cridertj
Member
hawa rifles never seen one . are they any good ? accuracy? price?
howa rifles
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Excellent rifles
They tend to be more affordable than Ruger, Remington and others.
Howa makes weatherby rifles and are licensed to sell a product line(1500) line that is very similar to the Weatherby Vanguard. I've heard that there are some very subtle differences between the two.
Most people brag about their inherant accuracy.
They tend to be more affordable than Ruger, Remington and others.
Howa makes weatherby rifles and are licensed to sell a product line(1500) line that is very similar to the Weatherby Vanguard. I've heard that there are some very subtle differences between the two.
Most people brag about their inherant accuracy.
cridertj
Member
thanks i have been looking at some rifles and found the howa and thought they looked nice but never heard of them
There are essentially cosmetic differences between the barreled action of a 1500 and Vanguard, but that's it. Bolt flutes, orientation of vent holes, rear cap, things like that.
However, when you buy a 1500 vs. a Vanguard, you get very different stock designs, different barrel lengths, etc. They share internals, but you might like one better than the other, depending on features and fit. Weatherby also sells some custom packages like ultralight stocks and fluted barrels, or you can order a custom build on the web if you want, with whatever features you want -- for a price, of course.
I have a Vanguard Sporter (24" blue barrel, checkered satin-finish walnut stock with rosewood cap), and it shoots really well. I'll vouch for Howa, and I like Weatherby's stock designs; they fit me perfectly. Howa action is very similar to a Remington 700 action; the same scope mounts are even used on both.
I've seen a beautiful varminter built on a Howa barreled action, with a hand-made custom extra-fancy walnut stock. Shoots like a varmint gun, but looks like a showoff sporter but with a fatter barrel.
You can buy the barreled action from Legacy Sports, along with various rifle packages, stocks, etc. Weatherby sells another bunch of different rifles, and stocks to fit the Howas also. Hogue, Boyd's, Knoxx and perhaps others sell the same stocks they sell through Legacy; AFAIK the Weatherby stocks are only available under the Weatherby name. They have some nice high-tech ultralight stocks; they're not cheap, though.
Browse around http://www.legacysports.com and http://www.weatherby.com
However, when you buy a 1500 vs. a Vanguard, you get very different stock designs, different barrel lengths, etc. They share internals, but you might like one better than the other, depending on features and fit. Weatherby also sells some custom packages like ultralight stocks and fluted barrels, or you can order a custom build on the web if you want, with whatever features you want -- for a price, of course.
I have a Vanguard Sporter (24" blue barrel, checkered satin-finish walnut stock with rosewood cap), and it shoots really well. I'll vouch for Howa, and I like Weatherby's stock designs; they fit me perfectly. Howa action is very similar to a Remington 700 action; the same scope mounts are even used on both.
I've seen a beautiful varminter built on a Howa barreled action, with a hand-made custom extra-fancy walnut stock. Shoots like a varmint gun, but looks like a showoff sporter but with a fatter barrel.
You can buy the barreled action from Legacy Sports, along with various rifle packages, stocks, etc. Weatherby sells another bunch of different rifles, and stocks to fit the Howas also. Hogue, Boyd's, Knoxx and perhaps others sell the same stocks they sell through Legacy; AFAIK the Weatherby stocks are only available under the Weatherby name. They have some nice high-tech ultralight stocks; they're not cheap, though.
Browse around http://www.legacysports.com and http://www.weatherby.com
Howa made the S&W series of bolt rifles. I've tinkered on a couple of those.
Pretty decent rifles. On a used one, always remove the action from the stock and check the trigger screws. I've checked a couple that the two screws had worked loose. Could lead to an accidental discharge.
Pretty decent rifles. On a used one, always remove the action from the stock and check the trigger screws. I've checked a couple that the two screws had worked loose. Could lead to an accidental discharge.
aka108
Member
Good rifles. I have the 1500 in 223. Does very well when I have a good day.
cridertj
Member
so if i bought a howa it would be the same as a weatherby ? what were some of the most popular models in the 300 win mag in the howa and weatherby?
cridertj
Member
i have seen that howa has a thumb hole stock in there 3006 and 300 how do you think these stocks would be for a hunting and varmint gun
rangerruck
Member
Here is the deal on Howas; they are considered a budget rifle such as a stevens, or mossberg, or the entry level remmy's. But there is a big difference in how they are made.
The Howa is the only one that has a hammer forged bbl, this is usually only reserved for higher end makers, as this is a expensive, time consuming process.
they use steel trigger guards and floorplates. they used forged receivers and bolts out of solid one piece construction. none of the other companies do this, not even Savage. They use a fat bolt design, with a full three position safety, this is very old school mauser type, and only a few of the big rifle makers do this on some of their rifle lines.
They also have a very nice pillar bed stock design.
So if you buy howa, you are buying a very nice , well put together rifle.
buy with confidence, 'chef recommends'...
The Howa is the only one that has a hammer forged bbl, this is usually only reserved for higher end makers, as this is a expensive, time consuming process.
they use steel trigger guards and floorplates. they used forged receivers and bolts out of solid one piece construction. none of the other companies do this, not even Savage. They use a fat bolt design, with a full three position safety, this is very old school mauser type, and only a few of the big rifle makers do this on some of their rifle lines.
They also have a very nice pillar bed stock design.
So if you buy howa, you are buying a very nice , well put together rifle.
buy with confidence, 'chef recommends'...
rangerruck
Member
also their new Axiom line is pretty astounding, it uses a stock made by Knoxx industries, that the bbl sits about 2 inches above the stock. the action design allows the rifle to recoil up the back of the stock, where two spring drives, one in the grip , and one in the buttstock, allow the action to move as far as one inch rearward in the stock and then back to it's origional position. This dampens as much as 90% of total recoil, which would tame even a 7 mag or 300 mag to about 243 recoil standards.
cridertj
Member
it sounds like a nice gun i was looking at the 700 but you all might be changing my mind. were are they made us or some where else?can you get parts easley for these?
JesseL
Member
rangerruck said:
It's always been my understanding that hammer forging is the cheapest and fastest way to make a barrel, though it requires very expensive equipment. As for the quality of hammer forged barrels, the consensus seems to be that they are consistently good but rarely up to the standards of a really good cut or button rifled barrel.
rangerruck
Member
you are right of course, on a cut bbl, or even a button rifled, but they have to be very, very, good, to beat a hammer forged. As far as remmy comparison, I am talking about their 710.770. or sps lines. Against any of these, the howa is better made, even their 700s, I am not sure they are all steel in the magwell/floorplate/triggerguards, and again, howas are made with a 1 piece bolt, and a solid piece forged receiver. Very nice for the price you get from a howa. You can get one of their package rifles , with scope, for under 400 bucks, and Howa is good at backing up what they sell.
SShooterZ
Member
I've got two:
* A Supreme Varmint model in .223 that will punch the same hole over and over with just about any ammo and really feeds off a wide variety of reloads. Gun is heavy with a bull barrel but with the trigger adjusted some, it's a joy to shoot and a tack driver.
* A Varmint model in .22-250 with a thumbhole stock. This is a stainless model and likes lighter weight bullets in the 38-50 gr range. Again, deadly accurate, great ergonomics and a nice trigger once adjusted. Has a sporter barrel and is only worth a few shots before the barrel heats up but a nice gun none the less.
Compared to my Savage American, I will grab the Howa everytime. The only thing that comes close in the prices range in my opinion, is the CZ line.
Great guns though I don't think you will regret buying one.
* A Supreme Varmint model in .223 that will punch the same hole over and over with just about any ammo and really feeds off a wide variety of reloads. Gun is heavy with a bull barrel but with the trigger adjusted some, it's a joy to shoot and a tack driver.
* A Varmint model in .22-250 with a thumbhole stock. This is a stainless model and likes lighter weight bullets in the 38-50 gr range. Again, deadly accurate, great ergonomics and a nice trigger once adjusted. Has a sporter barrel and is only worth a few shots before the barrel heats up but a nice gun none the less.
Compared to my Savage American, I will grab the Howa everytime. The only thing that comes close in the prices range in my opinion, is the CZ line.
Great guns though I don't think you will regret buying one.
ZigZagZeke
Member
I have a S&W 1500 in .30-06, which is made by Howa. It's better finished and has better fit than most Remington 700s I've handled. It shoots 3/4" groups at 100 yds. It's solid and well made. I'm really happy with it.
rangerruck
Member
howa is put out by Legacy sports international, which make a nice variety of rifles; you will have no trouble finding a dealer for them, or for any possible future repairs, heck they wont' need them anyway.
cridertj
Member
thanks a lot for all the info
Howa is a Japanese company. I believe they are assembled in Japan, but have no idea if parts are outsourced. Ironic that many fine guns wearing USA manufacturer's names are made in Japan (Howa, Miroku and a few others produce some Weatherbys, Browning A-bolts & Citoris and in the past, Ithacas, S&Ws, Winchesters).
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