Night Hawk 223

Hi does anyone have a HOWA 1500? Or know anything about this rifle???
Thanks Alvin

NE Hunter

I have one in .30-06. It's the same as a Weatherby Vangaurd. Nice gun.

kirkl

I have one in 223 and its a nice rifle, its a shooter, 3/4 in groups.

Night Hawk 223

Thanks for the imput I just bought a HOWA 1500 lightning in 308 yesterday havent shot it yet but am looking forward to it. i am going to the range wensday and will let you all know how it perfoms Thank a lot Alvin

MN Outdoorsman

you just purchased the gun I use...its great...I mounted a tasco world class plus 3-9 on it and I shoot federal boat tails 165g...enjoy yourself...if you don't mind...what did you pay for it? I received mine as a gift...its my first and only rifle.

Cordite

Congratulations . . . you have bought an excellent rifle . . . damn the critics. A prominent writer . . . I forgot his name . . . called the Howa "a sleeper" . . . a good rifle at a good price.

Yes, I have one, in .30-06. Accurate as heck. I have fired 3-shot groups of 3/4" using a rest with Speer 165 grain BTSP bullets.

Are there any problems? Not really . . . but some irritations. The stock, made by Butler Creek, isn't the purtiest thing in the world. However, Legacy Sports will sell you a nice Black Walnut stock for $115 . . . as I remember. I bit my tongue and kept the synthetic. It is a little heavy . . . 7 3/4 lbs. Not bad, but add some ammo and mounts and a scope . . . you are looking at around 9 lbs. A lot to lug around up in these mountains. But so is the Vanguard.

It is NOT a Vanguard . . . there are some differences. The Vanguard has a 24" barrel. I would like that. The bolt of the Weatherby is shrouded - ala Weatherby - a good safety feature. I guess the Japanese don't care if you get a "blast" in your eye. Oh well! The bolt is fluted on the Vanguard and the gas relief ports are on the side - as all Weatherbys - the Howas ports are on the bottom of the bolt. But these are not big differences. Howa makes the Vanguard - as they have since 1970. A nice thing about the Vanguard is you can get some neat chamberings . . . i.e. the .257 Weatherby Magnum . . . that makes me drool! Vanguard gives you the usual Weatherby accuracy guarantee . . . not a big deal since most rifles shoot that well anyway.

I really like mine, but I would sell it. I want a Vanguard .257. It is an ideal antelope rifle for this part of the world. See "Classifieds." It has a Bushnell Trophy 3-9X scope and etc.

BarnesX.308

I have the synthetic Vanguard in 300 Weatherby. It shoots 1" groups, fit and finish in excellent, bolt is smooth, trigger is decent and it's all around a nice rifle. I shot a Sako for about 15 years before buying the Vanguard and I think it's not that far in second place. It is a little heavy but that's not necessarily a bad thing in a 300 Weatherby.

stubblejumper

The howa 1500 and weatherby vanguard are both made by howa and are very good rifles for the price.I used to own a S&W 1500 which was the same howa rifle made for smith&wesson.Accuracy was good and the gun was well finished and dependable.

loduck

just bought a howa 270wsm action and bolted it to a butler creek stock and topped off with a new bushnell 3200 5 x 15 x 50 in leupold bases and rings.
going to the range in the morning with federal 130 grain ballistic tip rounds.....hope it shoots good...season opens sat morning

Night Hawk 223

thanks guys ya i shot about 30 rds and the last two shots at 115yds the holes where touching. very acurate rifle very happy with it. i payed 328 for it on sale.