|
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 23,506
Campfire Ranger
|
OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 23,506 |
I picked up a very nice handling custom rifle that has a Howa action. Builder did some lightening of the bolt with a few flutes. Aside from that the action is unremarkable. Question: Are Howa actions considered a strong building part?
If so, why?
š
Curiosity Killed the Cat & The Prairie Dog āMolon Labeā
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 5,467
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 5,467 |
You might check with the guys at Short Action Customs. I know Mark Gordon @ SAC used to post a bit over on Snipers Hide and he did a number of custom builds on those actions, can't recall all he said about them but seem to remember he thought they where a good strong action that was easy to build an especially if on a budget. Kind of like using a model 700 action only more better??
"Rather hunt Mule deer than anything else" "Team 7MM-08"
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 23,506
Campfire Ranger
|
OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 23,506 |
Thanks, Frank....Thatās was sorta the same information, albeit limited, info that I was finding scouring the web. Howa makes a strong action and bolt per several sources...š
Curiosity Killed the Cat & The Prairie Dog āMolon Labeā
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,114
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,114 |
and its a little heavier... right?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,131
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,131 |
Yep they are good actions. It will work well.
If you find yourself in a hole....quit digging
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,344
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,344 |
Some would argue they are better than a Remington, others despise them. Some of the most accurate rifles I ever built were on this action. Charlie
The data and opinions contained in these posts are the results of experiences with my equipment. NO CONCLUSIONS SHOULD BE DRAWN FROM ANY DATA PRESENTED, DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, ATTEMPT TO REPLICATE THESE RESULTSj
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,705
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,705 |
I like them but the standard 1500 is a little too heavy for a Ultralight build. No Iām no gunsmith but the 1500 has been unbreakable in numerous Ive owned and used and always feed and extract very reliably.
The Vanguard versions seem a little more nicely factory finished.
Reportedly they were a knock off of the Sako L579 design.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 303
Campfire Member
|
Campfire Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 303 |
The Howas bear a striking similarity to the older two-lug Sako actions, but with the actions ground to suit a Rem700 two piece base.
The actions are forged, since the late 1980s they have been CNC machined to final finish.
Some gunsmiths don't like them as they use metric threads and those same gunsmiths won't upgrade to a modern lathe which can cut metric threads. Barrels are fitted at the factory using either a gorilla or a defined torque robotic assembly. Barrels can be quite difficult to remove.
One gent I know has done quite a bit of work using them as basic actions for custom rifles and the more recent ones (since CNC) are true out of the box, with actions indexing as good as big name custom actions.
Nothing light about them though.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 23,506
Campfire Ranger
|
OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 23,506 |
and its a little heavier... right?
Yes, compared to a Rem 700 S/A the Howa feels heavier. I wouldnāt shy away from doing a build on one in the future. Fluting the bolt, although minimal in weight reduction was a nice enhancement, if really only in cosmetics. š
Curiosity Killed the Cat & The Prairie Dog āMolon Labeā
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 23,506
Campfire Ranger
|
OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 23,506 |
Some would argue they are better than a Remington, others despise them. Some of the most accurate rifles I ever built were on this action. Charlie Iāve owned my fair share of Wby Mark V actioned rifles and several Vanguards. I saw nothing but excellent out of the box accuracy from every Vanguard. Contrary, every Mark V needed Smith work to get the rifle to print to a standard of 1 MOA. A little telling imho š
Curiosity Killed the Cat & The Prairie Dog āMolon Labeā
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 23,506
Campfire Ranger
|
OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 23,506 |
Curiosity Killed the Cat & The Prairie Dog āMolon Labeā
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 24,645 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 24,645 Likes: 1 |
I wouldn't hesitate to use one.
Is that formerly Tim's 7wsm?
WWP53D
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 23,506
Campfire Ranger
|
OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 23,506 |
I wouldn't hesitate to use one.
Is that formerly Tim's 7wsm? Laffin...Scott, you donāt miss much! Yeah, I called seconds should the original sale fall apart, which it did not. The buyer got it. Then found the rifle of his dreams and sent me a PM asking if I still wanted it. I couldnāt spit yes out fast enough. Itās a really nice rifle...š
Curiosity Killed the Cat & The Prairie Dog āMolon Labeā
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 24,645 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 24,645 Likes: 1 |
That's an awfully nice addition - you did well.
WWP53D
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 938
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 938 |
Howa actions are great, but they are on the heavy side. Iāve built 4 or 5 rifles on those actions and never had one that would not shoot 1/2ā or better. My gunsmith is a lot better shot than I am though.
Last edited by jlboykin; 03/11/19.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 938
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 938 |
Here is one of them.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,681 Likes: 4
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,681 Likes: 4 |
Beaver, That's a great looking rig. In what I consider one of the most underrated modern calibers.
Figures don't lie, But Liars figure Assumption is the mother of mistakes
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,681 Likes: 4
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,681 Likes: 4 |
Here is one of them. Nice goat!
Figures don't lie, But Liars figure Assumption is the mother of mistakes
|
|
|
|
626 members (007FJ, 160user, 10ring1, 10gaugeman, 10Glocks, 12344mag, 66 invisible),
2,613
guests, and
1,373
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,192,213
Posts18,485,446
Members73,966
|
Most Online11,491 Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|