Howa HB 223

Hey, I'm thinking of buying a Howa barreled action with the heavy barrel in .223 Winchester, and putting a Boyds thumbhole varmint stock on it.

Anybody have experience with the HB 223 Howa?

Not with the 223. But I did with a 308 until I re barreled to a 284. I would not hesitate to buy another one. They shoot good for a factory rifle and I really liked the action. The problem every one I have talked to about them have complained of aftermarket parts for them. Anything you can do to a Remington you can do to a howa you just don't have ten options for everything.

Walter

Besides the Boyds stock, the only other thing I might tweak or replace would be the trigger. - I like a two pound pull.

Mainly I'm wondering about accuracy potential, barrel quality etc..

My present 223 bolt gun gives me five shot groups under 3/8" at 100 yards, that's more or less what I'm hoping I can get after some load development.

It will just be for informal target shooting, a recreational range gun. - I shoot quite often, weather permitting.

You should be able to get 1/2 moa from it with hand loads. On my howa I had a rifle basix trigger and really liked it. I don't have a ton of first hand experience with it cause I changed the barrel on it very soon. But from all the research I did before I got it they came with high praise for the price. You can just order a barreled action and put it in your own stock.

Walter

I appreciate the information. My present .223 bolt gun (Savage 25T) is accurate enough but I'm not crazy about the action, or the four shot plastic magazine.

It is more money but IMHO I think the tikka ctr is a better gun. And there is nothing that really needs to be done to it out of the box.

Walter

If I bought the Tikka I would immediately have to buy a decent stock for it too, making it cost over a grand.

There are number of other guns that I'd be looking at, if I were going to spend that much. The Howa SS barreled action and Boyds "sky blue" laminate thumb-holestock will set me back around 625-650 bills total, including shipping and transfer fee.

Before I spent a grand on a Tikka, I'd buy a Winchester 1885 with a 28" tapered octagon barrel, a knockout beauty that will shoot bug-holes.

You can scare up 1885 high-walls in 223 on the auction sites for around 1.2 grand. - Twice the gun the Tikka ever dreamed of being, for just a couple of hundred extra bucks.

But I'm not looking to spend that much.

I understand. I think the howa would be a good fit the. If I remember right I think I payed around 500 for just the barreled action when I did it. I also replaced the trigger but a few people said I was crazy as the howa trigger after being tuned is fairly nice but already ordered the other. For the price even if the barrel doesn't shot lights out you could rebarrel it and still be at a decent price, but I would shoot the factory one first.

Walter

Just curious, where can you buy the barreled action? I've looked and can not find anyone who carries them.

Edit. It is legacy sports. And they are also doing a 6.5 creed with 1-8 twist

Walter

Bud's Gun Shop, online.

Bud's