HOWA .223 Heavy Barreled Action Stainless 24"

[Starfire1929]

Has anyone used the : HOWA 1500 .223 Heavy Barrel & Action 24" Threaded Stainless Match for a rifle build? If so, how accurate was the barreled action and where can it be bought in the U.S.? Note, neither Legacy or Brownells carry this item, and Brownells will not special order one.

I did find the HOWA in New Zealand and in Australia but it is cost prohibitive to buy from a retailer there and ship to the U.S. and pay all the import fees, etc. But any information would greatly appreciated.

 

[xswanted]

When I worked in the gun business, Legacy sports had a minimum order quantity for rifles which was typically quite a few.

I believe barreled actions were available to order at that time but I never had customer interest for them.

If you found a Leagcy/Howa dealer, it should be possible for them to tack a barreled action onto an order.

You’re at the mercy of the shop and Leagcy’s availability as far as wait times are concerned but it should be possible to do this, or at least a number of years ago it was.

 

[Starfire1929]

When I worked in the gun business, Legacy sports had a minimum order quantity for rifles which was typically quite a few.

I believe barreled actions were available to order at that time but I never had customer interest for them.

If you found a Leagcy/Howa dealer, it should be possible for them to tack a barreled action onto an order.

You’re at the mercy of the shop and Leagcy’s availability as far as wait times are concerned but it should be possible to do this, or at least a number of years ago it was.

Thank you for your response. I first spoke with Brownells as they have exclusive rights in the U.S. to sell HOWA barreled actions. Brownells refuses. to make a special order request, which I think is poor customer service. I then checked with Legacy. They can't do anything since Brownells has the agreement with HOWA. So for right now I'm stuck. I think that I will complain directly to Pete Brownell, CEO and also to HOWA and see what happens...

 

[mauser284]

OEM barrels are all over the place. You really have to shoot them and load for them and see what you get.

That said with all OEM mass produced rifles when you get one that does not shoot today that is CHF 99% of the time it is a chamber issue.

Howa tends to turn out an action that is far more consistent and accurate than 85% of mass produced actions but even they make a few dogs. Howa like a lot of OEM's seem to cut their chamber throats longer than ideal or SAAMI. It is not just them Ruger and Remington are notorias for this as well.

I have not owned a 223 from them but own two 300WM. Mine are great. Everyone I know that has had issues all but 1 had a longer than ideal throat. I only know of 1 guy that had to touch off the reciever face. I have ran into the same witht he Ruger M77 MKII and Hawkey almost every issue with accuracy is because of a chamber issue with an abnormaly long throat being the issue 95% of the time someone I know get's one that will not shoot.

On the other hand almost every Remongton 700 I have ever seen had issues with it;s bolt, reciever and chamber nothing was right.

So while Howa's are not well represented int he aftermarket I would not hesistate to purchase one they are probably right up their with Tikka in terms of how well they are designed and built!