Howa rifle action

wch · November 28, 2009, 04:28 AM

I'm looking for an action to build a rifle, haven't decided which caliber, but am considering the Howa.

What's your opinion?

fyimo · November 28, 2009, 08:57 AM

Howa makes an excellent rifle so their barreled actions are excellent also.

tINY · November 28, 2009, 01:38 PM

It's a nice action, but there aren't a lot of aftermarket parts for them. So, if you like it the way it is, go for it...

If you really are "building" a rifle, the Remington and Mauser actions have a lot more parts available.

-tINY

Horseman · November 28, 2009, 02:36 PM

Howa is actually an improvement over the Remmy IMO because it has an integral recoil lug instead of a washer between the barrel and receiver. That said, I'd pick a 700 because it's what smiths know how to work on and has the best triggers known to man available for it.

GONIF · November 28, 2009, 06:16 PM

The Howa action is in fact better then the Remington,and it has a one piece bolt . Any smith that is worth wile can build on a Howa action . there is a guy that goes by Septic that has built many super accurate sniper/target rifles on Howa actions .there are aftermarket triggers for the Howa .

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot · November 28, 2009, 11:22 PM

Have been there and done that, a number of times, so I understand the motovation.

However, Your dollars are probably just as well spent on buying, for example a Weatherby/Howa in their MOA line.

No fuss, no muss, and a shooter right out of the box.

Then, there is the RUGER Hawkeye - I am a RUGER fan! - and my 2 season old 300 win. Mag. is shooting great groups and at velocities way up there.

This rifle replaced a browning with a very bad, VERY BAD!!!!! barrel and while maybe not as smooth of action, is everything the browning was not in other departments.

The great stock company I used is no longer in business, and the cost/time factor for me no longer balances out. Better to spend the time shooting rather then hours upon hours, upon hours, upon hours finishing a stock.

Keep em coming!

CDOC

SeekHer · November 29, 2009, 10:35 AM

Well the Weatherby Vanguard is a Howa!

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot · November 29, 2009, 11:28 AM

Yep, dat is what I said when refering to the "Weatherby/Howa in their MOA line."

That rifle has been known for shooting well.

Weatherby decided to take advantage of that by taking those rifles which shot well during the pre-dealer shipping tests, and installing a specialy marked - MOA - floor plate on the rifle and selling at a bit higher price.

Don't recall if any changes, other then the floor plate, were made.

One other thought about building a rifle is ------------------------

If your thoughts include a very nice piece of wood, well think about it!

I bought a very nice black walnut blank from a dealer in Montana 25 - 30 years back - paid $250 for the slab - and then had the origional Fajen do the semi inlet for another $100 +/-.

Beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

However, the rifle sees limited use as after many hours I find it hard to put into a hunting situation where the stock will possibly be damaged.

I have begun to work up loads with that rifle - an old & very fine shoot'in 243 RUGER "flat Bolt" - with the 55gr. Nosler Balistic Tip, so it may see some limited varmit hunting, but typical thru the brush - over the rocks hunting, probably not.

It is a fine looking rifle, but I know how it got that way and how much work it took and what it takes to keep it that way.

That is why I now really like synthic for my serious hunting rifles.

Keep em coming!

CDOC

November 28, 2009, 04:28 AM	#1
wch Member Join Date: November 25, 2009 Posts: 26	Howa rifle action I'm looking for an action to build a rifle, haven't decided which caliber, but am considering the Howa. What's your opinion?

November 28, 2009, 06:16 PM	#5
GONIF Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2009 Location: A WORLD GONE CRAZY Posts: 329	The Howa action is in fact better then the Remington,and it has a one piece bolt . Any smith that is worth wile can build on a Howa action . there is a guy that goes by Septic that has built many super accurate sniper/target rifles on Howa actions .there are aftermarket triggers for the Howa . __________________ WHO ME ?

November 29, 2009, 10:35 AM	#7
SeekHer Senior Member Join Date: August 4, 2005 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Posts: 294	Well the Weatherby Vanguard is a Howa! __________________ There is a certain type of mentality that thinks if you make certain inanimate objects illegal their criminal misuse will disappear! When the human race dies out, it will be because it was brainwashed to be so totally, completely, utterly safe that it no longer dared to keep on living

November 28, 2009, 08:57 AM	#2
fyimo Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2009 Posts: 357	Howa makes an excellent rifle so their barreled actions are excellent also.

November 28, 2009, 01:38 PM	#3
tINY Senior Member Join Date: April 26, 2005 Location: Orygun Posts: 2,541	It's a nice action, but there aren't a lot of aftermarket parts for them. So, if you like it the way it is, go for it... If you really are "building" a rifle, the Remington and Mauser actions have a lot more parts available. -tINY

November 28, 2009, 02:36 PM	#4
Horseman Senior Member Join Date: February 1, 2006 Location: Midwest Posts: 963	Howa is actually an improvement over the Remmy IMO because it has an integral recoil lug instead of a washer between the barrel and receiver. That said, I'd pick a 700 because it's what smiths know how to work on and has the best triggers known to man available for it.

November 28, 2009, 11:22 PM	#6
Crusty Deary Ol'Coot Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2009 Location: Deary, Ideeeeeeho Posts: 103	Have been there and done that, a number of times, so I understand the motovation. However, Your dollars are probably just as well spent on buying, for example a Weatherby/Howa in their MOA line. No fuss, no muss, and a shooter right out of the box. Then, there is the RUGER Hawkeye - I am a RUGER fan! - and my 2 season old 300 win. Mag. is shooting great groups and at velocities way up there. This rifle replaced a browning with a very bad, VERY BAD!!!!! barrel and while maybe not as smooth of action, is everything the browning was not in other departments. The great stock company I used is no longer in business, and the cost/time factor for me no longer balances out. Better to spend the time shooting rather then hours upon hours, upon hours, upon hours finishing a stock. Keep em coming! CDOC

November 29, 2009, 11:28 AM	#8
Crusty Deary Ol'Coot Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2009 Location: Deary, Ideeeeeeho Posts: 103	Yep, dat is what I said when refering to the "Weatherby/Howa in their MOA line." That rifle has been known for shooting well. Weatherby decided to take advantage of that by taking those rifles which shot well during the pre-dealer shipping tests, and installing a specialy marked - MOA - floor plate on the rifle and selling at a bit higher price. Don't recall if any changes, other then the floor plate, were made. One other thought about building a rifle is ------------------------ If your thoughts include a very nice piece of wood, well think about it! I bought a very nice black walnut blank from a dealer in Montana 25 - 30 years back - paid $250 for the slab - and then had the origional Fajen do the semi inlet for another $100 +/-. Beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! However, the rifle sees limited use as after many hours I find it hard to put into a hunting situation where the stock will possibly be damaged. I have begun to work up loads with that rifle - an old & very fine shoot'in 243 RUGER "flat Bolt" - with the 55gr. Nosler Balistic Tip, so it may see some limited varmit hunting, but typical thru the brush - over the rocks hunting, probably not. It is a fine looking rifle, but I know how it got that way and how much work it took and what it takes to keep it that way. That is why I now really like synthic for my serious hunting rifles. Keep em coming! CDOC