I see this brand every now and then at some local stores. About all I know about Howa is that they're made in Japan and seem to be well fit and finished. Anyone with any positive or negative experiences with Howa?

I believe the Weatherby Vanguard is also made by Howa.
The Japanese make a very good rifle or Shotgun.

I've owned a few Howa rifles. They're excellent guns for the money.

Unless things have changed over the past couple of decades, Howa makes a fine bolt action rifle. I don't know what prices are like these days but the Howa used to be a real sleeper, a true best-buy.

Howa builds their own rifles, and they are , as para mentioned, sleepers,


they built some Weatherby's
also made stuff for many other brands, S&W shotguns, Armalite AR-180's and many more


like Miruko , they do fine work

Were you at the Brownells website? They’re featuring a sale on Howa barrelled actions. Tempting.

Link

I have a Howa 1500 in 338 Win Mag and Weatherby Vanguard in 270 Win. Basically same gun, but each has different options (e.g. barrel length). Stocks, scope rings, etc. are all interchangeable.

I also have a Howa chassis rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor and a 26" barrel. I've shot 900 meters with it and was banging steel.

All 3 are nice, accurate bolt-action rifles.

If you’re interested in a good rifle buy the Howa. If you’re interested in a really good Howa, buy a Weatherby Vanguard II.

Weatherby offers lower levels of the Vanguard and Howa offers higher levels of the 1500. Lately putting more effort into lightening them up. The Howa has always been a bit pudgy.

For what it’s worth my Vanguard Back Country is every bit as good a shooter as my Tikka t3 lite. It’s a premium rifle at a reasonable cost in my opinion. Cera coat, fluted barrel, nice trigger, Bell & Carlson stock… At the other end of the line you get a very nicely done poly stock instead of the Howa base stock.

Look into the Weatherby Vanguard’s if you see Howa checking all your boxes. You might find a couple extra boxes checked.

I have been jonesing for a 7.62x39 bolt gun bad…. Real bad…. I have been eyeballing the Howa Mini-Action in that caliber for a while. However, they don’t make that caliber in a barrel shorter than their 20 or 22” barrel length.

I really want a 16 or 16.25” barrel to attach my .30 cal. can w/o making a rifle as long as a shop push broom. Howa makes a 16.25” barreled Mini-Action in .350 Legend all other calibers are 20 or 22”. Maybe I should beg and plead w/ them… I like their stuff.

quote:

Originally posted by 357fuzz:
I have been jonesing for a 7.62x39 bolt gun bad…. Real bad…. I have been eyeballing the Howa Mini-Action in that caliber for a while. However, they don’t make that caliber in a barrel shorter than their 20 or 22” barrel length.

I really want a 16 or 16.25” barrel to attach my .30 cal. can w/o making a rifle as long as a shop push broom. Howa makes a 16.25” barreled Mini-Action in .350 Legend all other calibers are 20 or 22”. Maybe I should beg and plead w/ them… I like their stuff.

Try the Ruger American Ranch Rifle.

quote:

Originally posted by bcjwriter:

quote:

Originally posted by 357fuzz:
I have been jonesing for a 7.62x39 bolt gun bad…. Real bad…. I have been eyeballing the Howa Mini-Action in that caliber for a while. However, they don’t make that caliber in a barrel shorter than their 20 or 22” barrel length.

I really want a 16 or 16.25” barrel to attach my .30 cal. can w/o making a rifle as long as a shop push broom. Howa makes a 16.25” barreled Mini-Action in .350 Legend all other calibers are 20 or 22”. Maybe I should beg and plead w/ them… I like their stuff.

Try the Ruger American Ranch Rifle.

Or the CZ 600 Alpha. Not quite 16" (it's 18"), but considering their own past experience with 7.62x39, it's a worthy successor to their iconic 527.

I have been thinking about both the Ruger and CZ but, the Howa is very nice and wanted something g a little different than what most have.

quote:

Originally posted by 357fuzz:
I have been jonesing for a 7.62x39 bolt gun bad…. Real bad…. I have been eyeballing the Howa Mini-Action in that caliber for a while. However, they don’t make that caliber in a barrel shorter than their 20 or 22” barrel length.

I really want a 16 or 16.25” barrel to attach my .30 cal. can w/o making a rifle as long as a shop push broom. Howa makes a 16.25” barreled Mini-Action in .350 Legend all other calibers are 20 or 22”. Maybe I should beg and plead w/ them… I like their stuff.

Get what they have, whack it and get it threaded. You’re not going to be truly happy with a compromise. Use the money saved with an inexpensive round to justify the cost. Speed up the payoff by pricing against 7mm08 for example

Not a bad idear…

I have a Howa ranch rifle in 223. It’s got the hogue rubber stock not a huge fan. Would prefer a smooth river pass stock or wood. But it was cheap. I have a 3-9 vx2 leupold on it and it’s free to 100+ with 55 ball cheap ammo. Never dialed it in with 50 or 45 grain but I’m sure would be fine.