Howa M1500 308

[insik]

What do you guys think of this rifle?

http://www.turners.com/howa/howa-m1500-kryptek-highlander--240666

Its on sale now at turners for $799. The guy at turners said that its a 1000 yards rifle. true?

Just for target shooting and not hunting.

[Divernhunter]

I am pretty sure you could carry it 1000 yards
For that money maybe get a Vanguard. same manufacture but guaranteed accuracy.
Do not be fooled by the cheap $1.98 scope on it. Especially if you want to shoot long range you will need a quality scope.
If shooting 1000 yards a longer heavy barrel will get you more out of the 308win cartridge.

[Arnelcheeze]

1000 yards, with hand loads maybe, but 20 inch barrel might be a bit short to get out that far. And the optic is crap, imagine the mirage at 1000 yards with that optic. But, I have shot one and its a great rifle but i wouldnt spend more than $570 on a M1500 with a heavy barrel. Get the regular one with the magazine kit, much cheaper.
If youre going to spend $800, i would go R700 SPS much more after market support.

[insik]

Thank you guys. I'll keep that in mind.

[rdsii64]

What do you guys think of this rifle?

http://www.turners.com/howa/howa-m1500-kryptek-highlander--240666

Its on sale now at turners for $799. The guy at turners said that its a 1000 yards rifle. true?

Just for target shooting and not hunting.

I own a pair of Howa 1500's, one each in 308 and 223. You won't find a better shooting rifle for under $1000.00. I prefer my bolt guns to have 24 inch barrels and my semi autos with 20 inch barrels though. If a 20 inch bolt gun will meet your needs. you would be a fool not to buy that one.

[1859sharps]

1000 yards, with hand loads maybe, but 20 inch barrel might be a bit short to get out that far. And the optic is crap, imagine the mirage at 1000 yards with that optic. But, I have shot one and its a great rifle but i wouldnt spend more than $570 on a M1500 with a heavy barrel. Get the regular one with the magazine kit, much cheaper.
If youre going to spend $800, i would go R700 SPS much more after market support.

If you have $800 for just the rifle, I would not be buying an sps, I would be looking at one of the R700 lines with more quality and better stock/trigger.

20inch barrel will get you hitting paper out to 1000, but you probably won't like the results. IF you are going to spend the time and effort to shoot 1000 yards regularly, buy a rifle that can do it right. which means...longer barrel.

[barrage]

If you have $800 for just the rifle, I would not be buying an sps, I would be looking at one of the R700 lines with more quality and better stock/trigger.

20inch barrel will get you hitting paper out to 1000, but you probably won't like the results. IF you are going to spend the time and effort to shoot 1000 yards regularly, buy a rifle that can do it right. which means...longer barrel.

... and 300 winmag.

[rdsii64]

I am pretty sure you could carry it 1000 yards
For that money maybe get a Vanguard. same manufacture but guaranteed accuracy.
Do not be fooled by the cheap $1.98 scope on it. Especially if you want to shoot long range you will need a quality scope.
If shooting 1000 yards a longer heavy barrel will get you more out of the 308win cartridge.

A Vanguard is a Howa 1500 and usually less expensive than a Weatherby Vanguard. I haven't seen one with either brand name on the receiver yet that won't hold consistent 3/4 moa. Most are closer to half. A 20 inch barrel will launch a 175 grain pill across the 1000 yard line above the speed of sound, point on and stable. With that being said, as you stated, if target shooting is his cup of tea, the heavy varmint barrel will be a better fit.

[CK_32]

I shot a howa a long while back.

A couple kids had a pair in BLM and asked if they could shoot with us. They wanted to do a head to head with me and my buddies where I had my 700, buddy had a Mosin and another had a savage. We went against their Howa's for fun and we even switched to let em shoot our guns. Was not that impressed. It shot ok, but didn't feel that great in my hands.

For $800 I would look else where at a 700, Tika + upgrades or a savage. YMMV.

But it is very possible with that rifle/barrel length. You just gatta do your part.

[Arnelcheeze]

... and 300 winmag.

^^^this, 300 winmag seems to be winning alot in the 1000 yard game.

[Calif Hunter]

The Howas and Vanguards I've had (.30-06, .270, .270 WSM and a .257 Wthby) shoot well, but not great. I admit I am picky and want under an inch at 100yards consistently. Mine all seemed to shoot about 1 1/2 inches - some after trying a bunch of different handloads. These were all sporter weight barrels. For comparison, most of my bolt action rifles ( a Rem 700 custom, an MRC 1999 custom in .358 Win, a 1903 Spgfld .30-06, .22-250 Kimber, .223 Savage and CZ, Tikka T-3s in .243 and .300 Win, etc) will shoot around 1/2 inch at 100 yards with handloads or less. All off a bench in an underground range.

[9mmrevolver]

I've taken my 1500 out to 600 yards. It does okay.i prefer my ar10 just because I like it better

[1859sharps]

... and 300 winmag.

that is one option, but only an option. there are plenty of other options that work just fine for competition or recreational shooting that are not magnums.

[1859sharps]

while the vanguard is a howa 1500. from my reading up on the vanguard I am not sure you can just write them off as identical no difference.

I came away with 3 points that I am looking to get verification on...

1. vanguard series 1 and 2 have minor differences that can make a difference in peoples opinion of them. series 2 seems to be the improved version

2. while they are manufactured by howa, Weatherby appears to make modifications, have their own QC/QA standards that might be a bit more strict than a default Howa

3. they test fire for accuracy, not just function. what i am not clear on is if they test fire each and every rifle, but I kind of got that impression.

be interested in some feed back from those who are very, very familiar with weatherby and or howa.

[insik]

Turners will have a sale on 700 SPS starting tomorrow. I believed its a varmint 24" and a tactical 20". I will check it out.