Howa Rifles

[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.