Howa mini 7.62x39 revisited

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ford8nr

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Got my nephew out to the range for some preseason deer season practice. Also got the Howa out after my latest stock mods and additional bedding. Gun shot lights out using Wolf 123gr hollow points.
50m / 3 shot group and a 100yd / 5 shot group. Both well under MOA - as in 1/2.
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Yup. My .223 is a std taper barrel. When Brownells had barreled actions on clearance I grabbed a Heavy barrel x39. Took a while to get the bedding right. Just got my reloading dies. Now it's time to see what it really can do.
 
Got out with some hand loads today.
Shooting 100yds with a 15-25mph gusting wind. :what:
3 - 125gr loads and 3 - 150gr loads using CFE BLK powder. All shot right around MOA with the lightest 125gr loads at .68" and the heaviest 150gr load at .47"
I really like the recoil pulse of the 150's better tgen the 125's. The 150's were running 5gr less powder though.
 
Thanks for posting your results. I need to get a set of dies to reload for my 7.62x39, just haven't gotten around to it.

What 150 grain bullets were you using that got a .47" spread? Any idea what velocities you were getting with that?
 
I've been so happy with all the steel case, most are one moa that I have not even loaded any. And I reload for everything I shoot. Tho Some cfe and a 125 sound nice.
 
I've been so happy with all the steel case, most are one moa that I have not even loaded any. And I reload for everything I shoot. Tho Some cfe and a 125 sound nice.
I sold my 7.62x39 Lapua brass and dies for that very reason. I couldn't reload as cheap as the 1" steel case ammo I could buy locally, and for what I use the round for (feral pig control) that stuff is more than adequate.
 
I generally reload for everything I have too, but haven't had the motivation to pick up dies and components because the steel case stuff shoots well. At some point I will get around to it, because my Howa carries even nicer than my .30-30, and would make an excellent 150 yard deer rifle.
 
I generally reload for everything I have too, but haven't had the motivation to pick up dies and components because the steel case stuff shoots well. At some point I will get around to it, because my Howa carries even nicer than my .30-30, and would make an excellent 150 yard deer rifle.
I can vouch for the fact that it does make a great short-range deer rifle. Very deadly, just like the old 30-30 always was.
 
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