Good evening, neighbors. I just unexpectedly picked myself up a new rifle while killing time perusing Sportsman’s; a Howa 1500 Carbon Stalker in 6.5 PRC 24” barrel wiring in at 6 lb 10 oz To me, it was a smoking deal at $750. I have a vanguard in .308 that shoots.
It was a bit of an impulse buy and while I don’t exactly have regrets, it was not the ‘perfect’ next rifle I had in mind, but certainly something I would like to add to the safe. Main drawback to me is the 24” barrel.I feel with the performance cartridge, this already lightweight setup could make an even better backcountry rifle by lopping off a few inches of barrel that I think it would still carry plenty of velocity and energy down range to up to 400 yards on thin skinned big game, which is about the limit of my ethical hunting range. The range however, much different, I’ll gladly wound steel at 1000 yds, but I do have different hole punchers for that affair.
Anyway, I’m looking for a gunsmith, maybe even a member of this community that you all might recommend for a barrel cut, crown and rethread… not looking for the most expensive nor the cheapest work out there, just not looking to invest a fortune into this rig, as it was a value proposition at a price too good to walk away from. Too much invested, I shoulda just gone with the next tier of accessible rifle.
Let me know who you guys know and recommend,
It was a bit of an impulse buy and while I don’t exactly have regrets, it was not the ‘perfect’ next rifle I had in mind, but certainly something I would like to add to the safe. Main drawback to me is the 24” barrel.I feel with the performance cartridge, this already lightweight setup could make an even better backcountry rifle by lopping off a few inches of barrel that I think it would still carry plenty of velocity and energy down range to up to 400 yards on thin skinned big game, which is about the limit of my ethical hunting range. The range however, much different, I’ll gladly wound steel at 1000 yds, but I do have different hole punchers for that affair.
Anyway, I’m looking for a gunsmith, maybe even a member of this community that you all might recommend for a barrel cut, crown and rethread… not looking for the most expensive nor the cheapest work out there, just not looking to invest a fortune into this rig, as it was a value proposition at a price too good to walk away from. Too much invested, I shoulda just gone with the next tier of accessible rifle.
Let me know who you guys know and recommend,
