The Straight Scoop from Howa in Japan

[GunDog]

Recently on another thread there was some discussion regarding Howa receivers and whether or not they were cast or forged.

I wondered about this too, so I decided to email Howa Manufacturing headquarters in Japan and posed the question directly to them. Below is the response I received this evening.....

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Dear Mr. __________,

Thank you very much for your inquiry and having an interest in our products.

We used to forge M1500 receivers, but we changed the manufacturing method
from August 1999 production.
Our receivers have been machined from drawing materials since then, which
means our recievers are no longer forged.


Sincerely,

Noriko Takeda
Export trade PIC of Firearms dept.
Howa Machinery, Ltd.

[sigstroker]

Isn't that similar to how Remington 700 actions are made?

[buffybuster]

Isn't that similar to how Remington 700 actions are made?

I believe Remington and Savage use heavy wall steel tubing. How I read the statement from Howa is they use a barstock.

[superdave50]

I believe Remington and Savage use heavy wall steel tubing. How I read the statement from Howa is they use a barstock.

For the receivers? I read that to confirm what was mentioned in the other thread: howa receivers are cast, not forged

[ar15barrels]

I believe Remington and Savage use heavy wall steel tubing. How I read the statement from Howa is they use a barstock.

If only they would say what material the "drawing materials" are...
Perhaps the drawing calls out a casting?
Or do they mean "drawn materials" like a drawn-over-mandrel steel extrusion?

[ar15barrels]

Isn't that similar to how Remington 700 actions are made?

I'm pretty sure that ALL mass produced firearms are made per the manufacturer's drawings.

[scotty99]

[Dave Hoback]

They are made, as Randall & I discussed in another thread, from Bar Stock. I was trying to keep it simple and said they are machined from Bar Stock rounds which are already forged. Randall corrected me in Bar Stocks are not FORGED, rather they are Extruded. Which is correct. I was trying to keep it simple as some were already confused, but I should have said it correctly. Extruding is a 2-dimensional process and limited, and Forging is a 3-dimensional.

The process Howa uses is DRAWING. This PULLS the material through a die to further shape the receiver. Than it is finished machined. The letter even states this. They are not CAST. Again, this is a lie that has been perpetrated through the years by by ignorance.

Drawing is further shaping process of an Extrusion. Here is some info:

https://thelibraryofmanufacturing.com/extrusion.html

https://www.hudson-technologies.com/metal-drawing/

[Whiskey_Tango]

I'd like to see how the Howa 300 PRC shoots.

[Dave Hoback]

[scotty99]

The Straight Scoop from Howa in Japan

[Dave Hoback]

[GunDog]

If any of you CalGunners want to see the actual response I received from Howa, shoot me a PM with your email address and I'll forward it to you.

[kendog4570]

I believe Remington and Savage use heavy wall steel tubing. How I read the statement from Howa is they use a barstock.

Remington 700 receivers are milled from solid barstock. Basically a hot-rolled shape, in this case round, of 4140 (or their specific analysis) of alloy steel. The one Howa I have made around 2010 appears to be made the same way. Definitely not cast and most likely not forged. The bolt is one piece, not fabricated from 5 parts like a Remington, or 2 or 3 like a later Win 70 .

[Dave Hoback]

Remington 700 receivers are milled from solid barstock. Basically a hot-rolled shape, in this case round, of 4140 (or their specific analysis) of alloy steel. The one Howa I have made around 2010 appears to be made the same way. Definitely not cast and most likely not forged. The bolt is one piece, not fabricated from 5 parts like a Remington, or 2 or 3 like a later Win 70 .