Howa
- Thread starter adamthebad
- Start date
P
As long as we agree they're both better than the 700.
I must give credit where it is deserved. I have a Rem 700 Classic in 35 Whelen that shoots 250gr Speer HCSP's into a ragged hole at 100yds. My first "big game rifle", what I called at the time (which was a long friggin' time ago) was a Rem 700BDL in 270 which I purchased with my own money when I lived in the US. It was my baby until I fell asleep in a tree sitting on a branch and landed on it breaking the stock. Luckily it didn't go off. Cried some big tears that day. Then got hooked on Mauser actions for the most part.
My S&W 1500 Delux in 300WM (made by HOWA) shoots exceptionally well also.
I know guys that shoot Tikka's and like them which is great. Personally I don't like them. Kinda like guys that enjoy shooting 308 & 30/06 I just find those cartridges boring.
Sad thing about those that make up firearms/hunting populace is that there are so many interesting stories and not enough time to tell them.
There's so many choices and when you find something that works for you, it's hard not to become a bit of a fan-boy. Also nobody wants to feel like they made a bad buying decision. I love my Tikka but next up I'm looking at something else. Life is too short to limit your choices!
ScottMisfits
CGN Regular
P
As long as we agree they're both better than the 700.
I had a Tikka and sold it. For this season my hunting rifle is the Kimber.
ScottMisfits
CGN Regular
I'm very impressed.with it so far. 6lb 4.9oz, 308, Hunter model with Leupold rings, based and VX2 3-9×40 scope. I'm not happy with the loads but it's 0.76moa with my.loads currently. That'll be ok for this hunting season but I'll get it tighter yet.
I'm not knocking the Howa, Like them very much. But I find the sale point to be high for what the rifle is supposed to be sitting at in the realm of mid to low line of product. For just a bit more or even the same money, you can be into premium lines of rifles. Or am I just too much of a tightwad....
Finding Howa's too closely priced to the Vanguard, or to high and could pick up a tikka or browning for the same money.
Finding Howa's too closely priced to the Vanguard, or to high and could pick up a tikka or browning for the same money.
- Location
- Eastern Edge of the Foothills
I own a Howa Alpine in 7mm-08. It's a light gun and has killed a couple whitetails for me. It is the only Howa I've ever owned. I haven't spent as much time developing a load as I'd like, and I currently have a load that does 1.25 - 1.5 MOA. Seems to be a bit finicky. It might be the scope, a Leupold 3-9x33 compact, and I'm thinking of sending it in to Korth to get checked out. I also own 3 Rem 700 Mountain Rifles. Two in .280Rem and 1 in .30-06. They all do MOA or better. In fact the '06 is 0.5MOA with 165gr Accubonds at 2900 fps. It's amazing for a light barrel.
I also own a Tikka T3 Hunter. I shot it for years as a 6.5x55, and it accounted for about a dozen deer, but then I had it rechambered to 6.5-06. It gained about 150 fps at the muzzle, but doesn't seem to kill any better. Go figure. It does 0.75MOA.
Right now the least accurate hunting rig I own is the Howa. But that is either because I have yet to find it's favorite load, or because the scope I have mounted is not performing right. I haven't given up on it yet. The trigger is not as crisp as I'd like. A bit spongy. All my Rem 700's and the Tikka have more crisp triggers.
I have a Howa 1500 chambered in .243 Win. It's a nice enough gun. My only complaint is that they have so much free bore. Which likely stems from the fact that it's a Weatherby design. Other than that, good rifle.
- Location
- Eastern Edge of the Foothills
I took the scope off of the Howa and sent it in to Korth. They sent it back and the report said it had a loose lens and they replaced the erector spring. While that scope was away I mounted a Burris E1. Hornady Superformance 139 SST printed 0.5" at 100 yards off the bench. First two shots in the same hole. Barrel heated up a bit I guess, so the third was up and left slightly. The little Howa Alpine will be the one that comes with me on opening day.
I love my Tikkas. My 270 wsm will stack the first 2 bullets in the same hole, and the 3rd just a touch off. But still around or under .5 moa. And that's with factory ammo. But I'm all for trying new rifles. And from everything I've heard Howa's are great rifles. And I've tried out my uncles Weatherby S2 and it's a nice rifle. I've also been kicking around the idea of one of them Bergara hunters. I seen them for 950$ish. But for the price, the Howa's/Weatherbys seem like the best bang per buck.
PS, I'd like to try a newer Remington, but from everything I've read and heard. Is ever since the Freedom group bought them out, (then bankrupted them) The QC is real spotty. I'd rather stick with a brand that has a better rep.
PS, I'd like to try a newer Remington, but from everything I've read and heard. Is ever since the Freedom group bought them out, (then bankrupted them) The QC is real spotty. I'd rather stick with a brand that has a better rep.
I grabbed all my Howa and Vanguards when the prices were better...$399 for the majority of them, the pricy ones were under $500 lol.
I don't think there is anything as solidly built in comparison until you get over $1000. Only plastic on the entire action is the follower. One piece forged bolt, integral recoil lug, very good 2 stage triggers, bolt comes apart easy for cleaning.
I don't think there is anything as solidly built in comparison until you get over $1000. Only plastic on the entire action is the follower. One piece forged bolt, integral recoil lug, very good 2 stage triggers, bolt comes apart easy for cleaning.
The attention to detail of the action work is (especially back then) amazing for the money you pay too. In terms of squareness (receiver face, bolt lugs to receiver contact etc) the Remington 700 (loctite on the barrel threads lol) doesn't even belong in the same league. Savages are also very accurate rifles but they feel so built on the cheap in comparison.
They are very well made guns for the money even at today's prices.
Bit on the chubby/heavy side though, if that matters to ya lol.
Japan makes good quality rifles. It burns my sss that the base Howa is like $300-$350USD down south, I'd have a safe full of them lol
For long action cartridges and magnums they are ideal...agree they are a bit heavy for short action.
I put my 243 flamo camo in a B&C and put the flamo on my Hogue Howa 223
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