Ruger anerican gen 2 vs howa

[diygunsmith]

Im debating on a new rifle in 223 .I'm stuck between the gen2 ruger and a new howa mini hunter or a 1500 looking on opinions

 

[RWT]

Twist rate would be my first question

 

[jaredg]

I have both rifles in different calibers. They both shoot very well. That being said, they never get used because my family and I find the bolt to be miserable. Neither would be my first choice.

If this is a budget issue and those are the two rifles, I find them to be equal. Both will shoot well. Buy the one that fits you the best.

 

[diygunsmith]

Twist rate would be my first question

8

 

[diygunsmith]

I have both rifles in different calibers. They both shoot very well. That being said, they never get used because my family and I find the bolt to be miserable. Neither would be my first choice.

If this is a budget issue and those are the two rifles, I find them to be equal. Both will shoot well. Buy the one that fits you the best.

no budget issue,those are two rifles hear alot of guys bragging on

 

[KyleR1985]

I love my Howa minis.

I shoot less than 2000 rounds a year. I don’t hunt in sub 10* / snowy icy conditions. I reload. I spent money on good bottom metal, a stockys stock I bedded, and reduced trigger spring.

 

[loganwayne]

i get the howa. i have a 1500 that i have built into a semi custom rifle over time with used parts.

 

[nw_bearcat]

Have a few older Howa I like. Went looking at new ones this summer and got turned off…maybe a small thing, but didn’t like the safety. It’s a small, sharp edged blade, 3 position and quite stiff. Felt like I’d have a good chance of not getting it all the way off in the moment I really wanted

 

[huntsman22]

Safeties of all brands stump many......

 

[JLH3]

I have a 6.5 Grendel Ruger. The bolt is miserable, but it’s accurate.

I also have a Vanguard Sporter in .300 Wby. A much more polished gun and also very accurate. But it cost more.

 

[stromwrecker]

I was comparing these two last month at two different stores (for my teenage son) where one pushed the ruger and one pushed the howa. I was torn and asked him what he preferred. He chose a tikka because that’s what my dad is shooting. Probably try a Howa next year because I want to see what I think. I like hact trigger for a factory gun at that price much better than the Ruger stocker.

 

[diygunsmith]

ok i think im looking at the cz 600 alpha now a guy at the club has one and swears by it. im gonna shoot it this week and see about it

 

[stromwrecker]

ok i think im looking at the cz 600 alpha now a guy at the club has one and swears by it. im gonna shoot it this week and see about it

Did you shoot the cz? What did you think?

 

[diygunsmith]

Did you shoot the cz? What did you think?

i did and i guess everyones opinion of a tack driver varies.it was not sub moa but was moa gun,a local had a howa 1500 that he put in a chasis magpul or mdt not sure and man that thing is a tack driver,i think im gonna go back to the howa

 

[stromwrecker]

i did and i guess everyones opinion of a tack driver varies.it was not sub moa but was moa gun,a local had a howa 1500 that he put in a chasis magpul or mdt not sure and man that thing is a tack driver,i think im gonna go back to the howa

I am pretty set on picking up a Howa next year. Look forward to hearing how your future one shoots.

 

[Cantharellus]

I hesitantly bought a Howa 6arc barreled action this year after shooting only a Tikka for ten years. Out of the box, the bolt was a little rough around the edges and I had some heavy bolt lift, especially after a longer shooting session. After about 100 rounds and adding a bolt knob it has started to smooth out a bit and feel better to run. Cleaning the bolt and firing pin, and lightly oiling seemed to help with the stiff bolt lift.

I killed three deer with it this year and am a little bummed I'm out of tags. It's a lot of fun to hunt with, but it's also fun to shoot, so I guess I'll be doing that until next season!

 

[stromwrecker]

I hesitantly bought a Howa 6arc barreled action this year after shooting only a Tikka for ten years. Out of the box, the bolt was a little rough around the edges and I had some heavy bolt lift, especially after a longer shooting session. After about 100 rounds and adding a bolt knob it has started to smooth out a bit and feel better to run. Cleaning the bolt and firing pin, and lightly oiling seemed to help with the stiff bolt lift.

I killed three deer with it this year and am a little bummed I'm out of tags. It's a lot of fun to hunt with, but it's also fun to shoot, so I guess I'll be doing that until next season!

Are you running magazines or a hinged floor plate? I’m gonna try a Howa and a magazine feels awkward in my woods rifle.

 

[Cantharellus]

Are you running magazines or a hinged floor plate? I’m gonna try a Howa and a magazine feels awkward in my woods rifle.

I'm running the 5rd mags. I've always had mags in my hunting rifles so it felt natural for me. There's a mod to make them 3rd so they stick out less if that's a concern. I've heard good things about some of the after market box mags too.

 

[grfox92]

The Howa is the better action. The Ruger may have a better factory barrel though.

Sent from my SM-S931U using Tapatalk

 

[Sixpack]

The Howa is the better action. The Ruger may have a better factory barrel though.

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I think this may be the most accurate description for me as well. I have two of each: 1 each in 7.62x39 (mini with 20” heavyish barrel, Gen 1 Ranch with 16” barrel and 223 Mini 22” sporter and 5.56 Gen 2 Ranch with 16” barrel). I used JB paste on both bolts of the rugers and they are pretty dang slick. They feed well (very well actually) out of DuraMag flushfit mags. Much better than factory for me. The Howa minis have nicer actions that basically smoothed up with just a little use. I did JB the 223 bolt and it certainly helped but I don’t know that it was necessary. The minis are in aftermarket stocks, the 7.62 in a B&C sporter with JO bottom Metal and 223 waiting to be put in a Stockys and factory mags. I was not crazy about loading 223 in JO bottom Metal so am sticking with the crummy factory mags.

With that being said, I find myself shooting the Rugers a lot more than the minis. The mini is more traditional feeling and maybe a little nicer but my Rugers outshoot the minis. I just enjoy the Rugers more for what I use them for even though I like both brands. But for me, and I was pretty anti Ruger American when I first saw them, I prefer the American.

YMMV