Has anyone bought a Howa rifle in the last year?

[bigfellascott]

I'm just wondering if anyone has bought a Howa in the last year? If so are you happy with it, does it shoot, do you have any issues at all with it?

The reason I ask is I'm getting one in 22.250 HB and have heard there may be quality issues re the barrels and bolts?

So I thought I would put it out there and see what you guys who have bought within the last year have to say about them.

Cheers

[Daryl licht]

Just picked up a .308 with a 20 inch fluted barrel. Put a zeis 4 x 14 scope on it and with federal fusion ammo in 150 gn. I'm getting 1/2 to 3/4 inch five shot groups at 100 yd., and that's just breaking the barrel in. The bolts based on the old Mauser extractor and is as sure as hell. The trigger is absolutely phenomenal. Ill be using it mainly on hogs here on the ranch in Texas and it will spend most of its life getting beat up in a four wheeler. Saw no reason to spend hundreds more with little hope getting anything better at least not for my purposes. Most of my shots will be between 50 and 800 yds so I don't need anything that shoots better than this howa especially once I work up some good hand loads for it. Accuracy is all subjective anyhow. I was on Pershing nuclear missiles back in the early seventies and even then we could put a 30 kiloton warhead within 10 yds of ground 0 and that was at 2000 miles...one shot a hundred thousand kills.

[Dr. Vette]

A friend just picked up a 223 with the Axiom stock. He loves it and it is shooting exceptionally well.

[glewis]

I just purchased a 20" heavy barrelled 308 with the Hogue stock. I'm impressed with the quality of fit and finish. It's heavy, but shoots better than I'm capable. Its got the 2-stage trigger that breaks cleanly at around 2-3/4 lbs. The stock is free floated and pillar bedded. I'm still working on consistency in bench rest set-up and basic shooting technique, but I occasionally get moa/sub moa results. I'm definitely learning its set up and the guy pulling the trigger. I researched the rifle a good bit prior to purchasing and I feel real good about the decision. I also picked up a left-over Weatherby HB-ST in 308 not too long ago. I replaced the stock with a fully aluminum bedded Hogue stock. It has the old 2 position safety and the factory trigger breaks around 3-1/2 lbs. It's a fine product as well with similar if not better results at the range. My thinking is you'd be satified with the Vanguard series 2 as well. I followed the Howa barrel break-in recommendation with both rifles.