Howa 1500 in 30-06

[Ade]

Does anyone have opinions on this rifle and caliber. I'm looking at my first center fire and have always liked the 30-06.

Would be used for target and varmints/feral animal control not worrying about keeping meat or skin/ taxidermy etc.

Saw the Howa and it looked like a nice rifle in the pics.

Haven't been to a gun shop yet as the nearest is 500kms away and my favorite is 1400 kms away. Yep, I'm a bit remote.

Thanks

[Michael63]

Thats a lot of gun for varmints and targets.

I would go for something smaller .243 ,6.5x55 ect, depending on ferals.

Important to try, handle rifles before buying.

Howa are nice rifles, but there are so many choices.

[Yelp]

I'm with Michael on the 30-06. Nothing wrong with it, but it's wasted on target shooting and varmints.

Expensive to shoot and recoil heavy compared to some of the alternatives.

If you really wanted a 'large' centrefire your first rifle or a .30 cal, I'd suggest .308.

Cheaper to shoot, less recoil, better target cartridge anyway really and will still do the pest control.

[buster]

Nothing wrong with Howa

I have a 1500 Stainless in .308 and it shoots tops.

[fuggle]

Another Howa shooter here.

I've got a .308 sporter for hunting and .223 Varminter for punching paper and pests.

TBH, I reckon you can get away with the .223 for what you want to do

No need for a thumping 30-06 to put holes in paper

[Tonit]

I have basically the same setup as fuggle, just a 22-250 for the varmint rifle instead of .223.

Either way though, it's all good.

+1 for Howa from me too.

[SendIt]

depending on ferals

Yep, what ferals are we talking about?

Rabbits, cats, foxes, dogs, goats, pigs, deer... Tell me when to stop.

30-06 is unquestionably a game cartridge, not a varmint one.

I seriously doubt you need a 30-06 or even a .308. For your first rifle learning on something with a little less recoil has its advantages too.

It's say a something between a .223 and up to a .243 max would be better suited for your first rifle.

[Aussier]

.243 would be a good contender.

Will work as your varmint gun and also for small game with the right bullets.

Without the cost and kick of a 30-06 though...

[Bills Shed]

Good to read some good advice on a first centre fire and not just bigger is better.

The Howa is a very practical and robust rifle.

I agree that a 30-06 is a lot of gun and depending on the type of varmints that are going to be shot, I too would go to a .223 or the .243 as a first centre fire.

There is not much that you cannot hunt with a .243. The choices of projectiles and powders for both calibres is vast. The .223 is also pretty cheap to run as well.

I was glad that I had someone near me that let me use and then load for the .308 when I first started. I soon learnt that it was too much gun for what I needed it to do. Also it did not suit my apprentice wages. Settled for a .223 and never looked back.

Bill

[bobnob]

Ade, the Howas are brilliant for the money.

Be warned the 30-06 has substantial recoil. For a first centrefire the 308 Win shooting 150g bullets is a good compromise for power, recoil and price. So too the 243 with 100g bullets.

As others have said maybe even the 223 would be a better first centrefire. Unless you intend shooting deer or large pigs, the 223 would be plenty. They also hold their value pretty well because someone always wants a 223.

If you can really handle the 30-06 it has power to burn, but you might find a 270 Win with 130g bullets easier to master and like the 308 Win its a good compromise.

With new Howa sporters so cheap at the moment, maybe get both a 223 and either a 308 or a 270? Not necessarily both at the same time but see how you go with the 223 and graduate to the bigger rifle when you are ready.

[Norton]

maybe get both a 223 and either a 308 or a 270? Not necessarily both at the same time but see how you go with the 223 and graduate to the bigger rifle when you are ready.

Starting on an easier recoiling cartridge is a good practice too.

You don't want the flinching problems people often get when they start with something that kicks too much.

My go-to is my .416 these days. I love it now, but it would have been way too much gun for the first one.

[Lorgar]

My go-to is my .416 these days. I love it now, but it would have been way too much gun for the first one.

It's funny how you get used to it.

I started shooting a .243 with heavy pills and after getting it did have a moment of "oops, is this too much? did I buy the wrong thing?". Got used to it though.

Then got a .308 and thought the same thing again for a bit. Was flinching for a while etc. Got used to it.

Started shooting 300 Win Mag and thought the same thing, then got used to it.

And on it goes.

I just shoot my 7mm-08 now and it's easy as.

[Lorgar]

On the other side of that. I have a mate who shoots max load 180gr cartridges in his .308, so they've got a bit of oomph.

When he shoots my 22LR now he still braces like the .308 recoil is coming

All what you're used to.

[Ade]

I did have the 243 in Mind as well it's just that I like the boom factor of bigger calibers and having a caliber that's will take the smallest to biggest of vermin, game I want to shoot. Would a 243 be ok for wild donkeys or horses?

[bobnob]

Never shot a donkey but have shot feral horses. They can take some killing. The last ones I shot I used a 270 Win and 160g Nosler Partitions. They worked well.

308 with a good bullet would do the trick as well. You could do it with a 243 of course but in my view a heavier bullet would be much better.

[Swarm]

Never shot them either, but a large horse might be too much for a .243.

.308 would do, and be cheaper/softer than the 30-06 for the shooter as discussed above.

Up to you of course. In general I'd agree that 30-06 sounds like a lot more than you need.

.308 (or similar) gets my vote.

[Igoe]

I've got a Howa 30-06 with a Boyd's thumbhole stock. Shoots 3/4" at 100yds all day long. Absolutely love it, but you sure know you've been shooting. Got a pretty decent kick on it.

I don't really notice the recoil much when shooting at game with it, but I can't send too many down at targets without getting pretty sore. Far too much rifle for varmints, and pretty expensive round for them too.

My son has a Howa 223. Deadly accurate also. I'm so impressed with the accuracy and value of both of them that I bought another Howa in 204R not long ago.

You wont regret buying a Howa, but I suspect you might wish you had something a bit less brutal than 30-06 for targets and varmints and first centrefire.

.243 or 25-06 might be a good compromise if you are limited to one rifle. Otherwise, I'd be going for a 223 (or maybe 22-250) and saving up for 308 or 30-06 later.

Ian

[Garth]

243 love them 100 Gn projectile in the scone works

[Pythonkeeper]

I've got a mate up in NT and he's right into donkey hunting/culling as well as pig,horse and camel, all he uses is 243 and he has no probs dropping any of those animals. There's a couple of vids on you tube of blokes dropping buffalo with 243 quite convincingly too, don't reckon I'd do it but who am I to judge. Another bloke down my way hunts pigs and red deer in the Brisbane valley and all he uses is a 223, works for him, he's got the trophies to prove it.

[Jeff303]

Im gunna play devils advocate here.
I have a parker hale 30-06 and absolutely love it. My fave cartridge. I honed my skills with it blowing up rabbits & foxes using speer 130gn varmint pills. They go off like someone has shoved a grenade up thier arses. If you can tag a bunny at 300mts you are not going to miss bigger game. Regular use teaches you how to get used to recoil. Expensive? Relatively speaking yes, but bloody good practice & fun too. Firearm purchases dont have to be practical, get what you like , use it & enjoy it.
Just do it properly by making sure your technique is on point.
Just do it

[KennyA]

I have two Howa centrefire rifles in 223 and 308.
They both shoot 1/2 Moa on a good day.
The 223 is a great range caliber as the recoil is minimal and the ammo cost is about half that of the 30 caliber cartridges.
I'd go for a 308 over a 30-06 base on the minimal FPS of the 06.
Outback make great factory ammo with quality projectiles for either target or hunting.
Cheers and happy Howa shooting.

[in2anity]

243 love them 100 Gn projectile in the scone works

A 22lr in the scone also works

[Barrettmr]

I have both 223 and 308 in howa's and love them both. I found that after I got the 308, I shot the 223 much better. I didn't NEED the 308, but always wanted a big centerfire, either a 3006 or a 308. I chose the 308 because it took less powder and less perceived recoil. I also wondered if it would be too much gun, but I've gotten used to it and now it is my go to gun.

[sandgroperbill]

I'm really not sure about some of the responses here.

I have a .30-06 in an extremely light rifle and it's fine. Mind you I'm not recoil sensitive, but more importantly, it's about how well the rifle fits. Mine fits me just right, and I'm more comfortable shooting that than a cousin's .308.

As for cost, I haven't bought ammo for quite a while as I reload, but last time I did there really wasn't a great difference. And don't listen if someone talks about ammo availability between .308 and .30-06. I have never found an lgs with .308 that had no .30-06. I have always found it sitting right next door to the .308.

Now, the .308 does have an advantage being that you can buy adi/osa.

But the .30-06 comes into its own if you reload. Easy to reload, you can go up or down, heavy or light, etc. And factory ammo tends to pack a little more punch in .30-06 than .308, but honestly, your prey will never tell the difference.

At the end of the day, pick up every rifle you can. Find the one that fits you best, then ask which calibers they have it in.