Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles New Howa Alpine Mountain Rifle 7/08 Range Report

I bought one of these in 7-08 last week. I went out this morning to shoot it for the first time. Unless you count the two rounds it took me to zero, I never had a group larger than 1 moa, including at 200 yards. To say that I am impressed is an understatement. I mounted a Leopold VX-3 2.5-8X36 scope in a set of Talleys and was good to go. The trigger came set at 2/5# which was perfect as that is where I set all of mine. I had some factory ammo, Federal Premium with 140 gr. Barnes TSX and 4 different handloads from other rifles. My last group of the day was an afterthought of ammo I had loaded for a different 7-08 that I have since sold. So I thought, "what the heck". That shot 2 five round, 200 yard group, that measured 1.724" and 1.590". I am very happy with the Howa Alpine Mountain rifle. I might just buy another in 308 next week. By the way, someone might ask that last load. It was as follows:

New Winchester brass.
140 Gr. Nosler Accubonds
2.80 C.O.A.L.
Fed 210 primer
45.5 grains of IMR 4350

Oh, and I used my standard barrel break in process which is as follows (you might want to write this down because it really works for me);

Fire one round. Load another. Fire it. Load another. Fire it. Load another. Etc., etc., etc.

congrats,I like that rifle and your barrel break in method. I may need to buy one of these.

That's pretty impressive. They seem like allot of rifle for the money. I've seen some priced very reasonably.

I have one that I have yet to shoot. I bought it from CDNN a while back with the factory installed vortex scope. What are these going for now?

Nice rifle!

You aint cool without a 26 in barrel creedmoor. Cant you sidehill sneak and hold the scope tight enough to keep the muzzle high enough to keep it from bouncing off rocks or getting hung in brush?

Nice! Are those stainless or are they cerakote?........Hb

They're cerakote

Mind letting us know what you paid? Been looking for a 7-08 and want to try something other than rem 700, win model 70, tikka, etc. Was thinking savage but you threw another good option in the mix.

I bought a 243, NIB from a dealer in North Carolina, I think I stole it, I paid $775 for it, floor plate, no detachable mag or scope. Haven't shot it yet.

I got my 7mm-08 from CDNN for $900 with floor plate, plastic magwell (no mag in the box), Talley lightweight mounts and a Vortex Viper 3-9x40

Sako 76,

You did steal that one. I had the opportunity to shoot one in .243 last fall and I was impressed. Saw one (bare rifle) in a LGS in Wyoming for nearly $900 IIRC.

Big Sky... Cool looking rig. I'm getting weaker...

Any of you guys who are military or LE, Legacy Arms, the importer, has a military/LE purchase program.

That's how I got it. $700.

What is the process to qualify? - I can do military or LE.

I'm looking for a 6.5 Creedmoor, I don't see any available. I emailed SAS (Darrik) and he said he had them, when I looked there weren't any.

Scot, go to Legacy Sports International website, click on the contact us and inquire that way. They will then contact you and have you send whatever credentials they require. It was and is a very simple process.

Yup

Nice rifle!
What kind of material is used to make the stock?

Fiberglass.

Did you bed your action or just shoot as is? Also did you have any issues with fit of bottom metal/floor plate?

Like I said when I got mine it came with the plastic magazine kit and that was what was installed. It didn't come with a magazine in the box I should probably call Legacy to see if they can send me one not a big deal because I planned on using the floor plate anyway.

The problem I had was the underside of the front bedding block contacted a boss on the bottom metal when opening the floor plate. I slowly and carefully removed some material with a dremmel tool. Just wondered if you had that issue as well.

I never bedded it. I never do unless they need it. They usually don't need it. I had no issues with any fit of anything.

Looks like you're running the floor plate on yours as well.

Did yours come with both the floor plate and the DBM? I'm guessing they never checked floor plate fit on mine since the DBM was installed.

I've got to get myself some range time one of these days. I have this and 3 other rifles I haven't shot yet. I may have a problem.

No. I ordered it this way.

The floor plate allows a few hundredths more length on the cartridge OAL before maxing out.

Not at home where my notes are, but I think the plastic mag is right around 2.825 and the floorplate is more like 2.855.

Here's the spot I had to modify to get the floor plate to work.

How do you feel it compares to the 308 Montana? Which do you prefer?

Similar rifle just sold on GunBroker for $550

That seems really cheap. Are you sure it was the same stock and everything?

I doubt it. Post the link please.

This. It's a Bansner, which is a VERY nice stock.


Okie John

Then that was a heck of a buy. Free barreled action with purchase of stock deal?

Without the link "similar" could mean anything.

Probably a Howa barreled action in a green B&C stock. Even that is a decent deal.

I really doubt a gun that retails for $900-1000 would have sold so cheaply unless there were some major issues.

Do you have to be active duty military or having served will qualify for the discount? Thanks.

Matt is their LE/MIL guy.

Matthew Hornback
Legacy Sports International, Inc.
4674 Aircenter Circle
Reno, NV 89502
Toll Free: 1-800-553-4229
E-mail: mhornbacklegacysports.com

Well, there was a $35 shipping fee...

http://www.gunbroker.com/item/634813648

Dang...

Wow

Done.

http://www.gunbroker.com/item/634813648

Anything else?

Someone just got a screaming deal.


Okie John

DW--thanks!

No kidding, I'd have been all over that.

When I was looking for a nice light 6.5 CM hunting rifle, it came down to the Alpine or the Montana. My local SW had an Alpine that had been sitting on the shelf for over a year that I could have gotten for $899. In the end I wanted stainless steel, a threaded barrel and was curious about Montanas. The Kimber has turned out to be an excellent rifle, but now I want an Alpine to go with it...

Nice looking rifle!
How much does it weigh as pictured above with the scope and rings?

I priced then here in Canada. $1479CDN plus 15% tax. <barf>

That's crazy!

You're right! .... That crazy price because of the exchange on the US dollar.

I'm on active duty right now so I can't weigh it. If I remember to do so when I get home, I will weigh it.

The one I've got (6.5 Creed) is a bit finicky.... but is a good setup.






That's with a SWFA SS 3-9x42mm, EGW Pic rings and a Warne Mountain Tech Base.

Thanks for the weight Form..
Ordered a Tikka T3x in 6.5x55 for around $1100 ish (cdn$) instead..
Have a bunch of 6.5 brass on hand I bought on close-out years ago plus a goodly supply of 6.5 Hornady 140gr. BTHP's..

I could like that setup I think. Crazing having to hold a new scope like that together with tape...

Which is the OTC winner: Kimber, Howa, or Tikka?

First, my apologies to Nrut for failing to remember to weigh my rifle. I'm glad that Formidilosus guy posted his.


My best answer, being an owner of multiples of all three, it's a toss up, really. As unlucky as I am normally, I've been lucky when it comes to rifles and don't experience the failings and shortcomings so many others do with their rifle purchasers. Kimber roulette does not exist in my world. Plastic parts melting or fracturing or whatever on Tikkas has never occurred with mine. The Howa Alpine, though new, so far has no "standard shortcomings". A general complaint for Howas has been their weight which is why we have the Alpine. All of mine of all three makes have been very accurate, very lite and function flawlessly. If it comes down to money then, if you can get the Howa mlitary/leo discount, I would suggest you go that route to try it. If you don't like it, you shouldn't lose money. If cost is of a concern and no discount is available then the Tikka should be your huckleberry. Unless one or two of those models won't fit your physical form, there's your answer. Based on my experience and assuming your experience were to match mine, all three would make you happy.

Thanks for the info; very helpful! 'Twer I in the market, Kimber would probably get the first look. I had one in 300WSM for a bit, but never shot it. Sold it to help to defray hunts as I drew two tags that year I shouldn't have. I really liked how it handled and I have a strong preference for a 3pos wing safety as my other two most used big game rifles (Ruger MKII and Marlin MR-7) have them.

Tell me about it..... grin


For out of the box without screwing with it- Tikka, Howa AP, Kimber- in that order. However, if you are including Kimbers, than the Barrett Fieldcraft should be in there too, and that would be the one.

Thanks for the info! I think I could really like the Barrett, but just have my heart set on a 260 Rem as I'm tooled up for that, especially with the ~3" mag box that it has. Guess a setback and rechamber could get one there...