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Howa 1500 |
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mlv2k5
Optics Journeyman Joined: September/18/2008 Status: Offline Points: 313 |
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Posted: February/14/2010 at 03:05 |
Anybody used a howa 1500 with particular success or failure? I am thinking about using the 1500 action in a project gun. My goal is to finish a pre-turned and inletted blank and do all the stock finishing, and bedding for the rifle myself to end up with a really nice looking firearm for a moderate price. I don't want to have to rebarrel and headspace etc as I am certainly not qualified to do that kind of metalwork. For this reason I am looking for a barreled action in very good condition, and a suitable caliber...the Howa fits this perfectly (I can get the package rifle with scope and mounts brand new for 375 $ or so.)
Anyhow, I would like to hear peoples experiences and/or other suggestions for this kind of project.
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-Michael
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The Apostle
Optics Journeyman Joined: August/20/2009 Location: Adelaide, S.A. Status: Offline Points: 409 |
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I don't own one but the general opinion of these in Australia is that they're a very underated gun if not the most underrated on the market. They sell a lot of both the Howa 1500 and its modified brother in the Weatherby Vanguard over here. The only complain i've heard is that their made in Japan.
Plenty of roo shooters own them. I know personally of one Weatherby Vanguard varmint rifle that would shoot 0.6-0.7 MOA all day.
Supposedly in the U.S. you can get just the action (blued or stainless) and barrel (3 different contours; varmint in 20 or 24 inches) and whatever calibre you want.
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magshooter1
Optics Professional Joined: August/27/2008 Location: El Dorado, AR Status: Offline Points: 827 |
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They folks down under are right. They are underrated. I know of several owners here in the southern 1/2 half of the states that love them. I am building (as soon as I finish the stock it's ready) a .338-06 on a S&W (Howa) action. You can get barreled actions on the green colored gun auction site. A friend form work bought one of the Sub MOA Vanguards in .257 Weath. Mag.; that thing is the closest thing to a laser I've ever seen. Just point and click...
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Some people are educated BEYOND their intelligence.
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Ed Connelly
Optics Retard God of no Chihuahua Joined: December/16/2007 Location: USA Status: Offline Points: 24225 |
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Years ago I had a Smith & Wesson rifle that was really a Howa ( in 222 Remington ) and I liked it fine. But I traded it away in a gun deal for a Winchester. They remind me of a Sako action.
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Bigdave
Optics Apprentice Joined: September/21/2009 Location: Houston Texas Status: Offline Points: 238 |
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I have a Howa 1500 short barrel varmiter in .308, extreemly accurate rifle. You can pick up a barreled action for around $400 check out Legacy Sports.
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mlv2k5
Optics Journeyman Joined: September/18/2008 Status: Offline Points: 313 |
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I am looking to pick one of these up to use in a project rifle. My goal was to do all of the finishing myself, but I need to find a company to do the rough inletting and shaping etc for me. I was going to use Richards Microfit, but I have read an astounding number of complaints about their service and work...its a wonder they are still in business based on what I am hearing.
Can anyone recommend a good company that will cut a stock to fit a specific action and do the shaping etc so my job will just be primarily cosmetic finishing once I receive the stock? I am Ok with the idea of simply purchasing a blank and then sending it to a company for shaping, but if there is a good company that combines the process that would be excellent. Additionally, price is a factor. I am not looking to drop thousands of dollars. I would like to keep my total costs for the stock (the wood itself) combined with the price for shaping and inletting to a point where I can do the cosmetic finishing and minor fitting of the action under 500-600 dollars.
Edited by mlv2k5 - February/16/2010 at 04:42 |
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-Michael
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magshooter1
Optics Professional Joined: August/27/2008 Location: El Dorado, AR Status: Offline Points: 827 |
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Try Boyd's or Great American Stock Co. |
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Some people are educated BEYOND their intelligence.
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gun74
Optics Apprentice Joined: February/10/2009 Location: PA Status: Offline Points: 50 |
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I own a howa 1500 custom chambered in 358 norma mag and never had a problem with it very accurate rifle
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Texas
Optics Apprentice Joined: February/11/2008 Location: Texas, USA Status: Offline Points: 211 |
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Charlie Sisk states that the Weatherby Vanguard/Howa 1500 action is a good, solid push-feed action to build a custom on if you like it. Just be sure your smith can cut metric threads on the barrel shank, because that is what's in the action front ring. Sisk says it is an adaptation (copy) of the Sako L61 action. Looking at the pictures of them, one can definitely see the resemblance.
Charlie also says to throw the OEM trigger group away and replace it with a Timney.
This info is from Charlie's book that John Barsness is selling on his website. I bought a copy, and it is a good book. If you are planning a build you ought to get a copy.
That book is why I have this Vanguard coming on the brown truck soon - reading it can be risky!
Tom
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"There are some things which cannot be learned quickly and time, which is all we have, must be paid heavily for their acquiring. They are the very simplest things..." Ernest Hemingway
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Monster
Optics Master Joined: December/16/2008 Location: So. Cal Status: Offline Points: 2031 |
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I have a Howa 1500 in .308. It is a great gun and I have been able to shoot sub-moa groups with it pretty constantly......
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"Get Busy Livin' or get busy dyin'" -Red (Shawshank Redemption)
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