My faux Alpine, 7mm-08 barreled action from Whitaker's as I wanted a 22" barrel and the standard Howa SA receiver, not a lightweight. It's got a Swaro Z3 resting in Talley lightweights and a Bansner stock. I'm very satisfied with the end results, accurate and easy to carry.



100 yard using 120gr Barnes TTSX



100 yard using 110gr Barnes TTSX

Very nice and practical.
Just curious, why do you prefer the std over the lightened action?

I just like a little more heft, a little more meat on the bone. I think it feels better. The target pics are my starting loads, values taken directly from the Barnes manual.

Very nice and practical rifle! I like it.

How much does it weigh? I wish those Bansners were still floating around online. I should've bought one (or two) when I had the chance.

Don't have a scale, other than a bathroom scale, to weigh it on. I do feel fortunate to have a Bansner stock for it, great stock!

Looks great!

Awesome package right there sir fantastic all around NA rifle.

Do they still have some barreled actions?

Did this a while ago, not recently. Went to Whittaker Guns website, so I thought, and something is different. Search kept taking me to a blog! Computers aren't my strong suite. Went to Brownells site and they list the 7mm-08 barreled actions as discontinued by the manufacturer. So maybe the 6.5 CM has put a dent in the 7mm-08!

What stock do you have on your Howa? I just picked one up for this coming season and I feel the hogue stock is way to thick just about everywhere but the rear end of the stock. I know MtnBoomer on here does slimming on the hogue stocks but I can't seem to get ahold of him.

It's a Bansner stock from a Howa Alpine.

I accidentally built my own faux alpine. Last year,, B4 shoulder surgery, figured I might need a light kicker for upcoming season. Found a compact vanguard 243 cheap, looked for an adult stock and found an alpine stock. Nice, and 2 shots, 2 deer. Didn't know of the alpine until I found the stock for sale.

I would like to pass the 243 on to a friends daughter, back in the youth stock.

Anybody have a line on one of the howa lwts, 6.5 cr since I have never tried one, either kuiu rifle, other lwt, or just a bbld action?

Don't know about that particular Bansner stock, but looks like Bansner stocks are being made again.

Bansner Rifle Stocks

Shameless plug for a McMillan that will work on a LA for the Howa/Vanguard's

link: https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/14891887#Post14891887

pic's: https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...ries/14861499/mcmillan-wby-carbine-stock

This is a Bansner Alpine stock I sold a while back:

I remember when I re-stocked to the Bansner from a B&C Medalist. Rifle completely felt, and handled, like a different rifle. I'm really liking it!

I just put the same thing together in 6.5 Creedmoor. Stainless full size Howa in an Alpine stock. I put a Burris FFII 3-9x40 on it.
It’s my new favorite.

Howa ceasing the manufacturing of the Alpine was a bummer. I don't know if it was a bad business decision or not; but, it was a bummer.

My 6CM in a banser stock loves HSM Gamechangers.

Complete pass throughs on 6 deer from 65 to 365 yards. Caught one bullet in a large doe facing me at 40 yards.

The Tikka never left the safe this deer season.

I heard on another forum that it was an issue with the supply of the Alpine stocks. It appears they are searching for a replacement stock.

If someone wants a Howa rifle that's a little lighter, the Weatherby Vanguard Wilderness or Backcountry are always a choice. They are still heavier than a Tikka T3 Lite, however. The stock is kind of clunky as well, not in the same league as the Howa Alpine stock. But I like that the Vanguard has a 24 inch barrel as opposed to 20.

It's funny that Howa replaced the Alpine with the HS Precision model, which might actually be heavier than the normal Hogue-stocked model.

At least Bansner is back in business and now has stocks for Rem 700 and Win 70. As time goes on I’m sure they will offer more action inlets. They are start priced at $425. Another option is Pendleton through Oregunsmithing. They make some real nice stocks starting at $650. They don’t mention Howa inlets, but do list Weatherby. Gotta think Vanguard is in the mix as Weatherby sells quite a few more Howa based actions then Mark V.

Easy to make a "budget" rifle not so "budget"! Lol!

My Old Goat hunting partner just put a Pendleton on his Mashburn and it seems to be a darned nice stock. No clue on weight though.

I have $365 in mine total😉

Found a steal on a lightly used Alpine and sold the barreled action. Bought a 6CM package gun and sold off the stock and scope.

Nice work!

Darrik has a couple Alpines in 6.5 YouKnowWhat for a good price, but after a little vacillating, I decided to pass. On the other hand, I can pick up a LW barreled action from Brownells for about half the price of a complete rifle and do a switcheroo as "needed".

I was just looking at them on Brownells myself and it looks like McMillan will fit any of their stocks they do for Sako's to the action. Their 26" semi heavy barreled 6mm CM might be a champ if you chopped it down to 22" and added a Sako Classic EDGE fill stock to it.. Pretty slick combo if it all just bolts together!

I call them "stone soup" upgrades, in that you upgrade them a little at a time until you have more money into them than you ever intended.

That is why I struggle a little when deciding between buying Howa 1500s in lieu of Weatherby Vanguard 2s. I really dislike the stocks that come on the basic Howa 1500s, so I know that I'm going to have to install a new/different stock and I try to factor that into the purchase price if I'm considering one or the other of those two rifles.

So...since I have an alpine stock, does anyone know where I might find one of the other models that uses the cerakoted, lwt action? The kuiu rifle is one for sure...or a barreled action? Or mebbe a vanguard compact? I want a 6.5 cm, just becz I have never tried one. Also might go std stainless. Looking to put a reasonably lit rifle together without breaking the bank.

I do have a compact vanguard 243 in the stock now...

Legacy Sports puts a lot of things in the Howa catalog that aren’t always available for purchase. All their lightweight 20” barreled actions are available cerakoted, according to the catalog. Good luck finding them in stock somewhere. If it was me, I’d buy one of the newly available stainless Howa 6.5 standard weight actions and open up the barrel in the stock. Or you could sell your stock to me!

Impact Guns and Midway show the .308 LWT in stock, they are about $150 more than I paid for my daughter's.

Picked up an as-new Weatherby Vanguard in 6.5 Greed that came with a set of Talley lightweight scope mounts out the door for $325. Like the stock much better than the Hogue that comes on the Howas. Really like the Bansner stock though, sweet looking and light! Too bad the Talley mounts were 30mm, I need a scope that'll fit!

Here be your Howa Basner:

http://www.legendaryarmsworks.com/product-p/howa1500sa.htm

Where can I get a std weight stainless? I could maybe pay the wt penalty for that...

z1r, there's Durlin/plastic bushings so you can use a 1" scope in 30mm rings. I use them, they work great and also protect the scope finish.

JRK, Brownels carry's them, I picked mine up from Whittakers Guns. But I did just have to keep looking until I found what I wanted in stock.

Picked up the Bansner stock here, in the free classifieds.

Not cerakote but lightweight...Here you go:

https://www.brownells.com/rifle-parts/receiver-parts/receivers/barreled-receivers/1500-barreled-action-lightweight-blue-6-5-creedmoor-1-prod94589.aspx?avs%7cCartridge_1=BCC_6xzzx5%2bCreedmoor

Thanks. That is an option

Be nice to get it in cerakote though. And the stainless idea would be awesome, although I understand that howa isn't making them, but I see above someone mentioned newly available...

They had one in .223 in cerakote for $469 I believe.

Thanks. Our most recent budget shows a drop in revenues of 53%. Gonna have to tighten the belt and hold off on a scope. I've been looking at those inserts. Do you use the ones with a recoil shoulder?

Will definitely keep an eye out for a Bansnser stock, love the look and shape. At least I'll have time to find out if its a shooter before taking the plunge!

Thanks!

Regarding the actions only, what is the weight difference between a standard short action and a "lightened" one? Has it and/or the bolt been milled?

Got'sta' go knock a 308 barrel offa one now,to make room for the PBB #2 S/S 1-8" 7-08 at 22.5",throated to the Alpha brassed Dummy I mailed to 'em earlier in the day. Be curious to see how it pans out.



Hint..................

Bang.

Hint.................

From what I have seen and understand, reciever sides are milked/"slabbed". I think some have a hollowed bolt know, but not all. I did see a post back awhile with weight diff. Not huge but some. Other saving is from #1 contour 20" barrel.

Can also use the plastic detachable mag for further savings, I wouldn't want to.

Not incredibly light, but something less than 7 lb

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...owa-alpine-in-6-5-creedmoor#Post14907276

does anyone make an aluminum bottom metal, BDL style, for the Howa 1500. I have a stainless 6.5 CM that i bought earlier this year and dropped in an Alpine stock The bottom metal is chunky.

Would be great. I have looked online, can't find any except for mini action