There's something about that color combination, and it being glossy that brings official sporting equipment to mind, like the old laminated tennis racquets, the wooden head drivers for golf, or something that you might see at a bowling alley.
I've been told that sometimes glass bedding is not necessary with this stock so I'm going to see what it does as it is before making that decision. The .223 is almost without recoil on a gun this heavy so it may not really be required.
My son and I tried shouldering the gun a few times last night and he suggested reducing the barrel from 24" to 18" in order to improve its handling qualities. I think that if we did that, I would stick with the scope that I have on it now, a Nikon P-223 4-12x40 that is designed for a .223 load that moves a 55 grain plastic-tipped bullet at 3240 fps. Sighted in at 100 yards with that load, the scope has markings on the elevation barrel for 100, 200, etc. up to 600 yards. It's really designed for use with AR15's, so cutting the heavy barrel down to 18" would probably work out just about right.
That would make it a kind of heavy walking varminter, closely emulating the excellent handling qualities of our Savage 93 in .17HMR:
The Savage 93R17 BTVS:
My son and I revere the little Savage because we seemingly cannot miss with it. It is without a doubt the best handling rifle that I have ever owned. When I had my cotton farm in south Texas, this was the gun that went with me for my morning walks around the property, and it has accounted for no small number of varmints. Here in west Texas, we are wanting something very similar to the 17HMR but in .223 Winchester instead. - The varmints are bigger here (coyotes and pigs) so something with a bit more power and reach is required.
We hardly ever shoot the 17HMR any more, but it has a place of honor on the wall, and my son and I both like to take it down every once in a while just to enjoy how it feels on the shoulder. If I can get this Howa .223 to that point, it will be "mission accomplished" here.
I found that Pacific Tool and Gauge, the same folks who make my preferred barrel-crowning tool has replacement bottom metal for this rifle in aluminum that allows the use of five or ten-shot removable magazines. The magazines are steel. - So I'm guessing that the next step is to buy the 11 degree crowning tool for 204,223 and 6MM from PTG, along with the removable magazine kit for the Howa.
I'm excited about how this rifle is turning out. If it really does end up being a .223 twin to our old Savage 17HMR, then it will definitely be a keeper.