Howa .223

[35 Whelen]

I grabbed a new Howa 223 with what looks like a Boyd's laminated stock. And am very pleased with it. It has a 1/8 twist 22" barrel. It is quite accurate with 69 grain Hpbt bullets.
See grouping at 100 yds.... 3shots from cold barrel. I also purchased a Weatherby Vanguard composite stock for it. It still shoots great, but not quite as good as the pillar bedded Boyd's Laminated..... so am very pleased with the gun.
It will not quite shoot moa with 55gr cheapie ammo but close!!!

 

[truck driver]

Earl I still have a Composite/plastic stock that came off a Vanguard that was chambered for 300Wby that I use for a boat paddle. The 300wby tore the front sling swivel stud out of the stock with a bipod hanging on it.
I had to put the action in a B&C stock with a full metal bedding block to control the recoil. It will probably be Ok for the .223. Mine also broke a scope and had to send it in for repairs.
The stock does make a good spare boat or canoe paddle.

 

[35 Whelen]

Thanks for the heads up on using the stock for a paddle. ( have done it before).....

 

[wvbuckbuster]

Nice looking rifle and groups well. You will have fun with this one. Dan.

 

[xphunter]

Looks like there is continued fun in your future!

 

[35 Whelen]

Well for what's left out there; that is affordable to shoot, the 223 is about the last surviving caliber......... I was able to buy 20 boxes of 55gr PMC Bronze few weeks ago for $150 including free shipping. My Howa has an 8 twist barrel so it won't quite shoot moa with the 55gr bullets but it's close enough. So it will take some time to wade thru the 600 rounds We got sitting here.

 

[SJB358]

I bet it’ll shoot 40 VMax or BT if you wish to tear stuff up. Those two have shot great.

If you feel adventurous try the 77 Sierra TMK with leverevolution. Never seen a gun not shoot it and be excellent.

 

[RL338]

That 223 will be a shooter for sure.

 

[35 Whelen]

I realized I forgot to comment on trigger pull right of the box, was 2lb 14oz with NO creap....
My Superlite I bought last July came thru at 4.5lbs ....which I had to adjusted down to 3lbs before I ever shot it. It shoots fine for hunting 1.25" with factory Hornady ammo, but is not in bussiness accuracy wise, against this .223 that weighes 2lbs more! Also very impressed with the rigidness of the front end of the Weatherby Vanguard stock, and really like the height of the comb, perfect eye alignment with my scope mounts, the palm swell on right pistol grip panel is a nice feature. Unequaled value with these guns for short money!
E

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

Nice Earle. I have thought of doing that same thing.

 

[JD338]

Very nice E.

JD338

 

[RL338]

When it comes down to it the Vanguard stock is the best entry level rifle stock out there in my opinion.
The 2 stage trigger is also decent. I do pull the trigger and cut 1 loop off the trigger spring to start with.

 

[SJB358]

When it comes down to it the Vanguard stock is the best entry level rifle stock out there in my opinion.
The 2 stage trigger is also decent. I do pull the trigger and cut 1 loop off the trigger spring to start with.

Same here with the trigger springs. They are very good triggers in my opinion.

 

[35 Whelen]

I have no intentions of ever using this as a deer rifle , BUT I can see no reason with a good 75gr bullet, it is certainly capable! I shot lots of coyotes with an old Ruger 77, 25 years ago and it worked good out to 150yds. At 300yds I had lots of problems with the 223. I upgraded to 243 ( doubled the bullet weight, way less drift in high winds) and nearly eliminated all problems. But CHEAP to shoot, fun gun, have put 7 boxes thru it in 3 weeks. So it does what I wanted it to exactly. My 7mm/08 with Hornady Superformance ammo basically "matching .280 Rem factory loads" in a scoped rifle that weighee LESS than a model 94 Winchester with open sights does!! Will remain my go to deer rifle this fall.
E

 

[Dr. Vette]

When it comes down to it the Vanguard stock is the best entry level rifle stock out there in my opinion.
The 2 stage trigger is also decent. I do pull the trigger and cut 1 loop off the trigger spring to start with.

I also take a Dremel tool and some Flitz to the sear/trigger surfaces to polish them. It helps smooth it out.

 

[SJB358]

The 223 with 77 grain Tipped MKs is a wicked little round. It has always amazed me the way it scrambles stuff. At times you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference from it and a 300 Win with a soft bullet. I have a Tikka I keep in the truck for Chuck’s, coyotes and once in awhile if a crow sits still long enough.

 

[Darryle]

I bought a Tikka Stainless Superlite 223 for the same reason, cheap and fun.

I wish Howa would have had a stainless carbon stocked rifle available at the time, I would have bought one of those instead.