moody22
Member
I was wondering if the Howa or the Mossberg bolt action rifles were any good. I know that the remington, ruger, savage, etc. are good but are these two guns. I havent heard of them that much, so wat do yall think.
Howa? Mossberg?
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rbernie
Contributing Member
Mossbergs are, well, OK. Howa rifles are very nice; I've had several and they were uniformly accurate and well put together. The only thing I didn't really care for was the trigger; you can't adjust it to break as cleanly as you can, say, a Winchester 70 or a Remington 700 trigger.
Ash
Member
To make things confusing, Howa made Mossberg rifles. The Mossberg 1500 is a Howa, just like the Vanguard. The Mossberg 800 and 810's are excellent rifles, but have been out of production for 25 years. The Mossberg 100ATR is a decent rifle. It isn't as good, fit and finish-wise, as the Howa. BUT, it is vastly better than the more expensive Remington 710. Personally, I am a big fan of the 810 with its adjustable trigger, four forward locking lugs, safety location, iron sights, and hinged floorplate or detachable mag (the floor plate is a bit thin, though).
Ash
Ash
I have a Vanguard Sporter in .30-06.
It has a walnut Weatherby stock with the high rollover comb, and a 24" barrel. The Howa 1500 is the same action with the pressure relief holes turned down into the magazine. The barrels are 22" for the similar Howa model, and the Howa stocks are completely different. See which one fits you, which you like.
My trigger adjusted quite well, though it was too heavy when shipped. Unlike Remington, they tell you to go ahead and adjust it yourself, and they tell you how. Not an issue unless you need warranty work done on the Remmie. I can imagine a better trigger, but the stock Howa trigger, when adjusted to my liking, is perfect for field use.
The Howa action still has a safety that locks the bolt down, a good thing for hunting. I say "still" because the action is essentially the Remington 700 design, but Remington changed the safety -- a bad move, IMO. The Howa action even takes the same scope mounts as the 700, BTW. AFAIK the newest Howas have a 3-position safety -- even better, since you can choose to lock the bolt, unlock the bolt but leave the gun on-safe, or take the gun off-safe, your choice.
I really like my Vanguard Sporter. I'm a fan of the Weatherby stock design. It fits me and keeps the recoil off my face.
The Mossberg is a whole different animal. It's fully functional, but it's a cheapened design. That won't keep you from enjoying it, hunting with it, etc. But if you want a really good sporter, the Howa is a top-notch bolt action, as good as any production push-feed gun.
It has a walnut Weatherby stock with the high rollover comb, and a 24" barrel. The Howa 1500 is the same action with the pressure relief holes turned down into the magazine. The barrels are 22" for the similar Howa model, and the Howa stocks are completely different. See which one fits you, which you like.
My trigger adjusted quite well, though it was too heavy when shipped. Unlike Remington, they tell you to go ahead and adjust it yourself, and they tell you how. Not an issue unless you need warranty work done on the Remmie. I can imagine a better trigger, but the stock Howa trigger, when adjusted to my liking, is perfect for field use.
The Howa action still has a safety that locks the bolt down, a good thing for hunting. I say "still" because the action is essentially the Remington 700 design, but Remington changed the safety -- a bad move, IMO. The Howa action even takes the same scope mounts as the 700, BTW. AFAIK the newest Howas have a 3-position safety -- even better, since you can choose to lock the bolt, unlock the bolt but leave the gun on-safe, or take the gun off-safe, your choice.
I really like my Vanguard Sporter. I'm a fan of the Weatherby stock design. It fits me and keeps the recoil off my face.
The Mossberg is a whole different animal. It's fully functional, but it's a cheapened design. That won't keep you from enjoying it, hunting with it, etc. But if you want a really good sporter, the Howa is a top-notch bolt action, as good as any production push-feed gun.
trigger45
Member
the howa gave me 3/4 inch groups when i do my part. mine is a .270win.
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rangerruck
Member
they both are quite nice. the howa will be a bit higher quality, but the mossy's are quite capable, and come with built in swivel studs, have a pillar bedded and floated bbl/ action, and are very inexpensive. howa is basically Weatherby, with different stocks. both will be just fine for hunting, with the howa proly being more accurate.
Ash
Member
The Mossberg has the same barrel attachment method as the Savage. If the barrels are any decent, they could be very accurate rifles. I think Mossberg needs to offer one that is better polished and with nice wood. Many folks buy base-end Savages knowing down the road they can upgrade (I did). If you can buy an ATR and then down the road dress it up, I would think more folks would be lured in by them. They will never be top of the line, could never pretend to be, but they are solid rifles all the same, and way better than the 710.
Ash
Ash
Ash
Member
Not only do I admit to owning a Mossberg, it is my preferred rifle. I have three 810's, one in 7mm Rem Mag and two in 30-06. I also have two 800's, one in 308 and one in 243.
All of them are in walnut stocks with iron sights.
Ash
All of them are in walnut stocks with iron sights.
Ash
Back in the late 80's or so Howa produced rifles for Mossberg and Smith & Wesson both known as the Model 1500...both identical in every way! These days they export under their own name...Howa.
I have one of each...one in .223 heavy barrel varmint and one in .308 sporter barrel...both shoot well under .500" groups after being put into Richards Microfit stocks and glass bedded .
If the Mossberg model says on the receiver mfg in Japan by Howa then it's a great rifle...Howas are excellent firearms and the prices are still better than most American made brands!
I have one of each...one in .223 heavy barrel varmint and one in .308 sporter barrel...both shoot well under .500" groups after being put into Richards Microfit stocks and glass bedded .
If the Mossberg model says on the receiver mfg in Japan by Howa then it's a great rifle...Howas are excellent firearms and the prices are still better than most American made brands!
carterbeauford
member
The finish on the ATR scratches really easily. Not sure what it is, looks kinda like it's parkerized. Trigger is about what you'd expect from a $240 rifle.
eidsvolling
Member
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"Who wants to admit to owning a Mossberg?"
If it's the Mossberg ATR-100 you're talking about, "ask the man (or woman) who owns one." Actually owns one and has shot it enough to know it. Not someone who has merely paused briefly to snigger at one. Or someone who has merely read the comments of someone else who has merely paused briefly to snigger at one.
Almost invariably the owner will report very good, even surprisingly good, accuracy and a decent trigger pull. Almost never will the owner express any regrets at owning the rifle. I know I have none.
No, it's not a family heirloom, or a match grade objet d'art, it's a very reasonably priced hunting rifle meant to be taken in the field. That's what Mossberg sells it as, and that's what it's being purchased to do. And BTW, it's made in Texas, not Japan, not China, not Romania, or any of the other goofy claims you may see about its manufacture.
If it's the Mossberg ATR-100 you're talking about, "ask the man (or woman) who owns one." Actually owns one and has shot it enough to know it. Not someone who has merely paused briefly to snigger at one. Or someone who has merely read the comments of someone else who has merely paused briefly to snigger at one.
Almost invariably the owner will report very good, even surprisingly good, accuracy and a decent trigger pull. Almost never will the owner express any regrets at owning the rifle. I know I have none.
No, it's not a family heirloom, or a match grade objet d'art, it's a very reasonably priced hunting rifle meant to be taken in the field. That's what Mossberg sells it as, and that's what it's being purchased to do. And BTW, it's made in Texas, not Japan, not China, not Romania, or any of the other goofy claims you may see about its manufacture.
Schleprok62
Member
The ATR100 is a decent rifle, as eidsvolling says, it's not marketed as a high-end, 1/2 MOA rifle. I looked at one, but it didn't come in the caliber I wanted. I would certainly consider buying one. I wound up buying a Stevens Model 200 in a 7mm-08 and love it. It does what I need it to do very well. Just because it's not a high price tag rifle, doesn't mean it doesn't have a practical purpose. I'd much rather take a Stevens, Mossberg, or Howa in the field than a high dollar rifle. A deer doesn't know what it was shot with, it's dead... and dead is dead regardless of what put it in that state....
Was that TOO forward???
Was that TOO forward???
carterbeauford
member
You mean it's not made by 5 year old slave children in the jungles of Brazil?
There is no mistaking its country of manufacture, they slap a huge American flag sticker on the stock.
The only complaint I have about my ATR in .30-06 is the finish, especially on the barrel. Then again, it's not a safe queen or a collector's item. Other than that, it is more accurate than I am, reliable, lightweight, and came with factory scope bases. For $240, I got more than what I paid for.
Ash
Member
I was going to mention the Remington bolt handle falling off, but, well, okay, my brother-in-law has a Rem in .270 that the bolt handle fell off of.
Ash
Ash
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