Howa Owners

[carleng]

Every day someone comes along and asks what rifle brand/calibre/etc should they start off with, and it seems the advice always seems to be "Go with Howa in .308".
Having fondled them a bit in various shops, and having spent a lot of time reading up about the topic, this seems like sensible advice (however, I have never shot one).
From what I have read, most owners are generally happy with their rifles, with only minor issues (iirc the good Ds had some issues with a moulded stock touching the barrel and causing inconsistent groups).

With this in mind, I would like to find out which Howa rifle/configuration you have.
Polls are a bit difficult with all of the possible variations, so I set up the template below.
If there is anything else you would like to add, just add it to the Comments field.
The Howa catalogue can be found here: http://www.howarifles.eu/resources/HOWA.pdf

Calibre:
Barrel Length: (20/22/24/etc inch)
Barrel Profile: (Light/Standard/Heavy/Fluted/etc)
Stock Make: (Howa/Other)
Stock Material: (Synthetic/Laminate/Wood/Aluminium/Other)
Scope Brand:
Scope Model:
Primary Application: (Hunting/Long Range Target Shooting/etc)
Best Accuracy Achieved: (0.25/0.5/1 MOA @ x distance)
Are you happy with your Howa: (Yes/No)
Comments:

I'll try and combine all of the results in some sort of graph/set of graphs and show it here.

[Bowhunter]

Calibre: 30-06
Barrel Length: 22"
Barrel Profile: Standard
Stock Make: Hogue
Stock Material: Synthetic
Scope Brand: Meopta
Scope Model: Meopro 4-12x50
Primary Application: Huting
Best Accuracy Achieved: Cloverleaf at +-90m, consistently hitting a 150mm gong at 300m (150gr GS Customs)
Are you happy with your Howa: Yes. I will buy another when the time is right, I don't think I'll even bother looking around at other brands. I'm hoping to still acquire a heavy barrel 26" 6.5 Creedmoor and a heavy barrel .204 Ruger.
Comments: I had to grind the fore end of the stock in a few places to completely clear the barrel. Trigger is the newer version, HACT I believe it's called.

[MJC]

Calibre: .308
Barrel Length: 22"
Barrel Profile: Standard
Stock Make: Standard Howa walnut stock
Stock Material: Wood
Scope Brand: Bushnell
Scope Model: Adler (4-12 * 40)
Primary Application: Hunting
Best Accuracy Achieved: MOA @ 100
Are you happy with your Howa: Very!
Comments: The rifle does everything I need it to do. It is reliable, durable and accurate and it didn't break the bank.

[gary-t]

Calibre: .243
Barrel Length: 24"
Barrel Profile: Bull barrel
Stock Make: Howa laminated thumbhole stock
Stock Material: Laminated Wood
Scope Brand: Nikon
Scope Model: Monarch 4-16x42
Primary Application: Range / plains hunting
Best Accuracy Achieved: .5 MOA at 300m
Are you happy with your Howa: Very!
Comments: It is reliable, durable and very accurate and it didn't break the bank.
As a dedicated hunting rifle I wouldn't advise a bull barrel especially 24". It is very heavy and difficult to carry. I would get a standard taper barrel. Those that I have shot with are very accurate. [/QUOTE]

[Greekboi95]

My Howa 308 with thumbhole in laminated stock BB is my go to rifle when it comes to any hunting. I get sub MOA accuracy constantly and I've taken headshots with 180gr bullets up to 250m (obviously compensated for the shot at that distance) with out an issue. My father has a SS barrel in 308 with Hogue stock and we continue to get great results with that one too. Currently loaded up with 155gr A Max and again sub MOA groups even tho with the twist its better to go with a 168gr or heavier. For the amount you pay, you can afford a quality optic and you get accuracy, durability and fun, I wouldn't hesitate to get another one. I have just bought a Howa BB 300 WM now for R8500. Here's a hunting video on YouTube of mine:



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[carleng]

My Howa 308 with thumbhole in laminated stock BB is my go to rifle when it comes to any hunting. I get sub MOA accuracy constantly and I've taken headshots with 180gr bullets up to 250m (obviously compensated for the shot at that distance) with out an issue. My father has a SS barrel in 308 with Hogue stock and we continue to get great results with that one too. Currently loaded up with 155gr A Max and again sub MOA groups even tho with the twist its better to go with a 168gr or heavier. For the amount you pay, you can afford a quality optic and you get accuracy, durability and fun, I wouldn't hesitate to get another one. I have just bought a Howa BB 300 WM now for R8500. Here's a hunting video on YouTube of mine:


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Can you please expand on the barrel lengths, barrel profiles and scope info for both your and your fathers Howa?

Thanks

[Greekboi95]

Can you please expand on the barrel lengths, barrel profiles and scope info for both your and your fathers Howa?

Thanks

On mine I believe it's the 24 inch heavy barrel. I'm using a vortex diamandback 4-12x40. On his one it's the stainless steel barrel Hogue stock with a Nikon monarch 3 scope 4-16x40. I've noticed with both of them being 1/10 twist that heavier projectiles do group better as expected.

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[carleng]

On mine I believe it's the 24 inch heavy barrel. I'm using a vortex diamandback 4-12x40. On his one it's the stainless steel barrel Hogue stock with a Nikon monarch 3 scope 4-16x40. I've noticed with both of them being 1/10 twist that heavier projectiles do group better as expected.

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Is that the 22" or 24" and is it the standard or heavy barrel?

Thanks

[CoffeeBean]

Calibre: 300WM
Barrel Length: 24"
Barrel Profile: Standard magnum
Stock Make: Laminated thumbhole from Howa
Stock Material: Laminated Wood Pepper
Scope Brand: Lynx
Scope Model: Lynx lx2 2.5-10x56
Primary Application: Huting
Best Accuracy Achieved: 0.8 MOA at 100m, MOA at 200m (180gr SGK in Norma brass) Im sure it could do better, my skill level is not that good yet.
Are you happy with your Howa: Yes
Comments: I will buy more HOWAs.. 300WM not the best first caliber for someone - I feel the standard recoil pad is a bit marginal / too hard for this caliber..

[Koebelwagen]

Calibre: .243 Win
Barrel Length: 24"
Barrel Profile: Heavy
Stock Make: Boyds Featherweight Thumbhole
Stock Material: Applejack Laminate
Scope Brand:Lynx
Scope Model:LX2 4.5-14x42
Primary Application: Hunting
Best Accuracy Achieved: 0.25 MOA
Are you happy with your Howa: Yes
Comments: Improved with the addition of the Boyds stock and a Timney trigger. Quite heavy but an absolute joy to shoot.