Discuss the Howa M-1500, Please

[Lone Star]

I traded for a Howa 1500 with synthetic stock and about a 19" barrel, in 7mm/08. It has a cheap scope that I'll probably replace if I retain it.

The stock is a little short for me, but with a heavy coat on, that will be no problem. I have similar fit issues with the M-1 Garand, to put this in perspective.

I rather like it, at this point.

Howa makes the Weatherby Vanguard, does it not? How much mechanical difference is there between the Vanguard and the M-1500?

I'm pretty sure that whoever designed the Howa had taken a pretty good look at Sako actions.

Do any of you have a Howa? How do you like it?

Lone Star

 

[ArmedBear]

I have a Vanguard Sporter and I love it.

My hunting handloads (.30-06) group 1/2" at 100 yards with it. These are reasonably carefully loaded rounds, but nothing special. I don't even trickle or weigh my individual powder charges; I just fill the case with an RCBS measure, use a scale to check the setting every 10 or so, and call it a day. I figure that's not half-bad for a walnut stock gun that's never had any work done on it whatsoever.

I wonder if you got a youth stock or a compact stock, or ??

Weatherby, Legacy Sports, Boyd's and others should sell stocks for it.

 

[rbernie]

I've had several, and liked them well enough. They are good actions - accurate and robust. They tend to be heavy for their size, which makes them a bit of a drag to carry around all day but a joy to shoot from a supported position.

They're not as well supported in the aftermarket as, say, a Rem700 but there are more stock options for them then there are for Ruger 77MkIIs and such.

 

[Lone Star]

Probably has a youth or womens' stock. It was my daughter-in-law's rifle, but she didn't like it because it was a gift from a guy she dated before meeting my son. (They had a bad break-up.) She has other rifles.

It seems to work: she popped a whitetailed buck with it a couple of years ago. Nice mount.

I like the cartridge. Should give 7X57MM ballistics even in that short barrel. If I think I may have to shoot beyond maybe 250 yards, I have a .270. (Win. M-70 Classic Fwt.)

Lone Star

 

[natman]

I traded for a Howa 1500 with synthetic stock and about a 19" barrel, in 7mm/08. It has a cheap scope that I'll probably replace if I retain it.

The stock is a little short for me, but with a heavy coat on, that will be no problem. I have similar fit issues with the M-1 Garand, to put this in perspective.

I rather like it, at this point.

Howa makes the Weatherby Vanguard, does it not? How much mechanical difference is there between the Vanguard and the M-1500?

I'm pretty sure that whoever designed the Howa had taken a pretty good look at Sako actions.

Do any of you have a Howa? How do you like it?

Lone Star

The Howa 1500 and the Weatherby are mechanically the same gun, only the Weatherby styling touches are different. Howa made ALL Weatherbys, including the Mk V, when they were made in Japan.

 

[Lone Star]

Where are Weatherbys made now? I thought they were still made by Howa.

 

[natman]

Where are Weatherbys made now? I thought they were still made by Howa.

The Mark V is manufactured by ATEK in Brainerd, MN. The Vanguard is still made in by Howa in Japan. Weatherby is like Browning, they subcontact manufacture of their guns to various factories. The Mark V has been made in Germany, Japan and the US. There has never been a Weatherby factory in the sense that there's a Remington or Marlin factory.

 

[Lone Star]

natman-

Thanks. I knew that, except for the ATEK bit. Never heard of ATEK, but guess they must meet Weatherby standards.

The German ones seem to have extra appeal to some, but all seem to be excellent rifles.

Lone Star

 

[steveracer]

I had one in 7mm Rem Mag, and it was nice enough. It shot great at 200 yeard, about golf-ball sized groups. 7mm got to be very expensive to shoot, so I dumped it for something else in 30-06, but I never had a problem with the action. The stainless one, which I had, was very nice.