Howa 308 accuracy.

[DC]

I have a Ranchland 20" in .308.  I have been careful breaking it in and have managed to get a couple of 1" groups on a good day.
This is the question.  It has a Hogue stock and is supposedly free floated.  The trigger is very nice and I have a Nikon Monarch 5-20x44 on it.  I think however that the rail mount is backwards as the elevation had to be moved several inches to even get close to being on at 100 yards.  I should say it was way low, hence my feeling that it was mounted backwards.
Here is the real question.  The barrel is a light sporter.  I am not so very worried about that as the length, 20", eliminates the whipiness that comes with longer barrels.  Would a recrown substantially improve accuracy?  I know that a hunting rifle only needs coffee cup saucer accuracy in reality but I love to be able to put holes in paper really close together.  It is not a need thing but a want thing.
So tell me how to make it that way if you would.  Your ideas would be much appreciated.

[Bigeasy]

To start, any factory rifle that is shooting about an inch is already shooting quite well.  To go by what you read on the web, everyone's rifles shoot 1/2 inch or better, but just spend a day at a public range, and see how many 1/2 inch rifles and shooters there really are..
 
I would make sure your scope is mounted properly, and tight.  Check your stock, and make sure the bedding is up to snuff - the barrel should be evenly supported for the first inch or two, then free floated out to the end.  Glass bedding the action and installing metal pillar bedding can help, as can a good trigger if you don't already have one.  Some rifles shoot better with a little fore end pressure - experiment with a couple business cards under the fore end, and see if it helps.  Try a variety of brands and bullet weights, and use a solid sand bag set up, front and rear.  Re-crowning can help, if needed, but I doubt the crown is bad if you are getting 1 inch groups.
 
Honestly, its all the little things that contribute to repeatable accuracy.  I am sure you can get that rifle to shoot solid 1 inchers, and probably a little under, and that's nothing to sneeze at with a sporter weight hunting rifle.
 
Larry

[hunt-m-up]

I would agree that 1" out of the box is pretty good. I have a Wby Vanguard compact in .308 with 20" barrel that has to be pretty similiar to your Howa. A Timney trigger is readily available for them if you feel you need to go that way, I didn't with mine because the factory trigger is pretty good. It shoots Rem corelokts quite well. Mine tends to like the lower grn loads best. It really likes 150 grain SST's and 155 grn A-Max.

[WyoStillhunter]

DC,
 
You have an excellent hunting rifle in the Howa .308.  Others have given excellent responses if you want to play the "tweek the rifle" game.  My Old Guy response is a little different.
 
First, that little rifle will handle better and shoot just as accurately with a scope that is lower in power and smaller in overall size and weight.  A good fixed 4X or variable 2-7X by a major brand will get all the acccuracy you will ever need out of that rifle.
 
Second, the money and time spent tweeking the rifle may be better spent on ammunition and disciplined, thoughtful marksmanship practice.  Are all of your groups off the bench under 2" @ 100 yds.?  Can you shoot 4" all day from sitting?  Will 6" cover your offhand groups?  If so, you are good to go.  Practice, practice, practice.
 
Finally, if teeny, tiny groups off the bench are what gives you pleasure, you probably don't have the best rifle to accomplish that.
 
Everything in life is a compromise to some degree.  I think you have a great hunting rifle that will serve you well within its design parameters.  As they say in the restaurant, "Enjoy."

[RevJim]

 I agree with all replies. It takes some skill to properly "benchrest" a rifle, repeatability, as said, is the key. I think there are more .5" rifles out there than .5 shooters, but no problem! You have a hunting rifle, and it sounds like a very good one at that! I can remember when 1" from a rifle was considered "varmint" accuracy! Guess what? It still IS, ha. I know guys who hunt from deer stands, and they like a big scope to see horns & such, finesse the shot. But, a Leupold Ultralight in 2x7 or 3x9 is very small, but plenty of power. I personally like 2x7 and smaller, my Leupold 1.5x5 is a favorite, and plenty of power.
  I suggest you think about dedicating this rifle to hunting, and later, pick up a heavy barrel model ( Howa's are great actions, btw) 308/big scope, to "scratch that itch" for .5" and less! Good luck to you, 308 is a great round!

[purpledragon]

A double +1 on what BigEasy said,he is right on with that.............