Author Topic: howa rifles (Read 1497 times)

josebd · « **on:** August 29, 2004, 10:23:42 AM »

Howa 1500 M1500 Lightning ,anybody know how good these are,looking at one in 25-06

Lawdog · « **Reply #1 on:** August 29, 2004, 10:41:17 AM »

josebd,

While the Howa is a good rifle why not check out the Weatherby Vanguard(made by Howa). At least with a Vanguard Weatherby stands behind them with a written guarantee that you are NOT going to get from Howa. Just a suggestion. Small groups and tight lines to you. Lawdog

7magWoodsman · « **Reply #2 on:** August 29, 2004, 11:35:38 AM »

I have shot a few Howa's and they are nice guns. So is the Vanguard, but I will never feel comfortable with a gun made in Japan. I have no reason for my way of thinking.
I, myself, would spend a little more and get an American rifle...just my .02 :money:

Stay Safe. Happy Hunting/Shooting.

safetysheriff · « **Reply #3 on:** August 29, 2004, 11:59:58 AM »

I'd go with a Remington Model 700 in .270 from Wal-Mart for $379 plus tax. Easy on the recoil, all the reach of a .25-06, more power for heavier game, and more-readily available ammo. The Model 700 has an adjustable trigger for: trigger pull weight, sear engagement, and trigger stop. What more could you ask for, for $379?

I looked at a couple of Vanguards at Wal-Mart, and I like Weatherby's guarantee, but I still bought a Rem' Model 700. And, yes, it's as accurate as its reputation.

Take care.

bchannell · « **Reply #4 on:** August 29, 2004, 01:05:46 PM »

Don't place too much faith in Weatherby's gurantee. I had a Vanguard that was milled wrong on the top of the receiver. You couldn't mount a scope because the rings were different heights by at least 1/16". I have digital photos of the whole thing. I sent the photos to Weatherby, and they asked that the gun and mounts be sent in. I sent TWO different sets of mounts that would not fit in with the gun. I also makrked each screw and each mount so I could tell if they were ever mounted. I can't say what made me do that, but I'm sure glad I did. When I got the gun back, they said everything was within spec, and when I looked, NONE of the mounts or screws had been put on the gun. When I called back and talked to a customer service rep again, he asked me to send it all back. I decided not to, as they had their shot at it, so I got rid of it. I really wasn't interested in spending another $30 for shipping. They assured me it was covered under warranty, but getting them to do anything is tough. No more W'bys for me.
Everyone makes a mistake now and then, it's how you make them right that tells what kind of man (or company) you are. I guess I know now.

Squeeze · « **Reply #5 on:** August 30, 2004, 05:38:23 AM »

I won a Howa 1500, in 300WSM, and while I have not put a bunch of time, and rounds,
on this gun, I will say that the gun shows good accuracy, for some of the loads, I
am developing for it. The fit and finish were good, except that I did have to sand the
stock a bit to get it free floated. I have since replaced the walnut stock with a synthetic
stock, since I prefer that in a hunting gun. All in all, I am quite happy with my first Howa.
The only complaint I have about the Howa, is the bolt does not lock when the gun is
on safe. For rough terrain climbing, I would prefer that feature, but since other very
popular rifles have this same issue, I won't hold it against this rifle. With this first
experience, when I am in the market for another rifle, I do add Howa of my list of
rifles to check out before making that purchase.

Squeeze

oneshotonekill · « **Reply #6 on:** September 05, 2004, 11:16:27 AM »

I think the Howa's are a great buy. They have an extremely smooth action, an adjustable trigger, and every one I have shot was accurate right out of the box. I have 2 Howa's and 1 weatherby Vanguard right now and all three of them shoot great. The written guarantee with the Weatherby may provide piece of mind to some but it is a 3 shot 1.5" @ 100yds with Weatherby or Premium factory ammo. Both of my Howa's shoot well below 1" @100yds. Most rifles sold today are capable of much better than 1.5" so the guarantee is only insurance against getting a lemon.

josebd · « **Reply #7 on:** September 05, 2004, 11:33:38 AM »

how do you adjust the trigger? ive done remington 700's and winchester 70.

vernonp · « **Reply #8 on:** September 06, 2004, 03:59:20 AM »

I am pretty well a rifle nut and always have been. I have owned and shot rifles all my life. The Howa is about as accurate as you can get. I have a Mark 5 and an old Vanguard and the Vanguard is much more accurate. It will put 5 shots under an inch all day every day and has for years. You can not do better for the money-------------vernonp

josebd · « **Reply #9 on:** September 06, 2004, 04:42:29 AM »

thanks everybody,im going with the .243, i have a winchester 70 30-06, i can get 3/4 group at 100 yards,i hope i can do better with .243

mjbgalt · « **Reply #10 on:** September 06, 2004, 07:36:48 AM »

i have the vanguard in .243 and i love it. it is much better quality than my dads winchester and my cousins savage and shoots every bit as well as either of those.

i paid $389 for it and i have been absolutely thrilled with it every time i have used it.

as for that guarantee, i have yet to see anything that said "weatherby" on it that couldnt shoot like a laser beam.

oneshotonekill · « **Reply #11 on:** September 07, 2004, 07:23:40 AM »

Quote from: josebd

how do you adjust the trigger? ive done remington 700's and winchester 70.

There are 2 nuts you can turn to adjust pull weight and sear engagement. I don't remember the exact location of the nuts its been a while since I adjusted one but the owners manual will point out which nut is which. They recommend you only adjust the pull weight and not touch the sear engagement nut. Its actually easier to adjust than the Rem 700 (no glue to break loose) or the Winchester no little tiny screwdriver needed. All you need is a small wrench.

josebd · « **Reply #12 on:** September 07, 2004, 08:37:14 AM »

thank you oneshotonekill,it sounds easy enough,i hope to have it by friday,its going to be close!

bilesteve · « **Reply #13 on:** September 08, 2004, 11:17:20 AM »

I was at Wal-Mart yesterday and in my area (Houston) they had the Weatherby Vanguard on special at $300. In case someone like specials.

mjbgalt · « **Reply #14 on:** September 09, 2004, 03:18:05 AM »

my understanding is that the vanguard IS a howa. they make them at howa, and my guns receiver says made in japan.

and when i looked up a pic of a howa it looks just like my vanguard.

i paid $389 for mine and that was without a scope. that was also considered a good deal. so if you can get one for $300, jump on it!

-Matt

dbuck · « **Reply #15 on:** September 09, 2004, 08:37:48 AM »

On the Howa/Vanguard the seal is at the rear of the trigger group and the weight of pull is at the front. If you want to degrease your trigger pull you turn the nut counterclock wise and if you want to take the creep out of the trigger you turn the rear nut clockwise, but if you turn this nut to much the safety won't work so you have to play with it. I never could get all the creep out of mine.

One think I like about my Vanguard is that a target comes with it where Weatherby shot it and it shows the three shot group and their is one big difference between the Vanguard and the Howa that nobody ever mentions when they say they are the same, "wrong", the Vanguard has the 24" barrels that are standard and the Howa's have 22" standard on all their standard cartridges. I also feel that the finish is better on the Vanguard then the Howa, but that might just been the ones I have look at.

Very good rifle and you can't go wrong with it, I replaced my stock with a Bell and Carlson stock. I have a 30-06

dbuck

josebd · « **Reply #16 on:** September 14, 2004, 03:40:31 PM »

well,i drove 60 miles to pick up my howa .243,from the ffl dealer,got back home opened it up and there was no bolt for the action,now i got to send it back and wait another 2 weeks. but the synthetic stock was probably the best ive seen,and a really nice looking gun.

josebd · « **Reply #17 on:** September 19, 2004, 06:56:43 AM »

howa is going to send a bolt to the dealer i got it from,they told him i could just put the bolt in it and go shoot,a gunsmith said,no way,you must check the headspace!

josebd · « **Reply #18 on:** September 24, 2004, 01:13:27 PM »

got the bolt in today,took it to the gunsmith to check headspace,it was ok,shot it some this evenibg,very nice gun,once i get used to it,itll group just fine,already had 2 touching out of three,with sand bags on hood of pickup,ill take my bench next time. trigger nearly 4lbs,i might adjust it to 3lbs.

Hounddog · « **Reply #19 on:** September 25, 2004, 03:27:01 AM »

Have owned 4 Howa 1500's todate. The first two were stolen when our house was broken into. Now have a gun safe in the basement bolted to the floor. They were both .223, one the all weather varmint model and the other the varmint supreme. Both shot 3/4 MOA at 200 out of the box.

The new ones are 1500 Varminter Supreme and Thumbhole supreme and shoot even better. My wife's is the Supreme and mine the Thumbhole. Our last outing at the range netted final sight in 5 shot groups of 1.25 for hers using 50gr Vmax and mine was 1.18" using 40gr Vmax both at 200 yds. She prefers the heavier windbucking ability of the 50gr where I just prefer to compensate and keep the explosion capability for varmints at the longer ranges.

I know of 4 other Howa owners from the same gun shop with different calibers and they all have similar results. They are very nice guns.

josebd · « **Reply #20 on:** September 25, 2004, 04:14:33 AM »

i adjusted the trigger to just under 3lbs,but its raining this morning,so maybe this evening i can try again.i did this to my winchester 70 30-06,it helped alot,3/4 at 100

josebd · « **Reply #21 on:** September 25, 2004, 12:54:07 PM »

got to shoot today,tried som handloads,75vmax,varget,winchester brass,cci 200lr, started out at 38.0 didnt group until i got to 40.0. 40.0 1 1/2,40.5 1 1/4,41.0 1 inch. i think ill go up alittle more and get it to 3/4 or maybe 1/2 and call it good,probably 3/4 will do just fine for varmints,deer, prairie dogs

josebd · « **Reply #22 on:** September 25, 2004, 02:32:24 PM »

anybody used the 65 vmax,75 vmax with varget?if so what is your load. my howa is a 22 inch barrel,i guesse thats why i need to go up more on my charge? the shorter the barrel the more you need to go up on powder?

josebd · « **Reply #23 on:** September 26, 2004, 08:20:40 AM »

went with 41.0,grouped 3/4 this morning