Howa M1500 varmint .308 Opinions
- Thread starter joesuits4
- Start date
Joe,
First let me apologize for not having input on the exact rifle your asking about. I only respond to extoll the virtue of the Howa 1500 in general. I have one in 243 and am looking to pickup a 308 version like you. It is a superb weapon. I think the Howa's are some of the best built rifles out there. They surpass or rival rifles with a much higher price tag. Of course , you may already realize this. Can't wait for some more input for you, so I can see what others have to say .Luck to you.
First let me apologize for not having input on the exact rifle your asking about. I only respond to extoll the virtue of the Howa 1500 in general. I have one in 243 and am looking to pickup a 308 version like you. It is a superb weapon. I think the Howa's are some of the best built rifles out there. They surpass or rival rifles with a much higher price tag. Of course , you may already realize this. Can't wait for some more input for you, so I can see what others have to say .Luck to you.
I have a .308 varmint 1500 with a 20" barrel. It's my woods short range brush gun for deer. A friend of mine gave me some 200 grain winchester silvertip ammo left over from the 70's. It printed a 3/8" group with the stuff and that's what I hunted with until I ran out last fall. Still looking for a factory round that shoots that well. It's a reliable 1.25" shooter with other factory stuff. May be a whole lot better with someone else pulling the trigger. If you google opinions on that model Howa you should like what you find. One of the "sniper" long range shooting websites will offer start-up howa builds that may offer a 24" barrels in fully bedded synth stock. Optics are available as well.
Spend a few more bucks and get a Weatherby Vanguard S-2. Better trigger, better stock and .999 MOA accuracy guarantee. Same action on both rifles. Some say same barrel and trigger but that is simply not so. The trigger on the Vanguard is adjustable, but I have not seen the need to change the factory setting.
I would think long and hard about the .308. A full power .308 is hard on the shoulder while you are learning to master your rifle.
Here is an exceptional group with CAST bullets in my S-2 in .308. Shooting cast bullets at this velocity is very easy on your shoulder and extends your barrel life by thousands and thousands of rounds.
I would think long and hard about the .308. A full power .308 is hard on the shoulder while you are learning to master your rifle.
Here is an exceptional group with CAST bullets in my S-2 in .308. Shooting cast bullets at this velocity is very easy on your shoulder and extends your barrel life by thousands and thousands of rounds.
I have a Howa 1500 270 that cost me $200 at a gunshow in 2005.
I have shot one (5) shot group with it at 100 yards: 1.4"
But that was only one group and with crummy bullets. It could be a lot worse or a lot better.
That prospect of me rebarreling it is bleak. I would have to get my hands dirty for metric threads. 26mm major, 1.5mm pitch. Supposedly cut 17tpi and your mom will never know, but my lathe does not do 17tpi.
I have shot one (5) shot group with it at 100 yards: 1.4"
But that was only one group and with crummy bullets. It could be a lot worse or a lot better.
That prospect of me rebarreling it is bleak. I would have to get my hands dirty for metric threads. 26mm major, 1.5mm pitch. Supposedly cut 17tpi and your mom will never know, but my lathe does not do 17tpi.
Attachments
Sniper Central is the website I refer to above, they offer long range rifle packages, one of which is based on the Howa action. Their rifle forum features a good bit of discussion on Howa 1500s. They have a "shop" catagory that list all the options available to one who would like to have them build a rifle for them.
As for me, I picked up a 308 heavy barrel varminter 1500 from Academy and put a Meopta scope on it. If one wants a longer barrel you may be dealing with the classifeds or the site above. Legacy Sports may still offer an action with a 24" barrel, but one costs as much as my rifle, and you're still building a rifle around it by adding a stock, etc.
As for me, I picked up a 308 heavy barrel varminter 1500 from Academy and put a Meopta scope on it. If one wants a longer barrel you may be dealing with the classifeds or the site above. Legacy Sports may still offer an action with a 24" barrel, but one costs as much as my rifle, and you're still building a rifle around it by adding a stock, etc.