HOWA Lightning

[thereisnospoon]

WOW!

I just handled (FONDLED...more like it) a HOWA 1500 Lightning in .308WIN. I was really impressed. The action is smooth as glass, almost as smooth as a Tikka or SAKO. The finish was incredible and the synthetic stock had a nice palm swell and very unique checkering surface at the grip and foreend.

Overall I was impressed and it felt wonderful, came to the shoulder quick. The Barrel contour seemed to be somewhere between a Bull Barrel and a hunting barrel (Perhaps the best of both).

Anyway, the gun was $429.00 NIB with some off brand scope I had never even heard of. It was in a PAWN shop I just started using for FFL transfers. Had I not just spent $$$$ on a NIB Savage 111 30-06 (I was in the shop getting a copy of the FFL to go with the payment), I probably would have bought it on the spot.

Anyone else have or handled these rifles?

Impressions?

 

[rbernie]

Same as a Weatherby Vanguard, IIRC. Good solid rifles that are very well made.

 

[ArmedBear]

I have a Weatherby Vanguard Sporter (checkered walnut with rosewood trim with Weatherby stock design). Same action, but vents sideways instead of into the magazine, barrel slightly longer than Howa version. Nice gun. $400 with some superficial scratches in the stock finish, otherwise NIB. I had to put on mounts and scope, though, so total cost was upwards of $650 with Warne QD and a Burris. Still well worth it.

It's a great rifle. I shot next to a couple of guys, one with a new Vanguard package and one with a new Lightning package, a few weeks before last deer season opened. They were sighting them in; both guns were the cheapest stocks, etc. so they were around the price you're talking about. Both guys were really impressed with their first groups; so was I. That's why I bought mine when I saw it for $400 in .30-06.

If you need a hunting rifle, buy it. (It's one reason I'd never advise anyone to buy a 710.)

Sometimes, there's a package deal you can get from Weatherby or Howa that includes a hard case and sling, too, for a great price.

Weatherby Vanguard:
http://www.weatherby.com/products/products.asp?prd=Rifles&prd_type=1&prd_sub_type=3

Howa rifles:
http://www.legacysports.com/product/index.htm

 

[one eye joe]

I have one with the laminated stock. I have been very mpressed. Smooth action, trigger adjusts very nice, and it just feels good at the shoulder. They seem to have it down pretty good on these. The scope is probably a Nikko. Think it is Australian. Don't really know anything about them. i would tend to buy the bare rifle, and put something I was familiar with on it.

 

[mickey]

if the gun fits buy it

i own 8 howa rifles and iam in the middle of buying 4 more i love them.good rifles for the money. ive bought mine from $305-360.each and think everyone has been a very good deal.ive got 300wsm,three7mm mags,308,7mm08,243, 270,three 270and one 30-06 one the way