Howa sloppy bolt
- Thread starter JCroe
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Erik Hamburger
Well-Known Member
The bolt on the Howa 1500 (I have a .243W) is a bit sloppy, or as some say 'agricultural', meaning functional but not refined. And that is exactly what a Howa 1500 is, the trade-off is less issues with maintenance and it rarely needs to be cleaned. What matters is that accuracy at the typical deer-culling distance is sufficiently good to achieve a reasonable Group repeatedly. Not sub-1/2" at 300 yards if you want to shoot one through the earhole, but acceptable. And, at the price point, I find the Howa is a perfectly acceptable and reliable workhorse, even if the bolt rattles a bit.
Managing 1/2inch 3 shot at 200 with 75grain vmax... The gun shoots better than me!
kennyc
Well-Known Member
have you ever tried a Mauser 98 bolt
they lock up just fine, accuracy is as much as most people can actually use (probably more)
Some Howa’s/Weatherby’s do have sloppy bolts out of battery....but no doubt someone will be along to tell us that is our imagination and they beat all other rifles ever invented in the world...ever....ever ever ever...
Nothing wrong with the slop in the bolt as long as it’s not when out of battery (closed and locked)
regards,
Gixer
Nothing wrong with the slop in the bolt as long as it’s not when out of battery (closed and locked)
regards,
Gixer
The last bit should be “in battery”...Some Howa’s/Weatherby’s do have sloppy bolts out of battery....but no doubt someone will be along to tell us that is our imagination and they beat all other rifles ever invented in the world...ever....ever ever ever...
Nothing wrong with the slop in the bolt as long as it’s not when out of battery (closed and locked)
regards,
Gixer
Erik Hamburger
Well-Known Member
Good point - you're right, it is not 'sloppy' when 'in battery'. And that is new word I have learned as well - sounds a bit Victorian/Canon/Royal Horse Artillery-like but in the end I worked out what you meantSome Howa’s/Weatherby’s do have sloppy bolts out of battery....but no doubt someone will be along to tell us that is our imagination and they beat all other rifles ever invented in the world...ever....ever ever ever...
Nothing wrong with the slop in the bolt as long as it’s not when out of battery (closed and locked)
regards,
Gixer
I actually have no idea where the terms came from but my father used it in the past so I assume it was a military term.Good point - you're right, it is not 'sloppy' when 'in battery'. And that is new word I have learned as well - sounds a bit Victorian/Canon/Royal Horse Artillery-like but in the end I worked out what you meant
regards,
Gixer
harrygrey382
Well-Known Member
I’ve never understood the obsession with ultra high tolerance bolts, I can see a whole lot of negatives and no real life positives. You want at leas a bit of slop . although slop with a round chambered is a different thing - there’d be some serious headspace and cock piece issues if that was the case!
. although slop with a round chambered is a different thing - there’d be some serious headspace and cock piece issues if that was the case!I wouldn’t hold your breath - they’re good rifles but I’ve never heard (and doubt I ever will) hear anyone say they’re the best. They’re the Toyota Camry of rifles to a Tno doubt someone will be along to tell us that is our imagination and they beat all other rifles ever invented in the world...ever....ever ever ever...
Have a look at Frank Albrecht shooting boar on you tube and you’ll see the positives of a slick functioning bolt.I’ve never understood the obsession with ultra high tolerance bolts, I can see a whole lot of negatives and no real life positives. You want at leas a bit of slop
I wouldn’t hold your breath - they’re good rifles but I’ve never heard (and doubt I ever will) hear anyone say they’re the best. They’re the Toyota Camry of rifles to a T
I don’t even see them as a Camry, as many other rifles will do that too - Tikka, Steyr, Browning, Remington etc. Nothing wrong with any of them, pull the trigger....deer falls over, but I also don’t see anything standing out about them either for the more common models.
regards,
Gixer
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harrygrey382
Well-Known Member
“Slickness” (or smoothness) is a different property to “sloppiness” - an action can most definitely be both, and often are. Yes Frank is certainly a good shot, but it in no way gives an advantage to a close tolerance bolt (you could have a close fitting bolt with a knurled surface) - look at the mad minute.
Also, how are Howas not a Camry? Yes there are other plain Jane rifles that do the job, but it doesn’t change the fact they both stand for similar attributes- they’re reliable, accurate, affordable, very popular, not ugly but not beautiful, made in Japan, not exciting and I personally find them a little boring... sure you can lump tikka, a few remingtons and the odd browning in there too, maybe we should dish out volvo and Honda similes too - although volvo isn’t what it used to be and I can’t think of US car brand that’s known for being reliable. Steyr is in the next price bracket up AFAIW so I’ll leave it out
If you watch franz’ videos he himself has said one of the factors is a smooth, slick bolt. He has been associated with a few different brands and all have been know to have “slick” bolts or straight pull as well.
my point on the Camry is - all of the rifles I mentioned could be known as good enough workhorses with very little in the way of flair or standout properties, but I get what you mean about the metaphor of the how’s being Japanese, accurate enough, reliable and affordable, but my point being most of the rifles mentioned tick exactly the same box.
having owned a Howa the bolt slop when it’s at full travel can mean that there is a catch point or a point of higher resistance. Not a huge deal but it’s there and it’s not something you usually find on a mannlicher, Krag, Sauer, Merkel.
regards,
Gixer
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