Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Howa/Vanguard Action for Custom Build

I picked up a very nice handling custom rifle that has a Howa action. Builder did some lightening of the bolt with a few flutes. Aside from that the action is unremarkable. Question: Are Howa actions considered a strong building part?

If so, why?

😎

You might check with the guys at Short Action Customs. I know Mark Gordon @ SAC used to post a bit over on Snipers Hide and he did a number of custom builds on those actions, can't recall all he said about them but seem to remember he thought they where a good strong action that was easy to build an especially if on a budget. Kind of like using a model 700 action only more better??

Thanks, Frank....That’s was sorta the same information, albeit limited, info that I was finding scouring the web. Howa makes a strong action and bolt per several sources...😎

and its a little heavier... right?

Yep they are good actions. It will work well.

Some would argue they are better than a Remington, others despise them. Some of the most accurate rifles I ever built were on this action.
Charlie

I like them but the standard 1500 is a little too heavy for a Ultralight build. No I’m no gunsmith but the 1500 has been unbreakable in numerous Ive owned and used and always feed and extract very reliably.

The Vanguard versions seem a little more nicely factory finished.

Reportedly they were a knock off of the Sako L579 design.

The Howas bear a striking similarity to the older two-lug Sako actions, but with the actions ground to suit a Rem700 two piece base.

The actions are forged, since the late 1980s they have been CNC machined to final finish.

Some gunsmiths don't like them as they use metric threads and those same gunsmiths won't upgrade to a modern lathe which can cut metric threads. Barrels are fitted at the factory using either a gorilla or a defined torque robotic assembly. Barrels can be quite difficult to remove.

One gent I know has done quite a bit of work using them as basic actions for custom rifles and the more recent ones (since CNC) are true out of the box, with actions indexing as good as big name custom actions.

Nothing light about them though.

Yes, compared to a Rem 700 S/A the Howa feels heavier. I wouldn’t shy away from doing a build on one in the future. Fluting the bolt, although minimal in weight reduction was a nice enhancement, if really only in cosmetics. 😎

I’ve owned my fair share of Wby Mark V actioned rifles and several Vanguards. I saw nothing but excellent out of the box accuracy from every Vanguard. Contrary, every Mark V needed Smith work to get the rifle to print to a standard of 1 MOA. A little telling imho 😎

Howa 1500 Action with bolt flute cuts. 😎

I wouldn't hesitate to use one.

Is that formerly Tim's 7wsm?

Laffin...Scott, you don’t miss much!
Yeah, I called seconds should the original sale fall apart, which it did not. The buyer got it. Then found the rifle of his dreams and sent me a PM asking if I still wanted it. I couldn’t spit yes out fast enough.

It’s a really nice rifle...😎

That's an awfully nice addition - you did well.

Howa actions are great, but they are on the heavy side. I’ve built 4 or 5 rifles on those actions and never had one that would not shoot 1/2” or better. My gunsmith is a lot better shot than I am though.

Here is one of them.

Beaver, That's a great looking rig. In what I consider one of the most underrated modern calibers.

Nice goat!