S&W 1500 in .243

AJ · #1 03-20-2009, 05:09 PM

Picked up a S&W 1500 in .243 today. Ran into a guy who needed some money. The barrel has some surface rust on it and the forend of the stock has a small crack. I think this is the DL model since it has no iron sights. There was a 4-12X Weaver on it that was junk, the cross hairs were gone. Probably will clean up fairly decently, enought to make a good truck gun anyway. Not bad for $50.00.

AJ · #2 03-20-2009, 05:09 PM

Picked up a S&W 1500 in .243 today. Ran into a guy who needed some money. The barrel has some surface rust on it and the forend of the stock has a small crack. I think this is the DL model since it has no iron sights. There was a 4-12X Weaver on it that was junk, the cross hairs were gone. Probably will clean up fairly decently, enought to make a good truck gun anyway. Not bad for $50.00.

James NM · #3 03-20-2009, 05:46 PM

Definitely worth 50 bucks. I like having a beater that you don't worry about scratching.

AJ · #4 03-22-2009, 10:26 AM

Cleaned up the .243 and took it to the range (My Number 1 shooter want to go shoot pistols - Joshua, my Grandson No.1). Forgot to get some more .243 ammo to shoot (Brain Fart...Old Age). Only had six rounds to shoot, so had to make the most of them. Only scope I had that would fit was a BSA 24X44. Mounted that and bore sighted it at the range. First shot was 8 inches high and 3 inches to the left. Second shot was 3 inches lower and two to the left. Fourth shot can be seen on the lower left of bull at 8 o'clock. Cranked some windage and elevation in and fired for effect ( group). Numbers 4 & 5 are touching and the 6th is just above (may have been better if I had let the barrel cool). The last three were fired in about a minutes time frame. Ammo was Winchester soft point. Think I'll keep it. Not bad for a $50.00 rifle, I have more in the scope.

M28 · #5 03-22-2009, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by AJ:
Think I'll keep it. Not bad for a $50.00 rifle....

I guess....if you change your mind I'll give you $ 60 for it AND I'll pay the shipping.

I've got a fairly nice one that was once owned by Lee Deters who was President and CEO of S & W in the eighties. He even had is initials
incorporated in the serial number.

Brian~

Reloader · #6 03-22-2009, 11:19 AM

It was made on the same machinery as the Weatherby Vanguard. Mine will shoot under 1/4" at 100 yards with handloads from a rest. It's a keeper!

Buckethead · #7 03-24-2009, 09:52 AM

I believe that rifle was made by Howa. My friends wife has the S&W 1500 in .270 and it shoots just as well as your .243. At $50 if it shot 3" groups it would still be worth it.

AJ · #8 03-24-2009, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Buckethead:
I believe that rifle was made by Howa. My friends wife has the S&W 1500 in .270 and it shoots just as well as your .243. At $50 if it shot 3" groups it would still be worth it.

Yes these were made by Howa. Howa still sells this rifle. The center to center measurement for Numbers 4,5 & 6 was mic'd at 0.374 inch. Will see what it will do at 100 yards on Friday. Maybe will see what it does at 200 yards also.

Troystat · #9 03-24-2009, 06:09 PM

Sounds like you got a great deal, I have a 1500 in 30.06, they are very nice rifles, FYI there is a safety recall on these apparently if you disassemble the bolt and put it together wrong the rifle will fire when you close the bolt. I think Howa still will fix this if you send them the bolt, take a look at Howa's website and see if they are still doing this. I did this with mine about 4 years ago and there was no charge.

AJ · #10 03-27-2009, 07:35 PM

Took the 1500 back to the range today. Had 3 different bullet weights by 5 different manufacturers. The 75 and 80 gr bullets only would shoot about a 2 inch group at 100 yards. The 100 gr's both went into an 1 or less at the same distance. Different points of impact due to differences of velocity - but still 1 inch or under.

310Pilot · #11 03-28-2009, 10:45 PM

I have an S&W 1500 in .30-06 (posted pic in an earlier thread) with an old Redfield 3-9X scope (on a funky see-through mount, so the iron sights can still be used). I have new mounts, just haven't had time to change over to the new ones (bringing the scope down so I can get a good cheek weld on the stock). It does group well (been a while since I shot it, can't remember the grouping exactly, but it usually goes under 1", down to 1/2", at 100 yards, depending on the load. These guns are typically quite accurate. They were made for S&W by Howa, also made them as barreled actions for Weatherby as the Vanguard (still do) - Weatherby installed the stocks in California. Howa still makes the gun. As to the bolt sleeve recall, Howa still stands behind the gun, and will have a warranty repair station perform it at no charge. I had mine done last year, and it only took about a week (or less) after I received the pre-paid envelope (and a pre-paid return envelope) and sent it off. I don't have the web site address at hand, but if you google Howa 1500 bolt sleeve recall, it will come up. Just fill out the form, including your serial number, and, if the modification hasn't been done to your rifle's bolt, they will send you the requisite items to mail the bolt in, and you won't have any worries about any potential mishaps. At $50, you got a great buy! BTW, parts are still available, including barrels, stocks, and just about anything else you may want or need. The trigger is adjustable for both pull and creep, also.