Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Nosler 48 a Howa in drag?

Has anyone else noticed the more than passing resembelace of the HIGH dollar Nosler 48 to the Howa. Look at the recoil lug, bolt handle and bolt shroud. Or am I mistaken? I can't find any writer who has mentioned it. A sub MOA Weatherby is a whole lot less, not to mention the Howa. Machining flat surfaces to disguise the possibility could be considered deceptive. The writers will tell you in every article that a Weatherby Vanguard is only a slighlty modified Howa.
Seems loke a high price to pay for a "name"
John Boy

I think the Nosler rifle was built on the Howa action as well.

The Howa is a good action . . . but I think you are correct.

The Vanguard is in fact a Howa with a few cosmetic changes, including fluted bolt and a Weatherby style bolt shroud.

The Nosler 48 is an entirely different rifle in virtually every respect. Note the distinct shaping of the Nosler action, while the Howa/Vanguard is rounded like a Remington. Entirely different bottom metal, note the bottom plate release is on the front of the trigger guard, while the Nosler is inside.

Nosler states its push feed bolt design is "proprietary", and has a three position safety, while (unless there's been a recent change) the Vanguard/Howa is two position.

No chance that it's a Howa action.

They are similar but not the same. Here are links to the manuals to both rifles.

http://www.nosler.com/48handbook2.pdf

http://www.legacysports.com/pdfs/Howa1500%20Manual.pdf


Different extractors, different safety, different bolt stop etc.........................................DJ

The distict shaping is nothing more than either re-machining a Howa or buying an un machined Howa and modifying to suit the Nosler design. Vanguard is a two position, Howa is a three position. I believe the "proprietary" is a bunch of bull. The bottom metal is the only thing they made and they more than likely contracted that. Compare the pictures. And by the way, they both use Remington bases. Since Howa made S&W, Mossberg and other actions, shouldn't Nosler just own up to it? Or are we being asked to buy an overpriced Howa? Also Look at the Sako L61 (I think) bottom metal and action and compare it to the Howa. Howa picked a good one to copy.

Different bolt stop, true. The trigger is a Timney.
Look closely at the recoil lug. Is the angled front a mere coincidence?
John Boy

I think probably half the bolt action rifles sold use Remington bases.

In any event, if you look at HS Precision, NULA, McMillan, and other such rifles, you'd swear they're all Remington actions. Indeed, Remington actions are the basis for design for all kinds of tactical and precision rifles.

Given the price of the rifle, and the competition among high end custom rifle manufacturers, I'd be surprised to learn Nosler started with a Howa action. Not knocking Howa, but if you're out to build and sell a Cadilac among rifles, I don't think that's where Nosler would start. There are better choices.

Just sayin'...

Wouldn't surprise me though if the bottom metal is made by Williams or Sunny Hill.

Good point. Many are similiar.
John Boy.

My Howa actioned Bansner Alpine rifle bolt works perfectly in my Nosler 48. Both are 300 WSM. Draw your own conclusions.

Regards

Well, I'll be...okay, I'm surprised!

Maybe I'm underrating my ol' Vanguard.

howa has come out with a 3 position safety lately...

and i see a LOT of similarities. a friend and i have agreed that we think the Nosler is made by Empire custom rifles, and that they start with a Howa.

-Matt

Howa lightweights have the angled receiver edges. Stainless is a standard Howa

Yep, those definitely are the same actions.

*burp*

Excuse me! Must be some crow I just ate.

guys, if it is a Howa......does that make it bad...I think not. hundreds of us buy used Remington 700 for 300.00 and true them, flute the bolt ...cera kote the whole thing and then screw on a barrel of choice put it in a high quality stock and end up with a gun that is simlar to the nosler......I guess i'm missing the point here..but how is that different. The nosler seems like a nice semi-custom ...the press I have seen is pretty good....just my 2 cents worth. I'm sur I will get hammered on this...oh well!

Now I think you guys see my point.
In the "old days" Mom & Pop stores regularly contracted with firearms manufacturers to produce a particular firearm and mark it with the stores name. Im the recent past, Sears, J.C. Penny's and Montgomery Wards did the same thing. They may or may not have been cheaper or more expensive versions of the factories rifle. Some times this fact was known, at other times not.
I have no problem with a manufacturerer contracting with a supplier for parts and pieces to produce a product. But if you're going to be charged substancially more than the base product there ought to be a compelling reason.
With no special engraving, nice wood or something else to support the price....I'll shoot my Vanguards, Howas, Mausers et.al all day and have money to spare to buy more.....

I thought Howas had the cool bolt release of a Vanguard. No?

Vanguard and Howa release are the same.
Does anyone know where I can find steel bottom metal for these two rifles? The Sako L61 looks to be a vrtual twin, but I only had a long action, no short action to compare and take measurements.

Looks like Pacific Tool and Gauge makes the bottom metal for that Nosler (Howa apparently) action.

http://www.pacifictoolandgauge.com/products/parts/remington.htm#bottom