Howa 1500 .223

[RJ156]

Evening

Considering options for a .223 bolt action for the range, target shooting only.

Is there any reason I should avoid a Howa 1500?

Plan would be to varmint barrel 1:8 with bifrost stock.

Now I have shot (and do very much like) tikka t3; but they are right at the upper end of budget, and accessories are significantly more pricey.

Bearing in mind I have handled and get the tikka hype, will I regret Howa 1500?

Any experiences welcome

Thanks

Rich

[daman]

I have a Howa 1500 in .223 and know a few more people with the same. It's a good rifle for the price.

Came in a Hogue stock which I found too flexible, I changed for a GRS, which improved my groups.

Mine is very happy with 55gn bullets but struggles to stabilize heavier - if I recall correctly it's a 1-in-12 twist. A 1-in-8 would probably be better for e.g milsurp. Not shot it past 500 yards but it's better than I am at that range.

See if you can get your hands on one to try out. You might just like it.

- daman

[Dellboy]

I have a 223 and a 308 both in GRS stock and am well chuffed

[RJ156]

Thank-you both very much. Any teething issues or adjustments required?

What box mag setup (if any) did you opt for?

Daman - yeah you are correct, 1:12 is only option in catalogue. Think I may have read one wrong somewhere. Anyway, I’m sure 55gr will be fine!

I may have to go find a show with one in stock and go have a play with!

[DaveB]

I do not know about the Howa 1500, but I have a couple of Howa 'Mini' action rifles, one in .223 and the other in 300 Blackout. My .223 has a 1-in-8 twist barrel. Apparently they were also offered in 1-in-9 twist for a period as well. Maybe the 1500 action is offered with fewer or different barrel options? You might look into the mini action.

[Pete]

To get the best that .223 can offer, you need an 8 twist barrel. You can really stretch their legs with 80grain bullets........

Pete

[daman]

Thank-you both very much. Any teething issues or adjustments required?

Well, I did change the stock :-) Apart from that, no fettling was required.

What box mag setup (if any) did you opt for?

Mine came with a floorplate and a box mag (and all the gubbins to switch). It usually wears the box mag in the field as it's easier to unload when climbing etc, and the floorplate on the range as it's easier to single load. Most of my clubmates use the floorplate exclusively.

Daman - yeah you are correct, 1:12 is only option in catalogue. Think I may have read one wrong somewhere. Anyway, I’m sure 55gr will be fine!

As DaveB has said, you might be able to find it in a mini-action (although still branded 1500 over here) at least one of the 1500s in our club is a 1-in-8.
55gn is enough for my uses, but it will get pushed about by the wind at range, and the cheaper milsurp is iirc 62gn.

I may have to go find a show with one in stock and go have a play with!

Always good to give one a cuddle before purchase

[RJ156]

Just a question regarding short and mini action

Which is better? Weight isn’t really as issue as it’s to be a range gun. From what I understand the mini action has less options for stocks, mags, and other accessories.

Is this correct or not something you’ve ever encountered?

[daman]

Not really qualified to say tbh, they all seem to work :)

[RJ156]

Not really qualified to say tbh, they all seem to work :)

No worries

I had been shying away from mini’s