Thread: Howa 1500 S/A lightweight stock options

Originally Posted by Steelisreal

The Alpine stock is so light because it is a thin shell over foam filler or shaper. I know this as I took to the bedding area and start of the barrel channel to add bedding material to mine. A couple of over-enthusiastic moments with the metal burr cutter on the Dremel and I found the foam on the inside. I sanded the barrel channel back to free float the light #1 profile barrel - once past the paint and primer there's not a lot of fibreglass there. I would be hesitant even to try to fit the standard #2 profile barrel.

I bedded the action in Terminal Ballistics bedding compound, making sure to squoosh (that's the technical term) into the holes I created. It's only a 223 so I'm not too concerned it will fall to bits. If I bought another one I wouldn't be so eager with removing material to bed the action.

The pros for the stock are many - it's a lovely trim shape for a hunting rifle, thin through the wrist. The shape puts my thumb straight up the centre of the stock rather than wanting to wrap it over the top of the grip. Perhaps the nicest part is how much thinner and rounder it is around the magazine floor-plate area. Sits so much nicer in the hand than a chunky Hogue.

Do you think it would be possible to take enough out of the channel to fit my carbon barrell ?