Howa 1500???

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02bigdogs17

New member
Looking at buying a Howa 1500 in 308. Just want some opinions on it. I looked at some reviews on line and everything I'm seeing looks really good for the price range of this gun.
 
Good rifles and their price makes them a deal. They're made in Japan and I believe the U.S. distributor is Legacy Sports.
 
The Weatherby Vanguard is built on the same actions. They are good rifles, but the heaviest production actions made. Unless I were putting together a heavy barreled target gun I'd not want one in a 308. They are a good choice for someone wanting a magnum chambered rifle where the weight can be a good thing.
 
Have had mine in .308 (Weatherby Vanguard) for several years. It is a little heavy but, prone or benched, it does its' job. I did replace the trigger and installed a bi-pod. Good rifle at a good price. Take care. Larry
 
I own a Vanguard in .243 as well. Good action. You should not have a problem with the Howa.

As for weight, you are the one who needs to determine if its too heavy for you and your purposes.
 
I don't shoot it as much as I would if it were a few pounds lighter...

I realize the Howa maybe a "few ounces" heavier than some of the newly designed competitors, but POUNDS LIGHTER would be a whole different class of rifles. Taking even ONE pound off a production rifle requires a lot of machining and/or a totally different barrel profile.
 
I own a Weatherby Vanguard, 2007 version, 300WBY. I wouldn't trade it for a MDL 700 , Tikka, Savage, Browning , or any of the drilled bar stock alloyed fused bolts rifles with washered recoil lugs.

I have owned MDL 700's in the past and sold them when I realized there are better rifles out there. I never had any real problems with a Rem 700. The 700 is reliable, accurate enough, a rather brilliant design really. I just feel like they have cut too many corners. That includes all the drilled bar stock models. They are all perfectly suitable for hunting, and if you want invest the price of a quality rifle in them they can be very accurate.

I have sold all my 700's years ago. I now own Weatherby MKV, Vanguard, Cooper MDL 22, and 3 Rugers. These all share a common trait, receivers machined from a solid forged billet, bolts machined from a solid billet, handle and all, and an integral recoil lug.

Imo you will never find as solid a rifle at this price point. I don't think you can go wrong with a Howa/Vanguard.

I had heard years ago that the Howa/Vanguard is a Sako L-61 design, the rights to which were purchased by Roy Weatherby. When his American sub-contractor couldn't meet production he turned to Howa. The rest is history.

You will never do better than Howa/Vanguard at the price, IMO.
 
I ordered my Howa 1500 in .308 today. I own a couple Savage Rifles and have had really good results with them. I hope this rifle performs as good or better than they do. I think the worst review on the Howa I can find anywhere is they are a little on the heavy side but that actually works better for me because I prefer a heavier rifle. All these new lightweight rifles these days are nice for packing on a hunt but they suck to go out and shoot for a few hours. Thanks for all the input.
 
I would spend a couple of extra bucks and get your favorite caliber in the Weatherby Vanguard S-2. It has an adjustable trigger and a .999 MOA accuracy guarantee.

The fiber stock is very well made and rigid. Best of all (compared to Savage or Ruger American) it has a hinged floor plate.

With Sierra Match King bullets and Varget, it shoots sub MOA. I got lucky and sometimes get sub MOA groups with Hornady SSTs and 4895.

The pricepoint of the rifle ($500+) is less than I spent on gunsmiths to get a Winchester M-70 modified to shoot MOA.
 
Have the Howa in .243. Excellent rifle! Accurate and very well made. it's one of the older ones with an adjustable trigger. I'm not sure if the newer one have a user adjustable trigger. The quality is as good or better than some much more expensive rifles in my opinion.
 
I have a 223 Rem Howa 1500 varmint barrel and action set in a Boyd Thumbhole varmint glass bedded action stock. It a sub 1/2 inch 100 yard group rifle.
 
I've been looking at a used one at a local store in my neck of the woods. It is the Hunter model in Remington 22-250. The store rates the gun "as new'. It does have just a few small dings in the wood. This is the model with the walnut stock and Nikko Stirling Scope. From my research I think you can get these for ~$600.00 new. Correct me if I am wrong. Would any of you have a ball park figure for what these go for used? Thanks for your input.
Cary
 
I have two, a .308 with a heavy varmint style barrel, and a .223 with a hunter weight tapered barrel. With scopes I have about $700 in each. Paid $450 for each, one at auction the other used at the lgs. Good rifles, I would buy again.
 
I have been looking at the barreled actions on Buds site, thinking about 308 H/B varmint or 270 and getting a stock from Boyds. I just need to decide what I am going to use it for and then pick a caliber. I will shoot this thing from a rest or bipod so the weight of the 308 H/B does not concern me. Any suggestions ?
 
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