Howa Kuiu edition rifle

[NCSURodney]

Looking at picking up a Howa Kuiu edition in 7mm-08. Does anyone have any experience with this model? Pros? Cons?

 

[Ndbowhunter]

Heavy, piss poor stock design. Easy pass.

 

[tdhanses]

Just buy a barreled action and get a good stock dipped in Kuiu. The factory stocks on Howas aren’t great. But Howa makes a great true action, I have a semi-custom being built off a Howa action.

 

[USMC-40]

Heavy, piss poor stock design. Easy pass.

This pretty well nails it

 

[16Bore]

Those things are a lot heavier than they look. Had my mitts on a 20” 223 yesterday and all the weight is in the ass. Dip a Tikka and callnit good if you want camo.

 

[westsloper]

I think the stock is alright. It feels a little more stiff in the forend than the grippy Hogue stocks on the normal Howas. I actually like the ergonomics.

If the rifle is the 20" barrel "lightweight" model, it's certainly not all that lightweight for rifle with a short, pencil-thin barrel. The lightweight is not a well balanced rifle compared to a Howa with a longer barrel. The cerakote is nice, but it stinks that Howa doesn't import stainless rifles to the US anymore.

If you like Howa actions (I do) and want a short barrel, then it isn't a horrible choice. The Weatherby Vanguard Wilderness/Backcountry rifles are 1/4 lb lighter than the Kuiu and are pretty much Howas with better fit and finish and a longer barrel. But if light weight and weather resistant is your goal, there are tons of options. I got a stainless steel Tikka with a 22 inch, sporter contour barrel for under $700, an it weighs like half a pound less than the lightweight Howas. I do hate the looks of the Tikka, though.

 

[tdhanses]

Pick my semi-custom Howa up Thursday. I’ll get a weight on it.

 

[Erock]

Pick my semi-custom Howa up Thursday. I’ll get a weight on it.

View attachment 129998

What are the details? This is basically what I imagined in my head. Trying to source parts.

 

[tdhanses]

What are the details? This is basically what I imagined in my head. Trying to source parts.

- Howa 1500 action with their detachable mag
- Timney trigger
- McMillan game Scout stock with light weight fill
- Carbon 6 prefit 20” carbon barrel with featherlight contour chambered in 6.5cm
- Hawkins Precision muzzle brake

Stock was pillar bedded and the barrel channel slightly opened up to fit the carbon barrel. Final weight was just over 7lbs without scope.