Can't get Howa 1500 to group....frustrated

[REN]

Brand new gun and yugo 1 box of shells through it to break it in.

Howa 1500 308 20" barrel

I've since tried 150g hornady sst, federal fusion 150 and Winchester sp150 with none being better then 1.5 to 1.75

Went to hand loads using 165 Sierra game kings and RL-15 and as you can see still not good!

I don't think it's the scope but I can send it back for a new one if I want to cross that off the list if I want to. Or I have to send the whole thing off to get checked.

I have no idea what's going on. All shot at 100yds from a lead sled

 

[mr.big]

I would check scope and mounts,,bedding and crown.

good luck I have been there and it is heart breaking,,

 

[rdl65]

Load some more rounds with 45gr of RL-15 but change the seating depth. Be careful not to load them to long to fit the magazine.

 

[Model70Man]

Make sure your rings are tight. I had to re-tighten 4 different rifles rings down again.

 

[BigD_625]

Mine shot great with the cheap Federal stuff from wal-mart. Leupold bases and rings, Burris 3.5-10x50 scope. I've had them in 308, 7mm, 30-06, and .243. Loved them all.

Sounds like scope, rings, or mounts. What kind of scope?

 

[BigD_625]

If you don't get it going, I might trade you out of it. :grin:

 

[reloaderman]

make sure the action screws are tight also. also might want to try some varget powder if you have some...

 

[AllOutdoors]

If the gun and scope are tight....I would try those GameKings with some Varget.

 

[DaveB]

IMHO RL 15 is too fast for a 308. Try something a bit slower, Varget seems to be a very popular powder for the 308. I just got a 308, haven't fired a round yet, but will report back in when I do. And yes, I am expecting sub moa as you are.

 

[7wsm]

if you dont get going i will take it off your hands never had a problem with 1500's

 

[reloaderman]

daveB, rl 15 is actually slower burning than varget and both of these powders do very good in the .308....the .308 will usually like one or both of these powders.

 

[Jcalder]

I've got a savage 308. It absolutely hates hornady sst bullets. It loves sierra gameking bthp. Sometimes you gotta play with the powder charge. Mine shoots good with varget and w748. I prefer using w748 cause it meters better

 

[BigD_625]

Federal powershok 150gr with speer bullet is worth a try. They're cheap. I had the exact same .308, and it loved them. Still say it's in the scope or mounts.

 

[REN]

Well I sent the gun back to Howa today to figure out what the issue is rather then me keep on spending money on ammo.

 

[Kimberman]

daveB, rl 15 is actually slower burning than varget and both of these powders do very good in the .308....the .308 will usually like one or both of these powders.

Yep RL 15 is one of my favorite 308 powders, especially with 165 gr pills.

 

[reloaderman]

Kimberman, the RL 15 is a awesome 308 powder, i have not seen a 308 rifle yet that didn't like that powder. i have shot 130 to 165 grn bullets with amazing accuracy..

 

[REN]

Bam! Got a call from legacy sports today (Howa's distributer) and the guy said he couldn't get it to group anything lower then 180grains and a brand new gun was in the mail!

Kudos to legacy sports for standing by their products

 

[infoman jr.]

Good deal! Glad they got you fixed up. That would have been an interesting one to troubleshoot.

 

[BigD_625]

Awesome!!!

 

[cecil30-30]

Those lead sleds are hard on scopes...Think about it,all that recoil that your NOT feeling has to go somewhere,and it ends up going to the scope..Could be your first 20 rounds to break the barrel in has broken your scope if you was shooting it out of the lead sled.