Wapiti wrote:Agree Scott
I don't have any brand loyalty at all, there are different brands that have different models that appeal or suit certain needs.
One thing I like is a firearm that is scaled for the cartridge, with a lovely low mounted, slim scope that comes to the eye immediately.
But Howa certainly impresses for sure. Like the lovely small, made for the cartridge, Howa Mini.
Many other brands have a standard, largish (so weighty for the need) action suited to a 308 or larger, blocked out for smaller cartridges. They say, to save money. Look at a very popular rifle, the Tikka T3. A huge action, blocked out for 223, and even then, without much thought as the mag is so short you can't seat heavier pills out. No thought, yet how much, $1200? No comparison for size or slimness let alone price.
Howa takes the trouble to scale a small, light, tight action for the 222/223/204 size, and still sells them for half the price of a Tikka.
Same as the easy to machine, full diameter (re. Heavy) multi lug bolts that are cheaper to make (only minor machining for the action internals, no twin rails to machine in the raceway) on so many economy guns.
Howa take the trouble to have a light, slim bolt, machine twin lugs, mill the action to suit with virtually no machining marks internally and compete in price. Amazing.
I have an American Predator in 7.62x39 in which the bolt makes a zipping noise because of the machining roughness of the bolt and action. Doesnt affect use, but pretty poor really to me. They say they are made to a price point, well, it cost more than my Howas. I should have got a mini in this cal in hindsight, but the Ruger has a way better stock and bedding set up that you can't really improve on.
Hijacked thread, sorry. Be very interested in seeing the rim fire. I'll wait for the stainless version as I'm a slack bastard and don't want to worry so much about corrosion.
I'm hearing ya mate, for the $$ and the performance you get from them they are hard to beat, I own a Ruger too, it doesn't really do it for me TBH, it was rough in the action and needed some polishing to bring it up to a suitable standard, the trigger was crap so it needed to be worked on and was an easy fix so that was good to see, solid rifle but there's better options out there for the $$$ IMO. I got this one as new 2nd hand of a friend for $700 with scope and a heap of reloads and components and reloading gear so can't really complain, it's an ok rifle but i just seem to go to the Howas as they are always reliable and I know they shoot well so hard to bother with something else if you aren't as confident in it's shooting abilities.
I rank it with the Tikka in the "project" category - rifles that need a bit of help to get em shooting better and if not out the door they can go!