New Howa 204 first blood

[.303]

My new 204 howa varmit first fox was 205yards,second 288 yards,ammo factory 32gr vmax,very impressed its a flat shooting hammer out to 300 yards!

 

[skyfish25]

Nice, I just rebarreled my 204 Howa. Is that a factory barrel? Probably my favorite rifle to shoot. I shoot the 40gr V-max. Death ray to 400 yards.

 

[.303]

Yer it's the new Howa varmint just the standard factory set up with hogue,the scope is a ziess 6.5 to 20,I think the new flutes make it look mean.I have 3 tikkas,this will shoot just as good for half the price.Put 9 shots into quarter of inch at 100mIm only using factory loaded ammo so far.I tried a box of 50,40gr vmax they were no where near as consistent as the 32gr.What are you getting at 100yards with the 40s with the same barrel?and how many rounds will take before a rebarrel is needed?I wanted to use the 40s for shots past 300yards,the sierra 39 bks are way to expensive in factory ammo haven't bought a reloader yet.Do you think the 32s will kill a wild dog at 350 to 400 yards?

 

[.303]

Yer it's the new Howa varmint just the standard factory set up with hogue,the scope is a zeiss 6.5 to 20,I think the new flutes make it look mean.I have 3 tikkas,this will shoot just as good for half the price.Put 9 shots into quarter of inch at 100mIm only using factory loaded ammo so far.I tried a box of 50,40gr vmax they were no where near as consistent as the 32gr.What are you getting at 100yards with the 40s with the same barrel?and how many rounds will take before a rebarrel is needed?I wanted to use the 40s for shots past 300yards,the sierra 39 bks are way to expensive in factory ammo haven't bought a reloader yet.Do you think the 32s will kill a wild dog at 350 to 400 yards?

 

[skyfish25]

My factory barrel would shoot the 32gr V-max under half inch. Very consistent. Using XBR8205, TAC or IMR 3031. The 40gr V-max were over 1/2 almost every time(usually if measured .680"@100yards). But I like the heavier bullet in Wyoming and South Dakota P-dogging and was concerned the 32 gr wasn't enough for coyotes. (That doesn't seem an issue after looking at your foxes)

It did shoot the 39gr Blitz better than the 40 gr V-max, not quite as good as the 32 gr.

I put over 2000 rounds on it, BUT I don't think it was the round count. My sons and I happened upon an unspooked town. 300 rounds through the barrel in maybe an hour or so. 95%+ hit rate, cost one barrel, value priceless. My oldest son has a 22-250, grabbed a box of empties. No resting any rifles that time!

BTW, my rifle shot the factory Hornady great, with my reloading I could match the accuracy but not better than it. I even ended up using the factory OAL as Hornady factory ammo. I also went with a 1/10 twist on the new barrel for the 40gr bullets. I would have went 1/11 if Shilen offered that.