Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Howa 1500 Lightning - 6.5 Creed

I'm considering testing the waters of the 6.5 creed, but don't want to break the bank...So, I'm curious if anyone here has tried one of these? Are they accurate rifles, or should save my pennies for something better?

Howas are dead nutz accurate in my experience, and from everything I read about them. Whittaker has them for I think $330 right now. Howa makes the Weatherby Vanguards FWIW and they are excellent as well, albeit heavy.

Can't reply about a Howa made 6.5 C.M, but own a Howa 1500 I've had rebarreled to 6.5CM. Bought the Howa in pawn shop....was a .243. It shot decently as a .243,, just wanted a heavier barrel rifle and a different cartridge. Can tell you that Howa makes a good action. Another gent I shoot with, that's a Howa owner, also shares the same opinion.

I bought one from Whittaker's for $330 and dislike the Hogue stock so strongly that I bought a V2 take-off stock from a member here and that made the fit much better for me. If you're going to use the rifle "as is", they are a good deal, but if you would plan to change the stock, then you'd want to factor in the additional cost when making your purchase decision.

I have bought four different models of factory specs rifles in 6.5 Creedmoor; Howa 1500, Ruger Hawkeye and RAR-P, and Weatherby Vanguard2. Accuracy among the four is comparable, with the V2 being the most accurate "out of the box" CF rifle that I've yet to own. If barrel length is a matter of consideration for you, the V2s come with 24" barrels, while the other come with 22" barrels. Stocks are a very personal thing, so while the ergs of the Hogue stock that came on the Howa 1500 were terrible for me, they might work fine for others.

BOTTOM LINE: If you don't mind the Hogue stock, the Howa 1500 is a great buy at $330 from Whittaker's. If not, the higher initial cost of the V2 might end up being very close to the combined cost of the Howa 1500 and a replacement stock.

I have a Vanguard in 6.5 Creedmoor. Very accurate. I like it!!

As afar as a rifle to shoot the howas are imho more of a contemporary of the Remington 700 , and push feed model 70s than say the budget rifles. There. May be a specific feature that you value like a wing safety etc. but they are nice rifles. Having said that the previous two post by 260 RG and Hanco tell you what you need to know.

Thank you Gentlemen. It sounds like a good platform to start playing with a new cartridge, provided that I can live with the stock. I do have a Vanguard S2, and I do like the ergonomics of their stocks... but it sounds like the Howa is a different animal in that regard. I doubt that I can find one locally, but perhaps I'll see if I can find one to fondle before making the purchase.

I have one in 6.5 Creedmoor, and even while sitting in the Hogue stock, it shoots sub-moa with just about anything I've shot through it. It's almost boringly accurate. The two stage trigger took some getting used to, but after adjusting it to 2-1/2 pounds, it's performed flawlessly.