Thread: Howa 223 not shooting well and my quest to fix it

Originally Posted by rambo-6mmrem

Even cheaper option is a ball point pen spring cut to length and installed in place of the factory spring

yeah nah I'll pass thanks mate!

Originally Posted by Flyblown

yeah nah I'll pass thanks mate!

Fair enough not for everyone
I still have the original spring I can put back in 2 minutes
But it seems to be perfectly good 1.8 lb on the Lyman trigger scales
Breaks bloody awesome and won’t go off when knocked hard trust me ive tryed hard to make it go without pulling the trigger I can’t get it to go off without my permission ie pulling the trigger

It’s probably not 100% drop safe I get that but 99% of the time it’s shot off a bench rest and single feeded off bags so chances of it getting dropped with a round in the chamber is arround 0.00%

I've done the pen spring job in a couple of rifles, works a treat. Absolutely no safety or reliability issues. The 3.5" floppy shutter spring works well on the Marlin Semi's too.

yeah iv done it on countless 22s too
probably on centerfires too
you gotta break a lot of pens to find the "right spring" dont use the first one you find

I still have 3 Howas, In 7RM, 708 cut down and a 223. so Obviously i'm sold on them. I have had a play with the old Tekka and wasn't impressed, didn't like the feel but that's just a personal preference thing.

To be honest if I bought one that couldn't thread a needle I'd just take it back and ask for a replacement.

I have bedded and stiffened the fore-end on my RM but the others I have just left as is. all of them i have polished up the trigger and adjusted where I want it. As for getting it so light you need a pen spring I just don't see the point for a hunting rifle. I personally don't think it is worth it, Triggers don't make rifles more or less accurate, factory with a little tickle up they are good to go. for the lighter 20" light 1500, there is plenty of clearance on the fore end. I only did it on the big boy as I run a bi-pod.

so how did it shoot

Originally Posted by northdude

so how did it shoot

Will be finding out Monday/Tuesday we are waiting on a new scope for it
Well new to him a fixed 12x leupold target scope
Hasn’t arrived yet
Won’t be going on the rifle full time but will be perfect for accuracy test/ load development
@northdude ive finished with your tool
I’ll return it tomorrow at some point
I’ll text you

Originally Posted by Huntfisheat

That's possibly the least accurate statement seen here. Triggers can make a huge difference.

Triggers make a huge difference for those who cant shoot well. Sorry if it sounds harsh but unless it's like 10 pounds and you can't muscle in, you should be able to shoot well with any trigger so long you stick to your fundamentals.

Originally Posted by Huntfisheat

Should is a funny word. Everybody should love every body. But that's not how it works. And a trigger at 8lb with variances in creep and over travel will not be seen on a target rifle and why? Because they're shit and no one can shoot comparatively well with them. So your statement doesn't sound harsh. It simply sounds ill informed.

These rifles don't have triggers that are 8 pounds though do they? out of the box they are perfectly serviceable is my point. For hunting, what these rifles are set up for, out of the box they are good to go.

in a technical sence @William is right a bad trigger heavy or creepy dosnt make a rifle more accurate or less accurate the only affects the shooters ability to shoot it accurately

although i have never met anyone capable (who has good enough trigger control) to shoot a 5lb trigger as well as a 2lb trigger
and i know alot of very good shooters

Originally Posted by rambo-6mmrem

in a technical sence @William is right a bad trigger heavy or creepy dosnt make a rifle more accurate or less accurate the only affects the shooters ability to shoot it accurately

although i have never met anyone capable (who has good enough trigger control) to shoot a 5lb trigger as well as a 2lb trigger
and i know alot of very good shooters

This is true and I agree, I'd prefer a nice, crisp, light trigger.
That is what I was getting at that the trigger isn't a technical component to accuracy. Practical accuracy might be a different story.
My point is more that the trigger they come with are very usable for hunting as they aren't that bad and are user adjustable.

I've never had a problem with either of the mini actioned 223, x39 or 6.5 grendel. simply Point, aim & shoot. Accuracy has been great ...if I aim straight. Rabbits, goats & deer all fall over so no worries.

Originally Posted by Huntfisheat

Agreed. Yet some are gooder than others and it's easier to shoot well with a good trigger.

Agreed, it always makes it easier. For what you pay over the top of some plastic fantastic Axis or a American it's pretty good for the money. I can't remember the Name Something like HAAT or something, the two stage triggers that ship with newer Howa's, it's not too shabby and has a lot of adjustment. For use as a hunting rifle you don't really want it too light anyway,
Shooting off hand after running up the side of a gully. You want a trigger to go off when you intended haha.
They have like a .5 pound take up and the break is adjustable from like 2.5 out to unusable.

Originally Posted by Huntfisheat

Agreed. Yet some are gooder than others and it's easier to shoot well with a good trigger.

Agreed, it always makes it easier. For what you pay over the top of some plastic fantastic Axis or a American it's pretty good for the money. I can't remember the Name Something like HAAT or something, the two stage triggers that ship with newer Howa's, it's not too shabby and has a lot of adjustment. For use as a hunting rifle you don't really want it too light anyway,
Shooting off hand after running up the side of a gully. You want a trigger to go off when you intended haha.
They have like a .5 pound take up and the break is adjustable from like 2.5 out to unusable.

geeze you guys dont know what a bad trigger is...when I first got my winchester model 70 lightweight...you found a deer,dug a strainerpost hole,rammed in a strainer,tied the rifle to it and then hooked up a D7 to the trigger and pulled the winchrope lever....the rifle would fire just before Caterpillar motor stalled and hopefully the rifle was still pointed at deer!!!!!

that trigger is the easiest thing to adjust,right down to silly light in weight....I did have it way light but found 2lb is about right for me.
will watch this thread with interest as mates looking for a new rifle and any tips n tricks to get what he MIGHT buy are good to have.