Read

MDT Mention - Impact Shooting: Magazine Mod for a Howa Barreled Action

Post by Thomas Gomez

Feb 11 2025

Impact Shooting, owned by Pieter Malan, creates some fantastic content specific to long-range shooting. Pieter, a former Pro Cyclist, got into the shooting sports in 2017 and spends his time creating photos and video, teaching precision rifle, and running the Impact Proshop, which carries high-quality shooting gear and accessories.

Pieter has an extensive catalog of shooting content on his YouTube channel, and one we would like to highlight talks about how to get AICS-style magazines to properly work with the Howa 1500 series of rifles. The Howa 1500 has a small lip that does not allow an AICS style magazine to seat correctly. The fix? Remove a small section of metal from your magazine with a grinder or a file.

An AICS magazine with this modification will still work with other action types like Remington and Savage.

The modification requires a small bit of metal to be removed from the magazine. This will not prohibit the magazine from being used with other action types.

The modification requires a small bit of metal to be removed from the magazine. This will not prohibit the magazine from being used with other action types.

Applying some bluing to protect the metal.

Applying some bluing to protect the metal.

THE HOWA 1500

Author's Note: The Howa 1500 rifle, manufactured in Japan, is available in 3 action sizes Mini, Short Action, and Long Action. MDT makes Chassis Systems for all three. "Howa 1500" is synonymous with accuracy, and a barreled action from Brownells paired with an MDT Chassis System is a very accurate rifle system.

Author's personal Howa 1500 in an MDT ESS Chassis System. This rifle is set up for ballistic studies past 1,800 yards.

Author's personal Howa 1500 in an MDT ESS Chassis System. This rifle is set up for ballistic studies past 1,800 yards.

The Twins. Author’s class rifles. Howa 1500 chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor. TRACT optics. MDT ACC Chassis System.

The Twins. Author’s class rifles. Howa 1500 chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor. TRACT optics. MDT ACC Chassis System.

I assembled a fleet of heavy barrel Howa 1500 chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor for all my precision rifle classes. The guns are all mated to an MDT Chassis System and are some of the most accurate rifles I have ever used. Regarding magazines, I have a bucket full of AICS style magazines from Accurate Mag, Accuracy International, Magpul, and MDT, and I had to modify all of the magazines to work in these rifles. I modified most with a grinder or a simple hand file, then covered the bare metal with spray paint. The modification does not affect the structural integrity of the magazine, and we have had zero issues with these rifles or the magazines.

Make sure to check out Impact Shooting and the Impact PROSHOP! Click here to shop our wide selection of AICS magazines.

Lead is Toxic - So What?

Hunter in a hood and blaze orange vest aiming a suppressed rifle in an OD green MDT chassis with a Nightforce scope from a tripod at the edge of a forest

Flat-Shooting Cartridges: Why Do They Matter, and What Are the Drawbacks?

We hear the same phrases over and over in the precision rifle industry: flat-shooting cartridges, higher muzzle velocity, higher ballistic coefficient, and less bullet...

Post by MDT Sporting Goods

Nov 05 2026

Hunter in an MDT cap glassing with binoculars behind a Tikka T3x in an MDT HNT26 chassis on a carbon fiber tripod in tall grass

Impact Shooting: Tikka T3x 300 WSM Hunting Rifle Build

In his latest “Box to Bush” video, Piet of Impact Media transforms a brand-new factory Tikka T3x chambered in .300 Winchester Short Magnum (.300...

Post by MDT Sporting Goods

Nov 04 2026

Green MDT ACC Premier GEN2 folding chassis rifle with Nightforce NX8 scope, suppressor and bipod on a weathered wooden bench

AREA 419 | Law Enforcement Sniper Systems—Build Breakdown

While we mostly see MDT products used by competitors, sportsmen, and enthusiasts, that doesn’t mean they aren’t built for the demanding needs of law...

Post by MDT Sporting Goods

Nov 03 2026

Bolt-action rifle in a black MDT chassis on a bipod at a shooting bench with a spotting scope, chronograph, spare scopes, torque driver and ammunition

Mounting a Rifle Scope? Avoid These 5 Mistakes

Mounting a rifle scope is well within the capabilities of anyone who can use a screwdriver without injuring themselves. However, there are some careful...

Post by MDT Sporting Goods

Oct 29 2026