Howa 1500 rifle guide: action, trigger and models

The Howa 1500 rifle has been in production since 1979, and it’s still one of the best values in bolt guns. Howa Machinery builds it in Japan, and the same basic action has been sold under other names too, most famously as the Weatherby Vanguard. Here’s what makes it work and how the models differ.

The Howa 1500 rifle action

The 1500 is a push-feed, two-lug action with a one-piece bolt and a 90-degree bolt lift. The receiver is forged and then machined, and most models use cold hammer-forged barrels. It’s a simple design with few parts, which is a big reason it holds up and shoots well.

The three-position safety is a highlight. Rear is safe with the bolt locked, middle is safe with the bolt free to cycle, and forward is fire. That middle position lets you unload a loaded rifle without taking it off safe.

The HACT trigger on the Howa 1500 rifle

Most current models use the HACT (Howa Actuator Controlled Trigger). It’s a two-stage design: a light first stage, then a crisp break. Two-stage triggers are popular for field shooting because you can take up the slack while you settle the crosshairs, then finish the press.

Howa 1500 Hogue 308 Win$518Howa 1500 Hunter 6.5 Creedmoor$499Howa Fence Line 6.5 Creedmoor Prairie Reaper$604Howa Superlite Gen2 308 Win$961

Howa 1500 rifle models compared

• Hogue: the core model, in a pillar-bedded rubber OverMolded stock. The Hogue 308 Win is $518.
• Hunter and Walnut Hunter: blued steel and walnut. The Hunter 6.5 Creedmoor is $499.
• Fence Line: Cerakote metal, camo stock, threaded barrel with brake, HACT trigger.
• Superlite: the lightest 1500, from 4.9 lb in Gen2 form.
• Carbon Stalker: a 7mm PRC magnum in a carbon fiber stock for elk country.
• Hera H7, APC and TSP X: chassis rifles for precision and long-range work.

Short action, long action and Mini Action

The standard 1500 comes in short and long action lengths for cartridges from 22-250 up to 300 Win Mag. The Mini Action is a separate, smaller action, about 12 percent shorter than a standard short action, built for AR-sized rounds. Read the Howa Mini Action guide if that’s what you’re after.

Care and upgrades

Clean the bore after the first few range trips, then whenever groups start to open up. Check the action screws each season, because a loose screw is the most common cause of a wandering zero. Popular upgrades are a better scope, a muzzle brake on threaded models and an aftermarket stock or chassis. The trigger and barrel rarely need replacing.

If you hunt in rain or snow, a synthetic or Cerakote model saves you work. Walnut looks great but likes a light coat of oil after a wet day.

Is a Howa 1500 rifle accurate?

For the money, yes. Some models, like the Fence Line and the Standard Hunter, are listed with Howa’s sub-MOA guarantee for three-shot groups at 100 yards with quality ammo. Like any rifle, it shoots best with the load it likes, so try two or three before you buy in bulk. SAAMI’s cartridge standards are what factory ammo is built to.

Howa 1500 rifle FAQ