Thread: Howa good is your Howa? (picture heavy)

Originally Posted by Rock river arms hunter

Are Vanguards included in this thread seen as though their basically the same rifle less the name and a different cocking piece?

I have never shot a Vangaurd, but dont see why you wouldnt include them if they are the same quality and price.

I had a bull barreled 223 in a laminated stock.
It was fantasticly accurate and would regularly put ten shots of factory ammo into one ragged hole measuring under half moa.
It did need a rechamber tho as it would fail to extract as some of the early 223s did. Once rechambered it was fine.
Now have a mini in 223, replaced the shitty 10shot mag with a Jeffersons outdoors flush bottom metal and 5 shot mag and I love it.
Also very accurate especially with handloads and just a nice light little rifle to hunt with.

I have a howa mini which the only thing that could make it better would be fixed floor plate. I did the same thing with getting a boring old Tikka and sold my howa alpine bush pig. Big regret but mistakes have to be made to learn sometimes. howa is underrated. Agree completely with not being a big fan of things that are everyone's favourites..... Don't really like Leupold either.

Have the mini action 223, Currently sitting in a EXCL lite chassis. The only thing I like about the chassis is the weight and the mag release is better than the factory offering. Bought Chassis as the LOP was meant to go shorter than the Hogue stock, which meant my boy could also shoot it easily. It doesn't.
Will be going back to Hogue stock with bottom metal and will thread for suppressor after Xmas when I will have time two sight in again.
The next rifle I buy will be a Howa or Bergara.

Have never owned a Howa - yet. Next tax return aiming to buy a .223 and hoping that the new Howa Carbon Stalker is available
Hate to think what price will be and might knock the dream over yet. Love the lightweight rifles and may have to sell the Forbes .308 which is not getting a lot of use since started hunting more open areas. The 6.5 CM seems ideal for the open areas.
Too many amazing rifles, not enough time to hunt

Considering they shoot so well it would be nice if they did a fast twist 264 win mag. Would try to save the fun tokens for that

Alright McNab said vanguards are in the pool. Here's my new/second hand vanguard .223. Gotta say, I sighted it in with cheap PPU ammo and then threw 3 shots of Winchester 55 grain factory ammo at the target.

7mm cloverleaf.

I've got a Howa Alpine in .243, really glad to get it as rare in the UK. Another cult rifle I bought for a song!

Glad it's in .243 as well, would not want to be shooting a .308 one with heavy bullets. I think Howa/ Legacy Sports and Randy Newberg did well on 8t, especially with the 'slabbed' lightweight version of the short action. A 22" barrel would have probably been better than 20" but no real bother as I'm using a moderator anyway.

If/when the barrel goes kaput I'll swap for a 6 Creedmoor action with the sporter contour. Rebarreling costs in the UK don't make sense!

Accurate rifle, good mashup between the Sako L/A series (before Beretta bought them! ) and Rem 700 with the recessed bolt nose. M16 extractor as standard does the trick although I wish they kept the inertial ejector of the Sako. Cost savings no doubt!

The Sako collectors forum has a good thread about the Howa-Dickson Golden Bear which was literally a copy of the Sako L61R.

Only gripe is the trigger isn't great, both single and double (HACT) stage versions, and the three position saftey lever is stupid.

Fitted a Timney but improvement is marginal.

After losing my semi 223 in the steal-back I bought a Howa 1500 package in .223. Came fitted with a Nikko Stirling scope and Sonic 45 suppressor. Only mods done was to fit a Boyds laminated stock which I've slightly altered to suit my grip and barrel shortened to 16".This rifle shoots 1 moa @300yds (electronic target, NRANZ range) resting on bumbag (6 shots in 20 seconds) so is reasonably accurate. Used mainly for goat control work as well as general hunting. Mostly used for bush hunting but have shot goats out to 468 m without drama. So I reckon the rifle is good value for money,accurate for what I do and able to take hard knocks.They are a bit heavy but you get used to it.
As an aside, some people scoff at Nikko Stirling scopes but this thing has taken some punishment getting dropped/knocked about regularly and hasn't let me down.Only niggle is the reticule is half mil dot and dials in moa but you get used to it.
The Sonic suppressor has been a bit of a let down. It works ok but the barrel isolator pin-holed and started to mark the barrel and yes, I remove from rifle when not in use. Waiting for replacement so using Gunworks one for now.
After approx. 800 rounds thru the rifle I'm happy enough with it and would recommend one to anyone looking for an accurate ,reliable rifle at a reasonable price.

Bump here for some Howa love.

Really taken by these Howa mini’s. What is a bloody ugly duckling in my mind from the shops with a terrible stock and horrible mag, can be changed into something quite special.
@Dreamers little carbon 223 tweaked my interest and lighted the fire! Still has to be the best mini I have seen

Go the Howa! Only problem is that I now want another one in the grendel

I was looking for an all weather Rifle that I could shoot out a bit further than normal as well as try gong shooting with. I bought a Howa 1500 with a rooted bore for $300 had a Lothar Walther 26" fluted tube put on it, Timney trigger and a home Ceracoat job.

Shoots as good as anything and better than most.

Originally Posted by Freezer

Bump here for some Howa love.

Really taken by these Howa mini’s. What is a bloody ugly duckling in my mind from the shops with a terrible stock and horrible mag, can be changed into something quite special.
@Dreamers little carbon 223 tweaked my interest and lighted the fire! Still has to be the best mini I have seen

Go the Howa! Only problem is that I now want another one in the grendel

Attachment 202510

Totally loving my mini but agree the factory stock is ugly and unnecessarily heavy, there aren't really any options for aftermarket here in NZ other than Hi-tec (nice but spendy) or a couple chassis options which I'm not a fan of. Will be having a crack at @Freezer 's method of making a stock, have all the bits including the printed inlet.....just lacking the time
Great shooter outta the box easily sub moa with a variety of ammo with a trigger that is easily tuned to any preference

Howa 1500 SA .223 , Fiocchi 60 gn Factory ammo .
Five shots , final sighting in group .
I’m waiting for a new Stock to arrive from the USA and then I’ll be content.

Originally Posted by Ground Control

Howa 1500 SA .223 , Fiocchi 60 gn Factory ammo .
Five shots , final sighting in group .
I’m waiting for a new Stock to arrive from the USA and then I’ll be content.

What stock are you getting?
So far I've tried hornady vmax, belmont black and pmc 55 grain.all have been 5 shot touching groups if not 1 ragged hole. Phenomenal performance for a gun at that price point

funny thing is i own a couple of sakos,a few tikkas and rugers but the rifle i regret selling the most was a vanguard heavy barrell desert tan stock 223 . was a tack driver . even cheap arse ammo was 3 shots touching at 100. always browse the yellow site for it ,but no luck so far .hint anyone !