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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 669
Campfire Regular
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OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 669 |
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
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Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 263
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 263 |
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.
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 9,377
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 9,377 |
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.
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300 Likes: 1
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300 Likes: 1 |
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
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 15,754 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 15,754 Likes: 1 |
Howas and vanguards are my favorite rifles. Never had one not be accurate.
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 669
Campfire Regular
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OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 669 |
"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
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 4,364
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 4,364 |
I have one of their heavy barrel 308. 20". Its put a lot of venison in the freezer.
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 26,570 Likes: 17
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 26,570 Likes: 17 |
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.
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 26,570 Likes: 17
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 26,570 Likes: 17 |
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.
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300 Likes: 1
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300 Likes: 1 |
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
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Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5,779 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5,779 Likes: 1 |
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
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 46,745
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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.
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 485
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 485 |
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
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,312
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,312 |
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
"Life is tough, even tougher if your stupid" John Wayne
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Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 974
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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.
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 631
Campfire Regular
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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!!
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 31,428
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 31,428 |
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?
"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?
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,213
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,213 |
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.
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 669
Campfire Regular
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OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 669 |
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
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