Howa Superlite 308 Scoped Rifle

Description

The Howa Superlite 308 Scoped is a .308 Winchester bolt action rifle with a 16.25-inch threaded barrel, a gray and green carbon fiber stock with black webbing and 4-round capacity. A Vortex riflescope comes with it. It sells for $1,302, and it’s in stock. It’s a solid match for deer, hogs, black bear and targets.

Inside the Howa Superlite 308 Scoped

Howa’s Superlite is made for hunters who walk a lot. A carbon fiber stock and a slimmed 1500 action keep weight down, so it’s the rifle you won’t mind carrying all day.

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 two-stage match trigger takes up a short, light first stage and then breaks cleanly, which helps when you’re squeezing off a careful shot. The muzzle is threaded, so you can fit a brake, flash hider or suppressor where your state allows it. A Picatinny rail on top makes mounting a scope quick.

Specifications

• Model: Howa Superlite
• Caliber: .308 Winchester
• Barrel length: 16.25 inches
• Muzzle: threaded
• Twist rate: 1:10
• Stock: Gray and green carbon fiber stock with black webbing
• Magazine capacity: 4 rounds
• Trigger: two-stage match
• Safety: three-position
• Optic: Vortex riflescope included
• Scope mounted on the factory base
• Price: $1,302

Howa Superlite 308 Scoped optic

This rifle comes with a Vortex riflescope. It’s mounted from the factory, so you only need to zero it. Zero it at 100 yards with your hunting load and confirm at the distance you expect to shoot.

The .308 Winchester cartridge

The .308 Winchester came out in 1952 as the commercial version of what became the 7.62x51mm NATO. It’s one of the most common big-game and target rounds in the world. It handles deer, hogs, black bear and, with good bullets, elk at moderate range. It’s also a classic target round, and ammo is easy to find in almost any store.

Factory loads run from 125 to 180 grains, with 150, 165, 168 and 175 grain bullets the most common. The 1:10 twist handles all of them. SAAMI sets the industry dimensions for this round; the SAAMI centerfire rifle standard lists them. There’s also a good summary of the history of the .308 Winchester.

Is this the right rifle for you?

It’s made for backcountry and mountain hunters who count every ounce. The short barrel keeps it handy in vehicles and blinds, and it’s well suited to a suppressor.

Picking ammunition

Start with a couple of quality factory loads and see which groups tighter. Once you find it, buy enough of the same lot to get through the season. For hunting, use a bullet built for the game you’re after, and save the cheap full metal jacket ammo for practice.

Seasons, legal calibers and hunter education rules vary by state. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hunting page links to state wildlife agencies and public land where you can hunt.

Your first range trip

Set up at 25 yards first so your first shots land on paper. Then move back to 100 yards and adjust in small steps, firing three-shot groups and letting the barrel cool between them. The .308 Winchester really shines past 300 yards, so once you’re zeroed, it’s worth getting time at longer distances and writing down your drops.

How the Howa Superlite 308 Scoped compares

A few close relatives, in case a different finish, barrel or price fits you better:

• Howa Superlite 308 Kryptek Altitude: a 20-inch barrel, a Kryptek Altitude stock and no scope, $1,093
• Howa Superlite 308 Kryptek Obskura: a 20-inch barrel, a Kryptek Obskura stock and no scope, $1,093
• Howa Superlite 308 Win Tan: a 20-inch barrel, a tan stock and no scope, $1,093
• Howa Superlite Gen2 308 OD Green: a 20-inch barrel, an OD Green stock and no scope, $977

You can also browse all Howa 1500 Superlite Rifles, Howa Carbon Fiber Rifles and Howa Rifles With Scope, or see every Howa bolt action rifle we stock.

Setting up your Howa Superlite 308 Scoped

Before you shoot it, run a patch through the bore to clear out any shipping oil and check that the action screws are snug. The scope is already mounted, so check the ring screws with a torque driver before you zero. Zero at 100 yards, then check where your load lands at the distances you actually shoot.

How buying a rifle online works

Rifles can’t ship straight to your door. When you order the Howa Superlite 308 Scoped, 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. The ATF explains the rules in its firearms questions and answers. State and local laws vary, so check yours before you order.

Howa Superlite 308 Scoped questions

What caliber is the Howa Superlite 308 Scoped?

It’s chambered in .308 Winchester with a 1:10 twist.

How many rounds does it hold?

It holds 4 rounds in the magazine, plus one in the chamber.

Does it come with a scope?

Yes. It ships with a Vortex riflescope.

Is the barrel threaded?

Yes. Check the thread pitch before you buy a muzzle device.

Buy the Howa Superlite 308 Scoped today

The Howa Superlite 308 Scoped is in stock at $1,302. Add it to your cart, choose your FFL dealer at checkout and we’ll get it moving. Questions about fit, caliber or ammo? Contact us and we’ll help you pick.