Howa Superlite 308win Field Evaluation

[Mike 338]

It will be the last one I have and as soon as my kids are old enough to get firearms licenses I'll be happy to give it to whoever wants it, they may fight over it lol, but other guns available for their choices to take also.

From what I hear, Trudeau wants it.

 

[Stinky Coyote]

From what I hear, Trudeau wants it.

he sure does, he can take on my kids and see if he gets it, I have doubts lol

looking forward to joining the republic, most of us are arms wide open, I better start researching the suppressor and 9mm markets so I can jump in the game right away

 

[Mike 338]

he sure does, he can take on my kids and see if he gets it, I have doubts lol

looking forward to joining the republic, most of us are arms wide open, I better start researching the suppressor and 9mm markets so I can jump in the game right away

Glad to have you but just a heads-up... most of our politicians are as crooked as a dogs hind leg and would sell out their own country in a heartbeat. God, family and country, in that order.

 

[True North]

After reading the reviews I still ended up rolling the dice and purchased this rifle (Howa Superlite) chambered in 6.5CM... I put on the small SWFA scope, low talley rings, little bastard muzzle break, and guess I lucked out... mine is a shooter. Sub-MOA, actually about 1/2 MOA with factory Nosler 142gr ABLR. Yes, the action is horrible and so is the magazine, feels like a toy, BUT, mine shoots out of the box.

Hope this helps someone out there...

 

[TheGDog]

After reading the reviews I still ended up rolling the dice and purchased this rifle (Howa Superlite) chambered in 6.5CM... I put on the small SWFA scope, low talley rings, little bastard muzzle break, and guess I lucked out... mine is a shooter. Sub-MOA, actually about 1/2 MOA with factory Nosler 142gr ABLR. Yes, the action is horrible and so is the magazine, feels like a toy, BUT, mine shoots out of the box.

Hope this helps someone out there...

Yeah, we bought the 6.5cm for my son. DEF a shooter! Soo nice on the shoulder too!

 

[Stinky Coyote]

After reading the reviews I still ended up rolling the dice and purchased this rifle (Howa Superlite) chambered in 6.5CM... I put on the small SWFA scope, low talley rings, little bastard muzzle break, and guess I lucked out... mine is a shooter. Sub-MOA, actually about 1/2 MOA with factory Nosler 142gr ABLR. Yes, the action is horrible and so is the magazine, feels like a toy, BUT, mine shoots out of the box.

Hope this helps someone out there...

most are shooters, that's why they still exist, it's the only positive attribute they have other than properly scaled mini action (scarce) and can be very light....but you just have to suffer a cheap rifle made out of the wrong material

 

[Kbreese72]

It’s nearly a total waste of my time. But, this isn’t for me. I do not ask to do this, I am asked to do it. The industry, gun writers, “reviewers”, etc are near totally full of shit. Almost never is there any actual use on products, and only glowing reviews are done… got to keep the advertisers happy and get that free swag again.

The industry sucks and products don’t work because no one calls out the BS.

I'm 52 and I've been an active member of countless forums for decades, and I have to say, this is quite possibly THE BEST forum post I've ever seen. Cheers to you, sir!

 

[Kbreese72]

New here, and just read this entire thread...

I've been salivating over this rifle for some time, and after my Xmas bonus, I finally pulled the trigger on purchasing a new one a few days ago. After some last minute research I discovered a significant amount of negative feedback from owners, similar to what has been mentioned here, and so I cancelled the order.

Previously, I put together a nice relatively low budget hunting rifle: T3x Roughtech Ember in 6.5PRC, which I really like but after optic, rings, bipod etc, ,the darn thing is just too heavy for me.

Been desperately looking for a decent light weight option ever since, but like most of us, I'm on a budget, which is of course why these Howa Superlite's caught my attention in the first place. Lightest hunting rifle out there, and at a reasonable price.

But, whether it be I'm a coward to roll the dice as many of you braver folks have, or just having a thinner wallet and a stricter significant other..... If anyone has one of these 2024 16.25" Howa's that actually "works" or is "fixed" and wouldn't mind parting with it, please let me know.

Cheers all and Happy New Year!
Also, despite some drama, I really enjoyed the thread...very informative. Just gonna go get my eye drops now, and then sit with the woman before she starts yellin!

 

[SubparSheep]

I purchased one of these in 6.5 cm in spring of 2024 and have been happy with it so far. It killed a black bear in the spring at 220 yards and 3 moose in the fall, one at 30 yards, one at 70 yards, and one at 325. It shoots well, has been sub MOA using 143 eldx at 2700 fps. Was a dream to carry sheep hunting both for the weight and the short length not catching on alders when strapped to my pack.

There are plenty of things not to like about it, it does indeed feel like a toy when you pick it up, it doesn't feed a shell into the chamber without pushing up on the magazine from the bottom, the front sling mount wasn't flush with the stock and protruded an extra 1/4 inch (I removed it and installed an arca plate), the action is as far from smooth as I have ever used. I haven't had any of the trigger issued others have talked about.

All that said, its hard to beat the price and weight out of the box, i just need to see if I can smooth out the action a bit and get the magazine to function properly. I plan on using it for the forseable future on everything short of brown bears.

 

[Bidwell]

One thing that I noticed with my mini action and stockys stock, was that the recess for the recoil lug was about .015 too deep. When tightening the front action screw (which goes into that recoil lug) since the bottom of the action was against the inletting, and there was a gap under the lug, it would deform the stock and pull the forend against the barrel. About .012 shim and bedding fixed mine.

I know this was an old thread but I'm having the exact same issue. Mine had a .025 inch space between the lug bottom and lug slo. I cut, drilled and dremmeled a feeler gauge for a shim and that seemed to work. Barrel is now floated. Debating the bedding step, did you find that non-negotiable? I thought about getting a piece of aluminum laser cutted into that exact shape of the recoil slot.

 

[black dawg]

I know this was an old thread but I'm having the exact same issue. Mine had a .025 inch space between the lug bottom and lug slo. I cut, drilled and dremmeled a feeler gauge for a shim and that seemed to work. Barrel is now floated. Debating the bedding step, did you find that non-negotiable? I thought about getting a piece of aluminum laser cutted into that exact shape of the recoil slot.

bedding mine made no difference in precision over just the shim. I do like having all my guns bedded though, less chance of moving in the stock, and goes back together the same after being taken apart.

 

[Bidwell]

bedding mine made no difference in precision over just the shim. I do like having all my guns bedded though, less chance of moving in the stock, and goes back together the same after being taken apart.

Thanks, appreciate that. I ended up just putting a little epoxy under my shim. It was also suggested to me that the large flat area behind the lug was a good place to out a shim. I put a .025 thick shim there as well. Also with small dab of epoxy to keep things from moving around

 

[KingGus]

A data point for anyone interested.

I bought a 6.5cm superlite barreled action and put it the VG stockys stock. The stock needed a slight clearance work around the bolt handle, but it shoots great.

It doesn't seem to be picky on projectiles. Currently shooting 140 vids doing a shade over 2700fps with 6.5 staball and small rifle primers, these are giving me excellent ESs.

5 lbs 13oz scope with 3-9x40 acupoint and talleys. Cost less $1,250 scoped. Great little AK mountain gun on a budget.

 

[slowcal]

It really surprises me that the companies sending rifles out for review haven't checked them with a fine-toothed comb.