Howa 1500 throat

[pahoghunter]

Hi I am new to the site, but not new to shooting. I recently purchased a Howa 1500 in 204R, it is my fourth rifle in this cartridge, I had a Savage, a CZ varmint and a Browning A-Bolt all have been sold, traded or used as a donor rifle. When I brought the Howa home I cleaned it and decided to check the chamber with my Stoney Point O.A.L. gauge to find a place to start with my bullet seating. I used 32 gr. V-MAX and a 39 gr. Sierra. With V-MAX I get an O.A.L. of about 2.250, the bullet base down past the neck. The 39gr. The Sierra has to be seated to a point that the base of the bullet is down to the case shoulder. I can't believe anyone would design a chamber with this short of a throat? I looked at a piece of factory Hornady ammo which uses the 32gr. V-MAX and it is seated really deep. None of the other rifles I had in 204R had a short throat is this the norm for Howa. thanks Bob

[Bodei]

My Howa has a magazine that I use so I seat to 2.26"OAL. You should probably e-mail Legacy Sports International and see what they say. Let me know what you find.