Howa 1500 Barreled Action Build

[Hawk in WY]

The .300 WM magazines from MDT won't lock into place in the MDT cassis with the Howa 1500 barreled action.

Does anyone have a photo of the modification necessary?

Called MDT. They sent replacement magazine catch releases, one .010 undersized, the other .020. Both work. The .010 is a better fit.

Problem solved.

Bit of a struggle to chase the pin through the frame, catch release and spring, but got it eventually.

Great customer service.

 

[flatland1]

I think all the 20 MOA rails I've used on short action 1500 Howas were from EGW. Brownells should carry them...or buy direct from EGW.

 

[AA7364]

I love my Howa SA. The MDT ESS took a bit to get it into, but fit and finish is top notch. Brownells had the Barrelled Actions on sale last week. Picked up a Heavy Barrel 24'' 6.5 Creed for $377 shipped. Here's my current Howa Build. Howa is in the front.....

 

[308pirate]

Man that ESS chassis is looking sweet

I have an MPA vertical grip with nothing to attach it to...…….

 

[AA7364]

I threw a Cadex grip on it. I got one without the beavertail, but still had to modify it a bit to fit it just right. Biggest problem with the chassis was putting the stock on.... getting to that hex bolt is awful

 

[308pirate]

I threw a Cadex grip on it. I got one without the beavertail, but still had to modify it a bit to fit it just right. Biggest problem with the chassis was putting the stock on.... getting to that hex bolt is awful

MDT's website say their S/A Howa chassis only work with their own plastic magazine. Have you found that to be the case?

 

[AA7364]

MDT's website say their S/A Howa chassis only work with their own plastic magazine. Have you found that to be the case?

I use the polymers, not because I want to, but because they said to only use them. Before I had the MDT, I swapped out the bottom "metal" on the standard rifle with a Howa Mag well, and that too only took polymer. Not sure if it's an MDT issue, or a Howa Issue. I wish that wasn't the case.

 

[christopher.dow]

You must use the MDT mags with the Howas in MDT chassis. I’ve confirmed that with @MDT_Josh. It’s a bummer, because you’re limited to a COAL of around 2.8”. I don’t understand this, since the Accurate Mag chassis used by the HCR I had took AI mags. I used it with the Accurate AI-patterned mag it came with, as well as Magpul and AI mags.

It’s the only downside of the MDT/Howa combination that I’ve found.

 

[MDT_Josh]

You must use the MDT mags with the Howas in MDT chassis. I’ve confirmed that with @MDT_Josh. It’s a bummer, because you’re limited to a COAL of around 2.8”. I don’t understand this, since the Accurate Mag chassis used by the HCR I had took AI mags. I used it with the Accurate AI-patterned mag it came with, as well as Magpul and AI mags.

It’s the only downside of the MDT/Howa combination that I’ve found.

You're right @christopher.dow, all of our chassis for the Weatherby Vanguard/Howa 1500, currently only work with our polymer magazines. The issue is that the 1500's/Vanguards are a flat bottom action as opposed to a round bottom action like you find on the 700's/Savage's/Tikka's etc. and it can be very hard to seat a magazine reliably. Not to mention that there is a huger variation in magazines when you start comparing the AI's, PMag's, Accuarte's, etc.

We are working on a solution to this and have a few ideas, just haven't rolled them out across all of our chassis yet. Additionally, I feel your pain with the restrictive 2.870" OAL length of our current polymer magazines, and they caused me some headache when I was initially trying to run my Creedmoor through them, but we have a solution to those problems in the pipe too!

As always, keep an eye on our social media and website as we have a TON of cool stuff coming the next few months

- Josh

 

[Messer]

I'm glad to see someone from MDT on here. I hope they get it worked out, as I think the Howa market will continue to grow.

One of the reasons I went with the KRG Bravo was it used AICS pattern mags. When I shot it for the first time on Monday, the Magpul AICS worked like a charm - very smooth.

Bob S.

 

[AA7364]

You're right @christopher.dow, all of our chassis for the Weatherby Vanguard/Howa 1500, currently only work with our polymer magazines. The issue is that the 1500's/Vanguards are a flat bottom action as opposed to a round bottom action like you find on the 700's/Savage's/Tikka's etc. and it can be very hard to seat a magazine reliably. Not to mention that there is a huger variation in magazines when you start comparing the AI's, PMag's, Accuarte's, etc.

We are working on a solution to this and have a few ideas, just haven't rolled them out across all of our chassis yet. Additionally, I feel your pain with the restrictive 2.870" OAL length of our current polymer magazines, and they caused me some headache when I was initially trying to run my Creedmoor through them, but we have a solution to those problems in the pipe too!

As always, keep an eye on our social media and website as we have a TON of cool stuff coming the next few months

- Josh

Would that be a mod to current ESS chassis’, or would it only be on newer models?

 

[MDT_Josh]

Would that be a mod to current ESS chassis’, or would it only be on newer models?

It's less of a modification and more of a full design change unfortunately. To implement a large change like this, we would require quite a few customer requests.

Josh

 

[christopher.dow]

It's less of a modification and more of a full design change unfortunately. To implement a large change like this, we would require quite a few customer requests.

Josh

Requested ?

 

[Cottontail]

Requested ?

X2

 

[AA7364]

X2

Make that 3 Requests!

 

[308pirate]

You're right @christopher.dow, all of our chassis for the Weatherby Vanguard/Howa 1500, currently only work with our polymer magazines. The issue is that the 1500's/Vanguards are a flat bottom action as opposed to a round bottom action like you find on the 700's/Savage's/Tikka's etc. and it can be very hard to seat a magazine reliably. Not to mention that there is a huger variation in magazines when you start comparing the AI's, PMag's, Accuarte's, etc.

Josh, I'm here to tell you that I bought two KRG 180-Xrays for my Howa rifles instead of MDT products precisely because of the above.

The 308 has worked from day 1 with Magpul, MDT (steel), and Alpha Industries AICS magazines without modifications, adjustments, or issues. Shove the magazine in and start slaying targets. The 223 works perfectly with MDT plastic magazines (haven't tried any other) same as the 308.

So add me to the list of people who are asking for this issue to be fixed.

 

[1500varmint]

Last update on this thread for me.

Gun still functions great, so I just have to lean how to shoot it.

Went out this morning for a while and did a bit better than the first time:

Group 5 was a hair under an inch and group 3 was a hair over. Group 4 was .68 so in the 2 weeks I've been shooting with a bolt gun that's the best one.

I tried to write down a lot of things I was doing so I can remember for next time. Goal is to regular improvement.

 

[Hawk in WY]

You're right @christopher.dow, all of our chassis for the Weatherby Vanguard/Howa 1500, currently only work with our polymer magazines. The issue is that the 1500's/Vanguards are a flat bottom action as opposed to a round bottom action like you find on the 700's/Savage's/Tikka's etc. and it can be very hard to seat a magazine reliably. Not to mention that there is a huger variation in magazines when you start comparing the AI's, PMag's, Accuarte's, etc.

We are working on a solution to this and have a few ideas, just haven't rolled them out across all of our chassis yet. Additionally, I feel your pain with the restrictive 2.870" OAL length of our current polymer magazines, and they caused me some headache when I was initially trying to run my Creedmoor through them, but we have a solution to those problems in the pipe too!

As always, keep an eye on our social media and website as we have a TON of cool stuff coming the next few months

- Josh

The metal MDT short action magazines both with and without the buffer plate work fine in the ESS and the Howa Action with the leading edge filled d0wn.

My only complaint is the round will not push pass the feed lips but needs to be slid in underneath from the front. This makes loading magazines a bit of a struggle.

 

[308pirate]

My only complaint is the round will not push pass the feed lips but needs to be slid in underneath from the front. This makes loading magazines a bit of a struggle.

All AICS-pattern magazines are single feed, meaning that the top round is in the center of the magazine and not offset to one side like it happens on double feed magazines (in which the top round alternates from oen side to the other). The lips, by definition, cannot let a cartridge be pushed down into the magazine, otherwise the same cartridge would fly right out as soon as you let it go.

There is nothing wrong with your magazines, that's how they work. They are loaded exactly like a any semi auto handgun magazine: from front to back

 

[GuNinja]

Keep us updated, looking forward to hearing more.

 

[skyking9876]

Here's one on the cheap
6.5 grendel mini action from Brownells $365
Boyds At-one with target grips $204
Weaver two piece rail $10
UTG rings $20
Mueller AO 4.5-14x40 (already had this, will upgrade) $125
reshaping the crappy grip part of the stock, several hours

 

[GuNinja]

That’s what I would do. The Boyd’s is a great, cheap, feature rich stock to put on. I love them

 

[RichS]

The guy who designs stocks at B&C is a good friend & customer of mine; since DDC is just over an hour's drive from me, if I need a stock from them, I drive down to get it. I asked about doing the inlet for the Howa Mini a couple of years ago when I started re-barreling them, but he wasn't sure at that point that it was worth the time & trouble to do a mold & have aluminum bedding blocks made for them. I'll have to hit him up about this the next time we talk. Their #2093 stock for the 1500 Howa SA is a really good stock, I've used several of them for 6.5CM bbl'd actions - it takes no more than 5 min with a Dremel to do the inlet for PTG Stealth DBM on these stocks.

So I hit up both Manners & McMillan about doing the inlet. Tom Manners spoke with me and asked that I sell him one of my Mini bbl'd actions in 6.5 Grendel so he could make the decision, while McMillan initially wanted $500 to model the custom inlet for the Mini. I sold Tom the bbl'd action, and put the McMillan thing on my "like hell" backlist. Meanwhile, bought a Boyds ProVarmint w/adjustable cheekpiece (they used to call it the tacticool model) for another Mini 6.5 Grendel hvy bbl, which fit well & looked good. Sold it before I ever tried any of the Hornady Black ammo I'd bought for it. Meanwhile, I called McMillan again, and they backed off from the $500 inlet charge, saying they'd received a sizable number of requests for the Mini, then asked that I send them a bbl'd action to model the inlet off of. About 6mo later, I received a Sako Varmint pattern stock in molded-in desert ambush for the Mini. It was a good fit & shot well with a Mini that I'd re-barreled for 6RAT, so I called & ordered a Game Scout for another Mini build. This one evidently fell through the cracks, as it took several phone calls & over a year to get it & the bbl'd action back. However, I think it was worth the wait, as I like the shape & fit of the Game Scout stock better than the Sako Varmint for prone shooting.

The one big drawback of the Mini is the plastic detachable mag bottom 'metal' they come with. The rear action screw hole split on mine when I torqued it to 45 in/lbs. Since then, DIP has come out with replacement aluminum DBM that fits & works great; price is $100. I've got one of these units on the Mini in the Game Scout, and would never go back to the OEM plastic POS. Hopefully, Howa & LSI see the error of their ways & start using either DIP or their own design metal DBM. I'm just finishing up a 20 cal Bartlein 1-9tw bbl for another Mini in 20 Tactical - the finished bbl'd action will be CeraKoted in Sniper Grey & bedded in a Boyds ProVarmint in their blue/grey laminate, with laser stippling & adjustable cheekpiece.

Any pics of that?

 

[flatland1]

Any pics of that?

Rich,
Here's a photo of a 6.5CM hvy bbl'd action in one of the B&C #2093 stocks. This is one that I've threaded the 24" OEM bbl on, machined the mag well to receive AICS mags, and put an EGW 20 MOA rail on.

 

[JOE62]

I’ve got a 20” 308 @ FFL to pick up tomorrow. Got 2 other Howas in my safe already. Great guns at a great price. Went with the barreled action this time so I could choose the stock I want and the savings.

 

[jLorenzo]

I finally got some time after work today break-in the Howa. I followed the Howa directions - cleaning after every shot for the first 10 rounds, with 5 minutes between shots. Then cleaning between every 2 shots for the next 10 shots (I kept the 5 minute between shots).

Here are the first 20 shots - you can see the first 6 are low right, then I started to adjust the scope. Somewhere in this, I noticed the scope was moving with recoil, so I had to adjust a little - but the gun did better than I expected.

After each shot, it took about 5 patches to get it clean - used Shooters Choice...

I then put 5 rounds into a new target right before sunset - too bad I pulled one low.

Shots were from a bench at 100 yards - sandbag under the forearm, just me behind it.

This is with Sellier & Bellot 140 Gr. - cheapest ammo I could find. I think it shows promise

Take care,
Bob S.

That's how my patches look aswell, was I wrong to expect blueish green? I was using Hoppes 9 copper remover. They say to soak the barrel over night. I don't have the time for that now, needed to get the gun up and shooting for a match.

 

[Messer]

That's how my patches look aswell, was I wrong to expect blueish green? I was using Hoppes 9 copper remover. They say to soak the barrel over night. I don't have the time for that now, needed to get the gun up and shooting for a match.

My guess is that Howa took 2-3 shots to test the action before it was shipped. Then I cleaned it, and followed the one shot, one cleaning format as Howa suggests. Maybe (just maybe, as I'm not sure), with all of this cleaning that there was not a bunch of copper in the barrel to get out?

As to leaving ammonia based cleaners in the barrel - my rule has always been no more than 10 minutes. Maybe it's old data, but I've heard longer can damage the bore.

I just ordered dies, 200 small rifle primer cases, and some 140 gr. match bullets - time to get to the loading bench!

Bob S.

 

[Hawk in WY]

All AICS-pattern magazines are single feed, meaning that the top round is in the center of the magazine and not offset to one side like it happens on double feed magazines (in which the top round alternates from oen side to the other). The lips, by definition, cannot let a cartridge be pushed down into the magazine, otherwise the same cartridge would fly right out as soon as you let it go.

There is nothing wrong with your magazines, that's how they work. They are loaded exactly like a any semi auto handgun magazine: from front to back

They work fine but double stack magazines are far easier to load and also work just fine. Why are AICS pattern magazines considered state of the art?

I do get to run longer COAL with the AICS than the MDT polymer which is the reason I went this route.

For me, perfection would be double stack which would allow the COAL of the MDT AICS pattern magazines.

Thank you for the education.

 

[Matt @ LSI]

 

[308pirate]

That is NASTY!

 

[Messer]

View attachment 6942888View attachment 6942889

I'll take the top one - thanks!

 

[MDT_Josh]

View attachment 6942888View attachment 6942889

Love the builds Matt!

 

[stello1001]

I'll take the bottom one

 

[krumfola]

OK - it's almost done...

Howa 24" 6.5 Creedmoor Barreled Action from Brownells
KRG Bravo Chassis FDE
Burris XTR II 5-25X50 SCR Reticle in FDE
Burris Signature Tactical 34mm Rings
Burris Xtreme 25MOA rail
BCM MLOK Quick Detach Sling Mount
PMAG

Still need a BiPod...

I really like the look of this build, very nicely done. I've got an M700 that was recently rebarreled to 22" 6.5CM sitting in a Grayboe Terrain and now I'm trying to decide on a Cerakote color scheme. So many choices...

 

[JOE62]

I really like the look of this build, very nicely done. I've got an M700 that was recently rebarreled to 22" 6.5CM sitting in a Grayboe Terrain and now I'm trying to decide on a Cerakote color scheme. So many choices...

 

[JOE62]

Well FBI computer is down. More Russian hacking I guess. Should get it tomorrow if they come back up.

 

[stello1001]

View attachment 6942888View attachment 6942889

Anybody know which chassis that is and what attachment it's sporting?

I went to KRG website but couldn't find something to make my Howa look like that.

 

[christopher.dow]

Anybody know which chassis that is and what attachment it's sporting?

I went to KRG website but couldn't find something to make my Howa look like that.

Looks like a KRG Whiskey 3 to me.

 

[stello1001]

I figured just as much but KRG isn't listing a howa inlet for their W3 chassis systems... ?

Looks like a KRG Whiskey 3 to me.

 

[christopher.dow]

I figured just as much but KRG isn't listing a howa inlet for their W3 chassis systems... ?

I looked and didn’t see that as an option, either. Then I zoomed up the photo and it really looks like a Howa action to me.

It’s a mystery.

 

[stello1001]

I looked and didn’t see that as an option, either. Then I zoomed up the photo and it really looks like a Howa action to me.

It’s a mystery.

Where did you zoom to identify the action? On the KRG website? If so, where specifically. I went to KRG website and selected their Xray, W3, and 180 alpha chassis options. They all looked to be on R700 actions to me. That's just me tho!

I'm still wanting to know where they offer that chassis system that Matt@LSI posted! It looks sick. And it does look like a W3 with some different forend attached to it!

 

[TonyTheTiger]

Which of the two guns pictured are you asking about? The carbon fiber handguard chassis is a MDT I believe, and I think I did see Matt interviewed at a match once with the other one and he said it was a KRG.

 

[christopher.dow]

Where did you zoom to identify the action?

I zoomed up the lower photo in Matt’s post—the one with the Spuhr scope mount. The bolt looks like a Howa and the serial number is right where Howa puts them. Also, not that by brain is fully engaged, I realize that @Matt @ LSI woks for Legacy Sports, Inc, so a.) he’s unlikely to post anything that’s not a Howa, and b.) he probably has access to some goodies that you can’t get by simply clicking on a web page. ?

BTW, the interview with Matt on the Precision Rifle Podcast is well worth a listen.

 

[predatornut]

Bravo with whiskey 3 rear?

 

[308pirate]

Bravo with whiskey 3 rear?

That's exactly what it is.

 

[308pirate]

I zoomed up the lower photo in Matt’s post—the one with the Spuhr scope mount. The bolt looks like a Howa and the serial number is right where Howa puts them. Also, not that by brain is fully engaged, I realize that @Matt @ LSI woks for Legacy Sports, Inc, so a.) he’s unlikely to post anything that’s not a Howa, and b.) he probably has access to some goodies that you can’t get by simply clicking on a web page. ?

BTW, the interview with Matt on the Precision Rifle Podcast is well worth a listen.

It's a Howa 1500 in Bravo chassis with a Whiskey 3 back end and the optional enclosed forend

 

[308pirate]

Anybody know which chassis that is and what attachment it's sporting?

I went to KRG website but couldn't find something to make my Howa look like that.

It's a Howa 1500 in Bravo chassis with a Whiskey 3 back end and the optional enclosed forend

 

[Gooldylocks]

And his 223AI is in an ESS with carbon fore end and folding stock.

 

[stello1001]

I zoomed up the lower photo in Matt’s post—the one with the Spuhr scope mount. The bolt looks like a Howa and the serial number is right where Howa puts them. Also, not that by brain is fully engaged, I realize that @Matt @ LSI woks for Legacy Sports, Inc, so a.) he’s unlikely to post anything that’s not a Howa, and b.) he probably has access to some goodies that you can’t get by simply clicking on a web page. ?

BTW, the interview with Matt on the Precision Rifle Podcast is well worth a listen.

Oh!!! Yeah that I was sure of. Matt wouldn't post anything other than a Howa lol!

 

[stello1001]

It's a Howa 1500 in Bravo chassis with a Whiskey 3 back end and the optional enclosed forend

Thanks!!!