AusVarmint

Managed to crank out some reloads ( Rem cases ( junk ) W748 and 39 SBK ) and headed out Little River way to run in the Howa.
I read that Windex was useful for running in after removing as much of the cleaning fluids ( Hoppes and Sweets ) as it gets all traces out and leaves the bore clean of everything. Dunno but took it anyway as we had some and it wasn't going to cost. Got a few strange looks so I resorted to putting it on the patches under the bench like some sort of wino .......
Of course Eagle Park was putting on a show with a lot of wind and a nice muddy and partially washed out track. The weather seemed to scare most people away as when I got there I would have been one of about 10 until early afternoon.
I put a target out at 25, did the run in thing whilst sighting it in ( talk about a boring job ) , then moved to 50m for sighting in and then 100 to finish the day off.
Given that the loads were just what looked good with W748 as I have some and the rifle is pretty new I was really happy with the results.
My best was a three shot group of .711 edge to edge @ 100m, so half an inch centre to centre.



I did a better three shot group but stopped to have a chat to the guy beside me who was also playing with a 204 ( albeit a Remington ) when I decided to run two more shots which blew it out to .946 edge to edge, so about 3/4 of an inch. You can see three shots clustered which was the original 3 ... serves me right, should have left it there and gone for glory ! A 5 shot group at way less than an inch is nothing to sneeze at though.



Two minor concerns. One is patchy extraction. About 1 time in 10 the claw doesn't grip. I have read something about this and hope it is just cheap crappy Remington cases as I plan to get some Norma/Nosler brass once financial. The other is the magazine doesn't like more than three cartridges in it as the 4th pushes everything at a funny angle and jams up the works. I note that although I am slightly under the max COL, the cartridges are right on the limit of the length of the magazine. Something else to play with.

Summary? I like it. I think that playing with the bedding and finding a load recipe it likes will see the groups shrink even more. Watch out bunnies !


I also took the Marlin 17 HMR out to see if my recent lack of form with it was going to translate to a target. At 50 it was acceptable but at 100 it was shooting around 3 inches. Playing around with the action screw tension didn't do much so I will have to think about it. It was quite windy but I don;t think tripling the group would be the result of that.

Lastly, I managed to hit a small pot hole at the intersection of Ripley Rd and Little River Rd ( I think ) and screwed my week old tyre. I will be speaking to the council about the state of their roads and see if I can get anything back from them. We pay taxes and so on for an infrastructure so it should not be in a state to shag tyres !! grrr.

Thats a start mate well done, not sure what the go is with the extraction issues, how oily are the cases? I think that can cause issues at times, there may also be a slight burr on the extractor claw or it may need a little bit taken off it to fit the rim better? just see how it goes and if its still causing issue take it back and get the smith to have a look.

As for the mag issues just make sure that the magazine insert thing (not sure what its called) is in the correct direction and is sitting properly they can cause issues at times so just check it out.

I will suss out what a mate uses in his Howa 204 - he gets awesome results with just factory stuff but has started reloading for it I think - I'll send him a PM and see whats doing and let ya know.

What stock have you got that sitting in? can't remember if you posted pics or not now (bloody memories up the spout these days)

It won't take long to get it shooting well - a little tune of the ammo and she will be sweet.

EDIT: I forgot to ask if the bolt lift etc was sticky or not? and what sort of rest were you using?

its in a boyds thumbhole so I might be able to do some bedding not to mention load development.
Even if it does not better it is still 'acceptable' enough to do the job but I feel it has more in it yet.

Added, Bolt lift not sticky and a Rock Jr rest with a rear bag.

Thanks for getting back to me mate - appreciate that, I sent my mate a email re any loads he uses, just waiting for a reply. Have you checked to see that the barrel isn't touching anywhere? I know I had to do a quick sand on mine to open the channel up slightly.

Also the other thing I found that makes a difference is the torque on the action screws, I don't have a torque wrench but I did a little bit of a test a while ago and it definitely makes a difference so maybe have a little fiddle there.

Also have a fiddle with seating depth - that definately makes em shoot better too.

Good luck

Iused rem cases for a few years in my ruger vt 204 and never had an extraction problem, sure its the cases? Usually cases are the problem if they arent sized right......

Bed it, make sure its floated, check the crown.

W748 is supposed to be a very good powder, just hard to find. Most use 2206H and it speaks for itself. Also look at reloader 10x. The stuff is brilliant in 20 cal. But theres plenty of stuff to play with reload wise to get it shooting. Let it have a hundred or so rounds to run in properly.

Oh and leave the windex for your windows. Boretech eliminator or shooters choice are very good solvents that wont harm your barrel. Main thing is to get the copper out which these will do. Once you have done 20 shots or so, give it a good scrub with JB paste or Iosso bore paste.

Thanks guys.
I am not sure of anything except the occasional case won't extract. I have looked at the extractor before and it looked ok. I will look at it a lot closer. Trevor, the Ruger has a massive Mauser type extractor whereas this has a little pussy one. Sometimes it's hard to improve on the original. There were also brand new cases. I will run them through the dies next week and see what happens. It's all brand new so I am not worries as long as I can cure things through wearing it in, reloading practices or different cases.

I can get W748 any time I need at the LGS, I wasn't aware that it was hard to find. I only used it because it gave me exceptional results in my 223, goes through the powder thrower quite well and it was there begging to be used. I might spring for some 2206 soon and see what that can do for me.

I think playing with the bedding is the next port of call. I have a tin of neutral nugget all ready to go but I am nervous about gluing the stock in

I took my tyre to the place I purchased it from... the tyre and the rim are buggered. Tyre...$230 or so... rim..about $1000 .... bloody hell. I sent a letter to the council asking for them to pay for it so we will see what happens. At around $1500 all up ( wheel alignment and a safety check as it must have hit hard ) I will get some cheap ricey wheels and tyres if I have to pay for them, hopefully the council will come good.
Bloody low profile wheels and tyres.

Windex! Now that's funny. I think its Metho your thinking of to remove all traces of oils/cleaning solvents after a clean. That barrel looks like it wants to shoot to me, run more rounds through it and it may come really good ... its already shooting damn well!

Your extraction issue may be an ejector issue ... bolt may need nothing more than a good clean of its factory preserving greases. The plunger style ejector's often harbour tonnes of grit and grime in the bottom of the recess, so case extract okay-ish but aren't kicked clear and just sit on the follower. Either way, disassemble the bolt and clean and lube it up.
Cheers...
Con

Con wrote:Windex! Now that's funny. I think its Metho your thinking of to remove all traces of oils/cleaning solvents after a clean. That barrel looks like it wants to shoot to me, run more rounds through it and it may come really good ... its already shooting damn well!

Your extraction issue may be an ejector issue ... bolt may need nothing more than a good clean of its factory preserving greases. The plunger style ejector's often harbour tonnes of grit and grime in the bottom of the recess, so case extract okay-ish but aren't kicked clear and just sit on the follower. Either way, disassemble the bolt and clean and lube it up.
Cheers...
Con

The use of Windex is what Howa recommend from memory - I've read it somewhere, can't remember where though, but I used metho and mine shoots fine. I think the Windex has something to do with gas cracks or some bloody thing?

ya know im watchin this thread,cause im still planning to get a 204 and the howa was in the running.
i want to see some performance from factory ammo and reloads....
get crackin mate....
my next rifle depends on it...

LoneRider wrote:ya know im watchin this thread,cause im still planning to get a 204 and the howa was in the running.
i want to see some performance from factory ammo and reloads....
get crackin mate....
my next rifle depends on it...

lol, doing what I can.

xa-coupe wrote:lol, doing what I can.

then hurry up.

hideous wrote:

xa-coupe wrote:lol, doing what I can.

then hurry up.

I can't remember giving you an opinion.....