Howa Golden Bear
Howa Machinery · Rifle · Discontinued · 1967
Also known as: Golden Bear
Overview
The Howa Golden Bear is a bolt-action hunting rifle produced by Japan's Howa Machinery, based on the Finnish Sako L61R 'Finnbear' action. Debuting at the 1967 SHOT Show in Chicago, it was Howa's first major sporting-rifle export to the United States, chambered for standard-length cartridges such as .30-06 Springfield and .270 Winchester. It features a hammer-forged steel barreled action, a walnut stock, and a hinged-floorplate internal magazine, and served as the direct forerunner of the enormously successful Howa Model 1500.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3400 g (119.9 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1080 mm (42.52") |
| Barrel Length | 559 mm (22.01") |
| Action Type | Bolt Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Muzzle Velocity | 823 m/s (2700 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 3293 J (2429 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 500 m (547 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 254 mm (10.00") |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .30-06 Springfield · primary — also known as 7.62x63mm, .30-06, 7.62mm Springfield
- .270 Winchester — also known as .270 Win
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Internal Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Hinged Floorplate, Hammer Forged Barrel, Walnut Stock, Adjustable Trigger
Service history
Operators
- Civilian hunters · adopted 1967
Production
Estimated total produced: 3,000 · Production years: 1967-1979
Approximately 3,000 rifles exported to the United States before the design evolved into the Howa Model 1500 in 1979
Origin
Country of origin: Japan
Discontinued: 1979
Notes
Roughly 3,000 Golden Bear rifles were exported to the U.S. market. The same barreled action was later sold under numerous brands, and the Golden Bear evolved into the Howa Model 1500, which is also marketed as the Smith & Wesson Model 1500, Mossberg 1500, and the OEM basis for the Weatherby Vanguard.
Background
Before Howa became a household name for budget precision rifles, it entered the American market by cloning Finland's revered Sako Finnbear and badging it the Golden Bear, a rifle so well-built that its barreled action later reappeared under Smith & Wesson, Mossberg, and Weatherby labels.