The howa 1500 is actually a really good strong action with a true floating firing pin. The were based off the Sako Forester action except without the lug running along the side of the bolt and with metric barrel threads. So you know many large center fire bolts are 0.084" though i bush all mine and turn pins down to 0.070". Also those holes in the bolt are gas ports to save you from getting gas and possibly the cocking piece drove back in your face incase you do something stupid on the loading bench. One thing to cut down on weight would be to put a little bit more realistic and nicer looking bolt knob on there instead of that ridiculous looking rock you have on that one
The knob is 3D printed so it's basically no weight at all. Interesting that they are Weatherby based. I know I have worked on some weatherbys and they looks almost identical.
Good questions. I have never worked on the action but after my next CT scan if my cancer has shrunk I will buy one of these to investigate them fully. I am sure I can find a good solution.
Has there been any indication from Howa of a correction or improvement to the bolt face's firing pin hole diameter or are their factory rifles still blanking primers since this video? (This is why I like falling block, single shot rifles - no bolt aimed straight back at my face).
Great info, I have ran the gamete on rifles, having several brands. I started buying Bergara and love those. I also have Weatherby as well and understand Howa makes their actions if I am correct? I just purchased a Howa in .223 for Prairie dog hunting this fall. Hoping it does as well as our Bergara. Gave you a sub. Keep the info coming.
I heard howa makes the weatherby vanguard actions. Are there any characteristics that may make one better than the other that you've noticed? Tolerance, material, and or gas port setups? Just curious
Kinda interesting sounds like in your part of the world you see allot of Howas. Here in Idaho I might see 2 a year, and as many Tikka a week most weeks. Still allot of 700s here too, and the "predominant church" types love their Brownings. Just not many Howas, bergaras, or even weatherbys here
Here in Texas we actually get more Howas and Bergara than we do browning and Tikka in our shop, mostly to rebarrel what they shot out. Lot of Bergara 22LR we've rebarreled.
Those 3 big holes on the bottom of the bolt aren’t spring inspection hole, Or trash holes, There gas ports or holes as you call them, That’s for large amounts of gas to blow down away from your face in case a shell blows, Or ruptures, Looks like Howa needs a recall on there bolts, Holes to big around firing pin, Would hardly shoot ammo, Sounds like somebody grounded the firing pin down to much, Can’t reach the primer, I would bet, If the firing pin hit anywhere on the primer it would fire, Flut that bolt it would make it lighter. I just weighed one out of a Howa 12.1 oz, Short action, One out of a Mossberg 12.7 oz, Long action, One out of a Winchester model 70 14.4 oz, Long action, One out of a Remington 700 12.3 oz, Short action, One out of a Winchester model 70 13.1 oz, WSSM action, One more Winchester model 70 13.3 oz, WSM action, Not enough OZ differents to carry on about heavy bolts, My Opinion. Another thing about the bigger hole around the firing pin, It allows gases and pressure to escape out of the chamber thru the bolt and the 3 holes.
MY weight comment was mainly that it was entirely ancestry meat on the bolt. Those three holes are not gas ports. There is a gas port near the head that lines up with a port hole on the side of the receiver. That is where it goes first. Gas will always take the shortest path. Just like electricity.
@@GrimstodDesh Yes those are gas ports invented by, ROY WEATHERBY, Back in the day when he was experimenting with hight pressure cartridges he quickly realized the port on side of the receiver wasn’t enough for the high pressure coming straight out of the back of a cartridge, The primer is the weakest part of a cartridge, When one blows or pops loose the pressure comes straight back, That’s why gun manufacturers make the holes larger than the firing pins, High pressure gas don’t only make a left or right turn, Most of it blows straight back, Electricity just flows thru metal, I do a lot of electrical work, I’ve felt the flow of electricity a few, I’ve been shooting for over 50 years, The kick from a high power rifle much more brutal, Drilling a bolt face, Putting a plug in, Now it two piece, At one of the most high pressure parts of a bolt, WHY
@@tammyfuller8827 - I agree, I had a case rupture at the back on a Remington 788 action and the pressure actually blew the ejector pin so far back in the hole that it stuck and would not eject cartridges. When a case explodes the pressure goes in all directions and it will force pressure back to the bolt face and through the firing pin and ejector pin holes.
do you think it would be possible to make the cocking ramp less steep? assuming I can find someone who has the skills to do this job. the only difference between Howa and Remington seems to be the difference in ramp angles.
I have a new Superlite and the bolt machining marks are pronounced and rough which makes it sound like a loud zipper. Ok to polish those out? Any cautions? Otherwise i love this thing! Any advice welcome. I can live with it, but I have a Tikka and I know what smooth is.
So, in your opinion, you think both the Howa bolt face as well as the Howa Action threads are pretty much trued? that's good... so when I have to rebarrel my Howa I won't have to true the action. Is that a fair statement?
Compared to a Ruger American sure. Compared to a BAT, not so much. If all you want to do is spin a prefit on, you're probably alright as long as you gauge it. If you want a barrel spun up, any good gunsmith putting their name on it will want to clean it up first.
I will echo what Dark Moon said. if you are doing a prefit then they are fine. I personally would check it and if it were with in 0.0002-+ then I would just put it together. As my experience with them has been that they are usually perfect from the factory. Any high standards gun smith will want to check. Even a BAT will get checked and cleaned up by many of the most OCD smiths.
@@GrimstodDesh Thanks so much for the advice. this is my first bolt gun and I rely on people with tons of more experience than me to help my attain that knowledge
@@DMA_Actual thanks for the advice. I purchased a Howa barreled action and and married it with the MDT XRS chassis to learn. Hopefully down the road I can have better equipment but have to say the Howa is slightly less than an MOA at 300 yds. Would love to see what a custom action and barrel would do... perhaps one day
After firing you have to force the firing pin back to full cock on the bolt lift. I would polish the ramp at the back of the bolt and firing pin holder and also grease it with good quality grease. Lots of pressure on the lift, I always thought they should put a roller on firing pin holder to reduce friction and make lifting bolt much easier. They do that on roller cams in car engines to lift the valves against the springs.
off topic somewhat but how difficult is it to remove a Howa 1500 barrel? I heard the factory press fits them into the action and it is very difficult for the average person who is not a gunsmith to remove them. Can you give me an idea as to the difficulty or what tools I should use? or should I just take it to a gunsmith and not even bother?
the Howas are very good, but the force required to cock the firing pin is excessive. it would be great if there were some solutions to the problem. I'm having a hard time finding info, can you help me?
@@GrimstodDesh My apologies. I did not know. I deserve to feel like a trash human being I feel like right now. May God bless you in your fight against such a terrible disease.
The howa 1500 is actually a really good strong action with a true floating firing pin. The were based off the Sako Forester action except without the lug running along the side of the bolt and with metric barrel threads. So you know many large center fire bolts are 0.084" though i bush all mine and turn pins down to 0.070". Also those holes in the bolt are gas ports to save you from getting gas and possibly the cocking piece drove back in your face incase you do something stupid on the loading bench. One thing to cut down on weight would be to put a little bit more realistic and nicer looking bolt knob on there instead of that ridiculous looking rock you have on that one
The knob is 3D printed so it's basically no weight at all. Interesting that they are Weatherby based. I know I have worked on some weatherbys and they looks almost identical.
Any ideas on the best way to smoothen out the action and eliminate the "zipper" sound when cycling the bolt? Thanks!
Good questions. I have never worked on the action but after my next CT scan if my cancer has shrunk I will buy one of these to investigate them fully. I am sure I can find a good solution.
@@GrimstodDesh thank you and good luck and Godspeed on the CT scan
The zipper sound on mine is from rough turning marks at the back of the bolt. I haven't done anything about it but have thought about smoothing them.
@@isaacclark6749 I’m thinking about sanding the back of my bolt smooth to see if it goes away.
Great video thank you
Has there been any indication from Howa of a correction or improvement to the bolt face's firing pin hole diameter or are their factory rifles still blanking primers since this video? (This is why I like falling block, single shot rifles - no bolt aimed straight back at my face).
Most likely you will never see them change this.
Thanks for the report. I appreciate you sharing knowledge.
Great info, I have ran the gamete on rifles, having several brands. I started buying Bergara and love those. I also have Weatherby as well and understand Howa makes their actions if I am correct? I just purchased a Howa in .223 for Prairie dog hunting this fall. Hoping it does as well as our Bergara. Gave you a sub. Keep the info coming.
Thanks. As time allows I'll try to do more videos. I can cover a lot of stuff on bolts that no one else ever has.
@@GrimstodDesh lots of need out there for any info. It is becoming a lost art.
I heard howa makes the weatherby vanguard actions. Are there any characteristics that may make one better than the other that you've noticed? Tolerance, material, and or gas port setups? Just curious
About the same. The Weatherby is lighter as it is fluted. Though very minimally.
Is the primer popping an issue across all calibers of Howa rifles or specific to higher pressure cartridges?
Seen many types of cartridges mostly 6.5 Needmoor
Cool video, great presentation and I learned a lot! Thank you!
Kinda interesting sounds like in your part of the world you see allot of Howas. Here in Idaho I might see 2 a year, and as many Tikka a week most weeks. Still allot of 700s here too, and the "predominant church" types love their Brownings. Just not many Howas, bergaras, or even weatherbys here
I get about one a month it seams. Probably because I frequent Accuratshooter.com a lot and in the past that website has promoted their rifles a lot.
Here in Texas we actually get more Howas and Bergara than we do browning and Tikka in our shop, mostly to rebarrel what they shot out. Lot of Bergara 22LR we've rebarreled.
I just bought the carbon stalker. The whole rifle including the "bolt" only weighs 4 lbs. 15 oz.
Good content. What do you charge to bush a bolt? So if I buy a Howa for a build I wont have to do anything to the action? Thank you.
I charge 90 for these this year. You can get the process going by contacting me on my website.
Their actions are quite solid from the factory.
What would your website be
Thank you for the info.
Those 3 big holes on the bottom of the bolt aren’t spring inspection hole, Or trash holes, There gas ports or holes as you call them, That’s for large amounts of gas to blow down away from your face in case a shell blows, Or ruptures, Looks like Howa needs a recall on there bolts, Holes to big around firing pin, Would hardly shoot ammo, Sounds like somebody grounded the firing pin down to much, Can’t reach the primer, I would bet, If the firing pin hit anywhere on the primer it would fire, Flut that bolt it would make it lighter. I just weighed one out of a Howa 12.1 oz, Short action, One out of a Mossberg 12.7 oz, Long action, One out of a Winchester model 70 14.4 oz, Long action, One out of a Remington 700 12.3 oz, Short action, One out of a Winchester model 70 13.1 oz, WSSM action, One more Winchester model 70 13.3 oz, WSM action, Not enough OZ differents to carry on about heavy bolts, My Opinion. Another thing about the bigger hole around the firing pin, It allows gases and pressure to escape out of the chamber thru the bolt and the 3 holes.
MY weight comment was mainly that it was entirely ancestry meat on the bolt.
Those three holes are not gas ports. There is a gas port near the head that lines up with a port hole on the side of the receiver. That is where it goes first. Gas will always take the shortest path. Just like electricity.
@@GrimstodDesh Yes those are gas ports invented by, ROY WEATHERBY, Back in the day when he was experimenting with hight pressure cartridges he quickly realized the port on side of the receiver wasn’t enough for the high pressure coming straight out of the back of a cartridge, The primer is the weakest part of a cartridge, When one blows or pops loose the pressure comes straight back, That’s why gun manufacturers make the holes larger than the firing pins, High pressure gas don’t only make a left or right turn, Most of it blows straight back, Electricity just flows thru metal, I do a lot of electrical work, I’ve felt the flow of electricity a few, I’ve been shooting for over 50 years, The kick from a high power rifle much more brutal, Drilling a bolt face, Putting a plug in, Now it two piece, At one of the most high pressure parts of a bolt, WHY
I have to agree…everything I have ever read about how Howa constructs their bolt those 3 holes are to vent gas.
@@GrimstodDeshOof 😂
@@tammyfuller8827 - I agree, I had a case rupture at the back on a Remington 788 action and the pressure actually blew the ejector pin so far back in the hole that it stuck and would not eject cartridges. When a case explodes the pressure goes in all directions and it will force pressure back to the bolt face and through the firing pin and ejector pin holes.
do you think it would be possible to make the cocking ramp less steep? assuming I can find someone who has the skills to do this job. the only difference between Howa and Remington seems to be the difference in ramp angles.
The ramp though must move the firing pin a certain distance. So changing angle would mean less movement if your making it shallower.
@@GrimstodDesh I understand thanks
I have a new Superlite and the bolt machining marks are pronounced and rough which makes it sound like a loud zipper. Ok to polish those out? Any cautions? Otherwise i love this thing! Any advice welcome. I can live with it, but I have a Tikka and I know what smooth is.
I know what you mean. Polishing them will not hurt. It does remove the blueing though so you may wan to plan on having it re-blued afterwards.
@@GrimstodDesh yep that’s the only detriment I saw to that. I appreciate your input.
So, in your opinion, you think both the Howa bolt face as well as the Howa Action threads are pretty much trued? that's good... so when I have to rebarrel my Howa I won't have to true the action. Is that a fair statement?
Compared to a Ruger American sure. Compared to a BAT, not so much. If all you want to do is spin a prefit on, you're probably alright as long as you gauge it. If you want a barrel spun up, any good gunsmith putting their name on it will want to clean it up first.
I will echo what Dark Moon said. if you are doing a prefit then they are fine. I personally would check it and if it were with in 0.0002-+ then I would just put it together. As my experience with them has been that they are usually perfect from the factory. Any high standards gun smith will want to check. Even a BAT will get checked and cleaned up by many of the most OCD smiths.
@@GrimstodDesh Thanks so much for the advice. this is my first bolt gun and I rely on people with tons of more experience than me to help my attain that knowledge
@@DMA_Actual thanks for the advice. I purchased a Howa barreled action and and married it with the MDT XRS chassis to learn. Hopefully down the road I can have better equipment but have to say the Howa is slightly less than an MOA at 300 yds. Would love to see what a custom action and barrel would do... perhaps one day
That is the same bolt as the Weatherby Vanguard.
Its identical. Might be slight difference but have never tried swapping them.
How much i what to do the same to my howa bolt
My prices for work are on my website.
@@GrimstodDesh I contacted you on that website. And I have not gotten any response.
Do you have a website
deshind.com
what can be done about the sticky bolt lift after firing? both mine are a bear
Are you using factory ammo or handloads?
Probably a ruff cocking ramp.
After firing you have to force the firing pin back to full cock on the bolt lift. I would polish the ramp at the back of the bolt and firing pin holder and also grease it with good quality grease. Lots of pressure on the lift, I always thought they should put a roller on firing pin holder to reduce friction and make lifting bolt much easier. They do that on roller cams in car engines to lift the valves against the springs.
Do you take in Howa Bolt work? Mail in mail back?
Yes I do a lot of Howa bolts though the contact form on my website.
off topic somewhat but how difficult is it to remove a Howa 1500 barrel? I heard the factory press fits them into the action and it is very difficult for the average person who is not a gunsmith to remove them. Can you give me an idea as to the difficulty or what tools I should use? or should I just take it to a gunsmith and not even bother?
They are on pretty hard I am told.
@@GrimstodDesh have you ever tried to open up a Howa standard to a magnum bolt face?
the Howas are very good, but the force required to cock the firing pin is excessive. it would be great if there were some solutions to the problem. I'm having a hard time finding info, can you help me?
Your only option really is to decrease firing pin tension of the spring. Something you would want to be very careful doing.
@@GrimstodDesh that's what I had imagined
Thanks
@@GrimstodDesh I'm already trying to sell it for a Remington
@@KevinC- Remington has got to be the junkiest action I have ever used though. Get a custom clone. They are much better.
@@GrimstodDesh i'm on a budget. the new production should be better i think
Your being dramatic they dont blank primers as u say . Tgey shoot hot hand loads for me all day long np.
Well i get a lot of them to bush. Actually have three here at the shop now for this problem. I am glad your not having any issues.
The hard swallowing this guy is doing during this video is hard to get past...
Its because of my cancer. I am stage 4
@@GrimstodDesh My apologies. I did not know. I deserve to feel like a trash human being I feel like right now. May God bless you in your fight against such a terrible disease.