I’ve been thinking about the Stevens rifle I have. I don’t like the fixed internal magazine, so I researched the idea of replacing it with a detachable box magazine. Turns out this is not really an option without significant changes to the stock, if possible or can even be done.

Consequently I decided to check my “go to” Gunshop for a suitable replacement rifle. Luckily our Firearms Laws have a “like for like” process whereby you can trade a rifle for another rifle of the same calibre without having to get Police approval. The rifle I am looking at replacing the Stevens with is the Howa 1500 in 308, the same calibre as the Stevens. The Howa 1500 has a good reputation for accuracy, and the synthetic stock is aluminium chassis bedded which is a bonus…even if it is only pillar bedded.

The Howa goes for around AUD$690 here, which I can just afford assuming I get a reasonable trade-in for the Stevens. The only annoying part is I only just put a Mossy Oak skin on the Stevens to cover up the horrible grey plastic stock.

I’ll look at slipping up there this week to see what they will offer me for the Stevens, then make a decision on the Howa 1500. Might even consider a private sale, although this will probably negate the “like for like” option.

Howa's are usually good quality. Alot of people here compare them to Weatherby's and Tikka's.


-DallanC

DallanC wrote:

Howa's are usually good quality. Alot of people here compare them to Weatherby's and Tikka's. -DallanC

I have a Weatherby Vanguard in .243 Win and it shoots very well. Using my handloads I have achieved groups of .7” (point 7 of an inch) at 100m. My old shooting mate, now deceased, may he Rest In Peace, have a Howa Mountaineer in .223 that was very accurate with handloads, so I think a Howa 1500 is a great option. All I need do now is decide between between a Sporting and Varmint profile barrel.

I bought my wife a Weatherby Camila in 7mm-08. I was supposed to be a 1moa guarentee, but I tried box after box of different factory loads and even reloads my sons Savage Axis just loves.

It was just horrific groups... as much as 7" at 100 yards. Couldn't figure it out.

Took it with me when we shot smoke-poles a month ago and the scope optics looked "funny", I had to keep my eye precisely in the center of the scope, absolutely no side to side play, very little field of vision. The scope was a new Vortex 4x12, I've got 2 others that have been fine.

Anywho, I started looking around for a replacement and found a mint condition 3.5x14 Leupold VX-III in a pawn shop. I bought it for cheap and we mounted it, last time we went back out to shoot, using the cheapest federal ammunition I had, it printed sub 1.5" without even trying hard. I look forward to trying some of the other, better quality ammo with it and see just what it likes.

Pleased the gun turned out being great. I sold the vortex in the local classifieds that next week, LOL. Its fully warrantied but if the next guy has an issue he can get it fixed.

Hoping my wife can kill her first big game animal with it in late Oct on her deer hunt. She primarily uses a .243, but I want her more familiar with this caliber.

-DallanC

Outstanding mate. The Vortex product has a very good reputation, but like all things, they can have problems. I’d love to be able to source a Leopold scope at a good price, but even second hand ones go for high prices over here…probably because of their lifetime warranty. I have a Nikko Stirling Diamond scope on my Weatherby .243 and it’s very good. I have a bit of a “mish mash” of scope brands on my other rifles…a couple of Tasco and a couple of Bushnell and one Vortex I think. But they all do the job well enough for my mediocre capabilities.

Howa's are great rifles for the price, and a lot better than the Stevens, even though they are not too bad.

The Weatherby Vanguards are made by Howa and have been since their inception.

If the Howa has a hollow butt, you can deaden the noise by add expanding foam (Great Stuff) under the recoil pad. Just don't go overboard.

As for the barrel, you need to ask yourself "am I going to hump the rifle for miles (kilo's)?". Check the weight difference between the sporter and varmint.

I have found, in this neck of the woods, that the Vortex scopes are not as good as when they first entered the market. People are ditching them for Leupolds, Burris etc. Bushnell make a decent scope, but they can be hit and miss. I have a Bushnell Prime which is fine.

I’m moving away from the idea of a Vortex…I think they are starting to “rest on their laurels”, relying on the good name and quality of their earlier scopes. I’ve looked at the Leupold offerings, and although they would be my first choice they, unfortunately, are out of my price range. I’m now looking at a Niko Stirling Diamond scope. Whilst not as good as the Leupold offerings, I stand a better chance of affording one.

My Stevens has a Japanese made Bushnell 3-9x40 on it, and if I trade the rifle, the scope will stay with me…I have something else I can replace it with, it at all.
It all comes down to money, something I don’t have a lot of unfortunately. Does anybody have the winning number for Lotto? I could sure use them.

Yup, Leupolds are crazy priced right now... and the lower end models are getting poor reviews. Some VX-III's are still over 1k now due to demand... for a 20 year old scope.

I got really lucky with the one I stumbled upon at the pawn shop.

-DallanC

Drop the Howa into a wooden stock and you will fall in love. The Flexi Hogue they come in have reputation for causing fliers if not careful. Two seconds with sharp pocket knife fixes that.there is a tiny...2mm?? Bit of rubber lip right at tip of forestock. Get rid of it and there is no longer an issue. All my rifle wear Leupolds..... My spare scope is actually a kahles!!! I buy 2nd hand... A 3x9 base model sells for $350 most days,sometimes you might get cheaper. The 2x7 are particularly good and the 4.5x14 are shite.... I just couldn't love it no matter how I tried.

My 7STW has worn a Leupold 6.5x20 since it was new, I actually had that scope on a 270 for a few years before that. It is by far my most favorite scope. The 4.5x14 I just got for my wife's gun is great so far, clear, nice eye relief and wide field of view. Best of all, for the little bit we shot it as i mentioned it printed nearly a 1.5" group. I paid just over $350 for it.

/shrug

-DallanC

Funny isn't it just??? I'm bush hobbit at heart so the smaller field of view was deal breaker for me... Nevermind I swapped it for the 222 bakail that has been very good over last few years. Now I just about guarantee that MrC would dislike that rifle intensely lol too short,too slow,too small..... Life is good.it would get boring if we were all the same... Heck I hear those Ozzie blokes don't mind what breed of sheep they"visit"..... Lmfao.