Howa rifles

I think they are the same as the vanguard ?
I have read good reviews but don't own one myself

Mine is getting old, I think early/mid 90's? I have a .270 Win Howa sold through Mossberg.
It's been a good accurate problem free rifle for me. Of course that was then. I have heard and read good things about those sold these days. Actually, I don't remember anyone complaining. I think there's a package Howa with a Zeiss scope out there. I am pretty sure they all have synthetic stocks now. Maybe not.
Mine is wood.
I think those today compare with the Weatherby Vanguard.

Mossberg 1500 Howa .270 Winchester w Bushnell High Contrast Optics 3x9 x 40 scope
Scope shown is a Simmons

I am not a Gander fan by any means but check these out that I found.
http://www.gandermountain.com/Howa

I've got one, 22.250. It's a great shooter. The only downfall some can claim is they're not all that light.

I bought a 30-06 howa 1500 package from cabelas a few years ago, with the rubber overmolded stock. It shot like a dream, if i remember right it shot the first five after sight in into .78" @ 100 yards, but when i took it hunting in the rain the stock would squeak as it rubbed against me. Slinged or in my hands, little squeaks all the time. And I bought it for a wet weather rifle... I sold it when something else i wanted came along. Really shouldn't have sold it, it shot great, was light, and very well built for a VERY good price. YMMV

Aren't they more in Japan?

Made in Japan? Yes. The Vanguard and 1500 share an action, but the Vanguard comes in a few cals the 1500 dosent, and is built to weatherbys specs, longer barrel etc. I have a Howa 1500 Lightning, Its the basic Howa rifle with a Hogue (says so on the recoil pad) type stock sans overmold rubber. I actually prefer it as i dont like the rubber coatings, they grab cloths and anything that you slide the rifle across. My rifle is in 6.5 Creedmoor, and shoots very well. Ive only got about 40rnds down range from it (basicly ignored howas break in procedures besides avoiding heating up the gun), best groups run under an inch with hornady bullets.

These guns, If my sample is anything to go by, are very well made, robust, and nicely finished. Much more so than their, just above entry level price would suggest.
Down side, they ARE heavy, my gun out weights all but my much larger framed magnum rifles. Ill grab exact weight in the morning, my daughters sleeping next to the gun cabinet....

i have a howa heavy barreled varmit1500 in .223 imported by S&W thats parked and a oil finished dark walnut checkered stock that shoots as good as my rem 700 vls varmit in .223, and thats saying something as that rem 700 vls shoots. eastbank.

I bought one brand new around 2005 and it was super cheap. The quality was great and it shot superbly. I got laid off for a while and lost it forever.

It was the .308 heavy barrel synthetic stock 4 groove 1:12 twist. I think after tax it was a little less than $500 new.It was a few years ago but I do remember it being cheap.

Here are some comparitive weights.
Howa 6.5CM

Abolt2 euro stock 7mm rem mag

Bergara B14 30-06

Savage 11 .243

Rem 700sps 7mm stw

I had one in .223. Great accurate rifle. Just a little heavy for the caliber. That may not be an issue with the caliber you are selecting.

I took it apart to clean it when I first got it and there were zero metal chips anywhere and there were no machine marks either. Very nicely done receivers. I would pick up a Howa over a Savage or a Ruger American or any of the other similarly priced rifles.

Like most Jap guns made for American importation, Howas are very nicely made and finished. I have one hiding under Weatherby's Vanguard guise and it's been a very reliable and accurate rifle. As others have noted, the action is a little heavier than some of its counterparts.

I have shot a 30 06, two different 223s, and a 308. all were good shooters, the 223s and 308s were less than one inch from a rested bench, cooled between shots. I prefer the all steel, machined feed lips instead of plastic magazines of other modern manufacturing. jmo. bob

I have a .223 Howa 1500 mini action. Mine is a 1 moa rifle with my ammo. No frills with cheap poly stock. Good strong push feed action. Excellent 2 stage trigger. There are better rifles out there but not any for $350 which is what I paid for it NIB at Cabelas a few months ago. The plastic 10 round mag pops loose a lot with a forward release. Don't know anything about any other Howas.

B&C & Boyd's has drop in stocks for the Howa 1500 action. Can buy the Howa 1500 barreled actions off Brownells at Christmas time prices, or you can get a complete gun with Howa 1500 action for same price if you look around.

Cheap flimsy stocks should be of no concern when there's fiberglass and laminate drop-in options available.

Howa builds actions and barreled actions that wear several name brands. THe 1500 series is used by Mossberg, Weatherby, Winchester and others. It is a good, accurate rifle with an easily adjustable trigger. A Timney trigger is also available and very easy to install. The resellers will use stocks of varying quality. Some add a scope.
My Mossberg labeled Howa 1500 has a nice walnut stock, shoots factory ammo MOA, handloads shoot sub-MOA, and has been 100% reliable.

The Howa 1500 is a sturdy, dependable and accurate bolt action rifle. I had one in 7MM Rem Mag and used it for several years. Never had a problem with it and it always performed as expected. You won't be disappointed.

Bought my youngest son a 30-06 Howa for his 16th birthday about 20 years ago, in fact he still has it, and has shot every one of his deer and elk with it out here, OK only one elk. Never had a problem with it, and the walnut stock is nicely figured, and so is blued steel.

I have a Howa in the form of a Weatherby Vanguard .308 which I received for Christmas several years back. It is a bit heavy, but I prefer to think of it as "over built," and it helps reduce felt recoil. I absolutely love that rifle and would recommend one to just about anyone.

I have 3 - 2 in Weatherby Vanguards (a 243 and a 7mm-08) and an actual Howa in 308.Other than being heavier than I like, all three are tack-drivers.

My 257 will shoot MOA with 100 grain factory ammo. I am impressed with them.

splattergun said:

Howa builds actions and barreled actions that wear several name brands. THe 1500 series is used by Mossberg, Weatherby, Winchester and others.

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Including some marketed by Smith & Wesson from 1981 to 1985.