Tell me about the Howa M1500

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Tim the student

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I noticed one at a local store yesterday. It seems like a pretty well built rifle.

I'm not crazy about the stock, but I did some looking and found that replacements are available, should I decide to get something I like better.

For you guys that have one, what can you tell me about them?

Anyone ever have one rebarreled?

PS - What is the twist on it? I looked at a .223, which I was told was a 1/9 twist. I've done some looking, and I can't find anything from Howa to confirm this. I really don't want anything slower than a 1/9.
 
Would you buy a Weatherby Vanguard? Pretty much the same rifle.

If I were going to change stock & barrel I would probably look to a more commonly modded rifle. For example a Rem 700. Is a Rem 700 better? For argument sake let's say no, but several local smiths can handle working on a 700 yet might not have worked on a Howa. Plus more preowned pieces are available. On the Savage rebarreling could be done at home. So Rem & Savage offer rifles that have a certain convenience to them. Ubiquity has it's privileges.

The Howa & Weatherby VGs are nice rifles though and your average deer hunter would not really have a complaint about one. The Wby VGs come in more configurations. I have a VG Sporter (wood stock) in .270 Win. I have not had a reason to want to change anything about the gun if used for its intended purpose.

On a .223 I have seen a lot of nice used bolt guns for sale. We don't really have a lot of use for a .223 bolt gun around here. I would look toward a Savage for a .223 mainly for the ability to change barrel myself.
 
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I have owned a Howa 1500, actually a Smith & Wesson 1500 in 300 Win Mag for about 30 years. Absolutely no problems, really a nice rifle. Would not hesitate to buy another. My brother has 2 a Howa 1500 22-250 varmiter and a Weatherby Vanguard. He likes them both and they are exceptionally accurate, especially the 22-250. If you like it and the price is right, just go for it and don't look back.
 
Weatherby buys their actions from Howa to build the Vanguard. Other than that the 2 are quite different. Since they are based on the same action, any aftermarket parts designed for one will fit the other. But from the factory Weatherby uses a different safety, trigger, bolt, barrel and stock so they are quite different.

I'd look around, Weatherby recently made some upgrades and thier new Series 2 (S2) rifles are selling for around $500. You can still find older versions priced at $350. Probably less than the Howa.

While the Howa uses many different parts, I actualy like it better primarily becuse of the 3 position safety vs 2 position on the Vanguard. In my experience both are very dependable, accurate rifles. The biggest downside is that the Howa/Vanguard action is the heaviest action available. There is no way to make one into a light rifle. Expect either version to weigh close to 9 lbs once you get them scoped, maybe more depending on the scope.

If I didn't mind a heavy rifle, or PF action the Howa would be my 1st choice of any out there. I do mind heavy rifles and greatly prefer a CRF action so I sold both my Vanguard and Howa. If you decide to buy one I'll make you a great deal on a quality aftermarket stock that will reduce the overall weight by 1/2 lb.
 
I purchased a Howa 1500 in 223 about 15 years ago and mounted a 9 power mil dot scope on it. I think the twist rate is 1 in 12 and it does not like anything over the 55 grains running down the barrel. It can keep its groups in the 1 moa area at 100 yards if I'm having a decent day. At the range in Elko there was a metal gong set up a roughly 600 yards or so. Once you found your aiming point it did manage to get repeated shots on target. For the money the 1500 is hard to beat. Same rifle as a Weatherby Vanguard.
 
Howa's 223 has a 1/12 twist. If you want to shoot heavier bullets you should look at the Tikka T3, which is available (I think it's standard now) with a 1/8 twist for the .223.
 
I bought the 308Win Targetmaster package and love it. The triger is nice, balance is good the sock is not bad at all. I am going to put a cheek rest on it as the scope that came with it sits a bit high.
I avergage .6 inch groups at 100 meters and tomorrow will do some load testing at 250 and 300.
 
Who is the importer for Howa now? any repair part issue? I remember someone was looking for an extractor but could not find one. I'm also interested in a Howa, but concerned about service and repair part availability.
 
The importer is Legacy Sports:

http://legacysports.com/

No idea on service and parts. I've read enough positives about the overall design that I'll be picking one up in about a week, so I suppose I'll know more after I get to shoot it some.
 
Never tried for groups. Would bet mine is not sub MOA with the ammo I am using. Would say inch and a half +/-. But would also bet that with the right ammo or hand loads it would be an inch better gun.
 
Tim,
A little backstory on how I got mine. I had never been to the local Friends of the NRA banquet even though I had been a supporter. So I finally make my first one. For $20 I get a ticket for a 10 gun raffle. I end up having the third pick and the Wby VG is the nicest of the 8 guns left. Not exactly my dream gun at that point. I probably wouldn't have bought that rifle in that caliber, yada yada.
So it starts growing on me and I get some ammo for it. I went through some trials and trivilations with it. Turns out the scope that came on it was bad. I put a new scope and eventually handload for it.
With a starting load I shot a 3 round group @ 200yds that measured 1.188 ctc with Rem Core Lokts. That was it. No way was I selling it, trading it, etc. Still not really a rifle that fits my main intersest, but I figure it is a great rifle so I might as well keep it.
 
Tim, I bought my Mossberg (Howa) 1500 in 30-06 15 years ago, used. THe Howa 1500 action is strong, reliable, and simple to field strip and clean. Mine has killed deer out to 450 yds.

I get MOA groups at all ranges out to 500 yds with core-lokts and sub-MOA with handloads. The trigger is adjustable, or a Timney trigger for Howa drops right in. Bonus: the Timney for Howa is one of their less expensive models.

I think it is the best money I ever spent on a rifle.
 
Howas are very good shooters but have a few small issues. I disagree with the statement that Weatherby only uses the actions. The triggers on both have the same design and issues. If all of the creep is adjusted out, the safety does not work. You either have to live with a little creep or go with a Timney. Another issue is the metric threads on the barrel. Not an issue till you do a rebarrel. Metric threads are a PITA to cut on an inch lathe. Can be done but takes longer therefore more expensive.
 
howas shoot good they are built like a rock and they are inexpensive what more could you want. and i think the trigger is great too.
 
I have a series 1 Vanguard that has been nothing short of great. It does have a Timney trigger and a Hogue full bed stock and shoots 130gr and 140gr sub-MOA with both. And there is not a piece of plastic on it. I hunt from a stand so the 8 1/2 pounds loaded is quite nice for me. I don't believe you would ever regret going with the Howa or Vanguard.
 
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