Savage vs Howa .223

K

Kermit

New member
I've been trying to find a bolt action 223 to make small groups at 150-200yrd and have narrowed my choice to these two manufacturers. Could use a couple of experienced opinions prior to my putting down the $$$. So, which heavy barrel, bolt action, synthetic stocked gun would you guys choose?
Thanks
 
I would go with the Savage. Their barrels are hard to beat for the money and they just seem to be getting better products out all the time.
 
Savage is a good value, you may want to have the trigger adjusted by a gunsmith cause they're a bit stiff. They are very well made.
 
akrate shooter

I don't won a Savage but have heard very good things about them. I do however have a Weatherby Firbremark by Howa and it is superbly accurate. It is now one of my favorites for hunting as I don't have to worry about scratching pretty wood.
mac
 
have both

A Savage and a Howa, though neither is in .223. The Savage is a .270 and the Howa is a .30-06, both very accurate rifles. With the Savage using my hunting handloads I have put 8 out of 10 into less than an inch (off of an improvised rest). With the Howa most of several factory loads I tried would go just over an inch. I haven't done any real experimenting with the Howa, I was satisfied with the accuracy I was getting and had several boxes of factory ammo left, needed to get some more empties before working on loads for it. I use the Savage more than the Howa, but I've had it longer, and it just seems to be the one I grab.
I would be happy with either, and am currently in much the same situation, I am considering the purchase of a new .22-250 by the same makers.
I guess I've really helped a lot here :)
bergie
 
I have a Savage and a Howa both in .308 and they are about the same as far as accuracy and price goes. But when I had a trigger job done on the Howa I ended up having to buy a $125 Timminey trigger. The gun smith thought he had screwed up the Howa trigger but it turns out the Howa triggers are notoriously difficult to adjust without screwing them up. The trigger that came on the Howa was pretty bad by the way.

The Savage on the other hand had a tolerable trigger on it right out of the box. And after a $20, 30 minute trigger adjustment (not a trigger job), it is about as good as it gets from a stock trigger.

After much research I have found that there are TONS more stocks, triggers, accessories and stuff out there for the Savage too.

For me, even though the Howa is a GREAT and accurate gun, I firmly believe the Savage is more gun for the money.
 
savage the only way to go.... i bought one in 243 to carry in my truck, boy was i suprised a t the accuracy , i shoot the winchester supreme 55 grain bullets at coyotes, it will keep them all in 3/4" at 100 yds, by all i mean 10, not three or five. i did have the trigger adjusted, cost $30 and took about a week in the local shop. i have / have owned many rugers , remingtons, and winchesters, all my future bolt rifles will be savages.
 
This is my first post. The Savage is a good value for the money. Their triggers could use some attention, or even replacement if you want to go that route ($). They are accurate and can be made very accurate.

Their CS is also first rate.
 
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