Howa 1500 Sporter

[michael1 0]

Hello everyone, this is my first post and I am looking for some advice/input. I've been looking for a rifle/mod/optics set-up for my first centre fire in .223 cal. I was wondering what you all thought of the Howa 1500 Sporter as a first rifle. It would be used mainly for fox, and with experience, occasional roe as there are quite a few on the land on which I shoot. Have had a "few" years prior shooting experience, ie handguns before the ban; and from then .22 rimfire and shotgun. So not a complete novice! but still learning So I'd appreciate any opinions or advice - thanks Michael

[Deker 3,478]

Hello everyone, this is my first post and I am looking for some advice/input. I've been looking for a rifle/mod/optics set-up for my first centre fire in .223 cal. I was wondering what you all thought of the Howa 1500 Sporter as a first rifle. It would be used mainly for fox, and with experience, occasional roe as there are quite a few on the land on which I shoot. Have had a "few" years prior shooting experience, ie handguns before the ban; and from then .22 rimfire and shotgun. So not a complete novice! but still learning So I'd appreciate any opinions or advice - thanks Michael

 

 

Not had a Howa, but know others who have, also fired them, not bad really, but I just don't like the Hogue stocks, others do, just a personal thing. I may well have bought one myself were it not for the stock!!

[dave1372 83]

I have a Howa 1500 in 22-250 with the heavy barrel, it is my first CF rifle and I think it does the job for me (ie foxing) if you want to have a shot with it to see if you like them then let me know.

Edited December 31, 2009 by dave1372

[hily 380]

Hi found mine heavy to hump about so got some shooting sticks .Thats better.

[michael1 0]

Hello everyone, this is my first post and I am looking for some advice/input. I've been looking for a rifle/mod/optics set-up for my first centre fire in .223 cal. I was wondering what you all thought of the Howa 1500 Sporter as a first rifle. It would be used mainly for fox, and with experience, occasional roe as there are quite a few on the land on which I shoot. Have had a "few" years prior shooting experience, ie handguns before the ban; and from then .22 rimfire and shotgun. So not a complete novice! but still learning So I'd appreciate any opinions or advice - thanks Michael

 

 

Not had a Howa, but know others who have, also fired them, not bad really, but I just don't like the Hogue stocks, others do, just a personal thing. I may well have bought one myself were it not for the stock!!

 

Hi Deker, thanks for your reply - at the moment price is a consideration for me so if I did have issues with the stock there seems to be plenty of after-market ones out there so I could change it out. Thanks for pointing this out though, I'll be aware of it now. Michael

[michael1 0]

I have a Howa 1500 in 22-250 with the heavy barrel, it is my first CF rifle and I think it does the job for me (ie foxing) if you want to have a shot with it to see if you like them then let me know.

 

Hi Dave, have sent you a PM. Michael

[michael1 0]

Hi found mine heavy to hump about so got some shooting sticks .Thats better.

 

Hi Hily, thanks for the reply. I think it is the laminated stock that's heavier than the Hogue rubber ones so I would be going for the lighter one myself. Michael

[rjimmer 4]

Go on the pigeonwatch forum and see what dunganick thinks about Howas.

 

When I was looking at my first C/F rifle, I was undecided on what price-range to choose. There were some cheap Midlands about at the time, but they soon got sold out, and I went for a Sauer 90. Still got it! If I had got on well with a Midland, I would probably still have that, at less than quarter the price.

CZ would seem a good starter rifle to me. You might even keep it for ever. Lots of people do!

[Mr_Logic 5]

CZ is a good make, as is Tikka, as is Remington, as is Howa....

 

Lots to choose from.

 

Chances are, you won't go wrong with anything.

 

CZ - Accurate as anything, I've had issues getting scopes on there as the action is dovetail-only, and has a high bolt lift. This means eye relief is tricky with a Leupold, and the eyebell of scopes (Nikon) can be a pain. But it was supremely cheap, shoots straight, and is horrendously lightweight at under 6lbs, naked. (I have the American Synthetic, the normal American is a tad heavier, but not much)

 

Howa - All the ones I've had have been shooters. I personally love the Hogue stock, it's non-slip, the swivel studs are housed in a metal screw-thread, not just screwed into plastic as was the case on my CZ (now held in with epoxy and an old nut my dad had lying about). The action is good and it takes Remington scope mounts, which helps a lot.

 

Remington - My SPS Tactical shoots well, but a bit heavy for the field. SPS is better - Deker has one and it too shoots. Nothing wrong with it, nothing much right either.

 

Tikka - Would be my choice. Deker has two, both shoot under 1/2 MOA with handloads. I have one, it also shoots under 1/2 MOA, until it warms up when things aren't as good. Get the hunter though, the balance on the Lite is poor...

 

Ultimately you won't go wrong with any one - your original question was "Shall I buy a Howa" - no information I have says No, and mine works, so my response is Yes - if you've looked at the others.

[loves2hunt 5]

hi pal i use a howa 223 shot hundreds of fox with mine it has the plastic stock atb

[JonathanL 4]

I have a Weatherby Vanguard in .308 Win which was made by Howa for Weatherby. Totally solid rifle and an excellent shooter. Had it years and years - 20 probably - and have put all sorts of rubbish through it, thousands and thousands of rounds including the worst military rubbish you can imagine. Still dead solid and will certainly out-last me and still shoots perfectly acceptably.

 

Mine has a RamLine stock, which it came with, which looks a little cheap but does the job.

 

Never shot it in ages come to think about it so I might give it a blast in the near future.

[michael1 0]

Hello again everybody - happy new year and thanks to you all for taking the time to reply to me. All the posts have been positive, and if I decide to go down the Howa/Weatherby route I'll keep you posted. Thanks again.

 

ATB Michael