GREAT DEAL — Complete Howa Barreled Actions (With Trigger) for $250.00
Howa makes excellent, smooth-running actions, and the Howa HACT 2-stage trigger is WAY better than most domestic factory triggers. Right now you can save big bucks on Howa 1500 barreled actions, complete with HACT trigger and trigger-guard. Pacific Tool & Gauge (PT&G) sourced a truckload of Howa barreled actions, which are now on sale. Available at $250.00 are: .204 Ruger, .223 Rem, .22-250. All these chamberings are offered with either light- or heavy-barrel contours. There is no extra charge for factory camo finishes.

Guys, this is an incredible deal — you can get a complete high-quality barreled action for less than the cost of a custom barrel. If you’re looking to put together a varmint rifle project this is a great option — just add the stock and scope of your choice.

These barreled actions would be great for custom hunting/varmint rifle projects — many have factory camo finishes. Howa barrels typically deliver easy sub-MOA accuracy (and often much better). NOTE: Some of these barreled actions may carry Weatherby or Nosler markings, but they were all made at the Howa factory in Japan.

Howa 1500 Barreled Actions Have Excellent 2-Stage Hact Triggers

PT&G’s Howa 1500 barreled actions feature the very nice Howa HACT trigger. This is an adjustable, two-stage trigger, set for about 3 pounds (combined stages). Crisp and repeatable, this is an excellent trigger for a factory gun. In our opinion, the HACT trigger is clearly superior to the trigger on the Ruger RPR, as well as the Savage AccuTrigger. And there is no annoying Glock-style safety lever in the middle of the trigger blade. The 2-stage design and pull weight range works well for a hunting rifle or a rig for PRS competition.

Writing for the Western Outdoor News, WONews.com, Steve Comus has field-tested the new HACT Trigger. Steve writes: “I always liked two-stage triggers, because of the way I could take-up the slack and then actually know when the rifle was going to go off. The take-up on the [HACT] trigger was fast and easy. The crisp, positive release when pressure was put on during the second stage [reminded me] of some of the target rifles I shot through the years.”

German Salazar’s excellent Rifleman’s Journal website features an in-depth review of the PT&G Replacement Bolt Head for Savage Bolts. Written by Norm Darnell, this detailed review explains the benefits of the PT&G replacements, compared to the standard Savage bolt heads. After polishing, the factory bolt head can become slightly dished. According to Darnell: “The area around the firing pin hole sometimes has an indentation deep enough to allow the primer to flow into this void. This makes an unsightly blemish on a fired primer and can lead to hard extraction or worse. One [Savage] rifle I inspected had a continuing problem with pierced primers despite reasonably mild loads[.]” Even after machining the factory bolt face to make it flat, Darnell encountered problems: “The firing pin hole seemed to wear excessively which was of some concern. Material strength of the … bolt head* appears to be the source of these recurring problems.”

After testing out PT&G replacement bolt heads, Darnell found that his problems were solved. With the PT&G replacement bolt head, “the cartridge case heads and primers indicated no case-head rounding or primer damage”. Darnell was convinced, so he proceeded to fit PT&B bolt heads “on all three of my 308 bolts and one 223 with one spare bolt of each.” It appears that PT&G has a winner here — a smart, very affordable product that remedies a commonly-observed problem with factory Savage bolt heads.

* In the article, author Darnell writes that Savage factory bolt heads are investment cast. Fred Moreo of Sharp Shooter Supply says this is not correct: “Savage bolt heads were NEVER investment cast. From the get-go they were machined from solid stock. In 1988 they went to special profiled 41L40 bar stock to save machining operations and heat treated to 35-42 RC.”

New PT&G Bottom Metal for Ruger Actions
Ruger owners take note — PT&G is now taking orders for DBM-capable Stealth bottom metal for Ruger rifles. This bottom metal in offered in both Short Action and Long Action Versions. It will fit the M77, M77 Scout (short action only), and M77 Hawkeye, and Ruger American (with aftermarket stock). The Short Action Version is now $99 (28% off) while the Long Action verision is $119.50 (20% Off).

Micro-Adjustable Reamer Depth Stop
Dave also showed us the handy micrometer-adjustable reamer depth-stop jointly developed by PT&G and gunsmith Nat Lambeth, one of our long-term Forum members. This clever little device give you ultra-precise control over cutting depth. It can save any gunsmith considerable time when cutting chambers, as it assures positive depth control with no guesswork — so you can spend less time measuring incrementally. At right is Nat Lambeth holding the Lambeth-Kiff Adjustable Reamer Stop.

Spiral-Fluted Throat Reamer
Some gunsmiths prefer to start chambers with zero freebore, and then cut the throat in a second step with a throating reamer. You can also use a throating reamer to extend the freebore as needed to shoot a longer type of bullet. PT&G offers an excellent throating reamer with spiral-cut flutes. We have received very positive feedback on this product from respected gunsmiths. One smith raved about the spiral-fluted reamer, saying it “cuts smoothly, with zero chatter, leaving a very fine throat finish”.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Next Dave showcased his new one-piece Remington bolts with integral handle. Factory Rem bolt-handles are silver-soldered on to the main bolt assembly. With hard use, the bolt handles can break or separate. PT&G has cured that problem with an integrated bolt/bolt handle assembly that is CNC-milled from a single piece of billet. Dave says this produces a bolt-handle that “even the sniper guys can’t break”.

Last but not least, Dave showed some new bottom metal options. PT&G now offers handy Oberndorf-style bottom metal with a convenient push-button release in the front of the trigger-guard (see Video for demo). With a more ergonomic and positive latching system than the standard Rem bottom plate release, the Oberndorf bottom metal is very popular according to Kiff.

For a $199.00 “locked-in price” for AccurateShooter.com readers, PT&G offers a complete Remington 40X replacement bolt for CMP Rem 40X rifles. Even if your original factory 40X bolt functions, the replacement bolt should fit better (with less slop) and provide more consistent ignition, shot after shot. We won’t promise improved accuracy, but we predict that you get fewer unexplained flyers with the Kiff replacement bolt. Below, the charming Ashley Kiff explains the $199.00 special offer for our readers.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Current Phoenix Machine production receivers are Remington 700 derivatives that utilize Remington-style bolts and are being manufactured in long, short and M7 lengths. Teaming up with Dave Kiff of Pacific Tool & Gauge (PT&G), Harrison will offer a selection of custom bolt components made by PT&G. This allows the owner of a Phoenix action to fit out the finished action in many ways. Want a colored bolt shroud? No problem. You can also a choose variety of fluting styles, and pick from a selection of PT&G-crafted bolt handles. There are many action-makers offering Rem-clone style receivers in chrome-moly or stainless steel. With the wide variety of bolt components offered by PT&G, the Phoenix action offers the action-buyer an impressive array of optional features.

For more information about Phoenix Machine Technologies, LLC, call (406) 756-2727 or write 36 Jellison Lane, Suite B, Columbia Falls, MT 59912. Email inquiries may be sent to Lisa [at] boltactions.net.