Well, I don't know jack about howa, other than they are basically a Wetherby clone, which can't be bad. They also have a nice reputation for accuracy.
As far as the 6.5 goes, if you put up a thread for best all around cartridge, it would not be surprising to find this one on top of the list. It is mild, it is zippy if you reload, it is super accurate, you can get a ton of diff bullet weights, it holds it's velocity , and thusly , energy , very well downrange. you can hunt just about anything you want with it in N. America, 'cept for maybe bears. it is easy on the rilfe, and the shooter, and barrels can last foreever, they are not considered overbore at all. I am allways on the lookout for something that catches my eye when I go to gunshows, either in 6mm remmy, or 6.5 swede.