Howa Rifles

[madmurph]

What are your opinions of Howa rifles? I would like to check out a Howa Hogue model but have not seen any locally in shops. Are they the identical twin to the Weatherby Vanguard? Because I do currently own a Vanguard. I would like to hear from some Howa owners and people that have shot them. (Not the guy whose brothers neighbors cousin has one and thinks it is junk!!)

[Larryjk]

madmurph, We have three Howas in the family and all of them are good performers. I have an older Howa that says Smith and Wesson Model 1500 on the side in the .223 Rem caliber. Shoots prairie dogs as far as I ca see them. My son has a Howa 1500 in a .204 Ruger heavy barrel that he just started shooting this year. It is exceptionally accurate with the 40 grain Hornady load. Five bullets in less than a dime. He needs to do some experimenting with that one to see what it is capable of. My grandson kept trying to get possession of my Model 70 Fwt in .270 Win so I gave him a Weatherby Vanguard (Howa 1500 action) in .270 Win for his birthday last year. He really likes the gun and it does really group well with the old standard of a 130 grain bullet ahead of 60 grains of H4831.
So, we have them in different flavors, but we have no problems with the howa actioned rifles and these are all in wood stocks. I am old fashioned.

[billy ahring]

I have a stainless Howa 1500 in .243 that I am very fond of. It shoots Hornady factory loads under an inch as well as the handloads that I have worked up for it. I duplicated the Hornady loading as best I could using the same bullet, and nearly the same amount of powder. I contacted Hornady to ask them what powder they use and they would not share that info with me. I'm using RL-15 with good results.

You are right that a Howa 1500 is the same rifle as the Weatherby vanguard. It is a good quality rifle with a decent trigger. I restocked mine replacing the tupperwarelike synthetic stock with a HS Precision model with the full length aluminum bedding block and a cool looking camo finish. If I were buying a new one today I would go for the Howa in the Hogue stock. I have seen and fondled one on a dealers shelf and was impressed with the way it felt. Much better quality than the standard synthetic. I don't know if the Hogue stock they are using is the full length bedding block version or the pillar bedded one. Anyone here know?

Billy

[Larryjk]

madmurph, The only disadvantage I can see to a Howa actioned rifle is that the receiver has metric threads. The exact thread is 29 X 1.5. What that means is that if you shoot the barrel out and want it rebarreled, the gunsmith is going to run around in circles until you get him stopped by offering a water glass full of single malt scotch. Seriously, the gunsmith will have to change some gears to cut the metric (maybe) and will charge a little more for the job.
I know this to be true because I have to rebarrel one for a fellow and I told him about the scotch.

[Swift]

Nothing at all wrong with a Howa. Yes I've owned one and was very pleased.

[petey]

Mauser action in a Boyds stock. Unless they've changed something recently?