njc110381 Posted June 7, 2009 Report Share Posted June 7, 2009 I'm looking at a Howa at the moment. All the reviews on the net seem to be pretty positive and I like the basic Hogue stock and all metal action. Outside of the appearance and sales talk how do they shoot? Are Hogue stocks fairly rigid or not? How are the triggers? Are they accurate rifles? Who on here shoots one? In what calibre and for what use? I'd quite like a gun I can knock about without worrying about it getting scratched, but it has to shoot! I'm looking at the stainless sporter model. Thanks in advance for any opinions given. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldspot Posted June 7, 2009 Report Share Posted June 7, 2009 PM me if you want to meet up and try my 1500 stainless/synthetic .243. Alistair at Gloucestershire Gun Company (Cirencester) is an agent or Andy at Wildcat Rifles has a good range in stock as he screw cuts them for the importer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scout Posted June 8, 2009 Report Share Posted June 8, 2009 (edited) I have the 1500 in 243 and it's a nice piece of kit. Getting sub 1/2" groups at 150 yards. Trigger was little bit heavy so had that lighten and now I am really please with it. My only comment would be is the stock attracts dirt and takes so cleaning no matter how careful you are with it. I would definately buy another one I am very pleased with it. Edited June 8, 2009 by scout Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gixer1 Posted June 8, 2009 Report Share Posted June 8, 2009 I have the weatherby vangaurd (which is basically a Howa 1500) and it's a fantastic gun..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunganick Posted June 8, 2009 Report Share Posted June 8, 2009 Hate mine, wouldnt buy another if you paid me, never shot as well as the equivilent tikka would. Its a very average rifle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted June 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 Nick, have you not got that thing shooting yet? It seems that you've had some really bad luck there. I've asked the question on several forums and you're the only one who has said a bad word about them! I would say are you sure it's not the guy holding it, but I understand your issue and it would really bug me if it happened to me! I really do get the feeling you've just been very unlucky with it :unsure: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunganick Posted June 10, 2009 Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 Nick, have you not got that thing shooting yet? It seems that you've had some really bad luck there. I've asked the question on several forums and you're the only one who has said a bad word about them! I would say are you sure it's not the guy holding it, but I understand your issue and it would really bug me if it happened to me! I really do get the feeling you've just been very unlucky with it :unsure: to be honest i think alot of it is the guy holding it, not because i cant shoot... im not that bad a shot, i just expect it to shoot like a tikka, it doesnt. Alot of people say theirs shoot 1 hole groups.... not convinced. This gun will shoot 3/4" groups sometimes..... the next day it will shoot 1.5" groups. I won the bench rest competition we did at the Bisley meet 2 years ago with a gun that wasnt shooting well in my opinion. So maybe its more a reflection on how accurate other members accounts are of the rifle. I suspect if you ask Chris V or Fister they will mirror my opinion. having said this i still own the gun, and it has been accurate enough for medium range foxing. But its had the following: re crowning, handloading development (lots!), 3 different sets of rings and 2 different sets of bases, 2 different silencers, glass bedding, pillar bedding, new stock, 1 new scope, timney trigger. My conclusion.... its very fussy, likes to be cleaned far too much, not better than a tikka, it also weighs far too much. if someone offered me what the stock and rifle cost me i would probably take their offer. In reality i will be saving up for a 6.5x55 in a tikka t3, i will simply leave the .223 untill ive got the time to rebarrel it or the money to sell it at a massive loss. Sorry to go on..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest topshot_2k Posted June 10, 2009 Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 i looked at them, but after hearing several people say about not liking them and selling them on i'd rather spend a bit more on something twice as good :unsure: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted June 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 Well the Howa is a popular action for custom work so I'm told. A re-barrel may do the trick. Maybe I should go for something else. The Winchester model 70 looks nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted June 10, 2009 Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 Nick I can only speak as I find. I have said before I own a Howa ss varmint with a laminate stock in .204 which I have had for nearly 3 years now, a Tikka T3 in 6.5x55 and a Sako 75 in 22.250. The Howa is the most accurate rifle I have ever owned in some 50 years. I would say quality wise it falls between the Tikka and the Sako. The engineering machining tolerances are second to none as far as factory rifles are concerned and it will at some time in the future make a good platform for a reasonably priced semi custom job if I ever shoot it out. You really should strongly consider one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deerstalkerlunt Posted July 1, 2009 Report Share Posted July 1, 2009 Since I put a 8x56 S&B I have been getting 1/2" without a moderator with federal .243 100 grain, just bought new moderator hopefully that will close it down a tad bit more. Federal do 85gr hollowpoints, Sierra Gamekings I think, they are bloddy expensive but **** there accurate. I will say this about the Howa though the synthetic stock attracts **** loads of dirt, its easily cleaned and I tried nearly every brand of factory ammunition and wasnt getting good results until I went on to Federal after that it would of been homeloads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirtydawk Posted July 3, 2009 Report Share Posted July 3, 2009 I have a Howa 1500 in .223, it is the stainless heavy barrelled version. I find it to be very accurate for target shooting and I would certainly put myself and my Howa up against any of the other club members with Tikka or Remington rifles. The only thing that you need to be aware of is the twist rate of the barrel as most Howa's are 1:12 twist. All this means is that in .223 you can only fire ammunition with a bullet weight of 55gr or less as the 1:12 twist just won't stabilise a heavier bullet. PRVI Partisan 55gr BT FMJ is ideal! The Hogue stock is a big plus point for these rifles as they are really comfortable and solid. I cannot fault the trigger either, some might want it a bit lighter but I find it fine and dandy! Cheers Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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