Thread: Howa 1500 vs. Tikka T3

Originally Posted by Nick-D

The biggest issue with the howas is the sloppy pos houge stock that comes with them. The tikka stock is nothing flash but at least it's a rigid plaform.

Wish howa would go to an in house halfway stiff stock, like weatherby does for the vanguards

Howa internationally (Legacy Sports) has massively increased the range of stocks you can get now, because of this kind of feedback. Unfortunately, Outdoor Sports NZ who import Howa here are so far behind the game, and totally useless to boot. I've tried to source alternative Howa stocks through them, what a run around.

I own two Tikkas and two Howas. I put a Boyds stock on my heavy barrel Howa Varminter, and put the varmint channeled Hogue stock on my Howa .243 so it has masses of clearance now and is a fantastic shooter. Not that it was at all a problem with the original Hogue stock.

If you're very cautious and take your time, it is easy to open up the forend channel on sporter Hogue stocks. Just use a very sharp scalpel and a steady hand. No brown ale or Steinies before the job.

I can't split the performance of the Tikkas and the Howas. Both varmint contours shoot tiny little groups (Tikka Super Varmint .223 and Howa Varminter 6.5CM). Both carry rifles are perfect for what I want to do with them (Tikka Stainless Laminate .308 and Howa Sporter .243).

Yes the Howa stainless isn't as rust resistant as the Tikka stainless but a simple coat of CRC Long Life sorts that out. Last time I mentioned oiling my stainless rifles for protection on here I got reamed by a couple of you, you are more than welcome to have another go if it makes you feel better. Yes the Howa action is rougher than the Tikka's, but a simple process of working the bolt repeatedly with fine valve grinding paste sorts out the Howa, particularly around the bolt lugs.

I bought a Howa Mountain Rifle 7mm08 2nd hand which was cheap as chips from an American colleague departing for home, it is a brilliant wee rifle. Contrary to some of the flack I got last time I mentioned it (see above) it doesn't rust and its not stainless, its cerakoted carbon steel. And it shoots just as well as my sporter weight .243.

At the end of day, it'll be down to the deal on the day. If I could get a wider range of stocks for Howas I think I'd just buy another three or four of them for the price of one overvalued Sako 85 with its daft recoil lug. Sako should have just stuck with their design that Howa copied, the L579!

Originally Posted by Flyblown

Howa internationally (Legacy Sports) has massively increased the range of stocks you can get now, because of this kind of feedback. Unfortunately, Outdoor Sports NZ who import Howa here are so far behind the game, and totally useless to boot. I've tried to source alternative Howa stocks through them, what a run around.

I own two Tikkas and two Howas. I put a Boyds stock on my heavy barrel Howa Varminter, and put the varmint channeled Hogue stock on my Howa .243 so it has masses of clearance now and is a fantastic shooter. Not that it was at all a problem with the original Hogue stock.

If you're very cautious and take your time, it is easy to open up the forend channel on sporter Hogue stocks. Just use a very sharp scalpel and a steady hand. No brown ale or Steinies before the job.

I can't split the performance of the Tikkas and the Howas. Both varmint contours shoot tiny little groups (Tikka Super Varmint .223 and Howa Varminter 6.5CM). Both carry rifles are perfect for what I want to do with them (Tikka Stainless Laminate .308 and Howa Sporter .243).

Yes the Howa stainless isn't as rust resistant as the Tikka stainless but a simple coat of CRC Long Life sorts that out. Last time I mentioned oiling my stainless rifles for protection on here I got reamed by a couple of you, you are more than welcome to have another go if it makes you feel better. Yes the Howa action is rougher than the Tikka's, but a simple process of working the bolt repeatedly with fine valve grinding paste sorts out the Howa, particularly around the bolt lugs.

I bought a Howa Mountain Rifle 7mm08 2nd hand which was cheap as chips from an American colleague departing for home, it is a brilliant wee rifle. Contrary to some of the flack I got last time I mentioned it (see above) it doesn't rust and its not stainless, its cerakoted carbon steel. And it shoots just as well as my sporter weight .243.

At the end of day, it'll be down to the deal on the day. If I could get a wider range of stocks for Howas I think I'd just buy another three or four of them for the price of one overvalued Sako 85 with its daft recoil lug. Sako should have just stuck with their design that Howa copied, the L579!

Yeah man, they are awesome rifles. I had a 6.5 Swede howa in a boyds stock that was an awesome shooter. To heavy for a bush gun though. Like 4.6kg with can and scope.

If they could nail the stock they would be imo, hands down the best value rifle out there. Also I much prefer the floor plate mag setup of the howa over a single stack dbm of the tikka for general big game hunting needs. Hate dropping the mag in the bush to top it off

Id still love to see a bit more on how you did that stock? Still not exactly sure how you joined the halves.

Originally Posted by Stocky

Id still love to see a bit more on how you did that stock? Still not exactly sure how you joined the halves.

Epoxied the halves together much like two sides of a model aeroplane, using plastic masking tape to keep them together while it set. Then further applications of two inch wide long strips of carbon fibre laid in the barrel channel and top/bottom of the butt area.

I own 2 Howas and both shoot better then i can.
Weight isn't a issue for me , imagine what the older generation would think if they came back and seen how much whinging goes on about a pound or 2.
Tikka just feels to plasticy for me.

Reviving an old thread.....
Has peoples opinions changed between the tikka t3 308 and the howa 1500 308...

I am currently doing research on the two guns above trying to decide what breed I want to get for deer hunting.
Im torn with the price difference of the tikka 308 bare with the price of a package deal of a howa (scope/supressor/rings)

HELP Me haha oh what a problem to have

Or if any tikkas or howas now for sale pm me

Originally Posted by Jusepy

Reviving an old thread.....
Has peoples opinions changed between the tikka t3 308 and the howa 1500 308...

I am currently doing research on the two guns above trying to decide what breed I want to get for deer hunting.
Im torn with the price difference of the tikka 308 bare with the price of a package deal of a howa (scope/supressor/rings)

HELP Me haha oh what a problem to have

Or if any tikkas or howas now for sale pm me

Doing the same but 223.

The consensus I have found is that the howa is better value for money. The t3 is generally better with a slicker action and guaranteed accuracy, but you have to decide if the small increase is worth the greater cost.

Tikka Tikka Tikka

@Jusepy I own both a Howa and a Tikka and they are honestly both great rifles. The Howa is a stainless in a walnut stock and the tikka is fluted plastic stock version. I don't think there is really any difference in accuracy between the two. The only things worth noting are the bolt throws (Howa 90degress, Tikka 60), which may limit the scope size, or height of the rings you chose on the Howa. The Tikka's are all long-action = more weight, whereas the Howa in .308 is a medium size action.

If it were me, I'd buy the Howa and spend the money saved on a better optic

Originally Posted by Danger Mouse

Doing the same but 223.

The consensus I have found is that the howa is better value for money. The t3 is generally better with a slicker action and guaranteed accuracy, but you have to decide if the small increase is worth the greater cost.

Price difference is not that big, a few hundred bucks? That is about the cost of 2 weekend hunting trips; or the difference between a very nice scope and another very nice scope (Vx5HD vs LHT). I bought my Tikka 223 last year for 1099 or 1199, blued barrel and plastic stock. I had fun shooting it. A simple 28 bucks Yo-Dave spring upgrade made it a lot better.

I have handled (but not shot) a friend's Howa 223, the trigger and bolt felt quite rough. These things affect one's confidence in the gun and therefore confidence in shooting.

I am not saying Howa is bad. I just think the price difference between the two is quite small in the grand scheme of things.

Originally Posted by 7mmsaum

Tikka Tikka Tikka

Do you have shares in tikka ? haha

Originally Posted by Ultimitsu

Price difference is not that big, a few hundred bucks? That is about the cost of 2 weekend hunting trips; or the difference between a very nice scope and another very nice scope (Vx5HD vs LHT). I bought my Tikka 223 last year for 1099 or 1199, blued barrel and plastic stock. I had fun shooting it. A simple 28 bucks Yo-Dave spring upgrade made it a lot better.

I have handled (but not shot) a friend's Howa 223, the trigger and bolt felt quite rough. These things affect one's confidence in the gun and therefore confidence in shooting.

I am not saying Howa is bad. I just think the price difference between the two is quite small in the grand scheme of things.

I was looking at a packaged deal with a howa 308 , scope , supressor , bipod , gun bag, ammo and cleaning kit for $1600
Now thats the price of a bare tikka rifle .

I guess i have to go into a shop and hold one of each, and see which one talks to me.

The howa hact trigger is in my opinion the best factory one around. Still a great trigger won't help a shit gun.
Fortunately the howa is far from shit once free from that clammy hogue monstrosity.
Horses for courses the tikkas are really smooth and the one size fits all action which many people grizzled about isn't that big an issue.

I have three Tikkas and four Howas.

I guess you could say if one was clearly better than the other, all seven would be the same brand.

Fact is, there’s very little to separate them.

My main gripes are (one each):

Tikka T3: there is something about the factory stock design that produces excessive felt recoil in more powerful cartridges. I replaced the factory stocks with a DPT Hunter chassis which I use for all the rifles, and don’t even notice recoil now. Considering the DPT chassis has a solid metal butt that is saying something. One of the NZ stock makers on this forum explained what it is about the Tikka stock shape that contributes to felt recoil, it was a very interesting post, but I’ve never been able to find the thread again.

Howa 1500/Mini: The bolt & action often need a bit of TLC to smoothen the feel from new. This is often a whinge from non-Howa owners and a very simple thing to fix with fine valve grinding paste and a couple of hours repetitive opening and closing the bolt. One of my Howas was noticeably worse than others but completely rectified now.

The main advantages (one each).

Tikka T3: Having the one size of action is actually a blessing in disguise, because you only need to splash out once on the stock or chassis that suits your needs, and simply drop in the barrelled actions as required. I am forever swapping between the .308 and .223 depending on what I am doing, and the next (long) action will be used in the same way.

Howa 1500/Mini: In proper hunting conditions the proper hunter should not be excessively concerned about scratching their stock or covering the action in mud or everything getting soaking wet. All too often rifles are treated as some kind of adornment and supposed hunters get themselves into a right state when their pride and joy suffers a bit of wear and tear. The price point of the Howa is perfect - it does exactly what it says on the tin and is cheap enough for the average guy not to worry too much about what happens on the hill. Yes they need ongoing maintenance to make sure they don’t rust but that is true of the Tikka too. My Howa carry rifles get a fearful beating, frequently being used as a trekking pole, but they never let me down and I love them for that.

My next new rifle will be Tikka simply because the cartridge I want is not offered by Howa. Last time, it was the other way round, for the same reason.

PS. The Hogue stock (suitably modified) is excellent in dirty wet hunting conditions.

What’s the repeatability of swapping actions on the Dpt chassis? I found the solid Butt pad painful prone on my 280 so I just glued a shot gun pad to mine


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