Howa M300

Howa Machinery, Ltd. · Carbine · Discontinued · 1960

Also known as: Howa Model 300, Howa Carbine

Overview

The Howa M300 is a Japanese semi-automatic sporting carbine chambered in .30 Carbine, developed by Howa Machinery in 1960 as a sportized commercial derivative of the American M1 Carbine. Widely regarded as the first mass-produced hunting rifle in Japan, it retained the M1 Carbine's short-stroke gas-piston action and rotating bolt while adding a French walnut stock, adjustable peep sights, a hooded ramp front sight and a muzzle brake tailored to Japanese sportsmen.

Specifications

Weight (empty)	2799 g (98.7 oz)
Overall Length	960 mm (37.80")
Barrel Length	498 mm (19.61")
Action Type	Gas Operated Short Stroke
Firing Mechanism	Hammer Fired
Trigger Type	Single Stage
Magazine Type	Detachable Box
Effective Range	200 m (219 yd)
Barrel Rifling	Right Hand
Number of Grooves	4
Frame Material	Steel
Barrel Material	Steel
Stock Material	Wood
Finish	Gloss Blue

Calibers

.30 Carbine · primary — also known as 7.62x33mm, .30 M1 Carbine, .30 AOA

Features

Firing modes: Semi Automatic
Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
Features: Muzzle Brake, Adjustable Rear Peep Sight, Hooded Ramp Front Sight, Scope Mount Ready, French Walnut Stock

Variants

Howa New Model 300 - Improved

Service history

Operators

Japanese civilian hunters and sportsmen · adopted 1961

Production

Estimated total produced: 10,000 · Production years: 1960-1970s

Approximately 10,000 units produced across early and late (New Model 300) variants; never officially imported into the United States

Origin

Country of origin: Japan

Notes

American distributors including contacts at Klein's and Ithaca Gun Company evaluated the Model 300 for U.S. import in the early 1960s but declined, deeming it too expensive to compete with cheap surplus WWII M1 Carbines. A refined 'New Model 300' with a checkered stock followed in the 1970s; some examples reached the U.S. through servicemen stationed in the Far East.

Background

Only about 15 prototypes were hand-built in 1960 before Howa put the M300 on sale to Japanese hunters the following year, making it the first mass-produced sporting rifle in postwar Japan even though it was essentially a refined M1 Carbine dressed in French walnut.