Howa Superlite 308 Walnut Rifle

Description

Our Howa Superlite 308 Walnut is a Superlite bolt gun in .308 Winchester. It comes with a 20-inch barrel, a walnut stock and 4-round capacity. Price is $589, and we have it in stock. It’s a solid match for deer, hogs, black bear and targets.

Howa Superlite 308 Walnut features

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.

Howa Machinery has built the 1500 action in Japan since 1979. It uses a one-piece bolt with two locking lugs and a 90-degree lift, plus a three-position safety. The middle position lets you cycle the bolt and unload with the safety on.

Why .308 Winchester?

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. For chamber and pressure specs, see the SAAMI centerfire rifle standard, or read the history of the .308 Winchester.

Specifications

• Model: Howa Superlite
• Caliber: .308 Winchester
• Barrel length: 20 inches
• Twist rate: 1:10
• Stock: Walnut stock
• Magazine capacity: 4 rounds
• Overall length: 38.75 inches
• Safety: three-position
• Sights: none, drilled and tapped for scope mounts
• Price: $589

Is this the right rifle for you?

If your hunts involve long hikes or steep climbs, a lighter rifle is easier to carry, and that matters on the last mile. A 20-inch barrel keeps the rifle short and balanced without giving up much velocity.

Best .308 Winchester 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.

Hunting rules are set state by state. Start at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hunting page for federal lands, then check your state agency for seasons and caliber limits.

More about the Howa Superlite

The Superlite is Howa’s lightweight mountain rifle. The action and barrel are trimmed for weight, and the carbon fiber stock keeps the whole rifle easy to carry on long climbs.

At the range

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.

Howa Superlite 308 Walnut vs similar Howa rifles

Here’s how it stacks up against similar rifles we carry:

• Howa Superlite Gen2 308 Win: a black stock and a threaded muzzle, $961
• Howa Superlite Gen2 308 OD Green: an OD Green stock and a threaded muzzle, $977
• Howa Superlite 308 Kryptek Altitude: a Kryptek Altitude stock and a threaded muzzle, $1,093
• Howa Superlite 308 Kryptek Obskura: a Kryptek Obskura stock, $1,093

You can also browse all Howa 1500 Superlite Rifles, Howa Walnut Stock Rifles and Howa 308 Win Rifles, or see every Howa bolt action rifle we stock.

Care and storage

Keep the Howa Superlite 308 Walnut unloaded and stored somewhere dry. Don’t leave it in a soft case after a wet hunt; let it dry out, oil the metal lightly and check the action screws now and then.

How buying a rifle online works

We send the Howa Superlite 308 Walnut to the FFL dealer you choose. They run the federal background check, you sign the transfer form, and the rifle is yours. For the federal side, see the ATF firearms Q&A. Your state may add its own rules, so look those up too.

Howa Superlite 308 Walnut questions

What caliber is the Howa Superlite 308 Walnut?

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?

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.

Get the Howa Superlite 308 Walnut while it’s in stock

Ready to order? The Howa Superlite 308 Walnut is $589 and ships to your FFL. If you’re stuck between two models, send us a message and we’ll give you a straight answer.