Howa Rifles
Howa Machinery Company Ltd. is a machinery manufacturer from Japan that is well-known for its production of civilian and military firearms. Since the year 1940 the Howa company has been involved in the Japanese complex armaments industry. Besides this, the Howa company played a major part in constructing the very popular Arisaka Rifle. After World War II, Howa manufactured a copy of the M1 carbine and the U.S. M1 Garand for the Japanese Self Defense Forces.
In the begging of the 1970s, the Howa Machinery Company produced the AR-180 5.56mm and the AR-18 for Armalite Inc. of Costa Mesa, CA which marketed the rifle to several military forces. Howa however ceased production of the AR-18/AR-180 rifle due to the fact that the Japanese government imposed restrictions on the sales of military small-sized arms to foreign countries. The Howa headquarters is located in Aichi, Japan and it was established on February 9th, 1907. They produce not only firearms but also machine tools & accessories, windows & doors as well as electronic machines and sweepers & road rollers.
Useful Info :
We will now offer you three of the most famous rifles ever produced by the well-known manufacturer. We will start with what seems to be the best-selling, world-wide model from the Howa manufacturer.
Howa M1500 Varminter Supreme
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The Howa M1500 Varminter Supreme is a fairly basic two-lug action type that is mated to a 24 inch long and heavy barrel, fitted to a Boyd laminated thumbhole stock. The rifle is available in a blued or stainless configuration. One of the main disadvantages this rifle has is the weight which is almost 11 pounds with the scope mounted making it a very difficult rifle to carry around. The overall length of the Varminter Supreme is 44 inches and the magazine capacity is 5+1.
The stock is laminated hardwood and the calibers available for this rifle are the .243, .223, .22-250 and .308. The Howa M1500 Varminter Supreme is very efficient if used properly along with the most suitable bullets but is only recommended for experienced varmint hunters that know to configure their rifles.
We will now continue with a less popular model that is gaining more and more fans among hunting enthusiasts all over the world.
Howa Lightning
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The Howa Lightning is a bolt-action rifle that is produced by Howa/Legacy Sports International. The exact name of the model is HWR63307 and comes with a blue finish. The caliber/gauge used for this rifle is the .300 Winchester. The rifle’s barrel length is 24 inches and the overall length is 44.5 inches long. With a weight of 7.7 pounds, this isn’t a very light rifle that is why it can be difficult to carry it around. This model is equipped with a black polymer stock making it a very beautiful and modern firearm.
The magazine capacity of the Howa Lightning is 3+1 and comes with some very useful safety features. New 3 position safety: first 2 safety positions are "ON" and "OFF", 3rd safety position, the safety is "ON" and the bolt cannot open. The rate of twist is 1-in-10; it is drilled and tapped. Other features of this rifle include forged steel and a flat-bottomed receiver that has a large recoil lug and a hammer-forged barrel. The receiver and bolt are ported to vent away the high-pressure gases.
Our last rifle review is a heavy barrel model that is highly recommended for varmint hunters.
Howa Compact Heavy Barrel Varminter
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The Howa Compact Heavy Barrel Varminter is built with a heavy 20” barrel and chambered to a .223 Remington or a .308 Winchester (two of the most popular varmint calibers available on the market). The short and heavy barrels provide the hunter to easily maneuver the rifle and also provides very good heat dissipation. The rifle is available in blued finish with either OD Green Houge or Black stock. The length of pull is 13 5/8” and the overall length of the rifle is 44”.
With a weight of 9.3 lbs. this isn’t a very light rifle that is why some difficulties may appear during hunting adventures. Some of the features the Howa Compact Heavy Barrel Varminter has to offer are:
• Hammer-forged barrels for precision rifling and tack-driving accuracy
• Powerful, M-16 style extractor for reliability
• Three position safety allows safe, single loading and secure lock-down
• A bolt face that completely surrounds the cartridge head, for safety
• Non-slip, Cobblestone grip works in all weather conditions
• Comfortable, soft grip helps absorb recoil, reducing fatigue over extended shooting sessions
We have offered you three of the most famous Howa rifles ever produced in the long and prolific history of the company, a company that produces long lasting rifles that are known for their accuracy and resistance.