howa mini action - 1/8 for 16" (chopped) barrel

[monkeybutler]

Greetings.

I have a Howa 1500 mini action in one of the MTD stocks Brownells sells for it, along with an XLR folding stock. The theme for this rifle is compactness. I think.

It has a 20" 1/8 twist heavy barrel. I would like to have it chopped to 16" and rethreaded, so it is very compact with the folded stock.

Would you have any concerns about 1/8 in a 16 inch barrel? The cut-rifled Satern 18" I have in an AR upper is 1:8.75 and it's super duper, so I am not thinking the 1/8 16" will be a problem for anything other than the heaviest projectiles, but... I thought I would ask.

[VASCAR2]

Welcome to the forum monkeybutler. The 1:8 twist should be fine with any 6.5/264 bullet you plan to use in the 6.5 Grendel. The biggest difference will be less velocity if the barrel is cut properly, shouldn’t see much difference in accuracy, better or worse.

In my 6.5 Grendel AR-15’s I get approximately 2490-2525 FPS with 123 grain bullets whereas my 16” 6.5 Grendel average 2400-2450 fps with the same ammo. You might get a little higher velocity in the Howa’s hammer forged barrel once it wears in. I think it boils down to whether you can get the desired velocity and range your expecting out of a 16” Barrel Howa compared to the 20” Howa. Another considerstion if your going to shoot at longer range with the 16” 6.5 Grendel you might need a 20 MOA mount depending on how far you intend to shoot and your altitude.

[monkeybutler]

Thanks for the reply. I did buy a 20 MOA rail to go on top for longer ranges.

[BluntForceTrauma]

According to Berger's Twist Rate Stability Calculator

[biodsl]

So you're saying it's not a rifle for Kodiak...in winter...during a cold year.