Howa mini in 6,5 Grendel

[ladebenken]

Hello

I am new to this forum, my name is Kjetil and i live at the west coast of Norway.

A few days before christmas i got my new Howa mini action from the store, and started load development. My plan in the first place was to use the 123 Lapua Scenar, and N530/540. The store owner recomended me to try the Lapua Scenar 120L.

Some pictures of the rifle: The scope is a Nikon Prostaff 7, not so good, but its enough for daylight bird hunting.

[ladebenken]

Not good clearance in the barrel channel, a little sanding helped.

[ladebenken]

A 30-06 Rem 700 action is a size most of us can relate too:

[ladebenken]

I loaded up a ladder with Lapua brass, cci primers, 120 L and N530. 24gr,25 and 26.

Ready for testing after some trouble getting it zeroed in





I`ve earlier had good results with doing load development at some range, i desided to do it at 320 meters / 350 yards with this rifle.

[ladebenken]

24gr:



25gr: Much vertical stringing, about two inches.

[ladebenken]

26gr: Starting to look like something, the miss out to the left was the wind shifting from 7`O clock to 2`O clock. Shooter error to let the shot go. Little vertical stringing, Load development finished.



I had two shots left with 25gr, and two with 26gr: 25 at the bottom, and 26 at the top.
420 meters/460 yards.



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Then i went home to load up some more shots of 26gr for more fun at the range. I still had to verify trajectory and test vertical at longer range.

I filmed 5 shots at 420 meters / 460 yards: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxiWxfm51GA




I am very pleased with the rifle, very good accuracy. I have shot aroundt 250-300 shots trough it now. A few days ago in calm weather i shot several 10 shots group between 90-120mm at 500 meters. The rifle shoots better then the owner.

[Kilco]

Wow what an awesome post! Great pics, and great review thus far! Seems like it's a very good shooter. Keep us posted as you continue load development and work on your rifle!

[Kilco]

Norway.. you must be somewhat close to Roe? Another member on this forum and one of my personal favorite youtube channels.

[Matt @ LSI]

Great post! glad you like it!

[Stevil]

Yep good write up and thatnks for the pic Ladebenken.

[LRRPF52]

Welcome aboard. Are you using Vihtavuori's load data? We'll see if they come out with some new data including 120 Scenar-L. That's a great bullet, although it was meant for target work of course.

[lrgrendel]

Great article!
Which barrel profile is that?

[tommyguns]

Uff da, that is one great report. Thanks for taking the time and trouble to put it together !