A little 1500 luv

[IAM Rand]

I just recently picked up a Model 1500 in 7MM Remington Mag. It was love at 1st sight. A Cabela's in PA had it listed originally for about $525 and marked it down to 449. I had it sent to a Cabela's near me for $25.00. Not sure why it cost when you think they could have just put it on a company truck and shipped it to my store with other goods but, what the heck.

When it arrived I went to the Gun Library to pick it up. Long story short, out the door they dropped the price again because they said it had been around so long that it was on clearance. For the gun and a couple of boxes of ammo I ended up paying the same price they had it discounted for in PA. Man I am really liking Cabela's. Hope Bass Pro doesn't change them at all.

Now a Vortex Crossfire II 4-12AO is sitting on top and it is awesome at 100 yards with some reloads. Makes me want to get more 1500's in all of the calibers. BOOYA, can't wait to take it out for the season. My son has a deer permit in November. I am sure that someone else has christened it already but, we get to do it for are family (Hopefully) in Nov.

I do have one question. The previous owner(s) removed the front sight hood and I would like to get it back to its previous glory. Smith and Wesson gave me a number to Legacy Sports. Legacy Sports told me to go to gunparts.com or Brownell's. Gunparts.com automatically sends me to Brownell's. I have also done the Google thing and got to Numrich. So far zilch. Anyone have a good source for parts? Also tried Gunbroker. Nothing.

 

[ko41]

Congrats on your Model 1500 acquisition.
You might try LSG, Mfg|Gun Parts|Warranty|Gunsmithing for the hood.

KO

 

[IAM Rand]

Thanks for the info. Just talked to them. They are sending out what I need. Sounds like S&W kinda gave him the shaft. He is left with a bunch of parts and they kicked him to the curb.

 

[fyimo]

Many Years ago I bought my son a S&W Model 1500 in 270 Win and it has killed everything he has shot at. He loves the rifle and wouldn't part with it. I bought the rifle for $250.00 because the stock was scratched up. I stripped the stock, steamed out the scratches and finished it with tongue oil. These have Howa (Made In Japan) actions that is currently used by Weatherby in their Vanguard rifles.

 

[Arm]

I think the 1500 (Howa) S&W rifles are very well made. I picked one up a while ago, custom, chambered in 240 Weatherby magnum, with a thumb-hole stock topped with a Leupold 6-20x scope, also has the 1700 trigger guard with 5 shot detachable magazine.It is amazing. If you can't hit the mark with this rifle, then you are blind in one eye and, can't see out the other. I think the 1500's are way undervalued.

 

[IAM Rand]

I would agree with you. I have been looking at the others that are going up on Gunbroker.com. I have a feeling that you get the best accuracy if you reload. I am taking mine out to get a doe Antelope this weekend.

 

[IAM Rand]

Just finished my late season Antelope trip. Got my doe with the 7mm at 300 yards+/-. Used a Vortex Crossfire II 4-12. My son got his deer with the same rifle but, I was just a little nervous. His was 100 or less and I had ranged the group I was looking at about 292 yards.

I don't have a chronograph so I was guessing. Vortex gives a general idea that if you zero out at 200 that the next mark down will be 300ish. I put it just behind the shoulder and squeezed. I ended up hitting a little behind where I was aiming but, there was a little wind that I didn't take into account. Turned out better. Had I hit where I was aiming I would have come out the shoulder on the other side.

Makes me want to get more Model 1500s and seeing what I can do with them. Honey, I need a new rifle.

 

[jmace57]

I guess I'm the only one that thought this when I saw the title:

 

[IAM Rand]

Wasn't the Luv actually a Datsun with a Chevy badge?

 

[jmace57]

Wasn't the Luv actually a Datsun with a Chevy badge?

I think it was the first vehicle Isuzu imported.

 

[IAM Rand]

Just checking here without starting a new thread. I am going off of the Howa information. Is the barrel twist rate for the standard 1500 in 7mm mag 1:9.5?

Vortex has a ballistic calculator that will give you a more accurate bullet drop. Not sure that it will make a huge factor but, just want to have it for future reference. From what I can tell it is a 24" barrel.

 

[Stevie]

I bought an old S&W 1500 .308 some years back. Not all that clean a rifle visually...but as a shooter it's as good as anything you can buy. A perfect hunting rifle.

I have no idea about rifling rate of twist for S&W/Howa rifles. My best guess would be that Howa probably uses whatever the industry standard is for the caliber/cartridge

 

[IAM Rand]

That is kinda what I figured. I think it is a 1:9.5ish. Just checking. My 1500 has been fantastic. A friend is a member at a range that is 600 yrds +. I want to take it out there and see what I can do.

 

[Club Gun Fan]

Thanks for the info. Just talked to them. They are sending out what I need. Sounds like S&W kinda gave him the shaft. He is left with a bunch of parts and they kicked him to the curb.

When they sold the long arms line to Mossberg, they agreed to stop dealing altogether. Which included dealing parts to retailers. They had a large inventory at the plant. If you walked in, they would sell you anything short of the receiver. I'm sure if you found out what really happened, the dealer was told that was the case. I highly doubt S&W would burn bridges with retailers.

 

[IAM Rand]

?? I thought that S&W just farmed out the rifle making to Howa and Husqvarna. Why would they sell to Mossberg? Anyway, it doesn't matter to me. He was polite and was able to send out my part. Only problem is the front site hood won't stay on. Not sure what to do short of having someone weld it on. Not sure I want to do that.

 

[Troystat]

I have one in 30-06, I think they are a very nice rifle and from what I have seen you can get them on the used market for a very good price.

 

[03Std]

I bought a 1500 Deluxe chambered for .270 Winchester in 1981 in Tampa, Fl. I think I paid $180 for it. No sights, strictly a scope rifle. I still have it and used it for years hunting in Colorado and northern Maine. I don't hunt any more, but I take it to the range at least once a year. It's one of the smoothest firing rifles I've ever shot, though it kicks like a mule. Sorry, I don't know how to post pictures.

 

[retiredbadge8091]

I have a S&W 1500 in .223 Rem. that I put a Boyd's thumb hole stock on. It also sports a Leopold 8x scope and shoots like a laser.

 

[Club Gun Fan]

?? I thought that S&W just farmed out the rifle making to Howa and Husqvarna. Why would they sell to Mossberg? Anyway, it doesn't matter to me. He was polite and was able to send out my part. Only problem is the front site hood won't stay on. Not sure what to do short of having someone weld it on. Not sure I want to do that.

They did sell Howa and Husqvarna, but not at the same time. They sold the rights to sell Howa in the USA to Mossberg

 

[Igiveup]

I bought a 1500 Deluxe a couple years ago in 30-06 at a yard sale. The stock is so nice that I put a Hogue rubber over molded stock on it. Shoots great. Now have a .223, .243 with metal treated with Ceracoat, a 7mm-08 and just bought a grandson a 30-06 this last year. I used to build rifles on Mauser actions, but have really fallen for the Howa. Sportsman's Warehouse sells Howa, and they can look up the twist rate for you.