Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles HOWA lightweight build

I'm looking at building a lightweight with a HOWA barreled action. Considering the ultralight blued 20" at 4.5 lbs or stainless 22" at 5.0 lbs.
Questions:
What synthetic stock would fit and total weight?

Are there any good actual drop ins?

Besides possibly the trigger, what else would I need to do bedding wise etc. for accuracy?

Scope recommendation?

What caliber for Eastern whitetail mostly? 6.5x55 swede listed in stainless really has me thinking.

Looking to keep the total price down under a grand and most factory lightweights I see are getting up there.

Thanks for the input fellas.

http://www.legacysports.com/products/howa/specs/specs_baractions.html

If it were me and I wanted to stay under a grand I would grab a Rem Mod 7 or even better one of the Rem 700 Mtn SS Guides in 7-08 or 308.

Optics would be easy - Leupold FX 6X36 in matte black.

MtnHtr

i know it is not your answer but with any return on your investment considered i would apply the used remmy TI in 260 and not wait or fiddle... just go hunt

woofer

felt bad i did not answer your question.. if you can finish a bansner (hitech) stock that would top my list for sure... 6x36 leupie and talleys would make an outstanding package... 6.5 swede all the way!

woofer

Mtn Hunter and Woofer,

Thanks for the replies. I'm definetely not against some good suggestions like yours. Any specs or prices on the SS Guides?

I see so many remarks on the TI good and bad it's hard to know. I like the weight and looks but not sure on the price. Looking for something short also as I am 5'7'' and love a compact rifle.

Thanks guys.

i am now assuming your 1k mark included glass... if you subtract the above glass with mounts i would expect a budget for rifle in around the $700 mark... with that in mind you may want to go to a tikka ss lite and be done. also in 6.5 swede and a few hundred for your pocket

woofer

Here's one I have to question. What are the bad remarks on the TI?

g

G,

No offense intended. Have read here about poor stock, inaccuracy, fit, something about base screw problems.

Also, many good remarks. Very seriously considering one but the price is getting up there.

Again, can't believe everything you read.

Sent a link to ya via PM

MtnHtr

None taken, just curious :-)

g

The Mtn Guides have sold for around $700-800 in the past.

Past links: Link 1

Another option is the 700 Mtn LSS. Sell the stock and replace it with a lighter synthetic stock.

MtnHtr

Thanks Mtn Hunter. Heck, I like the looks of the LSS as is!

Howas are excellent rifles saddled with horrible triggers, so don't forget to factor in a new trigger when budgeting. I like them, but they aren't the lightest actions around, either, so a lightweight Howa will be a relative thing, I suppose.
I've had four of them, fine rifles, but the triggers sucketh mightily. Luckily, I have a friend who seems able to make them tolerable, but not GOOD.

Last I heard the SS Mt Guides were running for $649 at Gander Mt. Give them a call.... They ship to FFLs

I have a SS Howa 1500 action in 270. Very accurate but horrible trigger. Can these actions be rebarreled? I'm just not a fan of 270's. I would like a 280 in a 26" fluted barrel. I would replace the trigger I currently have in this rifle to something better. It sets in a richards microfit #III grade walnut stock. It's a nice looking rifle but again, I don't like 270's. Does anyone here have an answer where this has been done and these actions made into a decent custom. I'm looking to take something I have and make into something I like.

Hoghunter,
You can absolutely have the Howas and Vanguards rebarreled. I just had one rebarreled a few months ago.

Get the barreled action of your choice from Howa and contact Bansner's (High Tech) stocks for your stock and you're off and running. Bansner's uses a Howa barreled action as the basis for their $2400 custom "Alpine Hunter" rifle. Looks to be a smart way to go.

The trigger changes in 5 minutes. It's only 1 screw.

Qoute: I'm looking at building a lightweight with a HOWA barreled action. Considering the ultralight blued 20" at 4.5 lbs or stainless 22" at 5.0 lbs

Howa and lightweight cannot be said in the same breath...........

LC

I have nothing against a Howa, but they are about the heaviest action out there. It would be easier to build a lightweight with something else. Or just buy one of the lightweight Remingtons or Tikkas that others have suggested.