Thread: Howa .243 Varmint

@GWH did a mag cut down just recently. Nice job.

The .243 Howa I have is the sporter version, its taken a shed load of animals, a functional, reliable hunting rifle. The only thing worth mentioning is the throat is quite short and you won't be able to seat bullets that far out before hitting the lands. Its within SAAMI spec, but not much more. It's a 1:10" twist of course and the stability / accuracy limit on mine is breached by the Sierra 100gr GameKing (very ordinary) whereas the Sierra 100gr ProHunter (shorter, flat base) is very good. The Hornady 90gr ELD-X is showing promise but I haven't finished load development.

However the chamber on the 6.5 CM Howa Varmint I have will allow long bullets seated further out than SAAMI c.o.a.l., but the internal mag dimensions then restrict it. Not that it matters, because it shoots the balls off a gnat anyway.

The flexy forend problem on the Hogue stocks is easily solved with a scalpel and a light application of Dremel... My Hogue stocked Howa .243 will shoot sub-MOA all day long off a bipod. You won't need a brake on a .243, especially if its the heavy varmint model.

That's great info thanks @Flyblown

I'm pretty sure I'll be using the 87 gr Vmax loads from Outback over here to see how they go and then reload them as I've has some success with them in the past.
The Howa Bravo looks a great deal at $1200 here but it doesn't come in the .243 that I'm after.... can always build one anyway for nearly the same price.
The only major drawback of working over here is that I can't pop down to the farm spontaneously and smack some targets. It was a great way to spend time with the kids away from iPad's and switching off for a few days.

Hoping we can make the most of the winter here when the 'wiggly sticks' are not as common.

Farmer here reckons the rabbits are in big numbers and the foxes have exploded....should be able to help with that!


Thanks for the link up @GWH I'll get onto that when I purchase.