24hourcampfire.com
24hourcampfire.com
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Hop To
Page 1 of 2 1 2
#14203712 10/15/19
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 666
S
Campfire Regular
OP Offline
Campfire Regular
S
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 666
Sportsman's Warehouse has the Howa 1500 Hogue stocked rifle for $399. I am thinking about getting one in .308 or 7-08.
They feel pretty good for a basic, no frills hunting rifle. the specs say 7.8 lbs so not real light but doable.

So what experiences do you have with Howa1500?

I already have a Leupold 3x9 to sit on top. Recommend bases or a rail?

Thanks in advance.


"Socialism produces bad music, bad art, social stagnation and really unhappy people", “I am a conservative, and you may not like that, but I am.” Frank Zappa 1986
BP-B6

Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 262
N
Campfire Member
Offline
Campfire Member
N
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 262
I bought a barreled action a few years ago & put it in a laminated stock. Leupold scope, rings & bases. Same bases as the Rem. 700 I believe. It is on the heavy side but it has a very nice two stage trigger & groups under an inch with a few different reloads. The action was very smooth out of the box. Not a finely polished/blued finish but more than good enough for a hunting rifle, and the price. I like it.

Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 9,348
Campfire Outfitter
Offline
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 9,348
I really like the Howa 1500 rifles. I have owned several and they are problem free, feed and eject smoothly. All I have owned were MOA or better. The only downside is the weight for the standard rifles, but the Alpine and Mini rifles are quite light. They are a great value for the money.


Always remember that you are unique, just like everyone else.
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300
Campfire Oracle
Offline
Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300
I just bought a HOWA 1500 in their Kuiu model in .223

I like it quite a bit, and the only quirk I found with it is that I needed to fire a number of rounds to get the barrel to be more receptive.

At first it shot only a few select loads well, after 200 rounds it accepts just about anything...


"...the left considers you vermin, and they'll kill you given the chance..." Bristoe
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 15,698
M
Campfire Ranger
Offline
Campfire Ranger
M
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 15,698
Howas and vanguards are my favorite rifles. Never had one not be accurate.

IC B2

Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 666
S
Campfire Regular
OP Offline
Campfire Regular
S
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 666
Thanks for the feedback!


"Socialism produces bad music, bad art, social stagnation and really unhappy people", “I am a conservative, and you may not like that, but I am.” Frank Zappa 1986
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 4,322
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 4,322
I have one of their heavy barrel 308. 20". Its put a lot of venison in the freezer.

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 5,116
T
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
T
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 5,116
I built my daughter a Faux Alpine from one of those Sportsman's Warehouse $399 rifles. If you can find a used or new Howa Alpine stock and use Talley Mounts your rifle should come in right at 7 lbs scoped with your Leupold (I used a VariXIII 2.5-8X36). You can usually pick up used Alpine stocks for around $200, and they are worth every penny.

2019 Pronghorn
[Linked Image from live.staticflickr.com]2019 season by taylorce1, on [bleep]

2018 Mule Deer
[Linked Image from live.staticflickr.com]0f1e09c5-7622-472a-82d9-1a6d12e1ee6a-original by taylorce1, on [bleep]

2018 Whitetail
[Linked Image from live.staticflickr.com]64aa1b75-1aa7-43aa-b613-bb70b2780682-original by taylorce1/url], on [bleep]

Hogue & Alpine Stock
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2hvSUCg][Linked Image from live.staticflickr.com]
RfP2PHd by taylorce1, on [bleep]

Without Butler Creek Caps
[Linked Image from live.staticflickr.com]UQkWIsU by taylorce1, on [bleep]

With Butler Creek Caps
[Linked Image from live.staticflickr.com]YH4KIm1 by taylorce1, on [bleep]

Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 26,283
Campfire Ranger
Online Content
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 26,283
I bought one in 6.5x55 at SW for $299. I liked it so well that I treated it to McMillan Edge. It feels just right now. Sadly, I haven't even shot it since I dropped it in the new stock.

Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 26,283
Campfire Ranger
Online Content
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 26,283
Originally Posted by ingwe
I just bought a HOWA 1500 in their Kuiu model in .223

I like it quite a bit, and the only quirk I found with it is that I needed to fire a number of rounds to get the barrel to be more receptive.

At first it shot only a few select loads well, after 200 rounds it accepts just about anything...



My SW has one of those on closeout for $349. I have had a really hard time not buying it.

IC B3

Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300
Campfire Oracle
Offline
Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300
Originally Posted by PaulBarnard
Originally Posted by ingwe
I just bought a HOWA 1500 in their Kuiu model in .223

I like it quite a bit, and the only quirk I found with it is that I needed to fire a number of rounds to get the barrel to be more receptive.

At first it shot only a few select loads well, after 200 rounds it accepts just about anything...



My SW has one of those on closeout for $349. I have had a really hard time not buying it.



Go back and get it! I got mine for $399 and thought THAT was a bargain!


"...the left considers you vermin, and they'll kill you given the chance..." Bristoe
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5,646
D
Campfire Tracker
Online Content
Campfire Tracker
D
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5,646
I've had, and have, multiple Howa 1500's and Weatherby Vanguards in various calibers and styles. Really nice, accurate, rifles. Right now, my 2 most used rifles are Howa's, 1 in 7mm-08 and the other in 223 Rem. Between the 2, I'm covered for anything I'm going to hunt for.


It isn't what happens to you that defines you, it's what you DO about what happens to you that defines you!

NRA life member

Illinois State Rifle Association member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 46,745
T
Campfire 'Bwana
Offline
Campfire 'Bwana
T
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 46,745
Good guns but they're tanks. I doubt you'll have any trouble with accuracy or function.


Camp is where you make it.
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 485
G
Campfire Member
Offline
Campfire Member
G
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 485
Originally Posted by tzone
Good guns but they're tanks. I doubt you'll have any trouble with accuracy or function.

This. They are excellent (one of the best IMO) actions, but heavy.


Speak life
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,256
Campfire Outfitter
Online Content
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,256
I have three for some reason. One the most accurate rifles I own is a mid 80's S&W 1500 (made by howa) that I thought I would have shot the barrel out by now. But it still prints, it just has a bit longer throat now than whn it was new laugh


"Life is tough, even tougher if your stupid"
John Wayne
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 974
C
Campfire Regular
Offline
Campfire Regular
C
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 974
I own a Howa mini action and a Weatherby Vanguard. Like them both. I have some complaints about the Mini Action drop box magazine, and I don’t love the stock on my Vanguard, but otherwise they’ve been flawless. The fit and finish on the Vanguards seems better than the Howas and they are often just as cheap. I prefer the Hogue stock to the Weatherby one but I’m probably in the minority.

If I could build a custom rifle and my gunsmith could work metric threads, I’d start with a Howa action.

Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 631
Campfire Regular
Offline
Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 631
Recently I been playing with a Howa Mini HB in 6.5 Grendel. Working up reloads for it, and I find it amazing the velocities that you can get out of 31 grains or less of powder with such a little case. It's fun round!!

Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 31,400
M
Campfire 'Bwana
Offline
Campfire 'Bwana
M
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 31,400
Originally Posted by Shadow
Recently I been playing with a Howa Mini HB in 6.5 Grendel. Working up reloads for it, and I find it amazing the velocities that you can get out of 31 grains or less of powder with such a little case. It's fun round!!

Sounds good. Standard contour on layaway still here.


Here's a 1500 6.5 Creedmoor I messed around with. Someone here bought it. Wondering how they liked it?
[Linked Image from i.postimg.cc]


"I can't be canceled, because, I don't give a fuuck!"
--- Kid Rock 2022


Holocaust Deniers, the ultimate perverted dipchits: Bristoe, TheRealHawkeye, stophel, Ghostinthemachine, anyone else?
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,029
Campfire 'Bwana
Online Content
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,029
Originally Posted by colorado11
I own a Howa mini action and a Weatherby Vanguard. Like them both. I have some complaints about the Mini Action drop box magazine, and I don’t love the stock on my Vanguard, but otherwise they’ve been flawless. The fit and finish on the Vanguards seems better than the Howas and they are often just as cheap. I prefer the Hogue stock to the Weatherby one but I’m probably in the minority.

If I could build a custom rifle and my gunsmith could work metric threads, I’d start with a Howa action.


Is the Vanguard stock that you don't like the current Vanguard2 Griptonite stock or the older style of stock?

I don't care for the older Vanguard stocks, but think that, for me, the V2 Griptonite stock is one of the very best injection molded stocks that manufacturers are currently making.

I like to put my Howa 1500s and Vanguards in McM Hunter stocks, but the B&C Medalist Weatherby style stock is a nice upgrade for under $300 from Stocky's.

Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 666
S
Campfire Regular
OP Offline
Campfire Regular
S
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 666
Thanks for all the great information! Will probably go pick up .308 today.

Is there really a problem finding a smith to work on metric rifles? I don't plan to do anything to it but shoot the heck out of it in the short term but down the road who knows.

so for Scope bases and rings.. I have some bases and rings that from a long action Remington 700. I have read they work on the long action Howa but don't know about the short actions.
Is a one piece rail a better way to go?

Thanks again.


"Socialism produces bad music, bad art, social stagnation and really unhappy people", “I am a conservative, and you may not like that, but I am.” Frank Zappa 1986
Page 1 of 2 1 2

Moderated by  RickBin 

Link Copied to Clipboard
YB23

Who's Online Now
660 members (163bc, 06hunter59, 09wingates, 007FJ, 160user, 75 invisible), 2,672 guests, and 1,205 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Forum Statistics
Forums81
Topics1,187,605
Posts18,398,367
Members73,817
Most Online11,491
Jul 7th, 2023


 







Fish & Game Departments | Solunar Tables | Mission Statement | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | DMCA
Hunting | Fishing | Camping | Backpacking | Reloading | Campfire Forums | Gear Shop
Copyright © 2000-2024 24hourcampfire.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5
(Release build 20201027)
Responsive Width:

PHP: 7.3.33 Page Time: 0.170s Queries: 15 (0.004s) Memory: 0.8992 MB (Peak: 1.0541 MB) Data Comp: Zlib Server Time: 2024-03-28 13:50:21 UTC
Valid HTML 5 and Valid CSS