Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Howa?

I have been looking for options in rifles chambered in 6mm Creedmoor. Howa has some interesting models available. What’s y’all’s thoughts and experience with them?

No experience with the 6mm Creedmoor versions but Howa builds a very good, accurate rifle. The 6CM should do very well.

I like the Howa rifles, hate the Hogue stocks they put on most of them. The Howa Alpine with the Banser stock is the only one I've handeled that I liked the stock.. Having said that, I've had several Howa rifles, and they all shot good enough, with the only exception being a 6.5X55 that I had years ago.

Ive had a couple HOWA rifles, currently own one.Another vote for them. Accurate, dependable and will take some hard use. Well made.

Don’t they make the Weatherby Vanguard?

Yes, the Vanguard is a branded Howa.
My only experience with a Howa/Vanguard is a 243. It needed the trigger spring trimmed a bit but shot so well I gifted the rifle to a niece that loved it.
I'd buy one with no hesitation.

I was in your shoes not long ago.

I’ve since purchased a Howa Bravo 6CM. It shoot extremely well.

And also dropped a barreled action from a 6CM 1500 package gun into an alpine stock and topped it with a SWFA 3-9. IMO it’s about the perfect whitetail gun for my style of hunting. Shoots tiny groups with HSM 90gr GameChangers.

I’m a Tikka fan but went the Howa route since Tikka is behind on the 6CM wagon.

I really like the Howa 2-stage trigger after removing about one coil from the spring.

Yeah I have searched for Tikkas in 6mm, nope. Then I stumbled on to Howa, they must be overlooked a lot.

Only downside to me is the weight of standard models, but I'm kind of old and 9-pound rifles aren't as much fun to tote around anymore. The shaved-action Howas, combined with a light barrel and stock, are pretty handy. My Alpine comes in at 7lb 4oz IIRC with a 1lb scope, pretty handy. Those can still be found here and there, and even priced close to retail are a good buy compared to dressing up a standard one with a quality lightweight stock. Brownells sell barreled actions and has had LW ones at times for good prices, but right now .223 is all I see in LW.

They do have 6CM barreled actions with 1-7.5" twist right now, 26" on sale.

A big plus about Howa for me is the forged action with one-piece bolt.

I've had two howa rifles and still own one. A 24" and a 26" both heavy barrel 6.5 CM. Both easily sub MOA. With several handloads in the sub 1/2 moa. The 24" was cerakoted with the factory hogue, while I had no issues with the hogue it's still not a favorite stock of mine. The 26" I got as a barreled action from brownells, and put in a B&C style 6 medalist stock. It easily shoots around 1/4 moa with its current handload. They are well built rifles, but they are heavy. Great extractor, trigger, one piece bolt, and a flat bottom action with large integral recoil lug. They are extremely easy to bed also. Overall I believe they are one of the best rifles currently available, and overlooked. Quite a bit of aftermarket support now if chassis, are your thing. Nowhere near the support of say a rem 700, but there are still a good bit of options.

I like Howa 1500s if they are priced under $350, but prefer Vanguard2s if they are chambered for the desired cartridge. The stocks on the entry-level Howa 1500s don't work for me, so that means that I need to spend at least another $100 or so on a stock replacement before I even mount a scope on it.

It looks like you can by a Howa 1500 22" sporter package in 6mm CM via GB for around $500.

I bought a barreled action in 6.5x55 & put it in a laminated Boyd's stock. It is a little on the heavy side but I am very happy with how it shoots and the trigger is excellent. You won't be disappointed.

Got one for $470 all in including FFL, sold stock and scope for $170. Dropped action in a Banser. Nice rig.

I’m doing fine, howa you?

You, sir, must be able to sell freezers to Eskimos if you could sell that crappy stock and scope for $170.

Howa and Vanguard rifles are excellent, although for my two newest rifles I’ve bought Tikkas. The Hogue stocks are no good for precision shooting but are okay for hunting. They have a nice recoil pad. Howa has some rifles (like their Kuiu line) with stocks that look like Hogue but don’t have the grippy surface - to me, these seem stiffer than the normal Hogues and are worth seeking out if the cost is similar.

A stock is only good if it fits the shooter and none of the stocks that Howa has installed on its lower priced styles has ever fit me worth a damn. The best factory installed synthetic stock that I've seen come on a Howa is the current V2 stock, while the best factory installed wood stocks have been those installed on the Howa 1500s imported for sale by Mossberg and S&W. GPC still have some NOS walnut for the short action 1500 and 1700LS for sale.

That V2 stock is pretty good for me, though not to my taste. Much better than the Hogues, especially the rubbery ones they used to use, which collect lint and forest debris.

I have3 Vanguards and have shot others. I like them except for the weight.

I have had very good luck with Howas. I have owned 8 or 10 and all were moa or better guns. They always cycle reliably and eject flawlessly. The older triggers suck but the newer two stage triggers are good. I like the metal magazine followers on the older models better though. Only real downside is the weight, but matters little for a stand rifle.