338 Lapua on Howa 1500 LA

[Hamo]

Apparently its possible to build a 338 Lapua on a Howa 1500 Long Action. Roedale precision does it.

http://www.roedaleprecision.com/epages/semicustom.htm

What are your thoughts?

I thought that a howa and remington were similar strengths, but i know its pushing it on a rem 700 and many smiths wont do it.

 

[JDJones]

its plenty strong enough if you don't get stupid with the reloads.

The front ring on the Howa is actualy a bit more beefy than the Rem 700 is so that not a problem.

The only thing I would do is open the threads up from the metric crap to 1.125" this will allow a larger shank around the base head which "might" help in case of an over pressure.

 

[Hamo]

I wasn't planning anything stupid with reloads, probably just work up some standard loads similar to factory. I think another benefit with the Howa is that the bolt handle is forged as part of the bolt. In my opinion it just adds a little more safety - the bolt handle might stop the bolt in the event the lugs break.

Opening up the threads is also a pretty good idea. As i plan to blueprint the action, it'll be no big deal to open them up a bit whilst its all in the lathe. I know the .338 is a relatively big case, and ensureing there is enough meat round the case is pretty important.

when people say an action is not strong enough, what is it that usually fails? I have seen photos of bolts with the lugs torn off (thankfully i have never seen one up close) but is there anywhere else that will fail, or if not fail, effect accuracy badly?

 

[JDJones]

I have never seen a bolt lug shear off , I have seen some internal lugs suffer from "set back" but that generaly only on the top lug as the bottom lug is pretty small and would flex some.

I know a guy that used the wrong powder is a 7mmx338 Lapua (built on a Lawton with standard .700" bolt) and WAY over pressured it , quickload said somthing like 170,000+psi , the bolt nothing came appart , the barrel did have to be cut out of the reciever rather than unscrewed.

I think that the odd actions where somthing fails is due to over pressure is due to a flaw in the material , maybe over hardened bolt head or improperly heat treated reciever.

I would run the Ackley improved version on the 338 if it were me or the 338 Edge bue to them both have a little less bolt thrust

 

[Taildrag15X]

Apparently its possible to build a 338 Lapua on a Howa 1500 Long Action. Roedale precision does it.

http://www.roedaleprecision.com/epages/semicustom.htm

What are your thoughts?

I thought that a howa and remington were similar strengths, but i know its pushing it on a rem 700 and many smiths wont do it.

It's easier and cheaper to do it with a Savage 3-digit LA, open it up for the Large Shank barrel.

 

[HPMike800]

Would it not be easier toget a Stiller TAC 338 if your going for a "low budget" 338 Lapua?

 

[Hamo]

It definately would be easier... however, Im in Australia and a still TAC 338 action is impossible to find. If you do it runs around $1800 aussie (about double the price in the US), compared to $650 for a complete Howa 1500.

The only easily available Custom actions over here are Barnards (great action, but no repeater which is what i really want), CG Inch, which is rear locking and im not a fan, and the odd Kelby. Everything else is hard to get, or so expensive its not worth the effort.

If i have to pay close to $2000 for an action, i would just get the Remington MLR which is about $2400 and get a good stock and bottom metal in a complete package. I just wish it was as easy to get stuff down here as it is in the states.

 

[HPMike800]

Yea that changes a lot.

Barnard shows they build a "model 10" rifle in 338 with AI bottom metal and a barnard action. They must make something?

If they do that would make a damn nice rig.

Mike

 

[Hamo]

I looked at their website, its a really nice rifle by the looks of things. I have a barnard and it is a beautiful action, definitely my choice out of everything available here. The trigger is excellent also.

Couldnt find a repeater action in .338 from barnard, but if they do it on the model 10 im sure they have one. Might look into that option. It could just be their single shot with a cutout in the bottom for a magazine. If they sell it like that i'd contemplate it, but cutting into a hardened steel part worth $1600 is a little beyond my machining ability and wallet.

I have a short action weatherby vanguard (i know its the same as the howa action) and am really happy with that. The things a 3/4 minute shooter right out of the box. I wouldn't compare it to a custom action, but with all the rifles i have, i would say that it was definitely the best value for money, by far. the best part is whenever i shoot it I'm not paranoid about scratching the stock or dropping it like i am with my custom rifles, reasons like this make it more 'enjoyable' to shoot.

for me, custom guns are normally limited to range use, where you treat them well. others are for farm/hunting use. This build i intend to be a bit of both.

 

[kemen4]

I think Pete @ Roedale is the German agent for Barnard Actions ... might be worth an email as to why he went the Howa route? Altho' he's pretty well sold on the Howa to start with!
Out of interest he would have CIP proof on the gun and from the Lap handbook thats
CIP piezo 470 mpa (69000 psi) for the 338 Lap cartridge: + 25% for a proof load!
Lap show the 338 Win at 430 mpa (62,350 psi) for comparison.

If you do email him his workshop is probably under snow - scenic but deep.

 

[Rustystud]

1. I would never builld a 338 Lapua on an investment cast action period.

2. One is pushing the limits building a 338 Lapua on a Standard Remington 700 LA.

The customs, STILLER, BARNARD, PIERCE, KELBLY, LAWTON, ETC., all build their 338 Lapua actions beefer that a Remington 700. Constant shooting of a 338 Lapua will result in broken scope mount screws, broken scope tubes, and flexed and or sheared bolt lugs. The ones Remington has done have PT&G solid bolts in them and too are beefer in the lug area.
If I were at a range and had a shooter show up with a either a Howa 1500 or Remington 700 in 338 Lapua I would move or leave. Just my opinion.
Nat Lambeth

 

[p17enfeild]

why 338 lap mag?
the .338 rum dose just as good and will work better in the action you can get hold of in aussie, iam in uk and compared to aussie we can get any thing but have to pay lot more than in usa

how hard is it to import a rilfe or parts to aussie?

 

[Hamo]

I have the reamer and some brass for the 338 lapua already, so it just seems to make sense to use the lapua over the rum. I know everyone has different opinions but i also like that the lapua has great brass available, and was designed specifically for long range accuracy.

Getting rifle parts down here sounds similar to the UK. essentially double the prices in the USA and that seems to be about right. I have never imported anything myself, but we have to go through a dealer. Any rifle 'part' including triggers, barrels etc have to be shipped to a licenced dealer. for most small things its just not worth the mess with customs. I would really only consider it for a complete rifle.

the only thing you can get into the country without a problem are stocks, and with some of the deals in the states this is really good news. (think i might invest in a manners composite stock)

 

[MWDG3]

One step closer. Boltstop is done. Looks like a Weatherby 338-378 magbox will work but CDI is soon to release a long action Howa DBM. Pardon the amateur camera work, you may have to click the vid to get it to load....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BydFytC4J8Q

From a Pete Lincoln post on another thread...

 

[Robert]

1. I would never builld a 338 Lapua on an investment cast action period.

2. One is pushing the limits building a 338 Lapua on a Standard Remington 700 LA.

The customs, STILLER, BARNARD, PIERCE, KELBLY, LAWTON, ETC., all build their 338 Lapua actions beefer that a Remington 700. Constant shooting of a 338 Lapua will result in broken scope mount screws, broken scope tubes, and flexed and or sheared bolt lugs. The ones Remington has done have PT&G solid bolts in them and too are beefer in the lug area.
If I were at a range and had a shooter show up with a either a Howa 1500 or Remington 700 in 338 Lapua I would move or leave. Just my opinion.
Nat Lambeth

Nat,

+1 on that, Sir...

It is simply pure inconscience

R.G.C

 

[MWDG3]

I haven't pull the trigger just yet. I don't plan on running any of the big boys. This case was designed for 250 grain bullets. 338win can be a hammer with these new bullets and Nosler makes good brass for it.

Thanks to Roy's obsession with power the Howa's flat bottom and massive integral lug handle torque and recoil much better than the Remy. My action's mount holes are 8-40. Combining a custom low pro Farrell steel rail and Spurh rings should secure the USO very nicely.

 

[MWDG3]

Welp, I've bailed on the Lapua. After some discussion with various gunsmiths and playing around with different oal snapcaps in the AI mag I will try 338winmag. I've no interest in the 300 grain class so this case will let me stick the 250 lockbase and 236 solid out where they belong.

 

[Northman]

From everything I have read the Howas are not Cast, but rather Forged then machined.


If anybody has proof of anything else, I would really like to see it, as I have two Howas myself!

 

[270guy]

Hamo,
Barnard do a PLM (repeater) action for the .338 Magnum.

A Howa might be more economical, but depends if you were going to fit other aftermarket bits (stock, trigger, barrel...). If you got a Barnard, its already "Blue printed", has a good trigger and you can "throw" the other aftermarket bits on.
I don't know how Customs are accross the ditch, or the local Police, if you wanted to import it direct or perhaps you have to deal with the Aussie agent ?

Sounds like a fun project.
cheers