello, I am interested about the stability of the round at 500y, I too have a 20" 1:9 heavy contour in a Rem 700 action shoe horned into a boyds. Have you shot at 500 yet with that pill?

I’m planning to head to the range tomorrow with 77s and my 1:9 twist. I checked the predicted stability with the Applied Ballistics app and it said that at my velocity the stability should be 1.52 which is more than enough. Will let you know if reality matches the computer model.

 

[Gunracer]

I’m planning to head to the range tomorrow with 77s and my 1:9 twist. I checked the predicted stability with the Applied Ballistics app and it said that at my velocity the stability should be 1.52 which is more than enough. Will let you know if reality matches the computer model.

A little follow up about the 77 trainers in a 1:9 twist. I was able to finally get back to the range today. I brought some IMI Razors with 77 grain OTM bullets. I think they’re Sierras with cannelures. At any rate, 3 shots in about 3.5 inches and all the holes are perfectly round. So they seem pretty stable to me. BTW the MV of the IMIs was 2811 FPS from my 20” barrel.

 

[Gunracer]

A little follow up about the 77 trainers in a 1:9 twist. I was able to finally get back to the range today. I brought some IMI Razors with 77 grain OTM bullets. I think they’re Sierras with cannelures. At any rate, 3 shots in about 3.5 inches and all the holes are perfectly round. So they seem pretty stable to me. BTW the MV of the IMIs was 2811 FPS from my 20” barrel.

Oops, forgot to mention that the target was at 599 yards.

 

[Ned Ludd]

Your results with the 77s in a 9-twist barrel may seem surprising, but it really shouldn't be. Historically, it seems as though 9-twist 0.224" barrels have achieved a bad reputation amongst many shooters with ~77 gr (heavy) bullets. However, if you run Berger's twist rate calculator with the 77 SMK bullet using generic temp, elevation, and velocity inputs (70 degrees F, 1000 ft, 2750 fps), the predicted gyroscopic stability isn't bad at all (Sg ~ 1.46). At any rate, it seems like it's working well for you.

 

[JAlfred]

Experience with 90 gr 224 bullets in a 1 in 7" 223 has taught me to be a little skeptical about traditional notions of stability. If it is close, trying and find out.

 

[Ned Ludd]

I've run the 90 VLDs in .223 Rem F-TR rifles with 7-twist barrels for years. A 7-twist barrel is plenty for the 90s if you have a sufficiently long barrel and freebore to load and shoot them at 2750+ fps. Typical F-TR rifles are using at least 0.169" freebore with a minimum 28-30" barrel. I've fired literally thousands of the 90s from a 7-twist barrel over the last few years with absolutely no ill effects whatsoever. In fact, the information provided by Berger's Twist Rate Calculator with regard to stability has been spot on with regard to what myself and a number of other shooters have observed using heavy (long) bullets in the .223 Rem.

Having said that, the minimum twist rate predicted to provide an Sg of 1.5 or greater with the 90 VLD is ~6.7 to 6.8 at fairly typical conditions of elevation/temperature. I can imagine if someone was loading them in a rifle with much shorter freebore and barrel length such that velocity was in the 2500 fps range (or less), a twist rate of faster than 7.0 might be of benefit.

 

[David Milisock]

For some unexplained reason I bought a .223 Howa barreled action from Brownells. 20” heavy barrel, the all important “Tactical Bolt Handle”, and the detachable magazine conversion. Put it in a Boyd’s AT-One stock (which required a little shimming with washers), grabbed some rounds for my old AR and went to the range. Here is a three shot group with 77 TMKs, 24.0 H4895, Wolf primers, magazine length. I was really impressed. I didn’t think the 1:9 twist would stabilize the 77 grainers but it works at 100 yards.

I bought a 1500 heavy barreled kit gun with a laminated stock 15 or 20 years ago, I can't remember, it's a chuck gun for PA. It really out shoots the price I paid. I load to fit the magazine with 40 grain Hornady vmax, I have no complaints.