howa 1500 barrel brands/profile suggestions

[johnfkingmatrix]

putting new barrel on howa 1500/oryx chassis. 6.5cm
was googling what choices were, and i really only saw criterion barrels.. and they had a lot of profile options.

-any thoughts on criterion
-other brands you know of for this action
-what barrel profile would you suggest

HOWA PRE-FIT CUSTOM CONFIGURATION - Criterion Barrels

Criterion manufactured Howa pre-fit barrels are directly cross compatible with the Howa 1500 action. Each barrel is held to match grade tolerances.

criterionbarrels.com

its primarily a target rifle, i shoot in extreme heat/cold/sand/snow, and occasionally field positions/pack on short hunt for the exercise, but mostly just prone long range stuff

is there a "bang for buck/point of diminishing return" length/weight/profile here , or is there no comparison to a 6 foot bull barrel - and i should just commit to a 20lb rifle

looking forward to advice,

thank you!

 

[jkohler]

any Brand of barrel can be put on a Howa. Unless your just looking for pre chambered barrels.

 

[johnfkingmatrix]

I've never done bolt action before, only AR.. so i thought it was just plug and play

i have to get a barrel, then send them my action and pay 200$ to get it fit and do all the ffl fees and shipping?

vs one that is (in my mind) made for my action and i just screw it in?

im completely ignorant here lol. how does this work?.now im worried

 

[jkohler]

The Criterion is a barrel nut set up not a shouldered barrel. So with that one you will need to set the headspace. If your not set up to remove barrels on bolt guns your probably better off getting a smith to do it for you

 

[SecondsCount]

It isn't the same as an AR but I don't find it to be real difficult

You will need a barrel vise and an action wrench to get the old barrel off. If the new barrel has the locking nut, you may need a wrench for that as well. Then you will need a set of headspace gauges for the cartridge that the new barrel is chambered for.

 

[johnfkingmatrix]

thanks, i already got the old barrel off. is the criterion noticably less accuracy due to the jam nut mechanism?

and so i understand terms - shouldered means its set up perfectly for the receiver and it just screws in to the proper distance? this was what i hoped i was shopping for, now it seems not? is that usually something you have to send your reciever away for

 

[Kevin1990]

I suggest watching this video.

I was in the same position you were about 5 years ago, and said screw it. Then came back to it and realized, it’s really not difficult at all.
The only concern is setting headspace and making sure the barrel nut is torqued to the correct poundage.

You might check out bug holes, or crown ridge barrels. Probably your best bet for a prefit. If you were able to get the old barrel off, you can get a new one on.

As far as accuracy, most PRS shooters I’ve talked to on other forums don’t see a difference in accuracy from prefits to shouldered. Just my opinion. IMHO I think you would see a noticeable accuracy upgrade with a criterion prefit over a howa.

Lastly, I don’t know if you could get a shouldered prefit sent to you for a howa, due to the tolerances. You might have to send it to a smith. Could be totally wrong on that part.

Edit: preferred barrels also makes prefits for howa.

 

[johnfkingmatrix]

thanks, yeah i have some mechanical background im just not familiar with the nuances of bolt actions.

i guess its a super noob question, just so I understand: a prefit has a jam nut, and a shouldered just screws in with proper torque specs?

is getting a shouldered barrel always a send away custom job or something? why is finding one so elusive.. its all news to me but im just trying to find clarity since in my mind i was just gonna order a "shouldered barrel" screw it in and lob 1mile shots 10min later

how does one get a shouldered barrel, and is it worth it?

 

[Kevin1990]

To your first question, yes, that’s about the only difference.

Is it worth it? For the person answering the question, it’s always worth it, because we’re not spending your money. But if you’re just plinking at long range, not in competition and want better accuracy, I think a prefit is plenty.

Any gun smith can make a shouldered prefit for you. Whether you need to send it in or not, you’d have to ask that specific smith. The only difference is cost. There are world class gunsmiths that frequent this forum, that have forgotten more knowledge than I’ll ever hope to obtain. Hopefully they will chime in.


Lastly,
Not trying to take a dump on criterion. Heck I own several criterion barrels, but that seems pricey for a variable shoulder prefit on their website. I’d check out preferred barrels or crown ridge.

If you want a shouldered barrel, you need a blank for probably no less than $350, then you have to pay a smith to chamber it. So all in all probably between $6-800. For a shouldered. You could get a nasty variable shoulder prefit for under $500.

Edit: if your lobbing 1 mile shots, I think reading the wind is far more important than the barrel by a landslide.

 

[johnfkingmatrix]

wow super insightful, thanks a ton.
not competing just hoping for 1moa>

so ANY pre fit fits a 1500 howa or are pre fits still model specific?

lastly, is there a profile that you think is optimal without being diminishing returns on weight?

 

[Kevin1990]

Nope, prefits with jam nuts are model specific. The howa is actually metric threads I believe. Again though, no big deal for a smith.

As far as contour, if you’re using an oryx chassis from what I’m reading the barrel channel is 1.26. So you could maybe fit a 1.25 straight barrel in that. That said, I don’t see that option on any Jam nut prefit sites. I would get the thickest contour possible for the prefit, which I believe would be a bull barrel, which is 1” all the way.

If you’re going jam nut prefit, Check these sites out.

These people will make a variable shoulder or a fixed shoulder for you and attach it for an extra $125

Howa 1500 - Variable Shoulder - M26x1.5 (Weatherby Vanguard) - Prefit Barrels

Variable shoulder; the barrel nut is included. Compatible with Weatherby Vanguard actions. Please note: While we are responsible for making you a quality product, You are liable for how this product is ordered. It is your responsibility to verify the head spacing and breech specs beforehand...

preferredbarrelblanks.com

These guys use x caliber and shilen blanks, and can do a shouldered or variable shoulder.

Custom Chambered Barrel

These are set up to use a barrel nut so you can headspace your own barrel. You will need to purchase a barrel nut.

www.crownridgebarrelworks.com

This guy has a huge selection of blanks, and can make you a variable shoulder barrel as well. Not sure on his price though.

Bartlein, Krieger, Hawk Hill, Custom Rifle Barrels, Custom Rifle Barrels OK, Brux, Muller, MullerWorks, Shilen, Bartlein Carbon Fiber custom rifle barrels for sale, 416R, 416R Stainless, 416R stainless rifle barrels for sale.

Southern Precision Rifles. We build exceptional rifles and prefit barrels for most of the actions on the market. Our rifles and prefit barrels will help you reach your hunting, target, competition and ELR goals. We use only the finest tooling and machines. We continue to improve and excel.

www.bugholes.com

Again, any smith can do this for you, but these guys are a lot cheaper.

 

[johnfkingmatrix]

my best groups are generally 3/4 moa, so as long as pre fit can out-shoot that, im fine. im kind of concluding that the shouldered argument might be splitting hairs for anything short of pro competition. it seems like theyre arguing over 1/4moa difference?

One rabbit hole that did concern me is the argument about timing/tuning where a barrel has a natural curve, and a prefit would likely have that pointing sideways instead of up

thoughts?

great links, I appreciate your time. ill likely be utilizing one of them here soon

 

[Kevin1990]

No problem brother! oh yeah, I have a criterion prefit from Northland Shooters supply in 6br right now. With Varget and a plethora of different bullets and bullet weights it will shoot 5 shot groups 1/2 and under at 100. Many in the .2-.3s. Only have taken it out to 500 yards, but it did a lot better than any factory barrel I currently have.

I’d agree on the prefit argument you stated as well. Guys on this forum who compete and shoot in BR, argue over 1/1000 of an inch, as they very well should.

As far as the barrel and discrepancy of curvature, I believe I have seen the argument made, but know nothing about it. I have had 4 prefits, all criterion or shilen and with load development, they are all capable of 1/2 and under groups.

 

[TaperPin]

You’ll find there is a continuum between factory accuracy and a top barrel and top chambering job. You can have a shouldered barrel put in badly and not shoot 3/4 moa groups, same with a poor prefit.

To save money I‘ve taken advantage of a $200 chambering/installation for one of the better barrel makers to install a match grade barrel on an untrued hunting rifle action and and the gun wouldn‘t shoot 1 moa with any loads - ever. Either the chamber was cut wonky, my action was wonky, or something else, but that was disappointing for $600. A lot of unknowns and the odds weren’t in my favor that day. Because of that experience, when someone talks of a prefit that’s made from less than a top barrel warning lights go off in my head because of the risks. Still, I’d think 3/4 moa would be common for a better 6.5 prefit or average old school rebarrel - if the odds aren’t against you.

Same brand/quality of barrel installed by same company as above on another rifle shoots 1/2 moa all day with very little effort. That $600 barrel job is worth twice what it cost and it’s dumb luck that the odds were with me.

For a top barrel, $400 chamber/threading installation from a smith known for accuracy, and $200-$300 basic action truing (skim face of action/face of bolt, lap lugs), 1/2 moa is a reasonable expectation.

If I were in your shoes, as much as I don’t like barrel nuts, a prefit with nut made from as good a barrel blank as you can afford is probably the most bang for the buck in the long term. It allows you to shoot it right away and true up the action as money allows - and maybe it will shoot fine as is. It is slightly less risky to get a barrel profile with a significant straight section near the action in case the chamber is wonky and down the road it makes sense to have it recut.

 

[johnfkingmatrix]

good insight. I'm definitely leaning that way.

my situation is complicated since im in CA but have an out of state i.d. so anything with FFL becomes a nightmare. even if i drop it at a local so-cal smith isn't there still an FFL xfer taking place?

 

[jkohler]

no he’s just going to log it in his books when you drop it off and log it out when it leaves. your name and address will be on the log.

 

[johnfkingmatrix]

thanks for patience ,

just so im tracking everything here:
a shouldered barrel involves me buying a blank, which is a rifled barrel that hasnt been chamber reamed. assuming stainless quality brand, somewhere in the 3-500$ realm, i drop it off at local gunsmith with receiver, since i can't FFL mail, they charge me 2-400$ to custom fit it and chamber ream it.

prefit comes ready to screw in to torque specs, somewhere in the 5-600$ realm. and ,although ,not as accurate as a custom fit, could still reasonably be assumed to approach 1/2 moa .
is any of this incorrect/am i leaving anything out?