hows your 204 shooting

[Inrut24/7]

Im thinking about getting a howa heavy barreled action in 204 and put it in a boyds stock.  Anyone have one and how good are they shooting for you?

[JimG]

Just bought one today. I'll let you know in a couple weeks or so! Makes two Howa's for me now.

[Inrut24/7]

 Did you get a bull barrel or the standard barrel,Be sure to let me know how it shoots, I have also been looking at the rem xr100 range master, on the plus side it has a great trigger and a 26 inch barrel, the down side is its about twice the money as the howa, Im thinking for the price of a barreled action, an unfinished stock and a timney trigger the howa cant be beat,  I also noticed the vanguard bull barrels are 22 inches and the howa bull barrels are 24 inches.  

[JimG]

Got the bull barrel variety. Trying to decide on whether or not to upgrade to the full length aluminum bed Hogue stock or stick with the piller bed Hogue that it came with. It does indeed have a 24" barrel. My sporter contour barrel .308Win has a 22" barrel. The .204 does have some creep in the trigger. I'll need to figure out how to remove that before accuracy/load testing can begin.

[Inrut24/7]

On my vanguard 270 wsm i could get rid of the creep, but then the safety wouldnt work, I got the poundage to around 3 1/2. Im going to get a timney for it as soon as i get some other projects done. All the reviews i have read on the howa/vanguard timney trigger were good.

[JimG]

It's my understanding that the Vanguards trigger group is not the same as the t. group on the Howa's. Can you or anyone else shed any light on this? Also how much is the Timney trigger?

[JimG]

I should also add that in my opinion, the trigger on the Howa's/Vanguards/S and W's/Howa produced Mossbergs are the only real limiting factor on these rifles. Sure there's no iron sights to be had from the factory and some don't like that but the triggers are the only REAL iffy point on 'em. If they could fix that I really don't think that they could keep up at the factory once the word got out. The triggers are the only complaint I've ever heard about Howas save one and I mean one solitary unproven internet claim of an over torqued barrel that distorted the chamber on a Vanguard. If Howa would add the Timney or some other quality aftermarket trigger and say add $50--75 on to the retail price it would sell like wildfire. Just my two cents.

[Inrut24/7]

Jim G, not to be pushy, but did you shoot that 204 yet

[JimG]

Nope, have not had time, gettin' ready for turkey season right now. Starts in a month for me.

[Mint Hill Mule]

I'm not very pleased with the accuracy of my Howa .204. With about 140 rounds down the tube the best group was .90 with Rem factory 32 gr. I have tried many handloads using Varget, H-335, and IMR 4895 with 32 Vmax and 39 SBK. The groups are 1 1/2 to 3 1/2 at 100 yards. Got some RE 10x today to see if it will improve my groups. Using new Rem brass, ww primers, loaded oal 2.26. Tried 2.29 and it was horrible. Any advise?

[jwv]

Jim, I would start at 24.6 grains of RE10X and work up from there for the Sierra 39 grain BLZK.. Also if you have any CCI br4 primers try them as they have the thicker cups and are more uniform. In my 22" HB handi I load 25.2 grains of RE10X which is a stiff load, with CCI br4 primers and oal of 2.365 .The  brass was factory Hornady. I never had any luck with Remington factory ammo only the  Hornady 32 grain shot the best. I had good luck with H-322 with the sierra 32 grain blzk. But RE10X was a little more accurate in my gun.
       Let us know how yours does.         Jack