Howa 1500
Howa Machinery · Rifle · In Production · 1979
Also known as: Howa 1500, Howa Mini Action, Weatherby Vanguard (same action)
Overview
The Howa 1500 is a bolt-action hunting rifle manufactured by Howa Machinery in Japan, renowned for exceptional accuracy and build quality at its price point. The action features a forged one-piece bolt with two locking lugs, a cold hammer-forged barrel, and Howa's HACT (Howa Actuator Controlled Trigger) two-stage trigger system. The 1500 action has been the basis for numerous collaborations with stock makers and distributors, including Weatherby (Vanguard), and is available through OSA Australia in Carbon Elevate (carbon fiber stock), Carbon Stalker (carbon fiber-wrapped barrel), and Super Lite (ultralight) configurations. The Howa 1500 is one of the best-selling bolt-action rifles in Australia.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3400 g (119.9 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1080 mm (42.52") |
| Barrel Length | 560 mm (22.05") |
| Action Type | Bolt Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Trigger Pull | 13.3 N (3.0 lbf) |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Effective Range | 600 m (656 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 254 mm (10.00") |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Polymer |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .308 Winchester · primary — also known as .308 Win, 7.62x51mm
- 6.5 Creedmoor — also known as 6.5mm Creedmoor, 6.5 CM
- .30-06 Springfield — also known as .30-06, 7.62x63mm
- .300 Winchester Magnum — also known as .300 Win Mag, .300 WM
- .270 Winchester — also known as .270 Win
- .243 Winchester — also known as .243 Win
- .223 Remington — also known as .223 Rem, 5.56x45mm
- 7mm-08 Remington — also known as 7mm-08 Rem, 7mm-08
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Two Position Safety
- Features: Hact Two Stage Trigger, Forged One Piece Bolt, Cold Hammer Forged Barrel, Three Position Safety, Integral Recoil Lug, Detachable Box Magazine, Free Floating Barrel, Drilled And Tapped Receiver
Variants
- Howa Carbon Elevate — Carbon Stock
- Howa Carbon Stalker — Carbon Barrel
- Howa Super Lite — Ultralight
Service history
Operators
- Australian Civilian Market
- United States Civilian Market
Production
Production years: 1979-present
Origin
Country of origin: Japan
Notes
The Howa 1500 has been in production since 1979, making it one of the longest-running production bolt-action actions. The same action is sold as the Weatherby Vanguard in the US market. Weight varies significantly by configuration: 3400g (standard), ~2700g (Super Lite), ~3000g (Carbon Elevate). The HACT trigger is adjustable and provides a clean two-stage pull. The Carbon Elevate features a carbon fiber stock for weight reduction. The Carbon Stalker features a carbon fiber-wrapped barrel. The Super Lite achieves very low weight through a combination of lightweight barrel profile and stock. Extremely popular in Australia and New Zealand for hunting.
Background
The Howa 1500 action has been called the best-kept secret in bolt-action rifles - its forged one-piece bolt and cold hammer-forged barrel deliver accuracy that regularly embarrasses rifles costing three times as much. The action's reputation for reliability in harsh conditions made it one of the most popular hunting rifles in Australia, where the outback puts equipment to tests that few other environments can match.