Thread: Howa 1500 - mag tension mod - who has done this?

I've read that you can epoxy a spacer between the mag release spring and housing to increase the tension needed to move the mag release.
Anyone done this or seen photos?

cheers
@

Originally Posted by thejavelin

I've read that you can epoxy a spacer between the mag release spring and housing to increase the tension needed to move the mag release.
Anyone done this or seen photos?

cheers
@

I'd be interested to know as well.

Originally Posted by Max Headroom

I'd be interested to know as well.

Me too !

And after dropping the mag when in the bush - I got a bit creative.
Rough as guts, I'm sure others can do a much better job - but functional.
Learnings, steel epoxy sets like steel, and is difficult to carve afterwards - I would have spent more time forming the guard when it was soft if I knew how hard it would be.
And I need matt paint.
Chopped the release shorter - that plastic is soft, so if you use a power tool it disappears rapidly.
Drilled tiny holes and glued in a little frame to form the guard over - the bottom hole goes all the way through, but the 'leg' sits flush, ie does not protrude through.
Mix up the epoxy putty - had to work fast, and was frantically trying to not get it in the say of the release - if I did it again, I'd remove the lever and work on it that way.

Digressing a bit but associated with same mag. Anyone cut their mag shorter (to the rib half way up) as it looks like the baseplate should slide along the rib, thus creating approx 4 shot mag that would offer a more comfy point of balance carry position.

Originally Posted by Ingrid 51

Digressing a bit but associated with same mag. Anyone cut their mag shorter (to the rib half way up) as it looks like the baseplate should slide along the rib, thus creating approx 4 shot mag that would offer a more comfy point of balance carry position.

I saw a guy with a 6.5 (same mag) on trademe that was shortened and also read about it on the US forums - seems simple.
Ends up being 3 shot apparently.

just trimmed mine short aswell

did it at the same time as shortening the mag

im a big fan of the rifle now

I simply trimmed the lever down in length and jammed a small triangle of plywood (it's what was on hand) behind the spring arm so that the spring starts with far more tension. Works perfectly. The magazine now seats with a good snap and it cannot be bumped open.

Originally Posted by SixtyTen

I simply trimmed the lever down in length and jammed a small triangle of plywood (it's what was on hand) behind the spring arm so that the spring starts with far more tension. Works perfectly. The magazine now seats with a good snap and it cannot be bumped open.
Attachment 115012

DUH - cannot believe I did not think of that - thanks..... I'll do that... even simpler.
If only you could have posted this a week ago

Originally Posted by thejavelin

DUH - cannot believe I did not think of that - thanks..... I'll do that... even simpler.
If only you could have posted this a week ago

I actually thought about posting it a few months ago when I did the mod, that's why I took photos. Then I forgot...

Im not as flash as some of you fellas , im just a simple rubber grub and filed the shit outta the release clip-haven't lost the mag again so far

Originally Posted by Ingrid 51

Digressing a bit but associated with same mag. Anyone cut their mag shorter (to the rib half way up) as it looks like the baseplate should slide along the rib, thus creating approx 4 shot mag that would offer a more comfy point of balance carry position.

Supposedly 3mm below that rib is the place to cut it, and you'll have to file the front corners that it'll now have to get the base plate back on, but I've seen it done tidily

i trimmed it close then sat there sanding it on a block until the floor plate friction fit
put aside the internal spring locater at the bottom of the mag and trimmed the bottom of the mag follower
flush tight fit now and holds and feeds 7 rounds as well as it did before