I have had a bit to do with the Howa rifles,
I have mates who have them in everything from 223 to 300WSM. Do you know how old the rifle is? The early one have a Butler creek plastic stock with a thin forend this was changed to a Butler creek stock with a wide forend (better suited for shooting off a rest or bag) these also have a three position safety the earlier rifles have a two position safety. As you mention the latest ones from Highland have a Houge overmolded stock.
The rifles are typically Japanese they took the best bits from the earlier Sako rifles and the best from a remmy 700 and came out with there own rifle. The action is flat bottomed with a built in recoil lug (easy to bed) the bolt fully encloses the cartridge case head and uses two locking lugs. It has a good size extractor (M16 type) in the bolt.
The triggers are usually good, out of 5 I have played with only one was a “bad one” I have adjusted them down to 1.5lbs (checked with a electronic force meter). There are after market triggers from Timney and Jewel.
The barrels need floating as they are pressure bedded at the end of the forend for a 1” (American Market) this is easy to do.
The accuracy has been good as they claim with 1 MOA being achievable out of the box the best one I have is my heavy barrel 223 varmint rifle with a T8 on this will turn in .25” groups. Even my 270 does .6” groups.
They take any mounts that will fit a Remmy 700 so loads of choice there.
The down side is they are a little heavy and no detachable mag’ as standard, but I know at least two companies that do a conversion to make then DM if you want one.
In conclusion good honest rifle that are strong with no faults. In destruction testing in Sweden they came out top with some of the European makes for staying together.
Personally of the new rifles out there I think there is nothing to touch them for the money.
Howa in a Bell and Carlson stock with a Timney trigger unit fitted.
Best rgds
Thar