Howa 1500 Mini in 6.5G (continued as Project “Coyote 264” - FULL CIRCLE NOW!)

[Jim Boyd]

Man that sounds frustrating but I know how it is having a burr in your saddle. Hopefully you fixed the headache without messing anything up.

Been driving me crazy.

I have the feeling it is better. About the only thing I THINK I could have screwed up would the start of the lands… and I am 95% sure I stayed off of them. Even if I got to the lands, it was a bronze bristle brush.

Let’s see what happens!

 

[Railroader]

Here's a suggestion...Cock it and snap it a couple hundred times, see if it don't limber up some. Fool the thing into thinking it's being shot a bunch!!

 

[Jim Boyd]

@Jim Boyd

I've been watching this...To me here's the money shot, Jim...In your own words.

"Round chambered or not, if you pull the trigger, it takes some pretty good force to lift the bolt handle (as it re cocks the gun). I can do it with one finger but you gotta apply some pressure"

This tells me you do not have an ammo issue. Or a dirty chamber issue.

Though neither Howa I have owned was a mini, both had the issue you describe. The 22-250 I had got shot a few hundred rounds, and I distinctly remember it getting better with time.

The other was a .243 that I got for an ex-wife to hunt with, and it never got shot enough improve, before I got rid of the gun, AND the wife... ?

Quit stressing over this, finish your project, shoot some good groups, and kill us a deer....?

I remain firmly in the "you got no problem" camp!!!

Good luck!

Many thanks sir!

Before today, it was not a one finger job to lift the bolt, you had to use your hand (after shooting a round).

Being in the “got no problem” camp would seem like a dream come true.

Will start running some rounds through it and see what happens.

If I feel good about it, I will use it the weekend of 16-18 Sept.

My brothers are coming to hunt and they will surely shoot some deer.

I might.

Appreciate ya!

 

[Jim Boyd]

Okay folks , gonna shift to the Project “Coyote 264” portion of this thread.

Time to take the action to its final home - Boyd’s thumbhole laminate stock in the Coyote pattern.

.264 caliber and the short Grendel - it would make a great coyote gun…. But, alas, it is for paper and deer.

Here are some glass bedding images - and I am hopeful I did not break many rules. Only my second one ever and the first 10 years ago. It was a savage in Boyd TH and he is still thumping them here with me in Bamberg county. May have done something correctly!!!

 

[Jim Boyd]

Here are a few more.

 

[bighonkinjeep]

A thought on the bolt lift issue. Sounds like probably a timing issue affecting your primary extraction. https://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/please-explain-action-timing.3936303/

 

[bighonkinjeep]

Another something that's or may not help is to check the front action screw. I had one once upon a time with a different brand rifle that protruded to far when tight and contacted the bolt head.

 

[Jim Boyd]

Another something that's or may not help is to check the front action screw. I had one once upon a time with a different brand rifle that protruded to far when tight and contacted the bolt head.

Thanks Jeep!

I will know this weekend but I may have resolved the hard lift issue or at least gotten it to where I can live with it and try to shoot it in.

It def does not have a long screw, that was one of the first things I check and I checked it again last night while the scope was off, bolt was out and action was removed from stock.

appreciate ya!

 

[menhadenman]

A thought on the bolt lift issue. Sounds like probably a timing issue affecting your primary extraction. https://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/please-explain-action-timing.3936303/

Cool pics thanks for sharing!

 

[bighonkinjeep]

Thanks Jeep!

I will know this weekend but I may have resolved the hard lift issue or at least gotten it to where I can live with it and try to shoot it in.

It def does not have a long screw, that was one of the first things I check and I checked it again last night while the scope was off, bolt was out and action was removed from stock.

appreciate ya!

This thread also jogged my memory of having a scope.mount screw that was just long enough to cause bolt binding. It looks like you're coming along well. Be careful when putting the action screws back in.The Boyd's laminates are somewhat soft and it's really easy to crush the stock around the screw holes and wind up with a screw that's suddenly too long.

 

[Jim Boyd]

This thread also jogged my memory of having a scope.mount screw that was just long enough to cause bolt binding. It looks like you're coming along well. Be careful when putting the action screws back in.The Boyd's laminates are somewhat soft and it's really easy to crush the stock around the screw holes and wind up with a screw that's suddenly too long.

Thanks again!

I put it back together already and I was gonna torque to 30 lbs inch but the screws already felt too tight and it looked like the bottom plastic was gonna distort so I stopped.

If the gun shoots true, I may invest in the bottom metal and a Timney trigger.

Looking for cheap accuracy right now!

Thanks Brother Jeep!

 

[Jim Boyd]

Getting started.

Dodging showers and not overly organized.

 

[Jim Boyd]

Very confused.

Is this possible.

120 grain barnes.

27.5 CFE223

Less than 1600 fps?

The first group I posted was Nosler 120 gr factory ammo at 2350 or so.

Love the rifle so far!

 

[Railroader]

Well, it seems to be shooting pretty good! I figured it would. Now, as far as the 800fps difference...I ain't no reloader, so I can't comment. I assume you were loading for that 2350 number?

But that 1587 sure seems strange, to me...

One thing's for sure, you are keeping this thread interesting... ?

 

[Jim Boyd]

Well, it seems to be shooting pretty good! I figured it would. Now, as far as the 800fps difference...I ain't no reloader, so I can't comment. I assume you were loading for that 2350 number?

But that 1587 sure seems strange, to me...

One thing's for sure, you are keeping this thread interesting... ?

Strange to me also, sir.

My loads all ran less than 2000 fps even for a load approaching max.

I am gonna keep banging away and get it right!

 

[Jester896]

interesting...that is the lower end or min @ 27.5...I would have expected it to be in the 2200 fps

midsouth has starline in stock for it

 

[Jim Boyd]

interesting...that is the lower end or min @ 27.5...I would have expected it to be in the 2200 fps

midsouth has starline in stock for it

I got 100 starline about a week or so ago - thanks!!!!!

 

[Jim Boyd]

This is really perplexing.

I used 27.5, 29.0 and 30.5 CFE223 and all under 2000 fps?

I know the bullets were 120 grains because I weighed them.

I shot two brands of commercial ammo and both were as advertised on speed within a very small %.

Gonna try to get back to the range again today.

Very, very perplexed…

 

[menhadenman]

This is really perplexing.

I used 27.5, 29.0 and 30.5 CFE223 and all under 2000 fps?

I know the bullets were 120 grains because I weighed them.

I shot two brands of commercial ammo and both were as advertised on speed within a very small %.

Gonna try to get back to the range again today.

Very, very perplexed…

View attachment 1175670View attachment 1175671View attachment 1175672

Sling another rifle (or a factory load) through it. I don’t believe that number myself. Looks like it’s accurate tho!

 

[Jim Boyd]

Okay - Day 2

27.5 grains CFE223 and 120 TTSX

First group of the day, so some of the shot variance was likely me.

Cleaned the chamber and bore well and considered the first shot a fouling shot but it was the same as the next 4.