HOWA you doing

S

SwwPlayboy

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Now that I have your attention

Looking at expanding my varmint collection. Recently spent some time with a buddy at his tank and we cleaned house on some turtles. I was using my 17 hornet and my buddy was using a 204 ruger. My hornet was doing rather well but it definitely didn't have the "splatter" of the 204 ruger...not even close. So, I am now looking into adding a 204 collection.

My attention came to a Howa Ranchland compact rifle with the "Yote" camo. I had the Howa kryptek full dip with nikko scope in a 22-250. Took it prairie dog hunting and was rather disappointed. Before the hunt, I sighted it in at 200 yards. I am no crack shot, but the groupings I was getting were rather disappointing. Took it on the hunt any way. Well after awhile I started to notice the reticle was looking crooked. Took the scope back to the truck thinking maybe the rings had slipped a bit. Long story short after quite a bit of looking, adjusting, and shooting, it turns out the scope wasn't moving, it was the reticle itself was moving. It had moved a full 45 degrees. Rather disappointing considering this was day 1 of 3. Sent to scope back into Nikko and had it replaced. Same thing happened when I took it to the range, reticle its self was moving. So in the long run, I ended up trading the gun in for a Remington 700 in 220 swift. Groupings where noticeably better.

I don't plan on using the 204 for anything longer than 200 yards if that. It doesn't take lightly to wind, but I thinking it would be a good truck gun. So with that said, been looking at different brands that come in a 204. First I saw Remington 700 has a nice looking one with laminated wood stock, but I have two in 220 swift and 22-250. Both are great but with the 26" barrel, don't think that length is needed for the short range I would be using it for, just extra weight. Saw ruger has some but that is what my 17 hornet is in. Savage had a variety but my 17 HMR is a savage. The Mossberg MVP comes in a 204. My wife has one in 223 and has enjoyed it, but she doesn't want me "copying" her so Mossberg is out. So now I'm back to a howa. The Yote im looking at is a 20" barrel and comes a nikko scope with matching camo. Its a good price, I believe it will do what I ask of it, its a synthetic stock so it can handle the weather, and its light weight.

So what do you think? Give howa another chance? Has anyone else had issues with a Nikko scope?

Also, with a 12 twist ratio, what will be the best grain for a 204?

Any info is appreciated. Thanks
 
"So in the long run, I ended up trading the gun in for a Remington 700 in 220 swift. Groupings where noticeably better."

Why would you trade the rifle if the problem was the scope???????????
Every HOWA I've shot has been very accurate.

.204 is flat shooting w/o much recoil. On the other hand, it may be more variable in the wind and it lacks killing power for the bigger varmints. If you're limiting your .204 to 200 yards, why not just shoot a .223. The diff in trajectory is unnoticeable at that range and a .223 w/50 V-Max has plenty of wallop for any varmint @ 200-250.
 
Like I said, groupings were just way off. I had never owned a howa and figured the gun was the issue. Took the remington on a hunt in the same area and was having much more success. Groupings were a lot tighter.

I guess I need to simplify this....

I had an issue with the reticle in the Nikko scope. Has anyone else seen this problem? I ask this cause the Howa I am looking at comes with a nikko scope.

The Howa gun itself. I was not able to make a consistent grouping at 200 yards. I can normally keep my groups rather tight at that distance. So has anyone else had issues with accuracy with a Howa?

Has anyone had experience with the Howa Ranchland compact before?

What is the best grain for a 12 twist rate with a 204 ruger?
 
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Howa's shoot great but the Nikko sterlings are junk imho. No one that I know has bought one of the rifle/scope combo'a has kept the scope. Buy the howa and a better scope. You will be happy.
 
Howa makes good rifles, but the short small diameter barrels offered on the Ranch rifle just aren't meant for accuracy.
 
Well I'm glad to hear it wasn't the gun, and now know to never go with a Nikko. Should make this a bit easier.

I'm not looking for a tack driver, that's what my swift is for. I just want something I can pull out quick if I see a coon/possum/skunk what not and know if I put the cross hairs on it, its gonna go down. Normally Id take my 17, but I just want to try something different. And yes I know a 223 can do me just as good, better when it comes to larger varmint like hog, and can handle long distance better. If that were the case Id carry my mini 14 in the truck. Fact is I want a 204 because.

So, is it worth the extra 100 to get the Remington 700, or will the howa serve me just as well?
 
To each his own, personally I prefer the howa actions with the flat bottom, integral recoil lug, better extractor and hammer forged barrels. There's a bit of an aftermarket for them though not like the rem
 
Howas / Vanguards are typically quite accurate - agree that you had a scope problem, 95% chance, not a rifle problem. Fix that next time with different scope and/or rings.

The down sides of Howa / Vanguards are heavy actions (could be pro or con depending on your goal), and a safety that won't engage when the trigger is adjusted to the better end of the scale all the way. And crappy stocks, on the basic versions, espec. the cheapened Vanguard III.

On scopes, every since I started going with the following as my bare minimum quality level, I haven't had any problems with junk optics breaking: Nikon Prostaff, Nikon Omega / Slugmaster, Burris Fullfield II, Leupold Rifleman, Bushnell Elite, Sightron SII.
 
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SWWPlayboy- Bullet weight. My Howa does just as well with either the 32 or 40gr bullets. So I'm thinking I won't get wound around no axles with weight- I think I'll focus more on finding a brand that offers decent results and brass until I get all the what-nots together to start reloading it. Hope that helps.
 
So a $50 scope won't group. No surprise there. Your blaming the chicken because the chef overcooked it. Anyway, Howa is on the high end of rifles and will likely out group any of the others you mentioned given a fair chance with a fair piece of glass on top. You can get luepold, sightron, nikon, vortex all around $120-$150 3-9x40 and they will likely give you a much better indication of what that howa can do.
 
My bull barreled .223 Howa 1500 with a Nikko 4-16x44 Targetmaster has been a great combination. I've only fired 200 or so rounds through it so far but it will consistently group well under 1/2" at 100 yards shooting 55gr Midway Dogtown bullets over Hodgdon H-335.

Maybe the scope will fail later on but for now it is hanging in there.
 
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