Howa 1500 Superlite?

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Iron Sighted

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Anyone here using one or owned one previously? I've seen some mixed reviews but it would be nice to hear some first hand accounts/experiences. A 4lb 7oz .308 chambered rifle sure does sound appealing on the surface, definitely something that has caught my interest as that's incredibly light, especially as a factory offering that isn't $$$$. I've been contemplating selling a few guns I don't use much anyway, this might be a fun replacement, sounds like it wpuld be a dream to carry in the field with some Talley lightweight rings and a light optic on it.
 
jbmauser said:
It would be something I would be interested in if it didn’t have a detachable mag. Hard pass unless it can be converted to a blind or hinged floor plate.
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I agree, that is my least favorite part about it as I'd prefer a hinged floor plate mag too, or even a fixed blind mag for that matter. Perhaps someone makes aftermarket bottom metal for it. Not a deal breaker for me though, I already live with a detachable mag on my T3X.
 
Stainless in north america please legacy godammitt !!!!!!

....whew,OK, now that I got that out of my system I have some observations about the one I handled at my LGS in 6.5C.
I have never seen a such a thin profile barrel...ever. I can only guess at muzzle diameter but it is small. The action is particularly gritty and rough for a 1500 and was very noticeably janky, so much so I wouldn't buy it. Maybe just that particular one?
I have minis and they smoothen-up with some use but mine were never so rough out of the box.

Yeah, they are very light.
 
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Sun_and_Steel_77 said:
Stainless in north america please legacy godammitt!!!!!!

....whew,OK, now that I got that out of my system I have some observations about the one I handled at my LGS in 6.5C.
I have never seen a such a thin profile barrel...ever. I can only guess at muzzle diameter but it is small. The action is particularly gritty and rough for a 1500 and was very noticeably janky, so much so I wouldn't buy it. I have minis and they smoothen-up with some use but they mine were never so rough out of the box.

Yeah, they are light.
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X2

Would love Stainless Steel as well but will settle with Cerakoted.
 
Sun_and_Steel_77 said:
Stainless in north america please legacy godammitt !!!!!!

....whew,OK, now that I got that out of my system I have some observations about the one I handled at my LGS in 6.5C.
I have never seen a such a thin profile barrel...ever. I can only guess at muzzle diameter but it is small. The action is particularly gritty and rough for a 1500 and was very noticeably janky, so much so I wouldn't buy it. Maybe just that particular one?
I have minis and they smoothen-up with some use but mine were never so rough out of the box.

Yeah, they are very light.
Click to expand...

The action did look and sound a bit gritty on most of the Youtube reviews I've watched. The lack of stainless or at least a Cerakote is also mildly annoying, but coating after the fact is an option at least, albeit at another expense.

I'm not bothered by the pencil profile barrel though, at least not in a hunting rifle, obviously not a gun for a long day of shooting at the range though. That weight though.....I can't get past the appeal of that part.
 
Iron Sighted said:
I'm not bothered by the pencil profile barrel though, at least not in a hunting rifle, obviously not a gun for a long day of shooting at the range though. That weight though.....I can't get past the appeal of that part.
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You'd really have to see it to believe it as I'm not exaggerating. I'm no stranger to the ultralight game owning both factory and full customs over the years but man that barrel is wispy. The one I handled was 6.5 I can only imagine the .308.

I hear that .243 is going to be available in the near future and I think that would be a decent compromise to add some forward meat/weight and negate a bit of barrel whip.

.243 in Stainless and they can take my money.
 
Sun_and_Steel_77 said:
You'd really have to see it to believe it as I'm not exaggerating. I'm no stranger to the ultralight game owning both factory and full customs over the years but man that barrel is wispy. The one I handled was 6.5 I can only imagine the .308.

I hear that .243 is going to be available in the near future and I think that would be a decent compromise to add some forward meat/weight and negate a bit of barrel whip.

.243 in Stainless and they can take my money.
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7-08 as well I think, at some point, though that doesn't add a whole lot more metal to the barrel but I like the cartridge, though I am already set up to load for .308 so that is kind of where I was leaning.
 
I’ve got a Grendel, that ultralight barrel doesn’t get warm enough to worry about. I haven’t shot it on a hot day yet, but shot between -1°C and +12°C and was not able to get the barrel hot enough to slow the rate of fire. Typically my shot string would be under five minutes for five rounds probably more like two or three minutes. I have a habit for reaching just ahead of the throat to feel what type of heat might be residing and decide if I am going to fire again.

I know the Creedmoor will create more heat/energy, etc. but with slower rate of fire I don’t think it will be an issue.

Mine started out around 1.4 MOA with Hornady 123 Black and has steadily improved to about 1.1 within the first hundred rounds through the barrel. If it continues great, I am also thinking handloading, This will improve.
 
Features

Called the SUPERLITE, this new lightweight bolt-action rifle is built on a hybrid Howa Model 1500 action. Initially, the rifle is being chambered for 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Winchester (I have the .308 version), but instead of using the standard short-action-length receiver, it has what Legacy says is a “reduced short action,” which is in-between a normal short action and Howa’s familiar Mini action. The machined receiver on my rifle measures 5.44 inches long and 1.18 inches in diameter. The forged bolt is 6.31 inches long from the end of the shroud to the extractor at the front of the recessed boltface, and it has dual opposing locking lugs. It has an integral bolt handle and pressure vents as well as a hollowed-out bolt knob. The boltface is trued and squared to the chamber, and the extractor and ejector are M16 .

Kool little action ! ;) RJ
 
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