Howa is actually not a new gun on the market. It used to be imported as Weatherby Vanguard. After Weatherby dropped this line, it was imported as Smith & Wesson model 1500. After S&W got out of the rifle and shotgun biz, it was picked up by Mossberg for a few years. When Mossberg got out of the long gun biz, Howa was imported by Interarms under its own brand name Howa 1500. Interarms then went bankrupt and now Howa is imported by Legacy. Lately Weatherby picked up its former Vanguard model and I see them at Walmart for around $300.
I had three Howas and they all could do 1.5" at 100 yards. They are certainly a great rifle for the price. Many shooters dislike Howa merely because of its Japanese manufacture and that exlains why it did not sell well under its own brand name. But ironically it sells just fine under our all American Weatherby brand name at our all American Walmart stores...... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif Funny huh?
