Howa M1500 HCR
Howa Machinery · Sniper Rifle · In Production · 2016
Also known as: Howa HCR, Howa Heavy Chassis Rifle, Howa 1500 HCR
Overview
The Howa M1500 HCR (Heavy Chassis Rifle) is a bolt-action precision rifle built on the proven Howa M1500 barreled action and mounted in a full-length aluminum chassis. Introduced in 2016 and imported to the United States by Legacy Sports International, the HCR pairs a heavy contour barrel with an AR-15-style pistol grip, an M-LOK forend, and a fully adjustable LUTH-AR MBA-3 buttstock, giving shooters an out-of-the-box long-range platform at a budget price point. It feeds from a detachable box magazine and uses Howa's two-stage HACT (Howa Actuator Controlled Trigger) for a clean, consistent break. The rifle is offered in .223 Remington/5.56 NATO, .243 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor, and .308 Winchester, with the 6.5 Creedmoor chambering being especially popular among precision rifle series (PRS) and hunting shooters for its flat trajectory and low recoil.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 4500 g (158.7 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 4750 g (167.6 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1168 mm (45.98") |
| Barrel Length | 610 mm (24.02") |
| Action Type | Bolt Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Two Stage |
| Trigger Pull | 13 N (2.9 lbf) |
| Magazine Capacity | 10 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 838 m/s (2749 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 3094 J (2282 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 1000 m (1094 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 203 mm (7.99") |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Aluminum |
| Barrel Material | Chromoly Steel |
| Stock Material | Aluminum |
| Finish | Cerakote |
Calibers
- 6.5mm Creedmoor · primary — also known as 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 CM, 6.5 CR
- .308 Winchester · 7.62x51mm NATO — also known as 7.62x51mm, 7.62 NATO, .308 Win
- .243 Winchester — also known as .243 Win
- .223 Remington — also known as .223 Rem, .223
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Three Position Safety, Manual Safety
- Features: Aluminum Chassis, Heavy Barrel, Threaded Muzzle, Luth Ar Mba3 Adjustable Stock, Ar15 Pistol Grip, M Lok Forend, Two Stage Hact Trigger, Detachable Box Magazine, Picatinny Rail
Variants
- Howa HCR .223 Remington - Caliber
- Howa HCR .308 Winchester - Caliber
Base model
Service history
Operators
- Civilian precision and target shooters · adopted 2016
Production
Production years: 2016-present
Commercial precision rifle produced for the export market; exact totals not published.
Origin
Country of origin: Japan
Notes
The HCR is one of several chassis and precision variants Howa builds on the M1500 action, alongside the APC (Australian Precision Chassis) and Mini Action rifles. Chassis and Cerakote finish options include black and various Kryptek camouflage patterns. Barrel lengths vary by chambering, with lighter cartridges such as .223 typically offered in shorter barrels than the 24-inch heavy barrel common to the 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 versions.
Background
Howa launched the HCR to bring true chassis-rifle ergonomics to shooters on a working-class budget, taking the same M1500 barreled action that Japanese police departments trust for counter-sniper work and dropping it into an aluminum chassis with an adjustable AR-style stock.