Howa 1500 "mini-action" 7.62 x 39 warning

LawrenceN

LawrenceN

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Greetings to my fellow gunnutz! I just thought I'd share my misfortune in the hopes that others will be aware of the magazine catch sensitivity and take steps accordingly. First off, some background. I'd fallen in love with the cartridge as a deer load after I nailed my first buck with it and realized what a dandy little game getter it was. Like many of us, I tried different variants of the SKS, both tricked out and stock, and found them too mechanically complex and heavy to make a good hunting rifle. Add the that the fact that I still tend to love bolt actions the most, and so I started looking for a good bolt gun. I wanted a CZ, but it was out of my price range so I took the Howa on spec when one came up on the EE. What a great little rifle!!!! It's light and handy and accurate as all get out with my handloads. BUT!!! The magazine release is very light. Skip ahead to hunting season. There's about 11" of snow down and I'm leaving the house to head out into the bush and with the light precipitation, I sling the rifle muzzle down to keep rain or snow out of the bore. I walk down the drive, down the county rd, and take my turn into the lane into the forest. I just entered the forest path when I hear the snow plow come down the county rd. I've gone about 10 yds. and go to load the rifle. No magazine! I start retracing my steps to see where it fell out and (wait for it!) it's no where to be seen. What had obviously happened was that either I'd tapped the mag release or it had snagged on something and the mag fell into the soft snow. Of course it had to be on the shoulder of the road where the plow had just buried it under 1-1/2' of snow! I don't figure I'll find it now until I'm up there in the spring.
So, I don't think I'm alone in this discovery, but I just thought I'd share so others can learn from my mistake. If you have one, I'd keep the mag in my pocket until needed or carry the rifle in such a way as to always be aware of the magazine location, like a cradle carry or some such. Just sayin'.
 
Ok, looked at a picture.... I can see how that lever would be easy to snag.
Two options.
Replace the spring with a heavier one.
Find a suitable foam, cut to a suitable size and tape or contact cement it to the magazine in the appropriate location to block the lever unless pushed hard enough to compress the foam.
 
My 223 needs a solid shot to seat the magazine. If I insert it too gently it appears to click and stick but if I shake the rifle it will fall out. Only happens when the magazines are full when inserted on a closed bolt. If I give it a solid push though it has never come out on me.
 
Ask some of your buddies if they have a metal detector you can borrow, you know the path you took and where the snowplow left the snow bank so it shouldn't take to long to locate it. Good Luck.
 
My mag fed rifles are staying in the safe more often , my go to now is a Kimber with a blind mag , this year in deer camp two mags were lost but later found and I watched a buddy puttin a mag in his remy 742 and falling out after he loaded and locked
 
Can-down said:
What does the catch look like?
Maybe there is a way to modify it..... Sounds like a bad design.
Click to expand...

I bought one of those used at the LGS a couple years ago. When I got it home I took it out of the box and shouldered it and then held it in a one handed carry position. At that point I felt something fall onto my foot and found the magazine laying on the floor. Closer inspection revealed that the mag catch was in front of the mag and was very vulnerable to accidental release. Checking the internet confirmed this with other owners and that these mags were not available in Canada.

I sold that rifle toot sweet.

Those big goofy military style mags are a pain in the butt anyways. They add unnecessary weight and extend down under the stock right where one would carry the rifle in one hand. I have a fiver in my Lee Enfield. Problem solved, handling improved.
 
Thank you all for your input. The metal detector option doesn't sound too viable, not only because of the composition of the components, but also the amount of roadside debris that would be in the snow banks. The good folks at Prophet River are looking into ordering me two mags. I'm going to check, but my plan is to see if I can take out the floor plate and gain access to the mag body. If I can, I'll drill a small hole in the bottom of the mag and run a piece of bank line or something similar and tie it off to the trigger guard.
 
I had a new Howa .308 in my hands not long ago when I was buying a new rifle... and put it back because it was a floor plate model... I was wishing it had a detachable magazine. I'd have bought it if it did have a detachable mag. Glad it didn't work out after reading your post.
 
Just barrels and receivers I think and some bluing chemicals.Saving the world one lost sale at a time.
 
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