Gunsmithing Seeking input on a Howa 1500 conversion

[switch777]

I've been communicating with others separately on ideas, but I figured I'd open this up to a larger audience in an attempt to learn more about what I already don't know. That, and it would be nice to have more than 2 posts on a forum I read all the time

About 6 months ago I came up with the following goals to build a new bolt action rifle platform:

- Primarily suppressed and preferably subsonic
- Moderately accurate (1 MoA @ 100y) to 300 yards
- Acceptable BC and velocity at 300 yards for deer-sized stopping power
- 16" or less barrel
- 200+ gr bullets
- Readily reloadable caliber (dies, brass, etc.)
- Try and keep the cost under $1000

After doing some research and a bit of correspondence, I had decided on the Teppo Jutsu .338 Spectre, primarily due to the the specs of the round and their success with this type of build. I had picked out all the components (Savage based) and was going to start buying stuff. That was until a Howa 1500 in .223 and some other components basically fell into my lap.

Once this happened, I started thinking that perhaps I'd just slap my .30 suppressor on the Howa and call it a day. That really didn't address much of my original goals though. The Howa has as 24" bbl with 1 in 12", so I wasn't going to be using much of anything past a 62 gr bullet. I also have a Bell and Carlson Medalist Light stock and a CDI DMB with AICS mags, so I thought about adding to my original specs based on what I now had; all the originals goals plus:

- Built off a .223 platform (so I could use the DBM and standard mags)
- Compatible with .30 suppressor (the Teppo would have used a 9mm)
- Try and keep the cost under $500 (since I have many of the components already)

I quickly started going down the path of the .300 Whisper/Fireball/.300-221. Given the Howa action, the 300 BLK started looking very attractive due to the feeding and ejection stability the plaform seems to have, not to mention the recent standardization of the round. In PMing with AKA-Spook, he introduced me to the up and coming 7.62 Covert, which now has me thinking about that. I'm not in any particular rush, so I don't mind waiting to see what pans out with a particular round (within reason).

With all that, my question boils down to this; <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="color: #FF0000">given my goals is there another caliber I should be considering for ease of interoperability with the Howa 1500 .223 action?</span></span>

Thanks!

 

[JJones75]

Re: Seeking input on a Howa 1500 conversion

300 Blackout

 

[shoot4fun]

Re: Seeking input on a Howa 1500 conversion

Wouldn't go with 338 in a slower velocity format. Most 338 caliber bullets would seem to me to be built for 338 WM or 338 LM velocities.
300 BLK/Whisper will do exactly what you seek. The now readily available factory ammo, dies and reloading components will be a big plus too.

 

[buffybuster]

Re: Seeking input on a Howa 1500 conversion

300BLK No question.

Gives you subsonic loads and regular loads equivalent to 7.62x39mm, all in factory form. Everyone is making dies. Can shoot 300Whisper too.

 

[hntbambi]

Re: Seeking input on a Howa 1500 conversion

I am studying a similar build. I looked at the 300 BLK but the 338 gives 47% more energy and remains subsonic. Run the numbers in your favorite ballistic program:

The drop and wind deflection is comparable. The 338 has more energy at 300 yards than the 220 at the muzzle. A SMK in either will not expand but the 338 is 10% larger diameter.

The 338 Spectre uses 6.8 SPC (with some work) or 10mm Magnum brass necked down. The 10mm Mag brass is backordered awaiting enough orders.

For a plinker or steel banging gun, I'd go the 300 BLK, for hunting deer size game, I would go the 338.

 

[JJones75]

Re: Seeking input on a Howa 1500 conversion

With the 30 cal use a 220g round nose bullet and hollow point it with a 3/16 drill , makes for good expansion. Of use a meplat trimmer and cut the SMK hollow point back a bit

 

[switch777]

Re: Seeking input on a Howa 1500 conversion

Thanks all for your input! I guess my thoughts around the 300 BLK are relatively sound

<span style="font-weight: bold">Hntbambi</span>, I see what you're saying about the numbers, I was wondering about some of that myself prior to this thread. My issue now though is that I'm not sure if there would be fitment issues with the .338 Spectre in the Howa action and the CDI DBM. Teppo had designed it around AR's and Savage actions to my knowledge...perhaps I will reach out to Marty again and ask. The other part is that the round is designed to use the 9mm can, and I really want to stick with .308 if I "can" (pun intended).