Howa actions for a build?

So happens, another Gent and I both have a Howa 1500 short action with a gun-smithing fellow range member to be rebarreled. As I understand, our actions will have a tap run into the receiver to re=thread it to install a Savage type replacement barrel. So, a barrel nut will be used. I happen to have a decent shooting 6.5x55 Swede Shaw varmit contour barrel (with lots of bore life in it) that I'd once had on a Stevens 200 that will be re-chambered to 6.5 creedmore and installed.

Unfortunately, our gun-smithing shooting buddy had a problem obtaining the tap in a timely manner and is now off to Africa for his yearly big game hunt for a month.....so, it'll be awhile before either of us get our Howa's back.
 
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Have a 6.5-06AI semi custom built on a long action Howa that started life as a 270 win. Tossed the stock, trigger, and barrel. It now wears a #5 Lilja barrel, Timney trigger and it all sits in a Manners T2 stock.

I paid $275 for the donor gun about 10 years ago and has been a great shooting rifle. The older Howa's had a terrible trigger in them that wasn't really worth messing with so everyone just put Timney's in them but I've heard the newer Howa has a much better trigger.

They seemed to have gained a lot of popularity, or maybe everyone caught on that they're a great donor action, but in the last 10 years or so finding one really cheap, like you once could, doesn't seem to happen anymore.

Not sure what you will be using it for but something to keep in mind is the Howa LA is going to be limited to about a 3.650 max C.O.A.L. not much of a concern with the majority of cartridges you'd be using, unless you plan on using it for something based of the RUM case with long bullets seated way out.
 
Make sure your gun smith has the proper equipment for cutting metric threads. Some do not and won't work on them.
 
I had an old Mossberg 1500 30-06 built into a 7x64 and put it in a McMillan stock. I have that one, a couple Vanguards and a Howa, these three are still factory. I like the Howa's.
 
Had a few Howa's and Vanguards. No problems with any of them. Just never built a custom on one. May be like the old Mauser's, great to build on and good solid actions, just no resale value when the time comes to sell and build another.
 
Howa and vanguard actions are great in my opinion to build off if your smith will cut metric threads, some will some wont just preference. I would use a howa long action for anything up to about 7mag due to the shorter mag box, the mag box on both the magnum howas I had was 3.570" inside length. that's a real killer for anything longer then a 7mag with long VLD bullets.
 
Look before you leap

I got my azz busted wide open building custom guns on:

Ruger, Mauser, and Howa actions, and I had to sell a $2300 custom Varmint rifle built on a Winchester action for $1200.

Resale, people want Remington or custom actions.

NEVER AGAIN!!!!

NEVER AGAIN!!!!!


NEVER AGAIN!!!

This was an expensive lesson to learn!!! I was hard headed about it also!
 
Back in the day!!! A custom rifle was built on a Mauser action. Some of the best of the best were built on a Mauser. You will take a butt whoopin if you ever try to sell a custom built Mauser in todays market. I built a very nice 257 Roberts Improved on a Mauser with a Douglas barrel, Boyd's stock and a Bold trigger. Lost a bunch when I sold it.
 


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