Description
Our Howa 1500 Hunter 6.5 Creedmoor is a Hunter bolt gun in 6.5 Creedmoor. It comes with a 22-inch barrel, a Italian walnut stock and 5-round capacity. Price is $499, and we have it in stock. Most buyers pick it for deer, black bear and long-range targets.
What you get with the Howa 1500 Hunter 6.5 Creedmoor
Howa’s walnut-stocked Hunter rifles keep things simple. You get the 1500 action, a hammer-forged barrel and a good-looking wood stock that most hunters still prefer.
Underneath it all is the Howa 1500, a Japanese-made two-lug action that’s been in production since 1979. The bolt is one piece, and the safety has three positions, the middle one letting you unload with the rifle on safe.
The HACT (Howa Actuator Controlled Trigger) is a two-stage trigger. There’s a light take-up stage, then a crisp break, which makes it easier to shoot well from field positions.
Howa 1500 Hunter 6.5 Creedmoor specs
- Model: Howa Hunter
- Caliber: 6.5 Creedmoor
- Barrel length: 22 inches
- Stock: Italian walnut stock
- Magazine capacity: 5 rounds
- Trigger: HACT two-stage
- Safety: three-position
- Sights: none, drilled and tapped for scope mounts
- Price: $499
The 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge
Hornady introduced the 6.5 Creedmoor in 2007 as a match cartridge. It caught on with hunters too, and it’s now one of the best-selling rifle rounds in the US. It fires long, high-BC bullets that hold their speed and resist wind, so it’s popular for target shooting from 300 to 1,000 yards. With the right bullet it’s a proven deer and black bear round, and recoil is noticeably lighter than a .308.
Factory loads usually run 120 to 147 grains. The standard 1:8 twist stabilizes the long 140 and 147 grain match bullets as well as lighter hunting bullets. If you want the technical side, the SAAMI centerfire rifle standard covers chamber dimensions and pressure. Here’s the history of the 6.5 Creedmoor too.
Who this rifle is for
It’s for hunters who want a traditional wood-stocked rifle that shoots straight and lasts.
Best 6.5 Creedmoor loads for this rifle
Every rifle has loads it likes. Buy two or three different factory loads, shoot groups with each at 100 yards and stick with the one that groups best. For game, choose a bonded or controlled-expansion bullet. Practice ammo is fine for paper but not for animals.
Before the season, check your state’s rules on legal cartridges and hunter education. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has a good starting point for public land hunting and state contacts.
More about the Howa Hunter
This is the classic Howa 1500: blued steel and a walnut stock. It’s a traditional hunting rifle built on the same action Howa uses across the 1500 line.
Getting it zeroed
Bring a solid rest, a few targets and at least two boxes of ammo. Start at 25 yards to get on paper, then move to 100 and make your final adjustments with three-shot groups. The 6.5 Creedmoor really shines past 300 yards, so once you’re zeroed, it’s worth getting time at longer distances and writing down your drops.
Other options like the Howa 1500 Hunter 6.5 Creedmoor
Not sure this is the exact setup you want? These are the closest matches in our Howa lineup:
- Howa Walnut Hunter 6.5 Creedmoor: a different configuration, $751
- Howa 1500 Hunter 308 Win: chambered in .308 Winchester, $499
- Howa Walnut Hunter 22-250: chambered in .22-250 Remington and a threaded muzzle, $613
- Howa 1500 Standard Hunter 7mm-08: chambered in 7mm-08 Remington and a threaded muzzle, $613
You can also browse all Howa Walnut Stock Rifles and Howa 6.5 Creedmoor Rifles, or see every Howa bolt action rifle we stock.
Setting up your Howa 1500 Hunter 6.5 Creedmoor
Before you shoot it, run a patch through the bore to clear out any shipping oil and check that the action screws are snug. Pick rings or a base that suit the scope you plan to run, and use a torque driver on the ring screws. Zero at 100 yards, then check where your load lands at the distances you actually shoot.
Ordering and FFL transfer
Rifles can’t ship straight to your door. When you order the Howa 1500 Hunter 6.5 Creedmoor, we ship it to a federally licensed (FFL) dealer near you. You fill out ATF Form 4473 there, pass the background check and take it home. For the federal side, see the ATF firearms Q&A. Your state may add its own rules, so look those up too.
Howa 1500 Hunter 6.5 Creedmoor FAQ
What caliber is the Howa 1500 Hunter 6.5 Creedmoor?
It’s chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor.
How many rounds does it hold?
It holds 5 rounds in the magazine, plus one in the chamber.
Does it come with a scope?
No, it comes without optics. The receiver is drilled and tapped for standard bases.
Is the barrel threaded?
No, this version has a plain muzzle. Look at our threaded options if you plan to run a suppressor.
Buy the Howa 1500 Hunter 6.5 Creedmoor today
Add the Howa 1500 Hunter 6.5 Creedmoor to your cart now for $499. If you’d like a second opinion first, get in touch.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.