Any reason NOT to rebore a Howa 1500?

[msalm]

The only two items I can think of as reasons NOT to do a rebore would be contour, is the existing contour heavy enough and the chf barrel, although that may be no problem for the rebore service.

 

[mattri]

Good question.
It's not a heavy barrel model but think it will be ok. I know JES rebores 30-30s to 38-55 often enough. Worst case scenario he gets it and says it's too thin.
Rifle will be solely used for hunting so a lighter barrel isn't all bad.

 

[SKWERLZ]

That is whole can of worms unto itself, I have given up trying to find any logic to the rule book.

Classic example of rules made by idiots

 

[jackieschmidt]

I believe Howa Rifles feature hammer forged barrels.

If you have ever tried to machine some hammer barrels, they can be a real bear.

But, if the vendor says no problem….

 

[Uncle Bruce]

I believe Howa Rifles feature hammer forged barrels.

If you have ever tried to machine some hammer barrels, they can be a real bear.

But, if the vendor says no problem….

I personally don't see any way to justify reboaring, with having to clock the front sight and scoling and cal. The outcome as far as accuracy is bound to be up for grabs

 

[tthomp302]

Surely it’s not that much more expensive to get something like a preferred barrel that has a nut rather than getting it rebored and risking accuracy issues.

300 beans to get rebored
Under 500 beans to get a preferred barrel with nut…

I know what I would do.

 

[JBT47]

That Howa barrel is cold hammer forged as mentioned above. Therefore it may not be a good idea to rebore it due to latent stress in barrel from chf process…but I’m no expert on that matter. It’s just a safer bet to rebarrel.

 

[mauser284]

Last I looked into this dial up still ruled the internet. Back then most places that rebored/rifled barrels would not do high Nickle content military barrels or hammer forged barrels.

So I would check with them since Howa barrels have been CHF for a long long long time. I would just get a new barrel for it and keep the factory barrel in case you ever want to go back to stock or want to sell it.

 

[mauser284]

If IA has straight-wall limitations, be aware that the .358 Win is still a bottleneck cartridge.

I was going to say the same thing!

 

[mauser284]

Sorry to not be clear, not looking at a barrel swap.

Why not? Saying something so irrational and counter intuitive with out saying why is kind of lame!

What is the cost to rebore and rechamber compared to getting a pre-fit and doing a Howavage or getting a new barrel and going the conventional rebarreling with a shoulder.

 

[mauser284]

The only two items I can think of as reasons NOT to do a rebore would be contour, is the existing contour heavy enough and the chf barrel, although that may be no problem for the rebore service.

Fantastic point!

 

[mauser284]

I personally don't see any way to justify reboaring, with having to clock the front sight and scoling and cal. The outcome as far as accuracy is bound to be up for grabs

Clearly practicality, best practice, and even common sense are not at play here!

 

[mauser284]

I always like it when the OP put's all of the hidden reasons why they want a group hug and peer approval up front.

When anything other than the predetermined answer you want is unacceptable and they do not explain why I lose interest fast.

Sadly we only hear about when we are wrong never when things go badly and every word we spoke was correct! I have never seen anyone come back to this site or any forum and say " You guys where right I had a terrible outcome compared to cost!" probably never will either. We either never hear from the OP again or we get a lie just to maintain their pride! Sadly that is the limit of the internet!

 

[msalm]

Just an observation on my part, but the Howa 1500 rifles are the only commercial rifles I’ve rebarreled that will ‘time up’ all the markings from one rifle to the next. I have a bunch of takeoffs for the mini’s and have screwed multiple barrels onto one receiver and they all timed to the same point. Same with a fewer sample of the full sized 1500 actions. Headspace was also within min/max on those samples.

 

[CJ6]

I was going to say the same thing!

It's OK to use calibers 35 and up with bottle necks.

 

[mattri]

Thanks for all the great replies. The info on the CHF barrel is good to know, I've reached out to JES to see what he says.

 

[ISS]

I would highly recommend a 358 Win rebore. I built one on an AR-10 platform, and it is a slightly under MOA with 250gr powder coated cast bullets. Pushing 2240fps. If nobody buys my Panda LV rifle for sale here by fall, that is what JES is going to do.

ISS

 

[JSH]

I don't understand the States reasoning for going .35 and up .

That comes from people making laws that know little if anything of which they speak.
For years Kansas had case length and bore diameter laws, basically to keep the 223 out.
That got changed and now so much grey area if you have a 25ACP your good to go.

 

[justme]

I had Jes do a rebore to 358. I am happy with the results.

 

[mattri]

Cool what was the original chambering?