Lightweight chassis/stock for Howa 1500 223?

Hi all - I would appreciate some advice on lightweight chassis or stock for my 2008 Howa 1500 223. Its a very accurate rifle - and with its 1:12 twist is shooting 0.4-0.8" groups at 100m consistently with factory Fiocchi 55gr SP. Accurate and reliable - but also somewhat weighty. This might not bother most people but we all have our preferences, and being from a northern bush hunting background I developed distinct liking for lighter weight, shorter, carbine length firearms. (Hence chopped, accurate 22s etc..)

Have looked at Howa Minis but have not been impressed by the action quality - not nearly as good as the model 1500. Yes I can polish them, and they certainly do shoot well. But am also thinking about very light, almost military frame, AR type stocks for this 1500. Have no experience of them. Not interested in spending alot on it - the rifle isn't worth heaps. But I would appreciate advice on what's out there, what's reliable, reasonably made, and at good price.

My ideal-world rifle might be a Remington 600 converted to 223..... but that only happens in heaven! But a light, effective, accurate, (retaining 20" barrel) AR type 1500 might be very interesting to try - something different! Wonder how much weight I'd save? Or is realistic cost/benefit solution going to be Howa Mini, or Ruger 223. Yes I'd need to add a mag conversion for rifle too - another $180 or so.

Thanks Mudz

well Im going to answer this one differently to anyone else...
that super accurate jw15 you cart around and shoot bunnies with...have you put it in an AR type stock???? no?? why ever not??? and there is the answer to your above question.
if having the 223 in an AR type stock was going to be the ducks nuts FOR YOU... you would already be using something like a 10/22 in that stock type. if you are...by all means carry on fine sir...if not...........

You want light and then you mentioned a rem 600. My rem 600 would be the shortest centerfire I own and fuk is it heavy, the heaviest center fire i own as well. I often look at it and wonder where all the weight is...

:D :D :D

Good one Milky!! That made me laugh. Yes its right.... but ... a rifle might be very accurate but you've still gotta like taking it out of the closet. Some rifles just push your buttons - and some not so much.. You and many others will know what I mean... :)

Off for few days in Tekapo soon - wallabies/fallow/bunnies in the McKenzie etc. And no doubt it'll get a real workout there. Will certainly give it another go, but still interested in the AR type stock... We'll see

PS my last vent rib model Remington 600 in 243 (circa 1965-66) was very light - lucky to make 6lbs, and the old man's in 308 was lighter still - around 5.5lbs from memory. His also kicked a horse.. but we loved them for northern hunting and NZDA comp conditions. Vent rib 600 (1964-68) was precursor to the Model 660 (1968–1971) and the Model Mohawk 600 (1972–1979) - these later models may have been heavier.

mines a 243 :thumbsup: maybe I should take the recoil pad off to see if someone's filled the stock with lead. Every one who sees it that's owned one and picks it up says how heavy this one is..

I was thinking of going down the chassis route with my howa mini but the chassis in my price range were heavier than the standard stock. I ended up just stiffening the fore end and keeping it in the std stock

If you covered material costs I would be happy to make you a Powlonia carbon fibre stock. Last one I made was about 540gm inc plastic bottom metal. Could trade you a tune up for my jw15 :)

There's a few talented customizers on tm as well :XD:

Sending a PM Delphus - that could be very interesting.

I think ?? that you bought the JW from @Trout? The one he did some artwork on :) :) Very experienced hand - I suspect he's already got it running very efficiently.

PS just for fun am finishing another little JW now - range tuning to come..

Took the syn stock off Howa 1500 223 and weighed it today - not really heavy at 1.01kgs. The heft is in the weighty machined receiver and quite solid barrel - both much more substantial than the Howa mini. A carbon stock would drop (about 450g) a pound off total. Could be a useful saving.
@Delphus PM now sent.. Thanks Mike

You can have Paulownia blank from my place when pick up your walnut lol

got a mate with a howa mini in an xcel lite or one of wingmans chassis?

Id say a couple of hunts with them will get it out of your system if you could have a loan of one
I just had to have that type of stock but compared to typical hunting rifle stocks they are pretty janky and shit (xcel lite)

Hi after fitting Wingmans light weight chassis to the mini .223 every other brand of Howa mini stock just feels far toooo HEAVY
Mind you i rather like pistol grips after owning the AR15 .i shoot left hand and recycle the bolt with my right , leaving my trigger hand on the grip close to the trigger .. Hope you find what youre looking for Cheers to all

Mmmm... thanks for good feedback guys. I'll give this another couple of shoots then review it.

Saw carbon fibre Howa 1500 stocks at Delta Mike recently- pretty good weight at 475gms

https://www.deltamike.co.nz/product/...andard-barrel/

at that price it better carry itself up the hills!!!!

That Deltamike carbon stock looks good, and weight is good, but at $1099 its exactly the cost of a whole new Howa Mini 223. Cost/benefit disappearing there..

@Bill999 can you explain further yr experience with the Howa lightweight stock. You mention "they are pretty janky and shit (xcel lite)" - think I get it but can you detail reasons for me. Something tooo flimsy and plasticky would not suit me. A Howa mini lite in Xcel lite stock just popped up on sale here now..

Thanks

@mudgripz the Excl Lite Chassis was never as Lite as it was supposed to be, and the polymer forend is not stiff. It twists quite happily.

However, having used it since it finally made it to NZ, after my initial disapointment, I have absolutely loved it.

It is crap and janky on initial handling, but it is by no means a crap stock.

The twistable foreend actually comes in bloody handy when shooting off a bipod.
There is more than enough clearance between foreend and barrel, that it has never been an issue.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AR7

Hi after fitting Wingmans light weight chassis to the mini .223 every other brand of Howa mini stock just feels far toooo HEAVY
Mind you i rather like pistol grips after owning the AR15 .i shoot left hand and recycle the bolt with my right , leaving my trigger hand on the grip close to the trigger .. Hope you find what youre looking for Cheers to all

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Interestingly, my Howa Mini 223 in EXCL Lite chassis with a Leupold VX-R Scope & DPT Suppressor weighs the same as my Howa Mini 6.5G in Elude Chassis with Leupold VX3 & DPT Suppressor...
Attachment 237991Attachment 237992

Guess I need to know with Excel Lite is how absolutely stable chassis/bedding is, how much flex/rigidity in butt section, and any possibility forestock touching barrel.

And is it still a typical Howa - a genuine consistent sub MOA shooter?

the butt is a collapsable ar15 type if that gives you any ideas
Iv already added packers to mine so its wobbles less
they are great value for what they cost but I would much prefer the wingman version that didnt exist when I got the xcel

the front can twist rotate 30 degrees each way

Id much prefer a jeffferson floor plate and carbon fibre stock but the cost of those combined is more than a second hand kimber

I do like mine and probably wont go to the effort of replacing it due to costs/hassle but I wouldnt buy one in your position
Id say if you handeled someones complete howa mini in one of these stocks you would know within a minute whether the money was well spent or not for you

my mini will do an inch at 100m with hornady 55gr sp

Thanks guys.. and Bill that's exactly the info I'm looking for.

I'm going to pop into GC here next day or two. They have a number of Howa Minis including in EXcel Lite stocks so will be good to play with one.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mudgripz

That Deltamike carbon stock looks good, and weight is good, but at $1099 its exactly the cost of a whole new Howa Mini 223. Cost/benefit disappearing there..

@Bill999 can you explain further yr experience with the Howa lightweight stock. You mention "they are pretty janky and shit (xcel lite)" - think I get it but can you detail reasons for me. Something tooo flimsy and plasticky would not suit me. A Howa mini lite in Xcel lite stock just popped up on sale here now..

Thanks

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2/3rds a new tikka price,must have self guided bullets in it.

Alright... I learned yesterday that GC has the Howa Mini 223 in Excel Lite stock on the shelf here, so this morning went in to have a play with it. Interesting. In 2 minutes I found it was not for me. May suit others very well but the lightness, movement in stock etc just aren't my cup of tea. Then had good look at the Howa Mini again - they're in the Black Friday sale (includes saturday and sunday) - and again not so impressed. Basically the earlier Howa 1500 like mine is better made, better action..

I think I'm stuck with my heavier 1500 setup - don't laugh too hard Micky - though may explore a carbon stock if one pops up at reasonable price. And just might look at the 10 shot magazine conversion for mine - available from Delta Mike for $170. Box mag very handy in truck at night when you're bombing bunnies or wallabies in big numbers.

Lambing/tailing finishing in Tekapo/McKenzie in couple of weeks so we'll be back shooting there shortly. Great place to visit. Will give this present 1500 another blast or two and see then what mods I might make to it.

Many thanks to all for some helpful advice. Mudz.

Yeah Id say i could cure you of all this chop and change ideas just by loaning you mine to hunt with for a day but yeah bit far for that

the mags also suck (double stack but single feed), fully plastic, noisy and poke out way too far, spongy spring and the mag drop latch is wildly oversized and realistically dont feed that well at best
they mostly dont help me in any way as I tend to shoot 2 shots at most per walk so your milage may vary

Ouch!! No such mag probs with the model 1500. Saving me alot of money Bill... :)

There are tons of mtd options that aren’t bad and give better magizine options but they are quite pricy and tend to be over 1.1 kg at a minimum from memory, if one of the early alpine stocks or stockies stocks pops up I’d say that would be the best you could hope for that cost less than say a whole new skinny barrel 223


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