Howa 1500

[Nlaw1627]

Ive been looking at building a Howa 1500 for awhile now and wanted to know if anyone had and first hand experience they could share to steer me in a different direction or make me send it and start the build. Rifle will be for precision shooting i plan on dropping a 24" heavy barreled action chambered in 6.5 creed into a KRG Bravo. I reload already for a 6.5 Ruger american that shoots lights out, would i be wasting my time building a howa expecting it to shoot better or just as good?

 

[MUP]

I found this. I've heard that those Howa barreled actions are getting used pretty regular for semi custom builds lately.

https://bulletin.accurateshooter.co...ith-howa-1500-barreled-actions-expert-advice/

 

[Nlaw1627]

I found this. I've heard that those Howa barreled actions are getting used pretty regular for semi custom builds lately.

https://bulletin.accurateshooter.co...ith-howa-1500-barreled-actions-expert-advice/

Thanks for the article man very good read, I've seen quite a few builds online and read a lot and people seem like they like them, i just wanted someone with first hand experience to hopefully give me their opinion.

 

[Billboy]

I have 3 Howa rifles that are custom builds (25 WSM, 270 WSM and 7 WSM). The factory HACT trigger is decent, but I did upgrade a couple to Timneys. They have a side bolt release and reliable M16 type extractor. Plent of scope base options. Bell & Carlson make a couple of different stocks or you can find some at Stockey's Stocks. Boyds also makes them. Factory rifles generally shoot pretty good, but with a custom barrel they shoot great! Weatherby Vanguard is the same action so parts are interchangeable.

 

[wsm]

I have Howa 1500 in 6.5 Creedmoor and all I did was put the action in A Bell and Carlson medalist stock track driver .

 

[ADR]

Recently got my vaguard action that started life as a 300 wby upgraded with a bartlein carbon wrapped barrel in .257 wby with 8 twist. It has a stockys vg2(?) stock. Pleased with the upgrade for no more than I have invested in it.
Hopefully the rail and scope go on today.

 

[Nlaw1627]

Thanks for the input y'all I've decided to give her a shot either way I'll still have a solid action to build onto if I'm not happy with the factory barrel, thanks!

 

[DaveTN]

Just curious, why Howa? Couldn't you buy a Blueprinted and trued barreled action for around the price you would have in an action and barrel?

 

[Nlaw1627]

Just curious, why Howa? Couldn't you buy a Blueprinted and trued barreled action for around the price you would have in an action and barrel?

Price of a howa barreled action is 429- tax, anywhere im seeing blueprinted actions the action and bolt alone is 600+

 

[Nlaw1627]

Wanted to give an update, got the barreled action and chassis in and everything put together, and let me say I'm beyond happy with the action it's very smooth and the 2 stage factory hact trigger is great. Barrel break starts tomorrow with "cheap" ammo, then load development will be started and I'll give another update afterwards! So far though very pleased!

 

[MUP]

Beautiful piece of equipment!

 

[RUGER]

That's awesome !!!

Did the roses get you forgiveness? LOL

 

[Nlaw1627]

Beautiful piece of equipment!

Appreciate it!

 

[Nlaw1627]

That's awesome !!!

Did the roses get you forgiveness? LOL

And yes they absolutely did, that on top of it being my birthday the day before pretty much saved my life! Hahaha

 

[Nlaw1627]

1st three shot group at 100 yards after the pain in the ass barrel break in. Shot with factory 140g ELDM. Damn I'm excited to start load development!

 

[MUP]

Dang! Going to be hard to beat that with handloads even! I had the same challenge with my RPR in 6.5 CM as well! That Hornady ELD-M factory ammo is hard to beat!

 

[Iglow]

Anybody have any experience with a Howa 1500 mini bolt? I've gotta hankering for a 223 for yotes.

 

[Remi]

Anybody have any experience with a Howa 1500 mini bolt? I've gotta hankering for a 223 for yotes.

I have a Grendel that's been amazing and a 6 arc that's a total turd. Howa made a run of 6 arc rifles that have a chamber issue and mine is one of them. It's been back at the factory for over a month with no word so we will see.


Even with the issues of my 6 arc I still really like the Howa rifles.

Howa and Tikka are the only 2 makers I really even look at if I'm thinking of a new rifle these days.

 

[Billboy]

The only real issue I see with the mini actions is stock availability. These are smaller than the standard short actions, so they don't interchange. If you don't plan to customize, then no big deal. Not sure about scope base interchangeability either.

 

[Iglow]

The only real issue I see with the mini actions is stock availability. These are smaller than the standard short actions, so they don't interchange. If you don't plan to customize, then no big deal. Not sure about scope base interchangeability either.

I'll get the polymer stock model and keep it, probably rattle can it. I was wanting a little light rifle for yotes and maybe deer hunt with it on occasion at my buddies place doe hunting. I saw some 55 grn varmit bullet loads and 55 grn soft points, hoping I can get them to hit same POA? or mark them on the turret? Now that I have the time and as much as I hate yotes it seems it'd be a fun project.

 

[Remi]

My Grendel in a carbon fiber blem

Bedded, painted, steel rail, steel rings, factory mag cut to 3 rounds, aluminum bottom metal


Pretty light

 

[Billboy]

I'll get the polymer stock model and keep it, probably rattle can it. I was wanting a little light rifle for yotes and maybe deer hunt with it on occasion at my buddies place doe hunting. I saw some 55 grn varmit bullet loads and 55 grn soft points, hoping I can get them to hit same POA? or mark them on the turret? Now that I have the time and as much as I hate yotes it seems it'd be a fun project.

55 gr V-max is bad medicine on coyotes. A 60gr partition would probably work great on deer with minimal change in POI. Of course, shooting on paper will give you a definitive answer there.

 

[rifle02]

The only issue with the Howa 1500 actions is if you are planning to rebarrel. The factory Barrel is often incredibly tight and therefore difficult to remove. And then they also have metric threads as well so something to keep in mind.

 

[DaveB]

55 gr V-max is bad medicine on coyotes. A 60gr partition would probably work great on deer with minimal change in POI. Of course, shooting on paper will give you a definitive answer there.

Both of the recommendations above are correct, at least in my 22-250 and 223. I sight the rifles for the 60 partition (SWTR 24.5 gr Fed205M) and the 55 Nosler NBT falls right into place.