Howa Alpine Mountain rifle - New for 2015

[Gtscotty]

I've been reading about this new offering from Howa that was introduced at the 2015 Shot Show.

http://www.legacysports.com/alpine-mountain-rifle

I usually pay pretty close attention to the new products introduced at Shot, so I'm not really sure why this one didn't stick in my memory.... maybe because of the price, or the goofy looking DBM.

Either way, once you start looking at what you get for the price (about $1k street price), it seems like a better and better deal:

-5.7 lb weight
-Lightened Howa action (originally based on the Sako 579 action I believe)
-Cerakoted action and barrel
-Pillar bedded in a High Tech Specialties stock

Also, the dangling DBM is kind of a deal killer to me, but apparently the rifle comes with a normal hinged floorplate, and the DBM is an option. It's kind of weird that they don't show any pictures with the standard floor plate, but I would assume it's very similar to what's found on their other models.

As for calibers, I've been interested in getting a 6.5 Creed for a while, and it would probably be a decent choice for a very light weight rifle like this one. On the other hand, .308 and 7mm-08 are also strong choices, and would probably retain velocity out of the 20 in barrel a little better. What would be your choice for a rifle like this be? Do you think 7mm-08 or, especially .308 would have uncomfortable recoil in a rifle this light?

Does anyone have one of these, or has anyone seen one in person. I'd love to hear what people think after laying hands on them. The only range report I've been able to find looks pretty good. If the quality of construction is there, I might have to look at picking one up for a short light hunting carbine. Anyone else interested in this little rifle?

 

[wbwanzer]

Looks good to me. Hopefully someone shows up who knows something about it.

 

[bannockburn]

Looks like the detachable mag adds a little over $30 to the retail price. There's also mention of a scope and rings but there's no other indication if they're included as some sort of package deal. Of the four calibers listed I would probably opt for one in 7mm-08.

 

[jmr40]

It comes with a 20" #1 contour barrel and should sell for about the same price as a Kimber 84M which is 1/2 lb lighter with a heavier 22" barrel. Mine is still under 6 lbs including the 2.5-8X36 Leupold scope and mounts

Howa makes good quality stuff. I've owned a couple as well as a Weatherby Vanguard which is built on the same action. They are at a severe disadvantage when they try to build a lightweight gun since Howa makes by far the heaviest action you can buy. They have to reduce weight elsewhere.

I have one of the Kimbers in 308 it shoots great. Recoil with my hottest loads is almost exactly the same as my 30-06 from in a standard weight gun. I wouldn't touch this with a Kimber so close in price. If it were selling for around $600 or so maybe.

In fact a SS Tikka is around $600, with an even heavier 22.5" barrel and is only about 4 oz heavier than the Howa.

 

[Gtscotty]

I believe the one of the videos I saw on this rifle stated that the regular Howa action had been shaved down some and lightened for these rifles.

I've looked at Kimber Montana's before, and I guess the two places I would see that this Howa might have an advantage is in it's magazine style and accuracy. On the Magazine front, I really don't like blind magazines, and I think all of the Montana's are blind. I'll take a hinged floorplate or DBM over blind any day. As for accuracy, I know that plenty of people have had good luck with their Montanas but there is an unsettlingly large number of complaints on the net regarding accuracy problems with the Montanas. I don't really know of any other higher end rifle that has such a mixed reputation for accuracy, and I'm not sure I want to roll $1,100 worth of dice on getting a good one. Of course, the Howa could wind up with the same reputation, but, at least on their heavier rifles they seem to have a pretty solid reputation as shooters.

As for the Tikkas, I've had 3 and still have 1, and they were all great rifles. According to Tikka's website, the 22 in stainless lites run just a hair under 6 lb 3 oz, or about a half pound more than the Howa, and a full pound more than the Montana. Tikka's are nice rifles, but .5 lb is significant when you are looking at ultra-light rifles. I would consider some of the special edition fluted versions, like the ones at Sportsman's Warehouse, but those run $700, and I couldn't find any numbers on their weights.

 

[KSCCHTrainer]

Haven't actually seen one of these, but I do have a Howa 1500 in .223 with the 10 round magazine kit. If this is a similar kit, I'd advise staying away from it.

The one that came with mine is 10 rounds, plastic (including the trigger guard and floorplate replacement). The magazine is good for only a few loadings before it starts malfunctioning due to feed lip wear and replacement mags listed at somewhere around $60+ when I got mine. After it started malfunctioning, I reinstalled the 5 round steel one and have been living with the blind magazine since, with absolutely no malfunctions.

Jim

 

[Gtscotty]

Yeah, the DBM on the alpine looks pretty mickey mouse. If I got one I wouldn't use it though, I'd just stick with the hinged floor plate.

BTW, is the .223 Howa you have one of the new Mini Acton rifles they came out with this year? Those look pretty interesting, and are rumored to be available in 6.5 Grendel later this year, but they also have a magazine that protrudes too far, and I'm not sure if a hinged footplate is even an option on the mini action.

 

[jmr40]

Nothing wrong with Kimbers accuracy. You run into people who can't shoot a 5 lb rifle. I'd bet money a pencil thin Howa barrel won't be any better.

Can't help with the blind magazine. It is a non issue for me. Most of my rifles have floor plates and a couple are DBM, but I'm just as happy with a blind magazine. Takes about 5 seconds longer to unload at the end of the day and it is one less thing to go wrong. I've had floor plates open during recoil and lost magazines. Never had a failure with the Kimber or a Remington ADL magazine.

 

[dvdcrr]

Is anybody really gonna take a Howa to the Alps?

 

[KSCCHTrainer]

Yeah, the DBM on the alpine looks pretty mickey mouse. If I got one I wouldn't use it though, I'd just stick with the hinged floor plate.

BTW, is the .223 Howa you have one of the new Mini Acton rifles they came out with this year? Those look pretty interesting, and are rumored to be available in 6.5 Grendel later this year, but they also have a magazine that protrudes too far, and I'm not sure if a hinged footplate is even an option on the mini action.

Nope, it's the heavy 24" barreled one identical to the ones the Japanese police SWAT snipers are issued.

 

[Gtscotty]

Sorry to resurrect my own zombie thread, but the Howa Alpine's have been on the market a while now, I'm still considering one and was wondering if anyone has gotten any trigger time on an alpine yet.

I'm mostly curious as to how they shoot as I've had a chance to fondle a 6.5 Creed at the LGS. The one I've looked at was quite nice, very light and shouldered well. It also had a decent hinged floor plate instead of the dangley plastic mag.

 

[Water-Man]

The biggest problem, unless they've changed, is doing business with LegacySports.

 

[Gtscotty]

Why is that? I've actually sent them a bunch of questions about their products, and have always gotten a response, usually quickly.

I'm trying to figure out what my lightweight weather resistant .308 is going to be. I'm also looking at the Kimber Montana, Nosler 48 Patriot, Winchester Extreme Weather and possibly Sako Finnlight. I really like the mix of features the Howa provides, but there's really only one range report that I can find on the internet.... makes me a little twitchy.

 

[Water-Man]

I had problems AFTER I bought a product from them.

 

[Corn-Picker]

Maybe this is too off-topic, but the Weatherby Vanguard S2 Youth has a street price of $475, weighs 6.5 pounds (0.8 pounds more than the Alpine), and is available in 7mm-08 and 308. I have one and I like it a lot. I've no experience with the Alpine.

 

[Coltdriver]

I owned a Howa once. Great rifle, but as noted in a previous post they are heavy. I sold mine and got a lightweight compact Ruger.

At that price point you are in Sako territory and as also pointed out in other posts here you are in the company of some other very fine rifles.

I picked up a Sako Tecomate at about 6.5 pounds a couple of years ago and got it for less than this Howa. I think you can get an A7 for about what they want for this. Just not a contest at all.

But a neat little rifle nonetheless.

 

[Liberty1776]

jmr40 - sorry your gun won't shoot...