Howa 1500 WTF?

icanuck

icanuck

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I picked one up on the EE given the favorable things said around the web as something to play with for a little while, and would like to know anyone elses experience with them.

So, who's got one? What have you had to do to it? Is yours a shooter? I've read they are bedded and free floated with a Hogue stock, is it a good stock? I've read they are really accurate for the price. Is this your experience as well?The one I picked up is the stainless in 223 from the latest batch which as I understand has a decsent trigger. Comments?

Thanks.
 
I have a Smith & Wesson Model 1500 in .270 Winchester. Same thing as the Howa 1500. Mine is the deluxe version. High gloss beautiful wood stock, jeweled bolt, very nice bluing etc. The rifle has a very nice trigger and is a tack driver. I purchased it used over 20 years ago and I consider it to be one of my nicest rifles. Be aware that there is a bolt recall in effect. Do a search on Google to see if it applies to your rifle.
 
I have had a Smith & Wesson Model 1500 ( a.k.a. Howa ) in 30-06 for about 25 years now, knocked down many a deer, coyote and even a crow or two with it. It shoots fine, I would never sell it. I would have bought a Howa for my varmint rifle but there are no dealers where I live.
 
i had a mossberg 1500 in 338win mag, i loved it. the trigger was the sweetest untuned factory trigger i have owned. very accurate and i wish i still had it but sadly i sold it to buy a brno 375h&h which i also love. p.s. don't tell my wife.
 
I have a Wby Vanguard in 257Wby , it isnt free floated .
The trigger is adjustable, but I have left it alone.
Shoots where I point and I paid under $500.00 for it too.
Shoot It, Enjoy It and tell us all about the fun you are having.
Rob
 
Howa 1500

I have never heard anything bad about Howa rifles and their shooting results.
I have a 7-08 with a tan Houge stock; scoped with a Nikon 3-9X40 with BDC; shoots great, even with me and cheap factory ammo. I used it last deer season an took 1 white-tailed doe at about 85 yards.

I want another...but not sure which cartridge.
 
In.223 only, i had to choose between:
1) Howa 1500 used
2) Tika lite new
3) Savage 12vf w/accu new
4) Remington 700 SPS new

I like the feel of the Howa, but went with the Tika, i wanted a light weight gun to carry a long way that was accurate. |It's all personal preference, i never heard anything bad about Howa.
 
Got a 1500 Varminter Supreme with a heavy barrel in .308. So far no problems, but I've only put around 100 rds through it, maybe less.

Nice rifle for little money.
 
Do you guys reload for the one chambered in 223 at all? Have you found a load it likes? I'm thinking something in the 55 grain department. I have H4895, Varget, IMR4064 that I've seen online and in my manuals for the cartridge. Anyone?

Thanks.
 
icanuck said:
I've read they are bedded and free floated with a Hogue stock, is it a good stock?
Click to expand...
The Hogue overmoulded stocks are pillar bedded, and even on a bipod my short heavy-barreled version doesn't contact the barrel, but the stock is only a fair one, IMHO. For what you pay the stock isnt bad, its just not great. My 223 is a dandy little rig, the trigger isnt as smooth as say a Sauer or Steyr, but hey for 500$s its a nice light trigger out of the box.
 
I have a Vanguard [Howa] in 300 WSM. It is accurate and dependable. I did replace the trigger with a Timney, but otherwise it is perfectly stock. Shot a Moose last fall at around 375 yards....one shot and down. It regularly puts three 180 Partitions into ¾moa right out to 500 yards. Regards, Eagleye.
 
hans slayer said:
I have a Smith & Wesson Model 1500 in .270 Winchester. Same thing as the Howa 1500. Mine is the deluxe version. High gloss beautiful wood stock, jeweled bolt, very nice bluing etc. The rifle has a very nice trigger and is a tack driver. I purchased it used over 20 years ago and I consider it to be one of my nicest rifles. Be aware that there is a bolt recall in effect. Do a search on Google to see if it applies to your rifle.
Click to expand...

This could be me except mine is bull barreled and in .223. I have used it in Service Rifle matches (long time ago now), Summer Games, and for varmint hunting. I put in a Timney trigger as mentioned in this thread. My son even used it in a Science Fair project and went to the Nationals with the info he developed from it. I love that rifle and would not part with it.
 
I paid attention and set my search criteria to "A year ago" and found more info than I had initially. With the default settings of "A week ago" I thought no here even touched these rifles. It seems I was wrong, you guys have 'em and the general consensis is they are much better than the price tag!!

It seems these rifles are the Honda of 20-25 years ago. Underestimated by the buying public while being an extremely good product.
 
I have two vanguards, one in .223 one in .300 win mag. I love 'em both and they are both very accurate. Here's my .300, i floated the barrel, bedded and painted the stock. This one's definately a shooter.

DSCN0965.jpg
 
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