Replacement barrel for HOWA 1500??

accordingtome · October 28, 2007, 08:22 PM

Greetings all,
I have a Howa 1500 in 308. I sorta destroyed the barrel and need to replace it. So i was thinking why not upgrade to a heavy barrel right. Does anyone know where i can get a replacement barrel, or just a heavier barrel? It would be great if i could get just a straight replacement to stick on. The less smithing the better as im all thumbs in that dept

I did meet a guy that does some great work but I really need to save money on this project.

Thank you for your time.

accordingtome · October 28, 2007, 10:39 PM

anyone?

DnPRK · October 28, 2007, 11:26 PM

I would contact Legacy Sports, the importer of Howas, and ask them how much it costs to replace a barrel.

A barrel swap isn't something you do with a bench vise and pipe wrench. It takes a specialized barrel vise, specialized receiver wrench (yes, you can twist a receiver until it breaks if you don't know what you are doing) chamber gages and reamers. None of that tooling is cheap.

Another option is to send it to a place like ER Shaw, a medium-priced barrel maker and let them install it.

accordingtome · October 29, 2007, 12:36 PM

ya I think im going to do that. thanks

accordingtome · October 29, 2007, 11:13 PM

I called Legacy Sports and asked for a replacement barrel and he said he could not help me. He gave me a number to call to their new importer. So i called them and they told me that they import the barreled actions complete and do not sell just the barrels. I really don't want to spend more than $200-$250 on a new barrel. so whats my next move??

Harry Bonar · October 30, 2007, 05:48 PM

Sir:
I know of no one but Douglas bbls, in Charleston WVA who will do a better job or have a better barrel! Get ahold of Fred Depoy there.
Harry B.

T. O'Heir · October 30, 2007, 08:25 PM

"...sorta destroyed the barrel..." How?
"...don't want to spend more than $200-$250..." Go to Douglas. Your budget is a bit light though. $250 will buy a Douglas barrel. $200 will not.
Done this yet? http://www.regcen.com/howa/

accordingtome · October 31, 2007, 09:12 AM

I got a patch stuck in the middle of the barrel. I could not get it out for two months. When i finally got around to having a smith take it out there was a pretty big pit rusted in the middle. It still shoots o.k. but you can tell the shots are a little off

Harry Bonar · October 31, 2007, 11:38 AM

Sir:
If this is a real nice, favorite rifle of yours I'd go ahead and have Douglas fit your rifle with a fine Douglas bbl. The std. bbl they offer is "air guaged" several times during manufacture. They do a very good "old time blue-eyed West Virginia honest job" and you'll be pleased - I get nothing for this just your benefit.
Adams and Bennet bbls. are good also from Midway usa.
Douglas will test your action and fit and stamp your bbl. nicely - they are pros!
Harry B.

Eghad · November 1, 2007, 07:42 PM

for $50 extra they will duplicate your barrel.

tINY · November 2, 2007, 04:20 AM

Howa used to peen the barrels in place. So they are a little hard to get off.

If I remember right, a barreled action is not much more than you'll end up paying to have a decent barrel put on. Remember that after you buy the barrel, it's still gonna cost you to have somebody do the work.

At $405, the barreled action isn't much more than you'd spend to have a new barrel installed on your old action. You already have a stock that will fit.

Or just shoot the thing - you say it shoots OK.... After a few hundred rounds, it'll be just fine (copper will fill the pit).

-tINY

October 28, 2007, 08:22 PM	#1
accordingtome Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2005 Location: TeXas, HoUSton Posts: 262	Replacement barrel for HOWA 1500?? Greetings all, I have a Howa 1500 in 308. I sorta destroyed the barrel and need to replace it. So i was thinking why not upgrade to a heavy barrel right. Does anyone know where i can get a replacement barrel, or just a heavier barrel? It would be great if i could get just a straight replacement to stick on. The less smithing the better as im all thumbs in that dept I did meet a guy that does some great work but I really need to save money on this project. Thank you for your time.

October 30, 2007, 05:48 PM	#6
Harry Bonar Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2004 Location: In the Vincent, Ohio general area. Posts: 1,804	bbl Sir: I know of no one but Douglas bbls, in Charleston WVA who will do a better job or have a better barrel! Get ahold of Fred Depoy there. Harry B.

October 30, 2007, 08:25 PM	#7
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...sorta destroyed the barrel..." How? "...don't want to spend more than $200-$250..." Go to Douglas. Your budget is a bit light though. $250 will buy a Douglas barrel. $200 will not. Done this yet? http://www.regcen.com/howa/ __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

October 31, 2007, 11:38 AM	#9
Harry Bonar Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2004 Location: In the Vincent, Ohio general area. Posts: 1,804	pit Sir: If this is a real nice, favorite rifle of yours I'd go ahead and have Douglas fit your rifle with a fine Douglas bbl. The std. bbl they offer is "air guaged" several times during manufacture. They do a very good "old time blue-eyed West Virginia honest job" and you'll be pleased - I get nothing for this just your benefit. Adams and Bennet bbls. are good also from Midway usa. Douglas will test your action and fit and stamp your bbl. nicely - they are pros! Harry B.

November 1, 2007, 07:42 PM	#10
Eghad Senior Member Join Date: May 28, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 6,231	for $50 extra they will duplicate your barrel. __________________ Have a nice day at the range NRA Life Member

October 28, 2007, 10:39 PM	#2
accordingtome Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2005 Location: TeXas, HoUSton Posts: 262	anyone?

October 28, 2007, 11:26 PM	#3
DnPRK Senior Member Join Date: August 24, 2001 Location: LC, Ca Posts: 1,917	I would contact Legacy Sports, the importer of Howas, and ask them how much it costs to replace a barrel. A barrel swap isn't something you do with a bench vise and pipe wrench. It takes a specialized barrel vise, specialized receiver wrench (yes, you can twist a receiver until it breaks if you don't know what you are doing) chamber gages and reamers. None of that tooling is cheap. Another option is to send it to a place like ER Shaw, a medium-priced barrel maker and let them install it.

October 29, 2007, 12:36 PM	#4
accordingtome Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2005 Location: TeXas, HoUSton Posts: 262	ya I think im going to do that. thanks

October 29, 2007, 11:13 PM	#5
accordingtome Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2005 Location: TeXas, HoUSton Posts: 262	I called Legacy Sports and asked for a replacement barrel and he said he could not help me. He gave me a number to call to their new importer. So i called them and they told me that they import the barreled actions complete and do not sell just the barrels. I really don't want to spend more than $200-$250 on a new barrel. so whats my next move??

October 31, 2007, 09:12 AM	#8
accordingtome Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2005 Location: TeXas, HoUSton Posts: 262	I got a patch stuck in the middle of the barrel. I could not get it out for two months. When i finally got around to having a smith take it out there was a pretty big pit rusted in the middle. It still shoots o.k. but you can tell the shots are a little off

November 2, 2007, 04:20 AM	#11
tINY Senior Member Join Date: April 26, 2005 Location: Orygun Posts: 2,589	Howa used to peen the barrels in place. So they are a little hard to get off. If I remember right, a barreled action is not much more than you'll end up paying to have a decent barrel put on. Remember that after you buy the barrel, it's still gonna cost you to have somebody do the work. At $405, the barreled action isn't much more than you'd spend to have a new barrel installed on your old action. You already have a stock that will fit. Or just shoot the thing - you say it shoots OK.... After a few hundred rounds, it'll be just fine (copper will fill the pit). -tINY