Howa 204 problem

[Jamie956]

Hi all

Well after nearly a year wait I eventually got my new 204 mini action...chuffed to bits.
Got dpt over barrel mod, 2 piece steel bases, stool lok rings, vortex pst scope and off I go with some 32 and 40gn vmax ammo. Ran barrel in like a good lad and tried to get down to business. Whilst running barrel in I tried to get onto paper ready to zero, but didn't seem to be getting far. Basically it groups about 2.5" at 50yds, and at 100 some shots are on a piece of A4 paper then others are not even close.
I was wondering if there's something they are prone for, I've tried 2 scopes, checked bases and rings, taken a bit out of stock down one side of barrel where it was close, tried action screws at different torques, I took the bush from the back of the mod as it was close to the barrel but havnt had chance to try with mod off yet as battling round weather and time

Any advice welcome

Cheers

J

 

[Dazb1967]

Is it the same with both the 32gr and 40gr

 

[samdk]

Hi all

Well after nearly a year wait I eventually got my new 204 mini action...chuffed to bits.
Got dpt over barrel mod, 2 piece steel bases, stool lok rings, vortex pst scope and off I go with some 32 and 40gn vmax ammo. Ran barrel in like a good lad and tried to get down to business. Whilst running barrel in I tried to get onto paper ready to zero, but didn't seem to be getting far. Basically it groups about 2.5" at 50yds, and at 100 some shots are on a piece of A4 paper then others are not even close.
I was wondering if there's something they are prone for, I've tried 2 scopes, checked bases and rings, taken a bit out of stock down one side of barrel where it was close, tried action screws at different torques, I took the bush from the back of the mod as it was close to the barrel but havnt had chance to try with mod off yet as battling round weather and time

Any advice welcome

Cheers

J

Not wanting to teach you to suck eggs, but is the twist rate fast enough to stabilise your chosen bullets?

Sam

 

[Richards8248]

I'd guess mod, what make is it. I had same issue after zeroing 243 with wildcat evo. Think it had come slightly loose and a round clipped it. Had 3shots 1/2" next 3 were off the paper

 

[bluesako]

try it without mod bs

 

[NP435]

Does any of the bottom metal bind or the magazine box?

 

[Jamie956]

It is a bit better with the 32's which I expected as its a 1:12 twist, I was jyst using the 40s up trying to get somewhere near then switch to 32's to zero. I'm only getting the odd couple of hours on a Sunday at the mo and that's weather dependent that's why I havnt had chance to try with mod off yet, it wasn't loose tho. I did have a hmr with me at the same time so I swapped to that and it was straight to about 10mm @50. The howas got the standard plastic bottom 'metal' mag conversion on but not quite sure what you mean by is it binding, I did have to file a little bit off the top edge of the mag for it to clip in nicely

While I remember I did notice that the front screw of the front base was touching what looks like a flat head screw before it was tight, is this a grub screw for retaining the barrel? Anyway I took a bit off that screw and now it's fine

Cheers

J

 

[Molly]

Is it the oryx stock , what you shouldn’t have to do is start cutting screws or taking a file to the mag , I suggest you take the action out of the stock and make sure it goes back in correctly . I found it very tight to get it to sit down on the stock ,but when down the mag and all screws work fine and zero sub moa with the 32s the 40s don’t group as tight

 

[Jamie956]

Hi, no it’s just the lightening stock at the mo. The front screw did secure the base but it had to be tighter than it should be to do it, it only needed a few thou off the bottom to correct it, just the burr from threading/casting.
With the mag, when I pushed it home the bottom of the receiver was just to say marking the very back edge of the mag and I just had to push a bit to send it home, if you take the mag out and turn the rifle over so your looking into the magazine well you can see where the receiver is machined, well that straight edge was just putting a couple of marks on the curve at the back of the mag, again just a few strokes with a small file sorted it

J

 

[Taff]

Had one it shot great straight out of the box, with 32s and dpt , amazed you have a gun that does not group and you are filling and shorting screws, bang goes your warranty

 

[vpk999]

I have the same Howa .204 mini action and it shoots fine with both 32grain Nosler home loads and 39 grain Sierra Blitzing home loads. When I used factory ammo, it was also fine. I haven't used 40 grain rounds in it yet. I changed the stock almost immediately, as I just didn't like the spongy Howa stock. I have the Oryx mini action chassis, which I bought from Canada as I couldn't get one in the UK at the time. The two things that I don't like about the Howa is that the barrel gets rust spots very easily ( I plan to get the barrel cerakoted ) and it often doesn't pick up a round if I don't pull the bolt fully back. Basically I'm used to that now, so it seldom happens. Apparently the mini action is bad for not picking up rounds. As everybody else says, try it without the moderator and take it from there. They are usually well known for their accuracy.

 

[palo]

You really need to shoot it without the moderator to see the results.
You should also strip the moderator and check for any signs of baffle strikes

 

[Jamie956]

Yeah I was out of time last outing so didn't get chance to try with mod off but it's first job next time. Just wondered if anyone had the same thing on the same rifle, a 'oh yeah mine did that it was just...' sort of thing

J

 

[boe]

Hi all

Well after nearly a year wait I eventually got my new 204 mini action...chuffed to bits.
Got dpt over barrel mod, 2 piece steel bases, stool lok rings, vortex pst scope and off I go with some 32 and 40gn vmax ammo. Ran barrel in like a good lad and tried to get down to business. Whilst running barrel in I tried to get onto paper ready to zero, but didn't seem to be getting far. Basically it groups about 2.5" at 50yds, and at 100 some shots are on a piece of A4 paper then others are not even close.
I was wondering if there's something they are prone for, I've tried 2 scopes, checked bases and rings, taken a bit out of stock down one side of barrel where it was close, tried action screws at different torques, I took the bush from the back of the mod as it was close to the barrel but havnt had chance to try with mod off yet as battling round weather and time

Any advice welcome

Cheers

J

I’ve got the same problem with Hornady 40g some appear to be going in side ways guess I try 32g

 

[hairlesshunter]

Hi, no it’s just the lightening stock at the mo. The front screw did secure the base but it had to be tighter than it should be to do it, it only needed a few thou off the bottom to correct it, just the burr from threading/casting.
With the mag, when I pushed it home the bottom of the receiver was just to say marking the very back edge of the mag and I just had to push a bit to send it home, if you take the mag out and turn the rifle over so your looking into the magazine well you can see where the receiver is machined, well that straight edge was just putting a couple of marks on the curve at the back of the mag, again just a few strokes with a small file sorted it

J

Hi Jamie the lighting shock I take it that’s the rubber plastic coved one if so they were a big problem when they first came out I have had a the SA 204r for 8 years probably now the first thing I changed was the stock and it sorted it out as I was have similar problems like you have described there an diy job fix but can remember what it was it involved add something in between the stock and action if you look on this forum all the info should be here somewhere

Flex in a Howa stock

Hi, My mate has a very heavy barrel Howa 1500 blued with the basic plastic and rubber over moulded Hogue stock in 22-250 that shoots really well off one of the big full length shooting bags but all over the place off a bipod. On looking at the stock there is loads of flex in the fore end so we...

www.google.com

 

[Longstrider]

Mine won't fire a 40gr bullet any straighter than I could throw the things. (To the point of often missing an A4sheet at 50yds !) Feed it with Hornady Superformance 32 grainers and it's better than I am by far. I load all my own now, but the Hornady ammo was my go-to when I used factory. Foxes don't know the difference