Howa vs Ruger vs Savage

W

William Suter

Well-known member
I sold my AR in 6 ARC because I want to try it in a bolt action rifle. Savage offers it in a Axis Pro, Ruge in ther American and Howa with a CF barrel. Of course the Howa is more expensive because of the carbon barrel. Of the three which way would you go? I like the looks of the Savage over the Ruger but not sure about the Howa.
 
Howa is a solid choice. That said is a bit more selective about barrel tenon dimensions vs the Ruger or Savage (yes I had to think hard to come up with a Con for the Howa outside the magazine interchangeability). I wouldn't hesitate to buy the Howa especially if it's on the mini action.

Savage vs the Ruger American series. both again great choices.
I would be extremely hard pressed to make a choice between any of them. I guess the deciding factor for me would be aftermarket support. Coupled with which one felt the best to my shoulder. Honestly I don't think you can make a bad choice between the three. IIRC all three have chassis stock support from MDT if one wanted or needed to go that route.
 
I really like the new Savage Axis Pro. It has a verticle grip stock and a spiral fluted barrel very similar to the Ruger. The one main thing about the Ruger is I don't care for the stock and know I will be changing it right off. Both of these are what I consider "budget rifles". The Howa is the mini action and has a carbon fiber barrel. I like that but here again, not really crazy about the stock. It's about a grand cost wise. I seem to be one of those people that fix stuff that isn't broke so I'm thinking all three will need a trigger and probably a better stock. I hate cheap plastic stocks with Tikka being an exception. Their stocks are pretty solid but there is always something better.
I've always had pretty good luck with Savage. Had a couple of Rugers but put one in a MDT Field stock. Howa's have been kinda hit and miss but I feel they hold their value better. I'm in no hurry so plenty of time to decide. Who knows, maybe something better will come along. LOL I did look at a couple of Q rifles but they are way above my pay grade.
 
Well, ive been on the ruger train, but jumped off after having regularly inconsistent feeding issues. Wouldn't jam every time, just the times I really needed it not to... sold all 3 ruger Americans.

Just bought a howa mini 6 arc, 7.5t heavy barrel. It feeds way better than ruger, looks better than savage, trigger tops ruger, both stocks suck. Waiting on a mdt oryx for the howa. If stock contact was my accuracy issue, im gonna be very happy. If it doesn't ill rebarrel it and be super happy.

Now, for the avg hunter the stock howa would have been a great rifle. Im not using it for hunting primarily. I want it for 500 to 1k yd steel. Currently getting 2" groups out there with my tikkas, but wanted a 6arc, mainly to sling the 112 barnes matchburner with.
 
I have a Howa Mini in 6mm ARC 20" HB, after market bottom metal. I wack about 3/4 to 1" off the butt and hog out the barrel channel, I like the feel of the factory stock. I found a load of Speer 75gr HPs and it will kill coyotes as far as the care to shoot them. The HBs have 5/5x24 threads and the skinny barrel 1/2x28 go figure my 5/8x24 Mo not ng plate arrives Tuesday.
 
I have a nice Ruger American (with Timney tigger) in 7.08 but was thinking Howa for the 6ARC. I did load dev on my AR15 6ARC and loved it, now I really want to see what I can get out of it. Howa mini is my choice.
 
I had an AR in 6 ARC that shot good. I think I can make a bolt action shoot better. If I was going by looks alone, I'd probably go with the Savage but I do like the carbon barrel on the Howa. If I go with the Howa I'll probably put it in a better stock or chassis.
 
I have a Howa mini action 22 inch that had a wood stock. Shot inconsistent. Had to sand out the barrel channel where it contacted the barrel. Still shot a decent group one day shot 3 inches another. Stock started cracking at the rear of the action. I live in the desert. Maybe it dried out...maybe it's the massive recoil of the 6mm ARC lol.
It now has a CF stock. I hope this will fix my problems. Wasted a lot of powder and bullets on that wood stock.
 
I have two 6mm ARC's. One Savage Axis Heavy barrel 18". The other is a 20" Howa mini.

All together I have two Savage Axis. Two Savage 110 trail hunters. One savage 10/11.

I have two Ruger Americans. One Predator in 6.5cm and the other is a Ranch 350 legend.

Over all, I'd go with the Howa. I like their trigger better and their factory stock is very study compared to the rest.

Savage also offers the 6mm arc in the new 110's.
 
coyotekilla83 said:
Shot a 22arc core predator yesterday, could have bought it, buddy did. I bought a marlin dark 44mag & holding out for the 6 arc
Click to expand...
How did the rifle function ?
I'm told that the 110 rifles have the newly designed accutrigger and jeweled/cerakote bolt with radial extractor and dual ejectors.
That combined with the tooless fully adjustable V2 stock and AICS magazine should make them a great choice for predator hunters.
And they offer left hand models too.
SJC
 
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