Howa

The Howa is just heavy. Toss on a B&C stock and its one heavy sporting rifle. Thats the only down side. I own the Vanguard S2 in 308.

Savage 111 is good too. I wouldn't buy an Axis. The downside with the 111 XP is its impossible to replace the cheap Savage stock to something more decent.

M700 is so hit and miss with quality. Its a crap shoot on getting a decent one.

There are a lot of Howa rifle models. You want a light weight then try the Howa 1500 Alpine Mountain Rifle. And never forget that most persons need a weighty rifle to shoot proper groups and can fall on their face with the lighter weight ones.
 
That B&C stock looks really sharp!


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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I too would choose a Howa .. over any Savage -- (despite my ill-chosen 'name', which was to indicate 'non-civilized')
... nor would I choose a new Remington.

At that price point, I would buy a used Winchester Model 70 .. the 'rifleman's rifle'
 
Just wondering, where did you get B&C stock ?

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Thanks !

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
20170415-002654.jpg

20170414-172443.jpg
 
After 10 years of going around and around trying different rifles I have 2 vanguards and a howa after all the dust has settled. Best bang for the buck imo.
 
My one and only dedicated hunting rifle is a HOWA 1500 in .308 with a factory FDE CeraKote job and a pillar-bedded Multicam Hogue Stock. I added a 3-12x 50mm Burris XTR and AICS-compatible Bottom Metal from Pacific Tool and Gauge. The PTG bottom metal is outstanding value for the money (~$125 USD) and makes loading/ unloading a snap. This rifle took a modest Mulie Buck at 140 yards in South Eastern Alberta last Monday. Howa is definitely "Good to Go" when it comes to putting meat on the table!


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Although savage has never let me down they are built to a cheaper price point. I dont like the axis personally. However i havent seen one not shoot well.
Id stay clear of remingtons generally but im going to try a 783 in a mdt chassis. I think its a better design then the savage. All that said i think the howa is the better rifle and if i needed a big game rifle they would likely be getting my money. Howa or kimber or bergera. I have several big game rifles so i want to try and play and tinker with a 783 for my own curiousity. That said if a good deal came up on a howa mini in 6.5 grendel id be mighty tempted and im actually thinking i should have gone that route instead of the 783
 
Howa can be a good base for a semi custom and they seemed quite popular in Europe for a while. In the meantime you couldn't give one away. I prefer a rifle based on either rem 700 or T3 actions.
This was my sons Howa, fitted with a 1/8 twist Bergara barrel, carbon PSE stock, Atlasworx Mag AICS System.

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What are you looking to do with it?

Spend as little and get a solid rifle that works ? Savage

Spend a bit more, and get a solid rifle that works. Doesn't feel like a super cheap budget rifle? Howa

Just dont buy the howa's in chassis their butt wiggles a unholy amount.

I am a fan of weatherby's and howa's are just their off brand.

Unless you plan on buyin a bunch of parts and modding I wouldnt go the 700 route.
 
I am a fan of weatherby's and howa's are just their off brand.

Other way around...Howa has been making the 1500 long before (1979) Weatherby rebranding. S&W branded them for a while, Mossberg, Interarms, Churchill in the UK. Howa has just reached a mainstream level they can stand on their own now.
 
opinion on a HOWA? vs savage axis vs Rem 700?

This is a bit of a loaded question...
The 700 has been and is offered in so many configurations, finish levels and price points over the years it really depends on which 700 you look at. But that said their past has a dark spot on it and the new ones are either built to a price point or are expensive. I know a guy who just bought one and it is a really nice accurate rifle but at the price point he paid it should be.

The Axis is a bargain basement rifle completely designed and manufactured around a target price. Savage is known for this but consider they looked at their main line then designed the Axis to be several price points below it...
That said, it will work and from most accounts it shoots like a Savage (I.e.;accurate) not that I have any history with an Axis.
IMO the Axis wasn’t beaten with the ugly stick, it is the ugly stick...

That leaves the Howa which is one of the rifles in my safe albeit as a Weatherby Vanguard S2 SS in 30/06 (the 700 was and probably will be again, Axis never, Savage probably again).
I put a Weatherby DBM (plastic) on mine with Talley rings and a Leupold VX3i 3.5-10x40 and use a synthetic strap with a rubber shoulder pad. I also carry a spare loaded magazine. In my opinion it isn’t heavy and I think it’s what a rifle in this caliber should weigh. Weight sucks up recoil and the light weights I’ve enjoyed all kick hard, this gun more accurate than required for my hunting requirements and is a pleasure to shoot. I’ll agree a heavy heavy hunting rifle is no fun but a Howa isn’t it in hunting trim.
The price point I paid was very attractive, much more so than a comparable 700.

In the end it’s really down to you and your purchasing criteria as all three will fulfill their basic design goals.
For me I have a multitude of rifles on hand that are permanent and then rotate some to play the next toy (thanks CGN);
the Howa isn’t going anywhere.
 
I do like Howa/Weatherby got my first Coyote with the Weatherby - now I have the Tikka and really like it - looking at a T3x in 204 ruger my 223 will be used as a build
 
Had one of those in 7mm-08 that shot patterns instead of groups, hear they are better now..Too bad for me Kimber wouldn't do anything about it :(

Way better now from what I’ve heard. Unfortunately for me, I have lost it for this season, maybe for good. My son, who has his Weatherby/Howa, has taken it over. So it it looks like I’ll be in the market for another Kimber soon.
 
I've got 2 Weatherby Vanguards. 1 a base of the base models series 1, the other a series 2 backcountry. I'd definitely recommend them (or alternatively the Howa) to anyone.
 
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