I agree totally with Joe. I own a Vanguard, 300WBY. Very accuate, easy to reload for.
The point is The Howa 1500, the Vanguard and others are based on what was once the Sako L-61. I think this was the Finnbear. It is considered by many to be, after the WBY MKV, the pinnacle of pushfeed design. It is as solid as you can machine a rifle. The receiver is machined from a solid billet, recoil lug is integral. The bolt is the same, machined from a solid billet, handle and all. I don't know that Sako invented the three rings of steel concept but I believe they were using it before Rem or WBY were advertising it. All the bottom metal was real metal. It see see now that Howa has gone over to the dark side and not all bottom metal is real metal. This is an edit.
It is heavier than the other entry level bolt rifles. The rifles competitive with the Howa are machined tube stock, washered recoil lugs, fused, alloyed, or partially hollow bolts, with as much plastic as they can get away with. The generally work very well. All seem to have reputations for excellent accuracy. Some designs, Savage, Tikka, and Browning are really ingenious designs, IMO.
If it was my $500, it would be the Howa. I just like the feel and smoothness of the solid bolt.
I own and have owned several Ruger pistols and rifles, and always find joy in every one. If Ruger puts their Hawk on it, it's going to be a good design, IMO.