Why doesn't the Howa action seem to get much respect?

jbmauser

jbmauser

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So now that my daughter is older and a more experienced shooter and hunter, we've decided to purchase her a rifle with a little more punch than the Ruger Compact in 7.62x39 that she started out with. The Ruger will still be kept as it has performed extremely well on deer and bear but for elk and moose I'd feel far more confident if she was using something along the lines of a 7mm-08.

We considered another Ruger Compact or the Winchester Featherweight Compact but after seeing and handling the Weatherby Vanguard Girls Hunt 2, she decided that was what she wanted. Now, I'm a die hard CRF rifle user and am very picky on how a rifle is built. I don't care how reliable or accurate a particular rifle is, if it is made with a soldered together bolt or is designed with ease and cheapness of manufacture as one of the top priorities, it isn't for me. So, since I was going against my personal preferences in a big way with the Vanguard, I had to research it and find out exactly what the deal is with the action.

What I found was very surprising. The Howa action is actually very well built and IMHO leaps and bounds ahead of a Rem 700 or Savage action in quality of manufacture. Not trying to offend any Rem or Savage fans, I know they work very well and this is just my personal preferences and opinions. The Howa action has features like a one piece machined bolt, receiver machined from a forging with integral recoil lug, metal bottom metal with hinged floor plate, and a 3 position sliding safety. The extractor looks to be pretty beefy compared to some other push feed models and has a reputation for reliability from what I've read. The actions are also supposed to be very true right from the factory.

Now I get that they aren't offered in many platforms, aren't as readily available, and the aftermarket isn't full of parts for them but I think they should be more popular than they are. It just seems strange that an action with obvious quality features and construction has never really developed a strong following.

So what are your opinions and experiences with the Howa actions? I'd like to hear. We had a chance to handle one of the Vanguard Girls Hunt 2 in .223 and inspect the action and build quality but of course haven't actually shot or used one in the field extensively.
 
As I stated in another post, if I were starting all over again my first bolt action rifle would be a Howa, and it would probably still be in my collection today. It's quality made, period.
 
I handled a Vanguard for the first time a couple days ago its a buddy's wife's rifle. The action feels dead straight and solid and smooth. It had a real nice chunk of lumber on it actually. Fit and finish looked very good I can see why these have their fans for sure. I may end up with a Howa of some sort one of these days
 
Its sad, but I believe it is because they are made in Japan. Howa has also made rifles for other rifle manufacturers ( doesnt sound right lol). Looks like well made rifles, i had a look at some online, but unfortunately not available around here. I like to handle a rifle to find out if it "fits" me.
 
Since I bought my first "howa" I have never bought another savage or remington. They have a better accuracy guarantee, better pricing, better trigger in my opinion, and better action features. I think howa isn't as popular because they aren't a house name brand, every hunter knows remington and savage even if there not gun guys.

I think they are the best performance to price rifle when purchased from the vanguard line. Plus surprising aftermarket support with good quality dbm and stocks.

Howa is in "" above cause I don't actually own a howa branded rifle, got three vanguards and a s&w m1500. In the family with more to come.
 
My first Howa was a smith and wesson 1500 in /06 back in 1981,
Fast forward to today I just received my stainless vanguard 2 in 300 win mag in the mail. Its a whole lot of rifle for the price and the trigger is heads and tails above the brand x's with the little do dad in the middle. Stock fits me great, nice soft recoil pad and the fit and finish is surprising for a rifle in this price range. Guaranteed to do less than an inch for 3 @ 100yds it certainly is going to be a nice addition to the fleet.
 
NL-Hunter said:
Its sad, but I believe it is because they are made in Japan. Howa has also made rifles for other rifle manufacturers ( doesnt sound right lol). Looks like well made rifles, i had a look at some online, but unfortunately not available around here. I like to handle a rifle to find out if it "fits" me.
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I think it's a backlash from the Japanese automobile domination of the late 70s to early 90s... domestic manufactures, dealers, unions, and autoworkers made it their business to inform the public of how inferior Japanese products were. And it spread to other facets of consumer products. In this case, guns.

I remember one of my buddies... buddy, bought a Winchester 101. "Made in 'merica" he would say with pride. I pointed out the "made in Japan" roll mark. His smile dropped. Non-the-less very nice shotgun.
 
I'd say lack of marketing... Compare the Remington and Savage ads to the Howa ones.

And I agree with others Howa makes solid rifles.
 
The Howa is a very good action. Copied a lot from the old Sako L61R.

There's a reason for this as Howa was contracted to build parts for Sako back in the 60's. Howa started to build their own rifle with a lot of parts taken from the Sako bin.

There was one called the Dickson Howa Golden Bear.

They also made a near exact copy of the Sako L61R.

The stocks will interchange between a long action Howa and a Sako L61R or AIII. The receiver drops right in but the bottom metal doesn't fit perfectly.

The firing pin assembly is removed from the bolt in the same manner as the L and A series Sakos.

They are a very well made action rivalling the popular Rem 700 in more ways than one.

Weatherby had Howa building the Mark V after they left Sauer and Sohn in 1972. It was about 1970 that Wby put their name on the Howa and the Vanguard was born.

I've owned them with all four names on them, Howa, Wby Vanguard, Smith & Wesson and Mossberg.

Interesting tid bit of info...., early Howas even had the guide rib on the bolt like a Sako, there are two examples in the EE right now.

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...rd-Browning-A-Bolt-Eclipse?highlight=Vanguard



http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...-700-BDL-DM-Reduced-prices?highlight=Vanguard
 
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I have a 1500 Lightning stainless/synthetic in .300 win mag. I've had it for several years, and its not going anywhere from my stable. It is as well built as any offering nowadays, and mine shoots awesomely. It even shoots the long 200 grain accubonds greatly, that many guns have trouble stabilizing. I've had offers from 4 hunting buddies to sell it to them , and they have standing offers (plus another guy that I don't hunt with but have bought guns from before) to call them first if it even goes up on the block...............................doubt it.
 
I own a potful of Remington 700 rifles, mostly the "Classic" offerings of years gone by.

I have acquired 5 Weatherby Vanguards in the past 3 or 4 years.

Also bought and sold 3 other Vanguards due to overlap in chamberings.

These are all very fine rifles, good shooters and they feel solid and good in the hands. All mine are blue/wood.

My 270 Winchester is astonishingly accurate, and it is an S1....ditto my 300 WSM

The others are S2 Vanguards, and one is the Cabela's special 30-06, with superior blued finish and XX wood. They all make the moa guarantee with loads they like.

I have nothing negative to say about these Howa rifles. And....the prices are very attractive for the quality you get.

I will probably be adding to my Howa collection as time goes on.

Regards, Dave.
 
I recently picked up a 1st generation weatherby vanguard (howa)in .223, with a houge overmold stock on a trade and I am very impressed with the fit and finish.The houge stock free floats the barrel which helps with accuracy and is very grippy in wet weather and makes little noise pushing bush. The adjustable trigger is creep free and very crisp. The action is as smooth as my Sako A7s.I have my new favorite coyote rig. Pic from last weekend.
Cheers
Jerad
 
They get a lot of respect from me. I'll gather the parts, build rifles, buy high end and still hope like hell they shoot and work as well as Vanguards we were picking up for 300 bucks. Home trigger jobs and Boyds stocks for the only upgrades or just buy a deluxe or Laserguard and be done with it. Bottom metal is a little chintzy.
 
The whole Howa rifle does get much respect from those who know it. A more pertinent question would be why isn't it more widely known, and Calum answered that at post #8.
 
J_K_S said:
I recently picked up a 1st generation weatherby vanguard (howa)in .223, with a houge overmold stock on a trade and I am very impressed with the fit and finish.The houge stock free floats the barrel which helps with accuracy and is very grippy in wet weather and makes little noise pushing bush. The adjustable trigger is creep free and very crisp. The action is as smooth as my Sako A7s.I have my new favorite coyote rig. Pic from last weekend.
Cheers
Jerad
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Glad you liked it, I was very surprised with the Vanguards. Action was smooth, Fit and Finish was nice, Very accurate. The Axiom stock on it was paperweight. The only issue I had was how its not common and thus was hard to find that Houge stock. Trigger was best I fired out of the box.
 
I like them - although I have only owned one, I would gladly get another.

Isn't Nosler's rifle based on the Howa action?
 
Calum said:
I'd say lack of marketing... Compare the Remington and Savage ads to the Howa ones.

And I agree with others Howa makes solid rifles.
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I think marketing is the big thing, how many outdoor shows are sponsored by Howa, with Howa ads every 3,5 minutes, and Howa branded dog treats and beef jerky for sale next to the Howa jackets, Howa ball caps and Howa truck decals...

They just quietly make excellent rifles for other companies who rebrand them and use their own name.
 
RobertMcC said:
Glad you liked it, I was very surprised with the Vanguards. Action was smooth, Fit and Finish was nice, Very accurate. The Axiom stock on it was paperweight. The only issue I had was how its not common and thus was hard to find that Houge stock. Trigger was best I fired out of the box.
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Nice to hear from you Robert. Thanks again!
 
My experience with the Vanguard is limited to only one and my only criticism is that it was heavier than I thought it should be for a hunting rifle.
Otherwise it shot well and fit and finish were acceptable.
Is it just me or are they a bit on the heavy side ?..... my Vanguard was a stainless in 257 Weatherby and scoped weighed 10.5 lbs.
 
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