My first centrefire rifle!

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Kungfugerbil
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My first centrefire rifle!

#1 Post by Kungfugerbil »

Morning all,

I recently had a new slot granted for a .308 Rifle that I will use for informal 100/300yd and occasional 600yd target shooting. I’ve shot for a while but only really smallbore - this is my first fullbore Rifle. I no longer feel like a fraud on this forum lol

As I’m new to the discipline I didn’t want to spend loads - the ‘all the gear no idea’ thing doesn’t appeal to me. I kept an eye on the usual gun trader type sites and last week spotted a Howa Varmint barreled action for a modest price - the same one that Triffid pointed out later on my ‘wanted’ post. I jumped on that as it was only £275 and having received it is basically new.

While I was waiting for that to be sent over, a scan of eBay found a Boyds laminate stock for £130 and a trawl of Opticswarehouse brought an ex demo Bushnell Elite 10x40 mildot scope for £150 and Burris signature rings for £80. The rings were the only new component but everything else looks pretty much unused.

All in it’s cost me less than £650 for an essentially new scoped Rifle with 24” heavy barrel:

Image

Haven’t tested it yet but will report back once I do. I’m delighted. The trigger may need to be lightened but I’m not touching anything until I’ve test fired it.
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Ovenpaa
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Re: My first centrefire rifle!

#2 Post by Ovenpaa »

The Howa 1500 is superb and you should have many years of fun with this rifle.

Enjoy :good:
/d

Du lytter aldrig til de ord jeg siger. Du ser mig kun for det tøj jeg har paa ...

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Les
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Re: My first centrefire rifle!

#3 Post by Les »

Congratulations - that looks like a great rig! :good:
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froggy
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Re: My first centrefire rifle!

#4 Post by froggy »

Congrats & have fun !!
Want to shoot pistol ? Don't retreat... reload & run forward !!
http://dynamicshootingcz.co.uk/
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Dellboy
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Re: My first centrefire rifle!

#5 Post by Dellboy »

goodjob nice gun
2020 GOOD DEALS WITH

Cutch Vortex Scope
Mauserbill Enfield Books


Enjoy today as tomorrow might not come .

Noli pati a scelestis opprimi.

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Dorset_shooter
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Re: My first centrefire rifle!

#6 Post by Dorset_shooter »

Looks great, let us know how you get on with it.
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Oddbod
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Re: My first centrefire rifle!

#7 Post by Oddbod »

That's a steal matey.

Enjoy.
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Alpha1
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Re: My first centrefire rifle!

#8 Post by Alpha1 »

I look forward to seeing it on the firing point in the new year. You need to be reloading some ammo for it over the winter. :good:
Triffid
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Re: My first centrefire rifle!

#9 Post by Triffid »

Hope its a good one for you! It looks fantastic and a steal at that price.

I was shooting my Howa 308 out to 1000m on Stickledown last Sunday morning, using the NRA GGG 155g Imperial ammo. Once I factored in the required 34 minutes of elevation, the rifle easily held the black. Yes, it wasn't consistently hitting the v-bull (but I had my share), but equally it's a budget rifle, shot off a bipod and the first time I've shot further then 600.

Triffid
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Kungfugerbil
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Re: My first centrefire rifle!

#10 Post by Kungfugerbil »

Well I took the rifle out for it’s maiden sighting-in at the weekend. Only a 100m but I thought I would at least get it pointing in the right direction before attempting anything further.

Image

The range was empty and electronic targets meant I could stay nice and warm under cover. Lovely. On the advice of Triffid I got hold of some 155gn NRA imperial rounds and some PPU 168gn as they were available and cheap. I started with the 168gn PPU and it took me a while to walk the rounds on...when I did they were going pretty well and I got a 10.9 on the ISSF style scoring. I switched over to the 155s and noticed way more consistency - the ten shot string pictured below had a few that were pretty much same hole.

Image

I was delighted as it’s the first time out with the put-together rifle and I’m a relative novice at this type of shooting. Even the trigger pull which seemed over heavy I found ok as it is crisp and predictable. Now to re check the action screw torque, good clean and try again :)
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