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Howa 1500 Thumbhole

wanted man
I'm considering buying a Howa 1500 thumbhole with a heavy barrel, laminate stock, chambered in 22-250. Does anybody out there own this model of Howa? If so, I would like to hear their comments/feedback concerning the performance and quality of the rifle. Thanx in advance!
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • Der Gebirgsjager
    The stock is made by Boyds, put together with the imported Howa action. We have one here in our shop, and it shoots great! The thumbhole stock isn't too practical for other than benchrest-type shooting, be it targets or varmints. Very pretty.
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  • He Dog
    I bought a rifled a 1500 action and glass bedded it on a Boyd's JRS Classic stock. Great rifle. The action has some really good features and mine is an moa shooter (I just wish I was!).

    Great to see you back around here Der Gebirgsjager![^]
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  • 39ford
    I bought howa's light sporter in 300 weatherby and was very imprest.the action and trigger are great,I think the action is an old smith and wesson diesign
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  • bundy
    I bought a Howa barreled action in 223 Rem, it looks great but the bolt felt really rough, so I used some 600 grit abrasive with oil to smooth it up. I find it shoots about 1-1.25 groups at 100yrds with regular high velocity ammo but if I decrease the velocity to about 2400 fps my group sizes go down into the .600 area. With more load development I should be able to shrink the groups more. Of the few Howa's I have handled none had as rough a feel as mine and most people have good things to say about them so I think their a good buy for the money.
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  • wanted man
    First off thanx for the input, folks! Why do you say the thumbhole is not practical for other than benchrest shooting? I've never owned a thumbhole but have handled a few and they seemed VERY comfortable.Also, I've never seen a barrelled action or just an action by Howa for sale, where might I get a price? Thanx again, all!
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  • Mobuck
    Thumbhole stocks don't work as well as regular stocks for most hunting situations. One thing is that it makes taking the safety off more difficult from the shooting position.

    Mobuck
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  • ameriskin
    i'm torn between a howa 1500 and a savage heavy barrel. the ammo box has both of them right now for decent prices. argh, what to do?

    cody
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  • GreenLantern
    What caliber? When I was shopping for my 300wsm I went w/ Howa since the magazine capacity was 1 more, and I believe that the Savage had the blind magazine.
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  • Der Gebirgsjager
    He Dog--Thank You for the welcome.[:D]

    Wanted Man: Hope this explanation helps a little. My answer was built on a generality, but it is recognized that one size does not fit all; and perhaps a thumbhole is right for you, especially if you are attracted to it. Many years ago someone told me that the grip of a German Luger, extolled by many as the "perfect fit", was not really as advertised, and that most folks tended to shoot high with it. Nevertheless, I got one (and eventually a few more!) and found that it "instinctively" pointed right on target for me--rather like pointing one's finger. This all comes down to how the bones in the individual's wrist are constructed; and as we all know, no two things are exactly alike. I kind of did a little informal study of the situation with my shooting buddies over the years, and found that the original advice was correct--most do tend to shoot high. But I don't, and there are others that don't. So, getting back to the thumbhole stock, the lesson here is: It's mostly (but not all) on how the thumbhole is angled into the stock. Let's start by assuming that one bored a hole straight through the stock. It would take a conscious effort to get your thumb through the stock (You'd probably be asking yourself, "Why am I doing this?") and when you pulled the trigger you'd probably sprain your thumb because of the angle of recoil. O.K., so now let's angle the hole a little more toward the butt to make sliding the thumb in easier. Changes the angle and force of the recoil also, but you'll find that on most people the recoil will hit the large second joint of the thumb (base)and move the gun to the right (assuming that you are right handed). Now---you are stalking through the woods and there's a fleeting glimpse of Bambi! You snap your thumbhole stock to your shoulder, and the second knuckle of your thumb strikes the area at the rear of the hole and moves the gun (and shot) to the right. No venison chops tonight. The only really functional thumbhole stocks I've encountered were those on the AK-47/MAK 90 stocks made to cheat the Assault Weapons Ban which were a pistol grip by another name. Target shooting or varmint shooting from a bench is a slow fire, deliberate sort of thing, and one gets a grip, snuggles down, and squeezes it off. Quite different from a snap shot in the forest. Just some ideas and obsevations here. Like I said, if you think it's right for you...well, try it out. Just like the angle of the Luger grip--might work for you.[:D]
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  • bundy
    Jerry's Sports Center carry's Howa barreled actions but they sell only to FFL dealers so you would have to order one through a dealer. They don't sell just Howa actions however.
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