Howa Bolt Tools

[curlywolf]

I have a Howa 1500 .308. I need to take the firing pin and mainspring assembly apart, but I don't know where to find the proper tool. Could some of you gunsmiths comment? Would Remington 700 tools work? Any help would be appreciated.

CW

 

[rcmodel]

Tools?

You should be able to take the striker assembly out of the bolt with nothing but your bare hands. Further disassembly should not be necessary for cleaning & maintenance.

The striker assembly is said to be a semi-permanent assembly in the owners manual. Should you insist on taking it apart for some reason, See Warning on page 22.
It appears to be held together with roll-pins and roll-pin punches, or small pin punches would be used to remove them.

See page 23, 24, 25 of the owners manual.
http://www.legacysports.com/pdfs/Howa_1500Manual.pdf

rc

 

[rmfnla]

Yeah; Howas are essentially Mauser 98 actions.

 

[rcmodel]

The striker assembly is nothing at all like a Mauser 98, except it goes inside the bolt body.

rc

 

[natman]

Yeah; Howas are essentially Mauser 98 actions.

They are both two lug bolt actions. That is about the extent of the similarity.

 

[rmfnla]

Actually, M98s have 3 lugs...

I seem to remember Howas as being Mauser types, but this wouldn't be the forst time memory failed me.

Sorry to waste your time.

 

[curlywolf]

So, let's say the firing pin needed replacement, and I took it to a gunsmith for repair, how would he get it apart to do that job?

RC, I know how to disassemble the bolt according to the manual. I just did it, and I can read what the manual says. But it also says that to take apart the bolt sleeve/firing pin assembly, special tools are required.

That was my question...what are these tools and where can I get them?

It is my nature to understand how things work. I have disassembled and reassembled nearly every firearm I own, down to the details. And they are none the worse for it. It is my intention to learn how to do that with this weapon as well.

CW

 

[rcmodel]

O.K.
Sorry to have bothered you.

Note that I did my best to answer your question in post #2 when I said:

It appears to be held together with roll-pins and roll-pin punches, or small pin punches would be used to remove them.

You can buy roll pin punches at Brownell's.
You can buy standard small pin punches at a hardware store or Sears.

rc

 

[curlywolf]

rcmodel..I appreciate the time you took to try to answer my question.

In looking at the firing pin assembly under magnification, I can see no evidence of roll pins or pins of any sort. I have a full set of punches, etc.
I contacted Brownells and they have no tools to fit the Howa rifle. So, my search goes on.

I have a small collection of G.I. M1 Carbines. If you have ever taken the bolt apart on one, you know that without a bolt disassembly tool, it is nearly impossible to do.

I suspect that the same thing applies here. While there are no pins, there are wrench flats and notches where a tool might fit. My hunch is that this assembly unscrews, but that the mainspring must be held in tension for this to happen. I will keep trying to find the answer. Thanks again for your help.

CW

 

[rcmodel]

O.K.
So I was wrong about the roll pins.
Please keep in mind I am operating from the owners manual link I posted only.
I have never had a Howa bolt apart in my life, so could be wrong.

Looking at the parts list & drawing in the owners manual on page 29 & 30.

Part #17 pins the cocking piece #16, to the firing pin #14.
It is hidden inside the bolt sleeve #18.

Compress the bolt sleeve over the firing pin assembly by pressing it against a wood bench leg or something, and the pin should be visable to punch it out.

It will be under firing pin spring pressure when the pin comes out, so keep control of it.

As for tools?
Again, you shouldn't need anything more then a punch, maybe a small hammer, & a wood surface to press the FP against to compress the spring.

rc

 

[curlywolf]

rcmodel....I stand humbled...I believe you are right. How I failed to notice the pin (part 17) I don't know. I was so intert on their being a "special" tool that I failed to notice the obvious. Thanks for being patient with me and for helping me see what I was missing. People like you are what makes this such a good forum.

CW

 

[rcmodel]

Thank you for the kind words!

Let us know how it turns out.

rc

 

[navyretired 1]

Curleywolf: According to Frank de Haas' "Bolt Action Rifles" the bolt has no less than 3 pins listed as the only assembly fixtures on the Howa 1500 action as rcmodel said in his first response. Unlike him I've owned 2 S&W model 1500's which were original import of the Howa Rifle but they were 2 calibers I don't care that much about 30-06 and 270 Win.

 

[kcatton]

curlywolf,
I am a bit late on this post but if you want to remove the firing pin from the rear shroud....

look on the firing pin about an inch down from the shroud end and there is a hole....

compress the main spring beyond that hole and insert a small brass pin to hold the mainspring tension off of the shroud while you remove the pin #17.....
it goes right back together the same way just in reverse....

hope this helps you keep control of the mainspring and the firing pin... so just a couple of punches is all you need.....

keven