Howa 1500 .223

[Fr0sty]

Anyone shoot a Howa yet? TD scored one a couple of weeks ago in .308 and I just picked up a 223 in a trade. Overall, I am VERY impressed with the rifle considering the cost. The trigger is one of the best stock adjustables that I have worked with. I am taking it out for a range test today, so hopefully I can provide pretty pictures when I get back

What's do you all think about Howas?

[Pizza Bob]

I have one in .308 win. Here's my review...

http://forum.pafoa.org/rifles-42/641...view-long.html

HTH

Adios,

Pizza Bob

[Bama Man]

I have a Smith&Wesson model 1500, which is actually a Howa action built for S&W.
Mine shot a.75" group at 100 yards, the second group I fired, HOWEVER, it was rebarreled and rechambered to .256 Newton in 1985 with about a #6 contour, which is fairly heavy.
The action is absolutely smooth and the trigger is also smooth and crisp.
Great actions in my opinion.

[mrnyman]

Les Johnson has one in 223, 22-250 and one built on an Axiom stock and he is killing Coyotes way out to 400 plus Yards, excellent rifles, Legacy sports is the importer if you want add ons etc.

[Guns & Glass]

The 1500 was originally designed by Roy Weatherby, then and now still built by Howa Machinery LTD.

IMHO:

If you took blank actions (no name) Howa 1500 & a Rem 700 laid out the action sleeve, trigger/safety controls, and the bolts side by side you could easily decribe the 1500 as the 'new and improved Rem 700 Super'.

If you then assembled the action, and went thru all the operating procedures, you would easily think the 1500 was easier & more ergonomic.

If Remington took the 1500, put their name on it, and sold it as the 'Rem 700 Super'....it would outsell every other bolt action.

The Weatherby Vanguard & Howa 1500 are truly steals at the price.

[knight0334]

I had a Smith & Wesson 1500 Varminteer(made by Howa) .222Rem years ago. It was a great shooter. The bolt on it ran as slick as a greased ice cube on a flat pane of glass.. Was one of the very few bolt guns I've ever owned, and the only one I regret getting rid of.

[Feddog82]

I have a Vanguard in .300 Win Mag. Shoots great. Little heavy but that is good since the .300 will kick your ass at the range. The bolt is very smooth and a pleasure to operate. Rifle has smooth and sleek lines. Just wish I could find a nicer stock for it than the Black syn that came on it.

[kunsunoke]

Howa rifles are built by factory obsessives in Japan, which is a nation of obsessive people (the applicable term here is 'otaku'). So you can think of them as doubly-obsessive in terms of quality and attention to detail.

A fat-barrel AXIOM stainless action in .308 on a custom Walnut stock is on my short list in the next two years.

[Fr0sty]

I got the rifle broke in and ready to shoot now. I made some loads up to get the grouping process started. My 223 brass collection is mostly LC fired out of my AR. I spent a lot of time checking head stamps to come up with only a couple of groups wort of brass weighing out. I am debating about buying some fresh brass to start a new 100rd load box for it.


More to come after this weekend as I will have a chance to get some grouping done. This Howa is a very smooth shooting rifle, so I hope it can hold a nice group.

[Hokkmike]

I have fired one and can highly recommend it.