Howa 1500
- Thread starter Blench99
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WH308
Well-Known Member
I’ve got two, one in .308 and one in .223. They are great rifles for the money. can’t say the hogue stock flexing has ever been an issue for me. The newer HACT trigger is much better than the old one, so much so that I swapped the one on my older .308 shortly after buying my .223
whitehackle
Well-Known Member
I have a howa in .223 its a brilliant rifle, I dont think I would buy anything else. Admittedly I have done a bit of work to the rifle, but it shot perfectly well before. I like the fact that I have been able to customise the rifle to my liking
Stalker-of-the-deer
Well-Known Member
Got one in laminate for foxing, fantastic rifles for the money. Mine happily sits at 1/2 inch with 87g v max.
Only thing I can fault is mine rusts, as in it gets one bit of rain on it even after oiling and by the end of the night it's red!
However for the money they are great.
Only thing I can fault is mine rusts, as in it gets one bit of rain on it even after oiling and by the end of the night it's red!
However for the money they are great.
I have a stainless sporter in .243. I had a Hogue stock on and it was shooting 80grain Federal powershok touching at 100 yards from the box. I have since moved it into a Bell and Carlson stock, for no reason other than i wanted to. I am currently using 90 grain Nosler home loads which ar 0.3" group at 100 yards, and have just loaded some 100grain prohunters that are grouping at 0.6". It gets out 2-3 times per week and can't fault it.
I picked up a 1500 second hand in .223 for a built project wasn't bothered how it shot I loaded a few rounds put my Leopold scope on it and zeroed it in I never expected a 1 whole group at 100m anyway about 1500 shots later ironically accuracy starting to drop off with a warm barrel so I finally bit the bullet send it to Steve Kershaw decided to keep it into 233 I'm waiting for it to come back from proof at the moment anyway next time I'm looking for a new rifle I'll certainly be looking at howa first
I picked up a 1500 second hand in .223 for a built project wasn't bothered how it shot I loaded a few rounds put my Leopold scope on it and zeroed it in I never expected a 1 whole group at 100m anyway about 1500 shots later ironically accuracy starting to drop off with a warm barrel so I finally bit the bullet send it to Steve Kershaw decided to keep it into 233 I'm waiting for it to come back from proof at the moment anyway next time I'm looking for a new rifle I'll certainly be looking at howa first
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I picked up a 1500 second hand in .223 for a built project wasn't bothered how it shot I loaded a few rounds put my Leopold scope on it and zeroed it in I never expected a 1 whole group at 100m anyway about 1500 shots later ironically accuracy starting to drop off with a warm barrel so I finally bit the bullet send it to Steve Kershaw decided to keep it into 233 I'm waiting for it to come back from proof at the moment anyway next time I'm looking for a new rifle I'll certainly be looking at howa first
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Have had two, both shot around .5” in creedmoor. First hogue I had on first rifle caused me no issues, current hogue that I bought 2nd hand and put on the newer rifle did effect accuracy but it normally sits in a bell and Carlson anyway. Have a buddy with a .308 and .223, both accurate.
Great rifles for the money
Great rifles for the money
Erik Hamburger
Well-Known Member
My 10yo Howa 1500 Stainless Sporter in .243W, with the original 'flexible' Hogue stock, is my workhorse and perfectly accurate. (As long as enough people keep on copying each others' opinion 'the stock is too flexible' this then becomes 'knowledge'). In my experience it is a comfortable stock, and the rifle is accurate, and produces perfectly acceptable Groups with many different types of factory loaded amo, including non-lead factory loaded amo.
Ronin
Distinguished Member
Decent actions with integral recoil lug and solid design in part taken from Sako and part Remington
Trigger unit used to let them down but the new replacement is a heap better than the original unit
Actions are cheap enough to buy brand new with trigger so a build on one would be a reasonable cost
I’ve built several fox and deer rifles using these actions
Always shot well
I wouldn’t use a Hogue stock , plenty of other options available
Trigger unit used to let them down but the new replacement is a heap better than the original unit
Actions are cheap enough to buy brand new with trigger so a build on one would be a reasonable cost
I’ve built several fox and deer rifles using these actions
Always shot well
I wouldn’t use a Hogue stock , plenty of other options available
Got my 3rd howa... lightning 2 stock is the want you want if you want cheap and cheerful, plasticy, horrible stock but stiff as anything.
Collected yesterday, first job was trigger springs to 1.5lbs, clean, rounds loaded ready for tomorrow morning. Il shoot some with factory 140g federal and post results
Collected yesterday, first job was trigger springs to 1.5lbs, clean, rounds loaded ready for tomorrow morning. Il shoot some with factory 140g federal and post results
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A little bit late due to various issues, however I have some results. Targets were 100 yards, 1st target was dialling my scope in so 2 shots to get on target and the rest, well, you will see.
1st target, factory federal powershok 140g, 1 shot high, 1 shot low, then 3 shots dead centre coming under quater of an inch. Not too shabby.
Left the factory rounds and tried my starting loads, using the 130g sierra gamechanger, viht n160 powder and hornady cases.
Virtually all groups came under half inch at 100, with 2 of the 4 being .4 inches. The best group of the day was a ragged hole that measured 0.152? I think it was (zeroed caliper at .264, apparently that's how its done 'properly')
To summarise, nothing wrong with a howa. This is my 3rd one and I see no reason to change to another brand. They are cheap, cheerful, doesn't matter when you drop it or cover it in mud and blood and with a little bit of time will shoot groups as below. A little bit more time and it would be a consistent quater moa rifle all day long. For £540 quid...
£540! Can't even get a rebarrel for that!
Edit to say, yes the first shot on the first picture i DID pull, said I pulled it before I shot the others lol
1st target, factory federal powershok 140g, 1 shot high, 1 shot low, then 3 shots dead centre coming under quater of an inch. Not too shabby.
Left the factory rounds and tried my starting loads, using the 130g sierra gamechanger, viht n160 powder and hornady cases.
Virtually all groups came under half inch at 100, with 2 of the 4 being .4 inches. The best group of the day was a ragged hole that measured 0.152? I think it was (zeroed caliper at .264, apparently that's how its done 'properly')
To summarise, nothing wrong with a howa. This is my 3rd one and I see no reason to change to another brand. They are cheap, cheerful, doesn't matter when you drop it or cover it in mud and blood and with a little bit of time will shoot groups as below. A little bit more time and it would be a consistent quater moa rifle all day long. For £540 quid...
£540! Can't even get a rebarrel for that!
Edit to say, yes the first shot on the first picture i DID pull, said I pulled it before I shot the others lol
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Last edited:
alberta boy
Well-Known Member
^ Nice .
AB
AB
nicely done ive got one in 243 and cant fault them
Me too
lol
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Blaser R93 Hector
Member
My first rifle was a Howa 1500 in 243. great rifle from Highland outdoors as a package deal. It shot well with Federal ammo.
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