HOWA Rifles???

jakester · December 14, 2001, 11:13 PM

Ordered a 243Win HOWA bolt action rifle today. After debating between a Savage and Remington for several weeks, noticed the Howa article in a recent rifle magazine. My trusted Gun dealer was leaning me towards Savage (for the money and "out-of-the-box" accuracy). When I mentioned Howa, I caught a glimmer in his eyes. He compares them with Savage for accuracy, but closer to Remington for astetics. For my "dirt cheap" range gun-to-be, he also recommended the Tasco Varmitmaster scope. Prices: Howa $319, Tasco $86.
Sound like a good combo for a range fun gun???

Any Howa owners out there with comments to share?

leej · December 15, 2001, 09:51 PM

An excellent rifle with outstanding workmanship.

Lock time is slow but this is actually an advantage in the reliablilty of ignition. The Howa will fire when other weapons fail due to extremes of cold and if you are an acomplished rifelman you will already have developed a good follow through and the increased lock time will bother you not a wit. Lock time is about on par with the 98 mauser.

As push feed actions go it is definetely one of the better ones.

jakester · December 15, 2001, 10:26 PM

Everything I have read and heard about the Howa's seems positive. I was ready to buy an "overpowered" Savage (300 Rem Ultra Mag), merely because I had the fever to buuy and too little budget for a Winchester, Remington, Browning, etc. I may still have to budget for that Savage....just for the heck of it.

Thanks again for the feedback. Sould pick up my new rifle on Tuesday.....then have to let it sit for a couple weeks through the holidays before I can get a chance to go to the range.

C.R.Sam · December 15, 2001, 11:44 PM

HOWA good.

Sam

Fatelvis · December 16, 2001, 10:11 PM

Howa makes a great rifle, especially for the money! Weatherby Vanguards are really just fancy Howas. Buy it, you`ll like it!

yorec · December 17, 2001, 01:27 AM

My wife's hunting rifle is a Howa, in .270. I have nothing but good things to say about that gun, you should be very pleased.

WIL TERRY · December 17, 2001, 12:39 PM

GOOD GUNS!!!
I'VE BEEN SHOOTING A DIXON-HOWA [ ANYONE ELSE REMEMBER THOSE? ] 30/06 SINCE 1967. I'VE YET TO SEE ANY '06 SHOOT BETTER OR AT HIGHER VELOCITIES.
THINK I PAID 140 BUCKS FOR IT...IF MEMORY SERVES.

Smokey Joe · December 18, 2001, 12:51 PM

Well, HOWA bout that! (Sorry, couldn't resist the opportunity.)

jakester · December 18, 2001, 10:03 PM

Was suppose to arrive today, but they didn't get to their suppliers. Will pick it up on Thursday. Anxious to make a trip to the range. Saw my first Howa at a different gun shop today in 223. WHAT A SMOOTH ACTION! I've handled Winchester, Ruger, Remington, Savage, Browning, Sako, and Weatherby rifles in my search for a 243. I would say it was the smoothest action of the lot. If it is as good at shooting.....may buy two more barreled actions for my boys and make my own special stocks for their first hunting rifles.

AlexGRT · January 30, 2002, 09:23 AM

Hey Jakester, I too am looking for an economical hunting setup. I've recently moved to rural region for the first time, so I don't think buying the best will cover for my skills or lack there of. I was comtemplating on purchasing a rifle from Savage or Howa. I know that the Savage brand has garnered a lot of following, just wanted to know how your Howa has served you. Please fill us all in on your experiences. Thanks

jakester · February 17, 2002, 02:37 AM

Well, I think it shoots good.....had a small problem with my scope mounting, so I failed to zero the first time out. Shimmed the rear mount and it's doing great now. Mine is a 243. Learned a trick with the 243...zero at 50 yds and it returns to that point at 200yds. Only had time for the 50yds zero, but very good @ about 1"-1.5". I am not a veteran rifleman yet, so it is probably capable of a lot more accuracy than I can currently achieve. Plan to put a Howa 30-06 in my collection before the year's end.

yorec · February 17, 2002, 11:10 AM

Is the stock bedded? If not that would be my first step in wringing out a little more accuracy. I'll bet that HOWA will do better than sub MOA.

Congrats and have fun with it!

Fatelvis · February 17, 2002, 11:35 AM

I had two Weatherby VGX`s (Howa made), and LOVED `em! Accurate, and well made, I just wish they would chamber them in .270 Weath Mag again!

kelly mcmillan · February 17, 2002, 12:21 PM

We don't list them in our catalog but we do make stocks for Howa actions, so if the need ever arises give us a call.

S.F.S · February 28, 2002, 08:26 PM

Jake,
I also am interested in getting a Howa Rifle, Im looking at the 1500 Hunter, wood stock blued barrel no sights.
How is yours doing? Any problems at all with it?
Thanks,
Scott

-Yo- · March 1, 2002, 05:35 PM

The Howa varmint with the laminated thumbhole stock and stainless barrel is a very nice set up for the money (About $500). I own a Savage, but I had to swap out the trigger and I'm still looking for a decent stock. The synthetic that comes with the 10FP is a POS. The so-called "pillars" are cheap brass inserts that compress when you torque the stock.

For a true "out of the box" shooter, the Howa is a good choice. The Savage may have a slightly better barrel (on average), but the Howa offers a lot of value for the money, and you don't have to throw half the gun (trigger, stock) in the dumpster as soon as you get it.

December 14, 2001, 11:13 PM	#1
jakester Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 2001 Posts: 129	HOWA Rifles??? Ordered a 243Win HOWA bolt action rifle today. After debating between a Savage and Remington for several weeks, noticed the Howa article in a recent rifle magazine. My trusted Gun dealer was leaning me towards Savage (for the money and "out-of-the-box" accuracy). When I mentioned Howa, I caught a glimmer in his eyes. He compares them with Savage for accuracy, but closer to Remington for astetics. For my "dirt cheap" range gun-to-be, he also recommended the Tasco Varmitmaster scope. Prices: Howa $319, Tasco $86. Sound like a good combo for a range fun gun??? Any Howa owners out there with comments to share?

December 15, 2001, 10:26 PM	#3
jakester Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 2001 Posts: 129	Thanks for the Vote of Confidence Everything I have read and heard about the Howa's seems positive. I was ready to buy an "overpowered" Savage (300 Rem Ultra Mag), merely because I had the fever to buuy and too little budget for a Winchester, Remington, Browning, etc. I may still have to budget for that Savage....just for the heck of it. Thanks again for the feedback. Sould pick up my new rifle on Tuesday.....then have to let it sit for a couple weeks through the holidays before I can get a chance to go to the range.

December 17, 2001, 01:27 AM	#6
yorec Senior Member Join Date: February 2, 2000 Location: Wyoming Posts: 2,328	My wife's hunting rifle is a Howa, in .270. I have nothing but good things to say about that gun, you should be very pleased. __________________ What part of "... shall not be infringed..." don't you understand?

December 17, 2001, 12:39 PM	#7
WIL TERRY Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 2000 Location: BLACK HILLS Posts: 1,322	HOWA RIFLES... GOOD GUNS!!! I'VE BEEN SHOOTING A DIXON-HOWA [ ANYONE ELSE REMEMBER THOSE? ] 30/06 SINCE 1967. I'VE YET TO SEE ANY '06 SHOOT BETTER OR AT HIGHER VELOCITIES. THINK I PAID 140 BUCKS FOR IT...IF MEMORY SERVES.

December 18, 2001, 10:03 PM	#9
jakester Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 2001 Posts: 129	Thanks for the Feedback Was suppose to arrive today, but they didn't get to their suppliers. Will pick it up on Thursday. Anxious to make a trip to the range. Saw my first Howa at a different gun shop today in 223. WHAT A SMOOTH ACTION! I've handled Winchester, Ruger, Remington, Savage, Browning, Sako, and Weatherby rifles in my search for a 243. I would say it was the smoothest action of the lot. If it is as good at shooting.....may buy two more barreled actions for my boys and make my own special stocks for their first hunting rifles.

December 15, 2001, 09:51 PM	#2
leej Junior member Join Date: December 12, 2001 Posts: 94	An excellent rifle with outstanding workmanship. Lock time is slow but this is actually an advantage in the reliablilty of ignition. The Howa will fire when other weapons fail due to extremes of cold and if you are an acomplished rifelman you will already have developed a good follow through and the increased lock time will bother you not a wit. Lock time is about on par with the 98 mauser. As push feed actions go it is definetely one of the better ones.

December 15, 2001, 11:44 PM	#4
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	HOWA good. Sam

December 16, 2001, 10:11 PM	#5
Fatelvis Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2001 Location: Lockport, IL Posts: 490	Howa makes a great rifle, especially for the money! Weatherby Vanguards are really just fancy Howas. Buy it, you`ll like it!

December 18, 2001, 12:51 PM	#8
Smokey Joe Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2001 Location: State of Confusion Posts: 2,106	Well, HOWA bout that! (Sorry, couldn't resist the opportunity.)

January 30, 2002, 09:23 AM	#10
AlexGRT Senior Member Join Date: November 29, 2000 Posts: 106	Hey Jakester, I too am looking for an economical hunting setup. I've recently moved to rural region for the first time, so I don't think buying the best will cover for my skills or lack there of. I was comtemplating on purchasing a rifle from Savage or Howa. I know that the Savage brand has garnered a lot of following, just wanted to know how your Howa has served you. Please fill us all in on your experiences. Thanks

February 17, 2002, 02:37 AM	#11
jakester Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 2001 Posts: 129	AlexGRT Well, I think it shoots good.....had a small problem with my scope mounting, so I failed to zero the first time out. Shimmed the rear mount and it's doing great now. Mine is a 243. Learned a trick with the 243...zero at 50 yds and it returns to that point at 200yds. Only had time for the 50yds zero, but very good @ about 1"-1.5". I am not a veteran rifleman yet, so it is probably capable of a lot more accuracy than I can currently achieve. Plan to put a Howa 30-06 in my collection before the year's end.

February 17, 2002, 11:10 AM	#12
yorec Senior Member Join Date: February 2, 2000 Location: Wyoming Posts: 2,328	Is the stock bedded? If not that would be my first step in wringing out a little more accuracy. I'll bet that HOWA will do better than sub MOA. Congrats and have fun with it! __________________ What part of "... shall not be infringed..." don't you understand?

February 17, 2002, 11:35 AM	#13
Fatelvis Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2001 Location: Lockport, IL Posts: 490	I had two Weatherby VGX`s (Howa made), and LOVED `em! Accurate, and well made, I just wish they would chamber them in .270 Weath Mag again!

February 17, 2002, 12:21 PM	#14
kelly mcmillan Member Join Date: January 10, 2002 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 19	We don't list them in our catalog but we do make stocks for Howa actions, so if the need ever arises give us a call.

February 28, 2002, 08:26 PM	#15
S.F.S Senior Member Join Date: April 24, 2001 Location: Delaware, USA Posts: 469	Jake, I also am interested in getting a Howa Rifle, Im looking at the 1500 Hunter, wood stock blued barrel no sights. How is yours doing? Any problems at all with it? Thanks, Scott __________________ My Wife Yes, My Dog Maybe, My Guns NEVER!!!

March 1, 2002, 05:35 PM	#16
-Yo- Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2001 Location: Near the Ocean Posts: 248	The Howa varmint with the laminated thumbhole stock and stainless barrel is a very nice set up for the money (About $500). I own a Savage, but I had to swap out the trigger and I'm still looking for a decent stock. The synthetic that comes with the 10FP is a POS. The so-called "pillars" are cheap brass inserts that compress when you torque the stock. For a true "out of the box" shooter, the Howa is a good choice. The Savage may have a slightly better barrel (on average), but the Howa offers a lot of value for the money, and you don't have to throw half the gun (trigger, stock) in the dumpster as soon as you get it.