Hey everyone. I am new here and this is my first post. I was wondering if someone could give me some information on the barrel twist of a certain rifle. The rifle is a howa 1500 chambered in .308. It has a 20in heavy barrel with a Nikko Sterling targetmaster 4-16x44 glass. I have not been able to find any info on the barrel twist and I would like to know. I figured it would have a 1/10 twist with the shorter barrel but I wanted to be sure. Thanks a lot guys!
- Thread starter Jtbaker1989
- Start date
A great rifle and accurate.
Thanks guys. I really like this site. A lot of good information and so far, a pretty good crowd. I have posted in other forums and some people ask "well you should have figured that out before you bought it!" I went out and zeroed it in at 100 yards today and after about 8 shots I had it dead center mass.
Another question regarding twist. I have a understanding regarding twist/bullet weight in .223/5.56 but I am not to familiar with the .308. Since this is a 1/10 twist, what is the best bullet weight? Also, what is the min/max weight that the twist can handle? For example, if you have a 1/7 twist in a .223 its better to run a heavier bullet than lets say, a 50grain bullet. How does that fall in with the .308?
Another question regarding twist. I have a understanding regarding twist/bullet weight in .223/5.56 but I am not to familiar with the .308. Since this is a 1/10 twist, what is the best bullet weight? Also, what is the min/max weight that the twist can handle? For example, if you have a 1/7 twist in a .223 its better to run a heavier bullet than lets say, a 50grain bullet. How does that fall in with the .308?
Berger Bullets and the Shillen barrel site both show recommended twists for bullet weights on their site. Have fun with that Howa the ones I've fired were all shooters.
howa 308 ammo
Hello and welcome to the site. I too, am new here. I also have a howa 308. Mine is the ranchland with a 20 inch barrel. The twist rate on mine is 1/12. I do not know about the twist rate on the heavy barrel. I would say it is the same at 1/12 twist. Some people will say 1/10 and some 1/12. (I know that doesn't help) You may need to call legacy, or e-mail them to get a correct answer. My 308 ranchland likes the hornady 168 grain bthp. That is all I will fire in it because that is what I found it really likes. I do not have the means to reload my own rounds. I did take off the nikko sterling and put a vortex diamond back ao on it. (I like it). Though it cost more than I wanted to spend. After using it, I really like it. I am putting a quarter over a three shot group at 100 yards and at 200 yards average is 2 inches. Sometimes the holes are touching one another at 100 yards. I hope I can make groups like that every time I shoot. (wishful thinking) I haven't got to shoot it any futher than 200 yards as of yet, but soon. My trigger is a tad over three lbs. and is clean and crisp. I really like my ranchland. I would like to have the heavy barrel if I was to do a lot of shooting. I fire three shots and then shoot my m4 carbine. Then a pistol or a 22 rifle then shoot the 308 again. Enjoy your rifle. I really like mine and am glad I went with what I have. My rifle weighs in at 12 lbs. 7oz. with scope, bipod and sling. I do not know the difference of weight between the heavy barrel and the sport barrel. Again, I hope you like yours as much as I like mine.
Hello and welcome to the site. I too, am new here. I also have a howa 308. Mine is the ranchland with a 20 inch barrel. The twist rate on mine is 1/12. I do not know about the twist rate on the heavy barrel. I would say it is the same at 1/12 twist. Some people will say 1/10 and some 1/12. (I know that doesn't help) You may need to call legacy, or e-mail them to get a correct answer. My 308 ranchland likes the hornady 168 grain bthp. That is all I will fire in it because that is what I found it really likes. I do not have the means to reload my own rounds. I did take off the nikko sterling and put a vortex diamond back ao on it. (I like it). Though it cost more than I wanted to spend. After using it, I really like it. I am putting a quarter over a three shot group at 100 yards and at 200 yards average is 2 inches. Sometimes the holes are touching one another at 100 yards. I hope I can make groups like that every time I shoot. (wishful thinking) I haven't got to shoot it any futher than 200 yards as of yet, but soon. My trigger is a tad over three lbs. and is clean and crisp. I really like my ranchland. I would like to have the heavy barrel if I was to do a lot of shooting. I fire three shots and then shoot my m4 carbine. Then a pistol or a 22 rifle then shoot the 308 again. Enjoy your rifle. I really like mine and am glad I went with what I have. My rifle weighs in at 12 lbs. 7oz. with scope, bipod and sling. I do not know the difference of weight between the heavy barrel and the sport barrel. Again, I hope you like yours as much as I like mine.
You can't go wrong with Sierra Match King 175 grain bullets. I used them out to 1000 yds in my Howa 24" .308 1/10. Now I use them in my AI-AE 24" 1/12 at 2670 ft/sec MV.
Fairlane.....Are you sure that your barrel is 1/12? I am almost positive that all Howa .308s are 1/10. Look here:
Legacy Sports - Barreled Actions
Fairlane.....Are you sure that your barrel is 1/12? I am almost positive that all Howa .308s are 1/10. Look here:
Legacy Sports - Barreled Actions
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I have one of these in the varmint profile, and so far it has been an excellent shooter if I do my job. Not to jump around in the thread subject, but does anyone know where one can find the best deal on the bell and carlson tactical stock for these. I've searched the internets, and am having a heck of a time finding one.
Stocky Stocks
I've been through this on the rate of twist question before I bought my Howa. If the gun was built in 2010 or later....it will likely have a 1:10 twist for .308. ( The earlier guns were 1:12). The very latest guns with the HACT trigger will almost certainly have the 1:10 twist. When in doubt , ferret out Andy McCormick at Legacy International, VP Sales / Marketing and ask based on serial number.
There is no such thing as "best bullet weight for X twist". Whoever tells you that is FOS. Every rifle likes what it likes and it may be completely different between two otherwise identical rifles.
However.... a faster twist like 1:10 will *generally* be better at stabilizing the heavier bullet weight .308's......
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Yes, of course. But that's usually not what the noobs want to know. They want to know if there is a majikal bullet weight for each twist that they can just load without development and shoot little bughole groups.
You and I know it don't work that way.
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I didn't sense that degree of specificity in the OP's question.....did you? He asked if his gun has 1:10 vs 1:12 basically...... no ?
I have the Varminter 20" and was given these specs. 
There is no such thing as "best bullet weight". It could be anything between 120 and 220 grains. You need to do your homework in load development to find the best combination of specific bullet (by that I mean brand/model/weight), specific cartridge case, specific primer, specific powder, specific powder charge, and specific bullet seating depth that will give the best accuracy. There are no shortcuts.
That is not true at all. I have been shooting fast twist 223's for well over a decade and I have successfully shot bullets as light as 45 grains through 1/8 and 1/7 barrels. It is better to shoot heavier bullets PAST A CERTAIN DISTANCE, but if I had a 1/7 223 rifle I would not hesitate to load 52 grain Sierra MatchKings for 250 yards and under.
You need to read all of his posts. He does get quite specific, and makes some statements that are flat out incorrect. I corrected them in my post above this one.
My buddy just got a Howa 1500 20 incher that came with the Nikko Sterling scope. His is a 1:12. Things a good shooter from the factory with the 168gr smk's, but couldn't get the 175's to shoot anything from it. Scope is garbage IMO. Reticle fell out after about 100 rounds. after taking the shot it just disappeared lol. He sent it back and they replaced it though. Either way I don't like the glass and it definitely doesn't track well.
Just saw this thread. I'm shooting a Howa pretty much the same as yours but with the Blackhawk stock. I bought it as a package with a slight upgrade for a magazine feed. The Nikko Sterling scope will work for fairly close up work but at 400 yards plus it will hold you back a lot. Yes, your Howa will easily shoot accurately out 400 and more yards.
Initially I was shooting a lot of cheap factory stuff like Magtech 147gr FMJ and a bunch of surplus Lake City 147gr FMJ. I found that at 200 yards about the best I could do was 2.5" to 3" groups, and usually point of impact was off point of aim some. I ran into a gentleman who is also a member here that reloads and he worked up what so far has turned out to be a very accurate load for my .308. It's the Sierra 168gr HPBT match bullet, part number 2200, using 42 grains of Varget. Primers have been Remington 9-1/2. I didn't shoot any 5 shot groups so I won't post the three shot groups, but at 200 yards the rifle was shooting from 1.1" down to 0.469" groups. Average was just under an inch. That's pretty respectable by most standards so I'm going to say the .308 20" varmint heavy barrel in a 10" twist is happy with the basic match grade load. FYI, the same load can be done with 42 grains of Reloader 15. The two powders seem to shoot the same but the Reloader costs less. You can buy factory versions off the shelf, just look for Sierra, Remington and other brands using the "Match" moniker in 168gr.
You've got a pretty good rifle for the price. If yours works as well as mine you'll really like it, but you'll end up changing the optics for something that will get you past a couple hundred yards. The gun is quite capable but the optics will help a lot in letting you become capable. I have to stay on a low budget so I went with a Vortex Viper HS 6-24x50. It's not a Nightforce or other great but spendy optic but so far it's doing the job extremely well. If you go with a scope similar to mine you find you'll want to obtain a 20 MOA sight base.
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