Howa vs savage

[idahohounds92]

Buying a new rifle, wanting to stay fairly budget friendly as I need to also buy rifles for two of my kids still, and also glass for each rifle. Top two on my list is a savage 110 and a howa 1500, both in either 30-06 or 308, I'm having a tough time deciding. Will be used as my deer and elk rifle. Shots anywhere from 20 yards out to 400, but 400 yards is the limit for me, that would probably be the absolute furthest shot I'd take. I have a savage 110 trail hunter in 6.5 creedmoor and I can't decide if I like the hogue stock or not so if I got the howa I'd probably just get the barreled action and buy a stock for it. I've never owned a howa and I've only ever shot 1 weatherby vanguard which has the howa action. I'm looking for honest opinions on both, savage vs howa, in 308 or 30-06. Accuracy, action quality/reliability etc. thanks

 

[Qholum37]

I have had both over the years and will never get another Savage. The actions are just too rough and klunky feeling although they do seem to be fairly accurate. I have had a Howa 1500 for years that started as a 7 Rem Mag but was rebarreled to 7PRC a few years ago and its been a good rifle in both configurations. My dad shoots that rifle the most these days and he loves it. I will say, if you could squeeze an extra couple hundred bucks into the budget I would take a hard look at Tikka. Great rifles!

 

[hereinaz]

In a long action, I would try to find one of the clearance Tikka on Eurooptic in 30-06.

For shots out to 400 max, I wouldn't go with a 30-06. Go 308 per your post. (But, I would recommend you just get another 6.5 creedmoor. One reason the 6.5 creed grew so fast was because it shot the heavier 6.5 bullets faster than the .260 rem. The heavier bullets with increased sectional density are great bullets for terminal performance.)

Between Savage and Howa, definitely the Howa. I've built a bunch of rifles off Savage, and they shoot, but they aren't as refined. I got out of my Savage phase and sold the rifles and actions, but kept the barrels that I shoot out of a Nucleus action now. They don't really shoot groups better because of the action its screwed into.

Now, I have a couple builds off of Howa. The trigger is nice out of the box and you can replace or cut the spring to reduce it by about a poundish.

If you want a walking around gun, get the Howa Superlite. https://www.brownells.com/guns/rifl...8-winchester-bolt-action-rifle/?sku=430105609

There is also a new 16" barreled version out this year. You can get it with a wood stock or the carbon fiber stock. In that style, its the same one you buy from Stocky's. So, double check price before you get a barreled action. You could go with that one and not worry about a stock.

The Superlite is a different sized action than the regular short action. Stocky's has models for it, but it is different than the regular short action. So, just confirm the stock you want on Stocky's and then pick.

If you want the VG2 stock style, then get a barreled action. If you go with the standard short action, there is a stock listed in the classifieds right now that's a good deal.

With the regular 1500 short action Howa inlet, you can buy a bottom metal that accepts AICS magazines.

 

[idahohounds92]

In a long action, I would try to find one of the clearance Tikka on Eurooptic in 30-06.

For shots out to 400 max, I wouldn't go with a 30-06. Go 308 per your post. (But, I would recommend you just get another 6.5 creedmoor. One reason the 6.5 creed grew so fast was because it shot the heavier 6.5 bullets faster than the .260 rem. The heavier bullets with increased sectional density are great bullets for terminal performance.)

Between Savage and Howa, definitely the Howa. I've built a bunch of rifles off Savage, and they shoot, but they aren't as refined. I got out of my Savage phase and sold the rifles and actions, but kept the barrels that I shoot out of a Nucleus action now. They don't really shoot groups better because of the action its screwed into.

Now, I have a couple builds off of Howa. The trigger is nice out of the box and you can replace or cut the spring to reduce it by about a poundish.

If you want a walking around gun, get the Howa Superlite. https://www.brownells.com/guns/rifl...8-winchester-bolt-action-rifle/?sku=430105609

There is also a new 16" barreled version out this year. You can get it with a wood stock or the carbon fiber stock. In that style, its the same one you buy from Stocky's. So, double check price before you get a barreled action. You could go with that one and not worry about a stock.

The Superlite is a different sized action than the regular short action. Stocky's has models for it, but it is different than the regular short action. So, just confirm the stock you want on Stocky's and then pick.

If you want the VG2 stock style, then get a barreled action. If you go with the standard short action, there is a stock listed in the classifieds right now that's a good deal.

With the regular 1500 short action Howa inlet, you can buy a bottom metal that accepts AICS magazines.

What factory ammo would you recommend for the 6.5 creedmoor for elk? I've used 143gr eld-x and 140gr federal blue box. The elk I shot last season with the federal blue box ammo was at about 100 yards, no blood trail but luckily it didn't go far and I was able to find it. The season before that I used the 143gr eld-x and shot an elk at about 50 yards and the bullet didn't hold together very well, I also recovered that elk but wasn't overly impressed. I've not had a single issue using either of those loads on deer though.

 

[Long84]

I've yet to get my hands on a Howa. The few Savages that I've owned weren't the smoothest functioning rifles. But they were accurate.

 

[TaperPin]

Savages have always shot well, but they are rough and a little clunky. Old savages are often dirt cheap. Last year Cabelas had two used 30-06 for $250 each.

This year there have been a lot of used Howas at Cabelas. A stainless 25-06 for $350 was a steal. Blued 308, 6.5 creed, 7mm-08 in the Hogue rubberized stock for $375. I have always liked the fit and feel of that stock. It would feel good in the hands to carry around. There was another 7 mag, probably for $375, but I didn’t turn over the tag.

In the end I’m a Howa fan more than Savage. One of the kids is having a birthday soon so I’m looking for a beginner rifle - probably will go with a Howa.

 

[waspocrew]

In my opinion, neither are all that smooth. Savages are rough and clunky, but they shoot well. I have a Howa mini and it’s taken a it of cycling to get the action to smooth out.

 

[hereinaz]

What factory ammo would you recommend for the 6.5 creedmoor for elk? I've used 143gr eld-x and 140gr federal blue box. The elk I shot last season with the federal blue box ammo was at about 100 yards, no blood trail but luckily it didn't go far and I was able to find it. The season before that I used the 143gr eld-x and shot an elk at about 50 yards and the bullet didn't hold together very well, I also recovered that elk but wasn't overly impressed. I've not had a single issue using either of those loads on deer though.

Dude, you killed two elk. I am hella impressed. You put two bullets in the boiler room and did not have to track them. I see nothing wrong with either bullets…

What would impress you?
What is your expectation?

This gets into personal preference, so no offense, I am just gonna stir a bit to get you thinking. It’s the fragmenting vs penetrating bullet argument.

My opinion, for what it’s worth, is that there is too much fuss about pass through and such for tracking, especially because the elk died and you recovered it. Shot placement kills elk whatever rhe bullet.

As the devils advocate, you killed two elk, but you weren’t happy. Didn’t they perform perfectly?

My example, It’s like having a fullback that just smashed through the line for a touchdown and saying, I wish he performed more like Barry Sanders and he danced through tacklers to the outside.

I am a “scoreboard” kind of guy. So, I shoot through the ribs and look for a double lung. I’d say YOU AND the BULLETS performed perfectly. Don’t change anything and you can repeat it a third time.

The 25 133 bergers have killed stuff at long range easily, so the velocity is like a 6.5 creed inside 400. Look at the video by Exo guys with 6 creed and the huge .223 page.

Or change it and you probably kill a third time because you can hunt and put the bullet in the vitals. It won’t be the bullet choice, it’s you.

For me, in 6.5 Creed I personally would shoot a factory 140 ELDm or some load with a 140 hunting Berger. HSM might sell some. I like the 143 ELDx load as well. If there is a TMK Federal Gold Medal Match.

I killed my bison with a 18” barrel .308 and Federal Gold Medal Match 185 Berger Juggeenauts. It was .308 cause my shots were likely out of a blind and it was my shortest barrel.

Otherwise a more traditional load I would shoot is a Nosler partition or accubond long range load.

If you really want a pass through, then shoot a mono. Barnes or Hornady new CX. But it generally won’t kill as fast as the more destructive bullets and a shoulder shot is good.