Howa 1500 243 Varmint, undecided - two between rifles

[crows2332]

G'day,

Looking at two variations of a similar Howa 1500 243 Varmint 24" barrel.

First option: Brand New, Howa 1500 243 Blued Varmint 24" barrel, older synthetic stock (not hogue), not pillar bedded, internal mag, $550 new price, but extra $100 for courier and LGS transfer/accepting fee, so $650 couriered to LGS & transfer fee.

Second option: 2nd hand, Howa 1500 243 Stainless Varmint 24" Barrel, between 700 & 900 through it. Hogue pillar bedded stock, after market trigger, but unable to ascertain brand/fitting details, internal mag, for $650, possible inclusion of load data for a good grouping reload.

I like new and un muddled with, also like the "idea" of stainless & possible all ready to go reload for it. Negative is I don't have reloading gear, so either rifle will be using factory ammo for a while until enough coin for the gear.

Possibly be re-barrel in future to 260 or 243 improved once shot out, but doesn't really effect the choice of which one.

Similar price, slight variation one brand new, the other stainless but 900 rounds through it. Both available now.

It'd be used mostly with a bipod or some kind of front rest, so the flex in the 2nd hand Howa with the hogue stock may be a pain/negative.

Does one toss a coin, or is there a more scientific way of coming to a conclusion

Cheers

[The Raven]

Sounds like it all comes down to what you plan to do until you start changing things. Once you start changing everything it probably won't matter which you started with.

So, If you're going to start change things immediately then the stainless rifle makes no sense. If you're plan is longer term, then you get the benefit of the using the previous owners 'improvements' in the interim.

[crows2332]

Thanks The Raven,

Makes sense. Besides scope, I hadn't 100% decided what to change, but it may be in the near future.

From history, once I've had my fingers in the pie it's a mess anyway, so either way it'll be a mess.

Bonus warranty for the new rifle may help.
Thanks for your input.

[dashooter]

Check out cleavers. They have a varmint chrome moly in .243, hogue pillar bedded 24 inch tube jobbie for $559 brand new.
Load data is nice but until you start loading it's all a bit of a moot point.
I know what I'd do.

[crows2332]

Howdy Dashooter,
Thanks for the post and info re: Cleavers.
I see what you mean re: load data and not ready to go with that just yet.
cheers for that.

[Seddo]

Pick the colour you like

[crows2332]

Thanks champ. Neither come in Black and Red of the HQ SS Monaro, so got no choice on the colour besides shiny or dark!

[trevort]

I prefer stainless

if you rebarrel with a quality stainless barrel then matching it to a stainless action makes sense.

But I don't think the second hand job is a bargain. Offer $500

[crows2332]

Hi TrevorT,

Thanks for the advice. I'm not for or against stainless or blued, but the stainless may have just an edge with weather. Any easier to clean?
Would i be correct to assume a quality blued target barrel could be had also once the original new blued barrel is due to be replaced, and go as well as a stainless target barrel?
Thanks re: pricing guage for it. $500 would be a better safety net for any wear I don't notice, well, less of a smack in the face for a fault that is found out after the purchase.
Cheers.

[Seddo]

Thanks champ. Neither come in Black and Red of the HQ SS Monaro, so got no choice on the colour besides shiny or dark!

Cerakote will fix that, my 22 is black and red.

[BP72]

That one of gregT's stocks seddo ?

[Seddo]

That one of gregT's stocks seddo ?

No mate, its an AICS 1.0 with adjustable butt.

[crows2332]

Howdy Seddo,

haha, that's neat colour scheme. It has the colours weighed off. I'm sure it could fit the SS stickers on there somewhere!

cheers

[trevort]

stainless takes a lot more punishment before it rusts but it will rust if not cared for.

The internet tells me that stainless is less porous than carbon steel which means less little holes for copper and carbon fouling to hold onto so a stainless barrel should clean up easier.

All my varmint rifles have stainless barrels.

My son in law has a varmint howa 308 with boyds thumbhole. He doesn't care that it is blued and more porous. It shoots better than either of us can

[Seddo]

Howdy Seddo,

haha, that's neat colour scheme. It has the colours weighed off. I'm sure it could fit the SS stickers on there somewhere!

cheers

But as a commodore man it would have to be this one


and not this one



The car im pickign up in a week or so will have this one on it