New Howa Superlite rifle

I am getting good accuracy with mine and excellent velocity. MOA groups with 130 TGK @ 2800fps. Loving this little rifle can't wait for my suppressor.
 
I won one of these in a raffle back in August. The 6.5CM w/ cryptek stock. It was cool rifle, and it shot pretty well, but mostly useless to me as I’m a lefty. I sold it to my friend for $650. It’s his first hunting rifle, hopefully it’ll serve him well for many years to come.
 
So I ordered the rifle. I also have a set of tally lows coming in for it. Anyone have any experience with these? Halfway tempted to go with another set of Seekins just because they are a known quantity.
 
I have about a dozen rifles with Talley Lightweights and have never had an issue with them, but I don't use heavy scopes either.
 
In case anyone is looking to pick one up or knows someone who is I have one in the classifieds here.

 
I don't want to start any arguments. Just thought some folks would like to hear about other than ideal experiences regarding this rifle
I have had experience with 3 different Howa Superlite rifles now and unfortunately i have been less than impressed with my experience so far.

This post does NOT have to do with Legacy/Howa customer service as I have not yet had any interaction with them. I chose to go through the store which i purchased the rifle from because i have not heard great things about the Legacy warranty process and wanted to avoid a drawn out process…..which i am dealing with anyways:)

1st rifle: 20” 6.5cm arrived at the store April 2025 with a large flat spot on the barrel from where the bolt had been rubbing the barrel in factory packaging. No problem, things happen and the store sent it back.

2nd rifle: arrived at the shop May 2025 and was a 20” 6.5cm. pictures attached. I Get the rifle home and start inspecting it to put the scope on. Like normal i pull the rail off to make sure loctite was used and everything is torqued down properly. Upon unscrewing the rail I notice the rail was warped. I Reinstalled the rail thinking maybe it is some weird screw tension technique. While installing the rings i noticed the fitment to the rail was not great, when placing the scope in the rings i could not get the scope to seat properly. No, it was not a lapping or ring issue. I am using Warne rings which i have never had an issue with. So i throw a level on the base rail to find out the rail is not flat. At this point i have also spotted the rifle inletting for the free float barrel is not square. The shop was notified and rifle was sent in through the distributor since Legacy arms was not going to make the process easy for the shop.

It is now end of July and the shop just received word that Howa is taking care of the replacement. Hopefully this one shoots?

3rd rifle: hunting partners 16.25” 7mm-08. It shoots at best 1.5” groups intermittently. We have had three different folks behind the rifle all shooting sub 1” with different hunting rifles during the same trips out shooting. We have swapped scopes, tried suppressed and naked, and let the rifle cool down shooting no more than 3 shot groups. Most groups are 2.5-4”.
Ammunition has ranged in weight, cost, and bullet design. Over $300 in ammo through this rifle with no luck. While trying a different scope the rail was installed and the tally rings were removed. The rail on the rifle sits flush and level. Both scopes tried on this rifle came off other guns holding zero and shooting sub inch at 100 yards.

We really want these rifles to work but so far have had poor experiences. Does anyone have ammunition suggestions for the 7mm-08? We have not wanted to put reloads through it due to concerns with the warranty. We have not wanted to modify due to warranty concerns.

Between my hunting partner and i, we have other Tikka and Savage Ultralight setups. All are well below 1” groups at 100 yards and have not had any issues with QC. We wanted to try something in the sub 5lb category but are now rethinking our decision.

It would be great to know if anyone has had success with this rifle in a stock setup or if aftermarket modifications are needed to make it to shoot. Have i just seen some terrible luck and try the next 6.5cm heading my way? or put it on consignment and buy a NULA?

I don’t need ca
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Are these really better than the howa alpine rifle? Those seemed to be pretty good off the shelf.
 
I’m late to the thread but I have the same issues with my 7mm-08 Superlite.
To be honest I bought the barreled action from Brownells. Bought a “second” cosmetic Stocky’s CF stock for it.
What a terrible fit.
I bedded the action ( 35”:lbs torque ) and floated the barrel. Shot it with their recommended load for their MOA requirements. 150ELD-X Prec. Horn.
It patterned.
I full length bedded the barrel and tried again.
Patterned .
After other ammo attempts it went back to Howa / LSI.
Their contract gsmith / rifleman could not get the 150 eld-x to group. 139 SST showed best results.
I get it back along with a replacement stock fro Stocky’s.
Terrible looking stock.I relieved the recoil lug area and front action area. Lined up the action screws to find center line in the barrel channel.Relieved the barrel channel. Bedded the action and chamber length of the barrel. Added 20mil tape to the rest of the barrel and bedded that area as well. Monolithic bedding.
All turned out great.
Shot it.
Results?
I’m going to move it and buy a Tikka.
 
I have had experience with 3 different Howa Superlite rifles now and unfortunately i have been less than impressed with my experience so far.

This post does NOT have to do with Legacy/Howa customer service as I have not yet had any interaction with them. I chose to go through the store which i purchased the rifle from because i have not heard great things about the Legacy warranty process and wanted to avoid a drawn out process…..which i am dealing with anyways:)

1st rifle: 20” 6.5cm arrived at the store April 2025 with a large flat spot on the barrel from where the bolt had been rubbing the barrel in factory packaging. No problem, things happen and the store sent it back.

2nd rifle: arrived at the shop May 2025 and was a 20” 6.5cm. pictures attached. I Get the rifle home and start inspecting it to put the scope on. Like normal i pull the rail off to make sure loctite was used and everything is torqued down properly. Upon unscrewing the rail I notice the rail was warped. I Reinstalled the rail thinking maybe it is some weird screw tension technique. While installing the rings i noticed the fitment to the rail was not great, when placing the scope in the rings i could not get the scope to seat properly. No, it was not a lapping or ring issue. I am using Warne rings which i have never had an issue with. So i throw a level on the base rail to find out the rail is not flat. At this point i have also spotted the rifle inletting for the free float barrel is not square. The shop was notified and rifle was sent in through the distributor since Legacy arms was not going to make the process easy for the shop.

It is now end of July and the shop just received word that Howa is taking care of the replacement. Hopefully this one shoots?

3rd rifle: hunting partners 16.25” 7mm-08. It shoots at best 1.5” groups intermittently. We have had three different folks behind the rifle all shooting sub 1” with different hunting rifles during the same trips out shooting. We have swapped scopes, tried suppressed and naked, and let the rifle cool down shooting no more than 3 shot groups. Most groups are 2.5-4”.
Ammunition has ranged in weight, cost, and bullet design. Over $300 in ammo through this rifle with no luck. While trying a different scope the rail was installed and the tally rings were removed. The rail on the rifle sits flush and level. Both scopes tried on this rifle came off other guns holding zero and shooting sub inch at 100 yards.

We really want these rifles to work but so far have had poor experiences. Does anyone have ammunition suggestions for the 7mm-08? We have not wanted to put reloads through it due to concerns with the warranty. We have not wanted to modify due to warranty concerns.

Between my hunting partner and i, we have other Tikka and Savage Ultralight setups. All are well below 1” groups at 100 yards and have not had any issues with QC. We wanted to try something in the sub 5lb category but are now rethinking our decision.

It would be great to know if anyone has had success with this rifle in a stock setup or if aftermarket modifications are needed to make it to shoot. Have i just seen some terrible luck and try the next 6.5cm heading my way? or put it on consignment and buy a NULA?

I don’t need ca
View attachment 912298
Update:
Finally received my Howa back September 23rd. Almost 4months later. Will never buy another just based on my customer service experience. Below was the response. They did send a rail after some more discussion by the gunshop that sold it to me. The rail was not the same style and came with no hardware. My buddy let me use his rail with proper screws. I did want to give it a fair shake….my 1st group at 100 yards and getting it on paper was not shabby though. Under 1/2”. Disregard the other shots as we had multiple rifles on this paper. PSA 140 Sabre ammo…..the cheapest stuff i purchased just to break in the barrel. Plan to do some more testing but if it shoots. Luck or repeatable? Time will tell.
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