Ok I'm convinced that the gift of ammunition dies and bullets is a sign that means that I need a 25-06. What clearer sign than my wife saying do you want that rifle as a Christmas present.
Whittaker's has a Howa for under $350 as does gunbroker and a TC venture for the same price. I've shot both and would lean towards the Howa unfortunately both are 22" barrels but either makes a nice walking Varmint rifle or deer gun.
I like them better than any other budget rifles from Savage and don't know anything about a Mossberg Patriots.
Anything I'm missing or just buy the Howa?
I'm impatiently waiting for Whittaker's to get their share of the non-cataloged RAR-Ps in 25-06.
I strongly dislike the Hogue stocks that come on the Howa 1500s, so when I buy a Howa 1500, I have to factor in the additional cost of changing out the stocks. The least expensive option is to find a current production V2 stock for between $50 and $100. That bump in cost makes the Howa 1500s within about $100 of the V2s and the V2s have 24" barrels.
