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Howa 1500 .243


tonker
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I put a couple of posts on 'got turned down for my 243',and mentioned about how I had attended a firearms course, in order to get clearance for a 243.

 

Madness as I've had an open ticket for my triple for 15+ years. Anyway my variation came back, and I picked up one of the above that had only had 20 shots through it.

The shop had sold it to the bloke with a box of ammo, and a week later bought it back again, as he decided shooting rifle wasn't for him :hmm:.

I got it £100 quid of new price as it was s/h. I got his mod cheaper as well. Now I know it's not top of the range, but as a starter in this calibre I'm quite impressed and it seems quite well put together,

I particularly like the 3 stage safety. I put an old scope of mine on it for now until I buy better, and an old harris pod

 

Have any of you got one of these? and how do you rate them?

Cheers

Tonker

Edited by tonker
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I've got one in .308 and can't fault it, it's got a laminate stock so is a bit weighty but what you lose on carrying you gain in reduced recoil so horses and courses

 

The bolt was really tight to lock in at first and the bolt release needed a ridiculous amount of pressure to remove the bolt but they eased up eventually

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I've got one in .243, first centre fire and had it about a year. Don't get to use it as much as I'd like but lovely gun for the money. I use factory Norma 100 grn soft points or 75 grn ballistic tips.

As you said, not a top of the range gun but for the amount I use it it's suits me! I tweaked the trigger a little to lighten it a touch as well, not a bad unit out the box tho.

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I had a 1500 Stainless Varmint in .243 with a thumbhole stock a couple of years ago - quite a nice handy little rifle. I had a problem with the scope mounts, I found that the holes had been drill out of line on the receiver but a set of Burris rings with the off-set inserts cured that. I also found that the stainless would rust almost as much as a blued rifle.

 

Reasonable trigger once it had been fettled a bit, accuracy OK'ish but not much under 1 moa no matter what I tried. It wasn't happy with most bullets over 95 grain, best results were with bullets in the 85-90 gn area.

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I have a Howa 1500 in .243, laminate thumbhole stock, varmint barrel, Sonic 45 mod and a N750A NV scope. I cant really fault the rifle and have had good results. The only downside is the weight as I am of slight build and most of my ground requires a long old walk to cover it However the fact it handles well makes up for this.

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Thanks for all the replies lads, I've been advised to use Winchester silvertip 95gr for now as they are up to the job for everything I want

and apparently give fairly good groups (the chap hasn't seen my shooting :lol: )

I load my own for .222 and my mates.270, so when I can get some dies I'll start sorting a load the gun likes.

WelshMike, I'm no man mountain myself, and know what you mean about the weight, but after humping blocks for the last 45 years, or should I say laying blocks (this is getting worse) 'Building'. I've got strong arms at the moment but the weight is noticeable,

walt1980 do you find the norma 100grn stabilize ok ? I've read a lot of conflicting reports.

cheers lads

Edited by tonker
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Thanks for all the replies lads, I've been advised to use Winchester silvertip 95gr for now as they are up to the job for everything I want

and apparently give fairly good groups (the chap hasn't seen my shooting :lol: )

I load my own for .222 and my mates.270, so when I can get some dies I'll start sorting a load the gun likes.

WelshMike, I'm no man mountain myself, and know what you mean about the weight, but after humping blocks for the last 45 years, or should I say laying blocks (this is getting worse) 'Building'. I've got strong arms at the moment but the weight is noticeable,

walt1980 do you find the norma 100grn stabilize ok ? I've read a lot of conflicting reports.

cheers lads

my old man has used Norma for nearly 15 years never had a one not do its job if I could afford to feed both of my rifles Norma I would :good:

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I get about an inch group at 100 yds, I generally only shoot out to about 150 so it's good enough for me on deer and fox. The 75s are better than me out to 200.

I found after 2 shots the zero would move due to the barrel heat more so in the 100 grn. Worth a box just to try but at £36 they aren't cheap!

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