Review on a HOWA 1500 please.

New Avon Arms
I have two

One .223 in a Oryx chassis which will shoot 0.3MOA groups with home loads
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And a .243 which I've yet to zero yet, again with home loads

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I think they offer good value for money and there is plenty of aftermarket stuff available.

Both mine were bought second hand and I cant grumble at the prices I paid.

If the .243 is as good as my .233 i will be very happy
 
I’ve had 2 howa’s and I think they are good for the money. Only changed to a tikka as I found something that I wanted years ago at the right price.
I would happily have another howa both were very accurate
 
As others have said, it's a good rifle, not as smooth on the bolt as my Tac A1 but it has the ability to top load the double stack mag and has a 3 position safety, neither of which the Tikka has.

With the newer HACT trigger and a Gun Bloke spring the trigger is as good as the Tikka. It shoots well and has plenty of aftermarket spares and accessories and you can keep the very good floorplate if its for hunting or swap out the bottom metal and use AI magazines.
 
Bought one in .243 back in 2009, bloody excellent rifle. As everyone has said, a well built good value rifle. It may not be as refined as something 3 times the price, but they’re a good “does what it says on the tin” rifle.
 
Been using one in 243 for the last five years mainly for deer and the odd fox very accurate and a excellent working tool
Could easily afford a more expensive make but it wouldn't improve my cull figures so won't be changing it any time soon 👍👍
 
My experience with the Howa1500 243 was that it was accurate, reliable, and looked good (thumbhole stock). It was not a top-of-the-range rifle, but for the money, it did everything I wanted it to. My shooting mate has it now, and he's very happy with it.
 
Can’t rate Howas highly enough particularly at their price point. Never had any issues with mine, shoots accurately, it’s not particularly fussy with ammo and they are quite easy to customise. Most aftermarket stocks- GRS, MDT will accommodate a Howa (although you may be limited on a long action) . Only downside for me- and it is a small downside- is the safety catch lacks refinement and feels a bit agricultural. But it does the job as I mainly use it for foxing, it’s well made and I certainly wouldn’t change my Howa anytime soon.
 

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I have a non stainless verison in .223, it is a very accurate rifle, but it is prone to rusting (inside the chamber also), so I would be tempted with a stainless version. I also found the original hogue stock can be a bit flexible at front near the barrel, could get it to touch the barrel. Lots of aftermarket stocks for them though, I have the ambidextrous laminate thumbhole for my howa and its great.
I also have a tikka which is very good and similar price.
A friend has a begara which is also a very good rifle for similar money, good stocks with the begara
 
So looking at the HOWA 1500, the .270 is a long action, can you still get stocks for these? Are the factory fitted stocks that bad? Whats the problem with them
 
tommustoe said:
So looking at the HOWA 1500, the .270 is a long action, can you still get stocks for these? Are the factory fitted stocks that bad? Whats the problem with them
Click to expand...
I believe you can but might be limited choice. I know GRS and MDT do a lot more for short action calibres- just speaking from experience as I had a tikka 270. Howa stocks are ok but just ok really, a nicer factory stock would obviously come at a cost. They do the job but the value is in the barrelled action. If you just want a straight forward stock I guess you would be fine.
 
When I first started out bought the how’s package in .270. Nothing wrong with the rifle but the flimsy lightweight stock it came with was so bad I could t take the recoil so developed a bad flinch. Not sure if they changed them now but would t have one with that stock again if you paid me.
 
tommustoe said:
So looking at the HOWA 1500, the .270 is a long action, can you still get stocks for these? Are the factory fitted stocks that bad? Whats the problem with them
Click to expand...
The rubberised Hogue stock is a bit flimsy at the front end so it easily touches the barrel, which can affect accuracy. The aftermarkets are good and i have a howa ambidextrous laminate thumbhole which is great. Personally I would have a look at a tikka T3 lite stainless, I prefer that over the howa, already comes with a magazine rather than top feed, loads of second hand stuff about too, this forum is great for a bargain.
Also have a look at the Begara though, my friend has the B14 with thumbhole and adjustable stock, a lot of gun for the money, but they are pretty new so not as many secondhand compared to the tikka.
I am actually looking to move on my Tikka 308 to replace with a tikka 270, solid rifle.
 
I had one in .308, seemed to be doing the rounds of the local gunshops with new deerstalkers, can't fault them at all, good solid rifles for what they cost
 
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