Author Topic: Howa 1500 Lightening Barrel, Floating? (Read 789 times)

Val · « **on:** January 10, 2005, 08:57:50 AM »

Is the barrel of a 1500 Howa out of the factory a floating barrel? My new unfired barrel fails the dollar bill test. Should this barrel float?

Bearwolf31 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 10, 2005, 09:43:27 AM »

Mine didn't come with the barrel floated. I had to do a little dremel work on the stock to get mine the way I wanted it. Have yet to bed the action though.

Val · « **Reply #2 on:** January 12, 2005, 06:56:58 PM »

Bearwolf31,
Thanks for the response. Did you notice any difference in the way the rifle shot after you floated the barrel? What caliber rifle is it? Thanks.

Bearwolf · « **Reply #3 on:** January 13, 2005, 02:54:58 PM »

I've only had it to the range once after I completely free floated the barrel and it seems to have tightend up the groups from various 150gr bullet styles. Before it seems like I always had to adjust my scope when I went from shooting the 150gr Hornady SST's to the 150gr Speer Hot-Cor's. My gun is in 308 win. I just got a howa 1500 varminter in 22-250 and the barrel was very close to being free floated, However I still need to do some quick dremel work on the top left end of the forearm part of the stock as it is touching the barrel just a tad.

Old Cane · « **Reply #4 on:** January 14, 2005, 05:54:42 AM »

Hey guys, how do these shoot? I hear great things about them. The reason I ask is I am wanting to get a Lightning and make a semi-custom, sort of, out of it. What I plan on doing (let me know what you think on this) is getting one with a scope if I have to get a new one and replace one thing at a time.

Shoot it a bit as is
replace mounts
replace scope with Leupold or Monarch 4x
replace stock with B&C for the Wby

Somewhere along the line I would have the trigger done and lapp the barrel (maybe).

What I would wind up with is a Vanguard with the high end Wby stock and a good scope for about $800. Sound like a plan? Or I could just get a Vanguard, an old one if I can find it, with the wood MC stock and be just as happy. My goal is to have a MC stock one way or another. They fit me so much better.