Thread: Howa 1500 10 round mag conversion ? School me up

Hey team,
Got a new project in the wings and looking at doin a 10 round conversion on a 223 howa 1500 for a pest control rifle.
I won't bore everyone with the details here as I'm still acumulating parts but one thing I'm not sure on is the 10 round conversion.
There are a couple options here in NZ going by a quick google search

*legacy sports (polymer bottom metal and mag)
* lucky 13 (billet bottom metal and mag)

Has anyone had any experience with either ? Functionality is #1 factor it has to work and feed every time.
There seem to be pros and cons for both.
The lucky 13 is billet alloy so likely heavier but also 2x the price
The legacy sports is polymer so lighter but is there issues around warping when torqued up ?
Do they fit well in factory stocks or is inletting required ?
Do they both feed well ?
Anything else I should consider ?

Looking forward to others experience
Thanks

Hi Danny.

Not only do I have both, I shoot/use both and I also install both.(for the record Im a Howa NZ Ambassador).

You will need to do minor stock work to have the bottom metals fit your stock.

Both functions 100% reliable.
Both have their pro's and cons, but the major desiding factor for me would be what tickles your fancy.

If looks is your main consern - go L13, If you, however like the robust "Im build tuff for tuff conditions ", go with the legacy.

Scratching up my beautifull L13s bothers me, but abusing the lagacy does'nt bother at all - it seems to have been designed to give that "work me hard, I dont mind" image.

Warping - if your worried about warping on the Lagacy, install small aluminium bushings and your sorted. Ive never had warping issues though - but I do not tend to shoot large and heavy recoiling calibres.

The one thing that is a huge factor for me is availability.

Hope this answers your questions

With a Howa 1500 223 also in the gun closet now, I'm also interested in this question. What is relative cost and availability right now for L13 and Legacy. Looks less important, functionality yes.

Legacy conversion appears to be about $100
Lucky 13 about $289 to $300
Thanks @Jaco Goosen for the experience.
It's for a lightweight 223 pest rifle so leaning towards the legacy.

Likewise - but does that legacy include a mag? If not its another $119 at GC? = about $220 all up.

Have you got the 1500 .223 already Danny?

If not, you could just get the Howa Mini which comes with the 10 shot magazine as standard.

Originally Posted by Flyblown

Have you got the 1500 .223 already Danny?

If not, you could just get the Howa Mini which comes with the 10 shot magazine as standard.

No but slightly different plans, you will have to wait and see. I'm happy to pay the penalty of the conversion for what I have in mind

Ooohh sounds exciting!

I had one converted with Legacy plastic when I bought it. It's all nice and light, and I never managed to crack anything. Mag sticks out miles, it isn't small... @Feral looks after it now. I reckon a fully loaded plastic mag will weigh similar to the empty Lucky13 unit, if the L3 one I have in my Mauser is anything to go by.

I had one converted with Legacy plastic when I bought it. It's all nice and light, and I never managed to crack anything. Mag sticks out miles, it isn't small... @Feral looks after it now. I reckon a fully loaded plastic mag will weigh similar to the empty Lucky13 unit, if the L3 one I have in my Mauser is anything to go by.

I have a Howa mini heavy barrel in 223. The mini is a 1/8 or 1/9 twist depending. This let's ya shoot heavier pills. I shoot mine to 900yds. 1500 is 1/12 and suits lighter pills. Factory 10 Rd mag is fine.

Wife has @Kopua Cowboy 's 6.5 with mag conversion. Tbh its too much mag for her. Anything above .223 really is quite a good sized mag. I also have Magpul conversion on my R700 308; 5 and 10 Rd. Seldom take the 10 Rd out.

Go mini with factory 10 Rd.

Sent from my SM-G980F using Tapatalk

Just noticed it is for pest control... Ditch the mag, go belt fed

I concur with @Feral about the legacy mag. Had one on a 1500 in m308 and it was always in the way! Over shoulder carry it digs into body, safari carry digs into body, carry in hand digs into nature!

It was a hunting and not varminting rifle, and as such I converted back to standard bottom metal.

Just my 2 cents' worth.

Originally Posted by Waldo Peens

I concur with @Feral about the legacy mag. Had one on a 1500 in m308 and it was always in the way! Over shoulder carry it digs into body, safari carry digs into body, carry in hand digs into nature!

It was a hunting and not varminting rifle, and as such I converted back to standard bottom metal.

Just my 2 cents' worth.

noted but this is purely for var-minting and hopefully not too much walking, I found 5 rounds is often not enough, I also prefer flush mag for carrying.
heavily leaning towards the mini now for what I want to do seems cheaper and better suited out of the box.....just not a huge fan of any of the current stock offerings

The legacy kits are and feel very cheap but the magazines work well. Stupidest thing about them is the precarious position of the mag release.