For those who don't know much about Howa.
A reasonably old Japanese firearms manufacturer (well as old as they can be after the B29 remodelling of Japanese industry in 1944/45) that have made their Howa rifle since the early 1970s. Contrary to some American opinions, they are not modelled off a Remington 700, but a Sako L579. They have adopted Remington 700 base configurations so two piece bases are very common and fit nicely. They have been sold in the USA as the Smith and Wesson 1500, spent some time as a Mossberg IIRC and are now the barrelled action that Weatherby sells as Vanguard.
They are a forged action. Finished on full CNC machinery and my work with them has indicated that the usual tricks for accurising Remington 700s do not apply. They leave the factory straight and true, so correct that swapping barrels usually headspace up within tolerance. The barrels are also fitted with CNC - getting one undone is almost impossible and a relief cut is needed just forward of the action to release the pressure generated by the joint.
Barrel thread is 26x1.5mm, which is almost, but not quite the same as the Remington 700. All other threads are metric (except the scope mount holes which are the standard 6-48).
Triggers are good, the new 2 stage is well regarded and easily tuneable. Such that there is a local gent commonly known as the 'eBay trigger guy' who makes a useful sideline in tuning triggers for guys down to 1lb safe release weight.
Extractors are really good (again modelled off the Sako 579) and I have never needed to replace/repair an extractor on a Howa (unless lost by the owner). Ejectors are the usual plunger ejector.
The only two criticisms of the Howa rifles are that they are a relatively heavy action. Comparable to a Ruger, and a few ounces heavier than a Remington 700. The other criticism is that some feel that the barrels are a little soft, wearing out faster than they probably should.
The rifle is immensely popular in Australia/New Zealand and have been sold here for at least the last 30 years. They work, and keep on working despite poor maintenance. Think of them as a flat bottomed Rem 700, or a push feed Model 70. Except that they are square from the factory.
One in 6.5 Grendel will not be the lightest possible rifle, but it would have all the genetics for being accurate.
My last comment on the Howa rifles is that some may recognise the other rifle that Howa commonly produces. It has 9 lugs, massive bolt and Uncle Roy designed it for his own cartridges (which if you haven't worked it out yet have a trademarked double radius shoulder). Production of the entire rifle moved to Howa in 1970.
A reasonably old Japanese firearms manufacturer (well as old as they can be after the B29 remodelling of Japanese industry in 1944/45) that have made their Howa rifle since the early 1970s. Contrary to some American opinions, they are not modelled off a Remington 700, but a Sako L579. They have adopted Remington 700 base configurations so two piece bases are very common and fit nicely. They have been sold in the USA as the Smith and Wesson 1500, spent some time as a Mossberg IIRC and are now the barrelled action that Weatherby sells as Vanguard.
They are a forged action. Finished on full CNC machinery and my work with them has indicated that the usual tricks for accurising Remington 700s do not apply. They leave the factory straight and true, so correct that swapping barrels usually headspace up within tolerance. The barrels are also fitted with CNC - getting one undone is almost impossible and a relief cut is needed just forward of the action to release the pressure generated by the joint.
Barrel thread is 26x1.5mm, which is almost, but not quite the same as the Remington 700. All other threads are metric (except the scope mount holes which are the standard 6-48).
Triggers are good, the new 2 stage is well regarded and easily tuneable. Such that there is a local gent commonly known as the 'eBay trigger guy' who makes a useful sideline in tuning triggers for guys down to 1lb safe release weight.
Extractors are really good (again modelled off the Sako 579) and I have never needed to replace/repair an extractor on a Howa (unless lost by the owner). Ejectors are the usual plunger ejector.
The only two criticisms of the Howa rifles are that they are a relatively heavy action. Comparable to a Ruger, and a few ounces heavier than a Remington 700. The other criticism is that some feel that the barrels are a little soft, wearing out faster than they probably should.
The rifle is immensely popular in Australia/New Zealand and have been sold here for at least the last 30 years. They work, and keep on working despite poor maintenance. Think of them as a flat bottomed Rem 700, or a push feed Model 70. Except that they are square from the factory.
One in 6.5 Grendel will not be the lightest possible rifle, but it would have all the genetics for being accurate.
My last comment on the Howa rifles is that some may recognise the other rifle that Howa commonly produces. It has 9 lugs, massive bolt and Uncle Roy designed it for his own cartridges (which if you haven't worked it out yet have a trademarked double radius shoulder). Production of the entire rifle moved to Howa in 1970.