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I have a Howa 20" HB mini that I bought brand new last year. I bought 100 rounds of factory Hornady 123 a-max ammo for it, which has all been fired. I made sure to clean the bore regularly with a quality 1-piece rod and appropriate sized jag for break in. Since that time, 50 pieces of the brass have been loaded and fired again, with half of that 50(so 25 pieces) being fired again for their 3rd time. That brings the total round count up to 175. The hottest load I ran through the rifle was a 123 a-max at 2600 fps with AR Comp. I've also done some modifications to the rifle. These include:
First, I sanded the factory green stock and cut flutes in the comb. I would have to take it apart and weigh the stock to get you a more accurate number, but I believe I took off somewhere in the neighborhood of 8 ounces. This made the entire rifle much handier and slimmer, while not reducing the stiffness of the stock at all. I then painted the stock with textured green paint that matches the original green fairly close, followed by a layer of clear-coat and another layer of paint. I also bedded the action with Devcon before painting. This transformed the rifle, and I would never own one of these rifles again without repeating this modification.
Next, I did the trigger modification that someone linked here. Basically, it involved taking the trigger apart, cutting and filing the spring, and putting it back together. It now breaks better than the Timney on my Remington. Again, I wouldn't own one of these rifles without performing this modification.
Last, I shortened the magazine release lever to keep it from accidentally depressing, and shortened the magazine to be flush while still holding 4 rounds, as per the thread posted in this forum. And again, I wouldn't own one of these rifles again without performing these modifications.
Finally, I'll include the Hornady Custom Grade dies that I purchased new with the rifle. The brass and plastic ammo boxes it's in would be included as well.
I really, really, really like this rifle. But I also have a 5-month-old(our first) and it's the Christmas season. I could use $650 a lot more than this rifle right now.
First, I sanded the factory green stock and cut flutes in the comb. I would have to take it apart and weigh the stock to get you a more accurate number, but I believe I took off somewhere in the neighborhood of 8 ounces. This made the entire rifle much handier and slimmer, while not reducing the stiffness of the stock at all. I then painted the stock with textured green paint that matches the original green fairly close, followed by a layer of clear-coat and another layer of paint. I also bedded the action with Devcon before painting. This transformed the rifle, and I would never own one of these rifles again without repeating this modification.
Next, I did the trigger modification that someone linked here. Basically, it involved taking the trigger apart, cutting and filing the spring, and putting it back together. It now breaks better than the Timney on my Remington. Again, I wouldn't own one of these rifles without performing this modification.
Last, I shortened the magazine release lever to keep it from accidentally depressing, and shortened the magazine to be flush while still holding 4 rounds, as per the thread posted in this forum. And again, I wouldn't own one of these rifles again without performing these modifications.
Finally, I'll include the Hornady Custom Grade dies that I purchased new with the rifle. The brass and plastic ammo boxes it's in would be included as well.
I really, really, really like this rifle. But I also have a 5-month-old(our first) and it's the Christmas season. I could use $650 a lot more than this rifle right now.
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