Time spent on the range trying the Howa 1500 Mini in 7.62x39.
Dec 11 was a cool day, with the temperature hovering around just below 0, with a cold wind and mostly overcast. The shooting began at 13:00 and when all said and done, the sun was setting.
My particular rifle is the 20" #1 contour in black Hogue stock. This is essentially the "pencil barrel".
It weighs 91.160 ounces without scope.
The rifle was a combo setup, price included a set of Leopold Rifleman base and a Nikko Stirling scope with rings. Although I used the Remington style base, I mounted my Primary Arms 1-6x24 SFP scope with ACSS 7.62x39 reticle and some slightly too high Medium UTG scope rings.
Scope wheighs 16.9 ounces and the rings add another 6.18.
Before final setup, I weighed everything and checked the stock for free floating. There was a small plastic burr that I cleaned up, but otherwise, the Hogue style setup is pretty well done.
For this outing, I wanted to follow the official break-in procedure and also test some milsurp ammo.
The slow break in process was done at 25 yards using PRVI Partizan 7.62x39 123gr SP, which somewhat appropriately resemble old school 30-30 rounds with their round nose lead tips. For the first target, each shot was followed with cleaning and cooldown. This felt like slow going, but I was curious about the barrel and copper traces. I'm happy to report, nothing out of the ordinary.
The milsurp represented was from both Chi and Rus at 50 yards.
The target below is #2, shot at 25 yards. At this point, the rifle wasn't sighted in and I used target 1 below #2 as a catcher in case I was low. The capital letters is where I aimed, the lower case where those bullets landed.
I made some adjustments on the horizontal, but did not make large changes on the vertical until 50 yards. I also gave the barrel time to cool between all the shots.
The very first shot seemed to be a flyer, above right to the letter "a".
All the shots were with PPU at 25 yards on this target.
Target #2
A = 4 rounds
B = 3 rounds
C = 12 clicks right, 3 rounds
D = 4 clicks right, 3 rounds
E = 2 clicks right, 3 rounds
Move to 50 yards for targets 4 and 5.
#4 was above #5. The first round, a PPU cartridge, is seen on target #5, even though aimed for center on #4. Correction was made one in elevation and left alone.
Target #4
A = PPU, 3 rounds
B = PPU, 3 rounds
C = RUS, 5 rounds
D = CHI, 5 rounds
Target #5
A = RUS, 5 rounds
B = CHI, 5 rounds
C = RUS, 5 rounds
D = CHI, 5 rounds
E = PPU, 5 rounds
Conclusions
1) Pencil barrels should be kept to 3 shot groups. The heat was good to heat up my cold fingers.
2) The Howa trigger is fine, much better then I expected.
3) On a 5 round magazine load, the first cartridge can be finicky if the bolt isn't fully back for the load.
4) The Hogue stock is very comfortable.
5) Recoil is minimal, but due to the super light weight, there is a snap.
6) PPU ammo looks to be a great whitetail hunting round.
7) I have to go back to the range for 100 and 200 yard shooting.
8) 7.62x39 might just be the best way to practice snap shot, follow-up shot as it costs peanuts and is accurate enough for "whitetail moa".
I really like this rifle.
The scope is mixed bags in this setup, so I will switch to a Leopold 1-4x20 with Talley bases, kinda like cableguy.
Thanks Prophet River for carrying this.!
Dec 11 was a cool day, with the temperature hovering around just below 0, with a cold wind and mostly overcast. The shooting began at 13:00 and when all said and done, the sun was setting.
My particular rifle is the 20" #1 contour in black Hogue stock. This is essentially the "pencil barrel".
It weighs 91.160 ounces without scope.
The rifle was a combo setup, price included a set of Leopold Rifleman base and a Nikko Stirling scope with rings. Although I used the Remington style base, I mounted my Primary Arms 1-6x24 SFP scope with ACSS 7.62x39 reticle and some slightly too high Medium UTG scope rings.
Scope wheighs 16.9 ounces and the rings add another 6.18.
Before final setup, I weighed everything and checked the stock for free floating. There was a small plastic burr that I cleaned up, but otherwise, the Hogue style setup is pretty well done.
For this outing, I wanted to follow the official break-in procedure and also test some milsurp ammo.
The slow break in process was done at 25 yards using PRVI Partizan 7.62x39 123gr SP, which somewhat appropriately resemble old school 30-30 rounds with their round nose lead tips. For the first target, each shot was followed with cleaning and cooldown. This felt like slow going, but I was curious about the barrel and copper traces. I'm happy to report, nothing out of the ordinary.
The milsurp represented was from both Chi and Rus at 50 yards.
The target below is #2, shot at 25 yards. At this point, the rifle wasn't sighted in and I used target 1 below #2 as a catcher in case I was low. The capital letters is where I aimed, the lower case where those bullets landed.
I made some adjustments on the horizontal, but did not make large changes on the vertical until 50 yards. I also gave the barrel time to cool between all the shots.
The very first shot seemed to be a flyer, above right to the letter "a".
All the shots were with PPU at 25 yards on this target.
Target #2
A = 4 rounds
B = 3 rounds
C = 12 clicks right, 3 rounds
D = 4 clicks right, 3 rounds
E = 2 clicks right, 3 rounds
Move to 50 yards for targets 4 and 5.
#4 was above #5. The first round, a PPU cartridge, is seen on target #5, even though aimed for center on #4. Correction was made one in elevation and left alone.
Target #4
A = PPU, 3 rounds
B = PPU, 3 rounds
C = RUS, 5 rounds
D = CHI, 5 rounds
Target #5
A = RUS, 5 rounds
B = CHI, 5 rounds
C = RUS, 5 rounds
D = CHI, 5 rounds
E = PPU, 5 rounds
Conclusions
1) Pencil barrels should be kept to 3 shot groups. The heat was good to heat up my cold fingers.
2) The Howa trigger is fine, much better then I expected.
3) On a 5 round magazine load, the first cartridge can be finicky if the bolt isn't fully back for the load.
4) The Hogue stock is very comfortable.
5) Recoil is minimal, but due to the super light weight, there is a snap.
6) PPU ammo looks to be a great whitetail hunting round.
7) I have to go back to the range for 100 and 200 yard shooting.
8) 7.62x39 might just be the best way to practice snap shot, follow-up shot as it costs peanuts and is accurate enough for "whitetail moa".
I really like this rifle.
The scope is mixed bags in this setup, so I will switch to a Leopold 1-4x20 with Talley bases, kinda like cableguy.
Thanks Prophet River for carrying this.!
