I think Smack had a bum barrel. I've had a few Howa and a few Vanguards and didn't have an issue wth fouling. My Howa 308 is. Pencil barrel Ranchland Compact and shoots right at 1" and my current Vanguard in 30-06 is shooting sub MOA. I had a 7RM I wish I'd have never gotten rid of that was a tackdriver and a 243 that was also a tackdriver.

Talking to you is like trying to nail jello to the wall.