bigbird2 Posted May 2, 2012 Report Share Posted May 2, 2012 Just wondering if there are any Howa 1500 .243 owners out there using factory ammo , if so what u using ? ive tried 58grn hornady moly coated with roughly 1" grouping @ 100yrds and ive also tried 90grn PPU with a group of 1.5 to 2 inch groups ..have thought about home loading but really do just want a factory round suitable for foxy and maybe the odd Roe , I sure my barrel is a 1 in 9 twist so an thinking a heavier round will stabalise better , any feedback would be great , cheers . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeker Posted May 2, 2012 Report Share Posted May 2, 2012 l think the 243s came in 1:10.? Can't help you with its taste in ammo , but start with the cheapest and work up. Good rifle, the trigger responds to being fettled.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbird2 Posted May 2, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2012 l think the 243s came in 1:10.? Can't help you with its taste in ammo , but start with the cheapest and work up. Good rifle, the trigger responds to being fettled.. yeah , really pleased with the rifle and have just fettled the trigger a few days back , just googled and it IS 1 in 10 twist well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1066 Posted May 2, 2012 Report Share Posted May 2, 2012 Just wondering if there are any Howa 1500 .243 owners out there using factory ammo , if so what u using ? ive tried 58grn hornady moly coated with roughly 1" grouping @ 100yrds and ive also tried 90grn PPU with a group of 1.5 to 2 inch groups ..have thought about home loading but really do just want a factory round suitable for foxy and maybe the odd Roe , I sure my barrel is a 1 in 9 twist so an thinking a heavier round will stabalise better , any feedback would be great , cheers . I had a Howa 1500 Stainless Varmint with a laminated thunbhole stock in .243. It was a pretty little rifle with a nice action and a fair trigger once it had been looked at but the accuracy was only ok. It really was only about a 1moa rifle no matter what I did, rebedding and endless load development couldn't improve it. I tried PPU in the 90's and 100's, the 90's were, as you say, 1.5 inches or so but the 100's were all over the show. As a 1 in 10 I expected it to be able to handle 100's ok. It did shoot some Sako 90gn factory rounds reasonable well but the best accuracy was with fairly stiff loads with bullets in the 70-80 range. I also had problems with the scope rail mounting holes being drilled off centre although Burris rings with the offset inserts corrected this. So - In short, if I was to find one with a shot out barrel going cheap I would think about getting an aftermarket barrel fitted and ending up with a handy rifle. This rifle is also marketed as the Weatherby Vanguard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeker Posted May 3, 2012 Report Share Posted May 3, 2012 coincidentally I bumped into a friend who got one (243) last year intending to use as a donor action. He hasn't got around to the change because out shoots well as is .... As said by 1066, his also responds to a bit more speed and shoots the 6mm Lapua scenars and Sierras very well.... he is not a fan of moly coating (as this is a family site I'll not quote him in case persons of a sensitive disposition are about). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archie-fox Posted May 3, 2012 Report Share Posted May 3, 2012 In my 243 that I had I used sako rounds 100gn... Not a bad round and accuracy was about a inch so was good enough on foxes... Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbird2 Posted May 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2012 In my 243 that I had I used sako rounds 100gn... Not a bad round and accuracy was about a inch so was good enough on foxes... Rich Liked the Sako 100`s eh but not the PPUS ? Bleddy typical price wise eh ? lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pat g Posted May 3, 2012 Report Share Posted May 3, 2012 Im reading this post with interest as i own a 243 Howa and have only tried 100grain rounds up to now. 1.5"-2" groups are what i have achieved at 100yds and i was a little disappointed as i was expecting better. These were all factory rounds by the way. I'm hoping to try some 75gr and 87grain vmax and see what results they give. My local RFD has 100grain Sako's in stock at £32 per 20 i think :o . So i may resort to home loads and the expense that all the gear brings as i sold all my reloading gear some years ago! Big mistake . Let us know how you get on ATB, Pat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbird2 Posted May 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2012 Im reading this post with interest as i own a 243 Howa and have only tried 100grain rounds up to now. 1.5"-2" groups are what i have achieved at 100yds and i was a little disappointed as i was expecting better. These were all factory rounds by the way. I'm hoping to try some 75gr and 87grain vmax and see what results they give. My local RFD has 100grain Sako's in stock at £32 per 20 i think :o . So i may resort to home loads and the expense that all the gear brings as i sold all my reloading gear some years ago! Big mistake . Let us know how you get on ATB, Pat Are the 75`s and 87`s factory loaded ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pat g Posted May 3, 2012 Report Share Posted May 3, 2012 Are the 75`s and 87`s factory loaded ? Yip, both available in factory rounds ATB, Pat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnome of the Woods Posted May 3, 2012 Report Share Posted May 3, 2012 Mine spat Winchester 100gn all over the place. 90gn Sako's performed sub 1" Going to try homeload 85gn sp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radar_uk Posted May 4, 2012 Report Share Posted May 4, 2012 I use Hornady 95gn SST's and get excellent groups with them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbird2 Posted May 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2012 Thanks for the feedback everyone , popping down G.Smiths morra and see whats on the shelf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cockercas Posted May 5, 2012 Report Share Posted May 5, 2012 generally .243s are not 100gr accurate, try bunging some 80grs down the barrel. just remember a .243 is a varmint calibre. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollydog Posted May 5, 2012 Report Share Posted May 5, 2012 ive got the weaterby vangaurd the same rifle i belive. it shoots remington 100gr corelock to .5 of a inch and hornady 100gr interlock shoot very good groups i had no joy with privvi either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
choke it Posted May 7, 2012 Report Share Posted May 7, 2012 i use 58gr vmax in mine and can put 3 bullets in my thumb nail group at 100 yds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ging125 Posted May 9, 2012 Report Share Posted May 9, 2012 Mine didnt like federal fusion 100 or pmc 95. It did like hornady v-max 58. still testing, next is hornady 87gn. I would be intersted to see what they like!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pat g Posted May 10, 2012 Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 Just bought some Winchester Super X 8o grain pointed soft points so hoping to give those a try. I'm hoping they are ok and if they are i'll probably stick with them. In the meantime i'm building a little supply of brass for reloading in the future Ideally looking at using them both for Fox and the Roe so i dont have to re-zero between different types. Weather permitting i hope to try them at the weekend ATB, Pat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
17hmr243 Posted May 10, 2012 Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 i use privi 90gn 1"-1.5"groups at 100yds all day winchester 100gn seem to get a few loose ones as the barrel gets warmer, norma 58gn vmax shoot nearly identical to the privi 90s so hardly any adjustment needed when out lookin for basil.atb don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodydog Posted May 14, 2012 Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 I HAVE A 1500 SPORTER ITS 1IN10 Twist mine shoots 90grn privi and 70grn Fioochi spot on, tried most others nothing comes close to these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phaedra1106 Posted May 14, 2012 Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 Just got a 1500 in .308 with the 20" heavy varmint barrel and Axiom stock. Nearly had me putting it in the bin!, chamber is right on the bottom end of spec and is as tight as a very tight thing that has been extra tightened (twice). Managed to get my local gunsmith and RFD (Bow Tec at Birtley) to have a look and he took 20thou off the bottom of my full length sizing die so I can bump the shoulders back far enough. With the tight chamber I'm expecting decent accuracy out of it and will let you know how it does at the range on Sunday. Loads are 167g Scenar and 168g Nosler Custom Competition over 41gr of TR140 (Vit N140). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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