Re: New with Howa questions
Some one mention Howa ?
well the hogue stocked 1500 is probably the best choice of the line up as the wooden stocks leave something to be desired. (as do many factory wood stocks, the howa-legacy stocks are no better and no worse than many) I'm not sure on the Axiom version, having not played with one for more than about 5 mins, they are rare over here.
The main problem with the pillar bed hogue is the very flexible fore end, now as a grab it and go hunting rifle you probably wouldn't notice the forearm flexing, but shoot it from a bipod and you will definately be pressing the stock hard against the barrel as soon as you put weight on the bipod. You could combat this by removing some stock material. It is no better and no worse than the injection molded offerings from Tikka, Remington and the rest.
The full bed block (FBB) is a far better stock and all it needs is a little bedding compound to locate the action centraly, By experimenting i've found the rifles with the Hogue bed block shoot better with bedding compound to the right and left side of the front part of the action. I figure Legacy would be better to offer a FBB version for $150 more, it would sell better and be a better product.
Otherwise there are plenty of after market stocks available for the Howa 1500.
Manners, Wild Dog, B&C, Hogue, McMillan, and our own Roedale RCS and probably some i haven't mentioned.
The basica Howa 1500 is a well made rifle. The trigger is very tunable to around 1lb pull and is safe. ( you can adjust the sear engagement and pull weight down to about 2 pounds but if you go lower the safety blocks and some alteration to the internals is required to make it work with the trigger lower than this weight.
Occasionaly you find one in which only one bolt lug is in contact, but this can be remedied, by and large the headspace is usualy nice and around minimum,
The action is a basic copy of the older Sako actions, with improvements for ease of manufacturing and reliability. Is simple to maintain, is reliable and accurately made when compared to many other factory rifles.
As far as aftermarket accessories go, we are working on it, we already have the RCS chassis system, the RMS magazine system, our own picatinny rails, and will have a 3 position safety that works on the firing pin ala win 70 some time this year. Fact of the matter is, what more do you need with the Howa, I can honestly say that i haven't seen a factory .308win Howa, that once bedded into its factory stock,( or better yet put into a better aftermarket stock,) that wasn't a genuine 1/2 MOA rifle with the right (usualy Lapua) factory ammo. Sure the wood stocks warp and you can chase the groups acording to the weather, but we've seen more than a few basicaly standard Howa's (apart from a decent stock, bedding, trigger tune, re crown and lugs lapped that would hold a honest 1/3 MOA.
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=693905&page=1
I dunno if Dave is near you, maybe he can give you some Howa tips.
Pete
