Howa Superlite .308 Review
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- Опубликовано: 16 сен 2024
- Does weight matter when it comes to hunting rifles? Join me as I attempt to answer that question while testing the Howa Superlite .308.
This is a long term review that delves deep into all aspects of what this rifle offers. So sit back and come along for the ride.
Link to Zebs Review of this rifle: • Howa Superlite review,...
Robbo, you have just set the new benchmark of how a rifle review should be carried out.
That was awesome.
Thanks Dave. Spent a bit of time on this one😳
Exactly the comment I was going to make.
Howa rifles are underrated in my opinion. I've had one as my main hunting rifle since 2015. Shoots SST and ELDX sub moa and a few other factory loads as well. I've owned a few and if you do all of the usual steps as outlined in this review you can't go wrong. I also glass bed mine.
Glad you’ve had a good run mate. They certainly will get the job done if you do yours👍
Always do it well Steve, great honest review. Anyone watching can always watch in total confidence. “Straight shooter” thank you.
Thanks mate. You are too kind👍👍
I have this exact rifle and it has been excellent in every way! I do like your Maven 2-10 better than my Leupold 2.5-8....thanks for the review 👍
Thanks for the feedback mate. Glad to hear you are happy with your rifle. Take care and shoot straight👍
This is a fantastic review, thanks for all your work and time.
My pleasure!
Great video mate, I'm not one to comment very often. But, you've done as unreal job with the review and the editing.. We'll done, Mate.
Cheers Jake. Appreciate you taking the time to give me some feedback 👍👍
Looks like a great woods/bush gun for here in the Idaho mountains. Great review!
It certainly would do the job. Glad you enjoyed this video.
Epic review! Thinking of picking up this darling as my first hunting rifle.
Also damn that stag miss would keep me up for weeks! You'll get your redemption!
Cheers mate!
@@sasha_l cheers mate. Hopefully you found it helpful. Thanks for watching👍👍
Great review, fair and balanced, thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Amazing content grandpa, subscribed ,love too see and learn more from you, keep up the great work
Cheeky bugger 🤣😂. Glad you enjoyed it mate👍👍
@@BoltActionProductions 😃❤️👍🏻
This would be by far, the best rifle review I’ve ever seen, thank you
You are too kind 👏. Thankyou 👍
This is a thorough review, and I like the information you've provided Steve,..nice one.
I've been wondering how, ( generally ) the Howa rifle performs, and I can get some good and useful information from this.
Thanks again, for the work that you've put into this 'review'.
Thanks Reg. Hopefully it’s given you a good insight👍
@@BoltActionProductions Mostly 'education' in my selection and use process, 👍
Great video , well put together Steve , very enjoyable to watch...
Glad you enjoyed it mate. Thanks for watching👍
Barnes 130 TTSXs above a stuffed case of Varget finishes this package out nicely. Mine likes that combo loaded anywhere between 30 and 60 thousandths off the lands, but I settled on 50. It performed perfectly on 2 whitetails last year. Flat shooting, at my hunting ranges, with light recoil.
Interesting mate🤔. Might have to try that👍 Thankyou
love watching you videos i wish i could come out with you, but being a 73 year old unfit guy now it would be hard. i only recently sold my deer rifle and now i think i made a huge mistake again great video and you have got my blood rushing. cheers Charlie.
Cheers Charlie. I know how frustrating it can be but I’m sure you can find a way to venture out bush one way or the other. Stay positive mate 👍👍
Great review with great detail, next sambar wont be so lucky!
Thanks bud and I’m hoping so 👍👍
Another great video & gave you a thumbs up. When you said I'll give it 3 to 4 inches above backline for 300 yards, I was saying no to high.
If the rifle was zeroed spot on for 200yds, which it wasn’t at the time, that was the height to hold for a high shoulder shot. Usually puts them down on the spot. Holding lower with a smaller caliber at that range often gets a runner that is never found in my experience. Anyway we’ll never know 🤪. Thanks for watching 👍
Awesome review thanks again those Garmins are sick want one so much.
Cheers mate. The Inreach Mini are the bomb👌
Easy fix for the trigger, I replaced the trigger spring on my Howa (bought it online from the Gun Bloke) and it breaks nice and crisp at 2lb and it makes a huge difference. Great video keep them coming
Not so sure on this two stage trigger. Lightening it can cause issues with a rapid bolt closure. Fat better off changing it to a Timney or similar IMO
@@BoltActionProductions you can lighten the weatherby vanguard triggers which are made by howa too but apparently the lawyers for howas don't want to take that risk and coat the adjustment with some coating
Awesome review mate.
Glad you enjoyed it
Solid upload and test.
Cheers
Jim
Thanks Jim 👍
This Howa rifle reminds me of a Winchester M70 Winlite fibreglass stock that I had back in the mid 1990s. Howa rifles are some of the best rifles out there for the relatively small amount of money that they cost compared to most rifles on the market.
Certainly good value for money and always have been. Thanks for watching mate
As always mate a great review and excellent video
Thanks again!
Another quality video Steve, I don't always know what your talking about but enjoy it all. Also I don't feel as bad now about missing a few rabbits last week. 🙈 Looking forward to the next video. 👍
Don’t worry. I don’t know what I’m talking about most of the time😂🤣😳
Thankyou, informative and I picked up quite a few things I didnt know along the way👏👏
Glad it was helpful!
Lovely ep and review, I am looking at buying a Howa 308 but I was going to look at the full s/s barrel and and action with a synthetic stock, to replace my 45 year old Ruger 308.
That’ll get the job done👍
Very honest review mate as always, I’m ok with the little bit extra weight of my Sako 85 hunter in .270win, so not looking at getting one of these, I like my timber too much lol, but really enjoyable to watch and learn a bit about how you go about sorting out a new hunting rifle, great vid mate 👍
Thanks mate. Nice setup you have👍
Backfire also does a review. Pretty amazing results using stock ammo , a few loose screws and all fixed . Went from five inch to one inch groups.
I'll stand corrected but I think he tested it in 6.5 Ga'moor which will be substantially tame in comparison to its father cartridge. Either way, great little rifle.
Fantastic review and video as always mate, I already have one of these for Tyson and Tahls. its a perfect little rifle, of course with compromises as everything has.
In my view the reality is nothing comes close bang for buck, the whole rifle costs 20-30% less than just buying a carbon stock.
I've got mine shooting sub MOA with 150 grain Powerpoints
Cheers John. Glad to hear you’ve got yours dialled in. Enjoy👍👍
Now that was a good review, well done.
Thank you kindly!
I have this exact rifle with a 16 1/4” barrel. I put a 3-9x33 a.o leupold scope on it. Bare gun is 4# 3oz, with scope and mounts it’s 5# 4oz. Shooting 150 gr. hornady with 5 min between shots it’s sub moa. It’s an awesome light weight hunting rifle. Just sold my Tikka t3x because it’s 3 pounds heavier.
@@dfarrell2269 great to hear some feedback mate. Thankyou. Enjoy👍👍
Excellent video Steve. The light weight Talley’s are a much more sensible choice than the factory pic rail. I know the Super Light also comes in 30/06. Now that would be getting your attention off the bench!!!Thanks for sharing.
Cheers,
Gats.
I’m not sure about the Superlite in 30/06.🤔 As far as I’m aware they have only been released in .308 and 6.5 Creedmore at this stage
What a cracker video.
Well done mate
@@BoltActionProductions it’s the Howa 1500 Carbon Stalker Steve. Available in either 270 or 30/06.
Gday, I'm not about to get that rifle, but it was very interesting to see the process of setting up a rifle, and what it takes, I'll be getting a new rifle soon, so I've learnt a lot, can't wait for the next one 🤓
Glad it helped mate. Good luck with your choice👍
@@BoltActionProductions I'm being gifted a Ruger No1 in 223, can't wait 🤓
@@johnallen8618 very nice 👌
Nice review on that rifle mate! Nice one indeed!
Thanks my friend 👍
Mate.WTF? Howa is sub MOA out of the box. Easy to upgrade too. I know you want to keep it light but even without new stocks etc you can drive tacks with a 1500. What I would recommend straight off the bat is that you get old mate gunbloke ( Genuine Aussie fella) to send you a 1.5lb trigger spring. They cost only about 20 - 30 AUD. Definitely tightened my groups. My Howa shoots as good as my Tikka. The only thing most people complain about is the stock. Granted it's not as rigid as others but it's perfectly functional. The bolt action can be refined by holding it in fine sand paper and spinning it round in your hand. I used 2000grit and after about 15mins it was sliding like glass like any of those other rifles that people like to pull their plumbs over instead of shooting.
This two stage trigger shouldn’t be modified imo. If it is of concern I’d replace it.
@@BoltActionProductions It's already adjustable down to about 2lbs. I just swapped out the spring with the 1.5lb Gunbloke trigger spring and love the lighter pull. Felt I pulled some shot with the heavier spring in the light rifle. Not anymore. Besides with a budget rifle budget upgrade make more sense to me if they squeeze out better performance. Admittedly I'm a novice compared to you but just sharing my experience. I'm sometimes toy with the idea of swapping my howa to a tikka purely out of brand snobbery, but I like shooting it so much I just tweak or refresh it style wise occasionally and plan to keep it. One minor downside is that on some actions the bolt stop needs shortened if you want to swap to AICS mags. E.g. the 223 needs about 5 or 6mm trimmed off. Or swap the bolt stop to the 243 or 308 size one. However it's a minor operation and any diyer could do it.
@@moonray1276 I’ve had a very detailed look into this trigger and it’s better off left alone IMO. There are two springs in this trigger not one. Both affect the others operation.
@@BoltActionProductions Oops. My mistake. You are correct. The spring kit came with two springs. Was thinking of one of my other rifles. If you're happy with it then no worries. It is a great rifle for the money. Mine was in a MDT LSS XL Gen 2. Found it great for range but not for carrying around. It's been in a KRG bravo for two weeks now which I will be much happier carrying because of the ergonomics. Looking forward to future reviews. Keep well.
@@BoltActionProductions weatherby leaves instructions on how to adjust the trigger for their vanguard inthe manual, its the same action as the howa 1500 but they put tamper coating over the top on howa recently and removed the instructions they used to have in the last few years, you can get another half pound off the top by adjusting it from factor setting
Excellent review Sir. Go the Barnes TTSX 130gr (3050fps in 20") for the lightweight rifle. They are unreal on Sambar in stalking ranges and they recoil less aswell. Ive got a Howa mini with the HACT trigger running the 1.5lb spring from velocity Australia and it makes the trigger amazing 👌
Never been a big fan of the Barnes projectiles but I’ve mainly tried the 150gr TTSX in the .308. This two stage trigger is really not designed for modification. You would be far better off changing it to a Timney if the weight is too much.
Great video, extremely thorough 👌
Much appreciated!
There’s a fair bit of muzzle rise… the top of the butt looks to be quite a bit lower than the line of the bore. Great video. I appreciate the effort to produce quality content and a detailed review. Thanks Steve. 👍
Another quality clip, well done Steve. I have a Howa, and changed the trigger springs for a 1lb set, now very happy with it.
Thanks mate. It does take some time to fully test a rifle. Nice to know it is appreciated👍👍
You changed the springs on a Two stage trigger?
@@BoltActionProductions there's plenty of clips here on RUclips about it
@@waynemoy5471 please share the good ones on the two stage trigger 👍
I took a look at this but ended up with ruger compact .. clunky but shoots well fast twist 7mm08 has lots of potential , thanks for the upload
Good reliable choice 👍
Alient.
I'm going to call it that from now on.
Cheers.
If it works for you
I really like the Howa 1500. I have a 6.5CM in a MDT ESS with Timney trigger, and a 223REM in a MDT XRS. Went for a Gunbloke spring kit on that one and you can't go wrong for the money. Might really help with a rifle that light too.
Sounds like you have them setup well mate 👍👍
Cracking review, learnt a lot, not just about the rifle under setup and test...as for factory, Sako 123gr Gamehead might be worth a crack, use it in an 85 Carbonlight .308, superb on the Roes in Scotland.
Cheers mate. 123gr Gamehead 🤔. Interesting load that I’ve never had anything to do with. Thanks for the feedback👍
Hey Robbo, great content. Mate you can get a 1.5lb. and 1.00lb trigger spring kit on E Bay, The Gun Guy, for $20 and they do work, easy fit as well.
@@harrycoureas2427 thanks mate. I’m well aware of these and I can assure you that as much as they work to a degree they also move away from the designed trigger weight of this two stage unit. To the point that in a hunting scenario where there’s a good chance you will slam the bolt closed, especially on a follow up shot, that the lighter springs can cause issues. Hence why I don’t recommend these lighter spring options. Lightly closed bolt in a more target environment, no issues
great review mate !
Glad you liked it my friend 👍
Nice looking set up
Glad you like it👍
Great stuff Robbo top little rifle but I’m very fond of my 2 Tikkas .
Thanks mate. I have the same crush🤪
.308 win is an amazing cartridge
Certainly is mate 👍
Really good review Robbo 👏 I'm surprised, no Swarro😮😅
Thanks mate. Need to change it up a bit and that was the only spare scope I had at the time👍
Good honest review 🤙 i wonder if the Tikka T3x super light would be a good choice aswell
I love my 308 T3x S/Lite in stainless. Only thing I changed was the recoil pad to a Limbsaver. Weighs 3.4 kg with 3-9 Leupold
@@spineynorman303 that's a good set-up 🤙🤙. Am running Tikka T3x Roughtech light with a Meopta optika6 can't complain group's with factory ammo less than 3/4 at 130 yards 👌
Nice 👌👏👏
They always work well 👍
Always is 👍
Cracking review Robbo, I felt for you when I saw that bullet fly over the stags back, hopefully you can redeem yourself soon.
Thanks mate. As we’ve spoken about this little rifle, it’s the problem child that we just love. It’ll get the job done if we put the effort in. Look forward to how it unfolds for you👍. Talk soon👍👍
@@BoltActionProductions I've just got onto an aluminium bottom metal, waiting to see if they will ship to Australia 🇦🇺
Hey Zeb I am getting titanium floor plates made up for these rifles would you be interested in
great work mate take care
Thanks, you too!
I know Howa are a budget brand, and their product is built to a price, but I actually like the look of the 1500 action way more than actions of far more expensive rifles. There is nothing I dislike more than those bolt shrouds which attempt to melt the profile of the action and stock together, and as a consequence don't allow you to see the striker position, necessitating some silly little flag (the gun equivalent of an idiot light) with red or white paint on it. Good mechanical design is honest and self-explanatory.
If Howa ever refresh or replace the 1500, and keep everything the same except go to a 5-round double-stack stagger-feed mag, and completely rip-off the Ruger M77 Mk2 safety (so go from flush-cocked to flush-decocked for the in-built striker shelf), I'd have one in a heartbeat.
Some great feedback mate and I tend to agree with what you have said. Thanks for dropping by.
Well done mate!
Thanks my friend
Having owned 3 Kimber Montanas, as you’ve showed you have to hold the fore end firm for the best accuracy on these lightweight rifles.
@@Rickstar270 spot on mate👍. Certainly can test your technique😳
Great video. So is patch out bore cleaner as good as it sounds? Do you use a brush or just patches?
Wipe out patch out works very well. Depending on how fowled the barrel is will determine whether you need to use a brush or not but usually patches will suffice👍
To be honest, i was expecting more from that rifle. Don't like the trigger or 90 degree bolt throw. Accuracy may get better as barrel wears in but i would be disappointed if i bought that particular rifle. All the best if you stick with it.
At some point the lack of weight is going to affect accuracy. Just the basics of recoil and physics. You just have to weigh up your requirements🤔
Weatherby still has in their manual how to adjust the trigger weight down on these.
The same 1500 action that they send to weatherby, howa now puts a tamper coating over the top of it but weatherby doesn't, they used to both have informatino on how to adjust weight but now only weatherby does.
Good to know 👍. Not that the trigger is different it is impotent to note that this rifle doesn’t use a standard Howa 1500 action
Nooooooo! Dont Give up on the Ba13! I have one myself and I love the little rifle, if you want the rifle to shoot better, swap out the picatinni rail to a contessa rail and try it out! You will be pleased.I love your movies but please, bring the bergara back!
With love. Filip
@@filipsodersomtrioom9814 don’t worry mate. The BA13 is going nowhere. Love it👍
I have heard that the stock fitment isn't always great and can result in the barrel not being floated. That would make some sense if it's basically a Stocky's stock and a Howa barreled action that isn't installed with good QC measures before shipping. I've been tempted to get one but the complaints make me hesitate.
I can only make comment on the rifle I’ve tested and it was fine. You can always inspect before you buy👍
@@BoltActionProductions Good point. Where I live, I would have to order it online sight unseen. I could inspect it briefly when picking it up and doing the paperwork at a local dealer, but not sure how return would work at that point. Anyway, nice review and glad this one looks good.
Hi Sir, also maybe try different torque setting on action screws. I found that different settings have different results. I also have Howas!
That’s often the case with many rifles and a good point you bring up 👍. Cheers mate.
Amazing how he heard you from 300m away.
@@michaelgumleyguitar Yep. Dead still the sound carries and they know what should and shouldn’t be in their valley😳
Top job 👌
Thank you! Cheers!
Taking the time to shoot these rifles how they actually get used is fantastic, not enough horsepower for me , but a useful rig for sure
Thanks mate and it’s a marginal Sambar rifle but will get the job done if the nut behind the butt does his👍
@@BoltActionProductions absolutely but I don’t like walking into places like that and having the rifle dictate my opportunities:) fly fishing on a river with a nice little rifle slung over my shoulder or on the bank however that would be perfect for me !
Howa a game changer? Not bloodly likely. -Sad
But i will say 10 👍for being a 308. And another 10 👍for it not being a 6.5 CR
Thanks for your feedback James 👍
Its a true hunting rifle, thats it.
Pretty much 👍
I looked at this rifle Steve really liked the stock also but choose a Kimber hunter instead it loves 178 grain factory
Nice option mate 👍👍
Nice review Steve. Don't think you mentioned the twist rate? Hope to see you take a Sambar with it.
Thanks mate 👍👍
It’s so hard to control a rifle perfectly. Recoil, trigger and consistency are all part of the rifle accuracy equation. I would like to see just one tester hit a pie plate consistently at 100 yards using shooting sticks.
Good assessment my friend 👍
Fantastic Robbo!! Now for the main question, if you could only have one, this or a t3x and carbon stock?
This question is tricky for me as I already have a howa 308 sporter cut down to 18” with open sights and a mini in 6.5 grendel. Neither have carbon stocks as I’m a lefty and refused to keep buying right handed bolt guns.
I have a 6x45 being built now on a savage 16 action with as much fluting as humanly possible, but the grendel can stay for the kids, Even my timber stocked 270 is only 8lb loaded!!
I’m still very keen on this rifle!!!
The Tikka in a good carbon fibre stock is hard to beat imo
@@BoltActionProductions and left handed! Thankyou!
got 1 on order...
Good stuff mate. Let me know how it goes👍👍
you could swing that front mount 180degree if you need more eye relief. The big question I have (that i also grapple with). Sambar of a lifetime is at 300-400yards, out of everything in your safe, caliber and ballistics wise is this the rife you want in your hands? IMHO the 3kg tikkas beat them in 7mm,300wsm ect ect esp with a hand load. EG your tikka 7mmrem @ 3.1kg is better optically, barrel length, velocity and for a 500gram weight penalty. And while grams matter we dont apply the same rigour to our bino's, tripods or rangefinders. I like the Howa UL's but when it comes to trophy hunting will i regret not having my 338-06 or 300wsm @3.1 kg in my hands. Also if we are forced to go mono projectiles I think it will kill of the little 308 in the back country.
I tend to agree with what you say and my 7mm Rem Mag Tikka in the carbon stock is hard to beat. Not sure what you are talking about with eye relief though🤔. The eye relief is set in the scope. Changing the scopes position won’t alter that👍 Thanks for your input mate. Appreciated👍
Cheers, mistook your comment wanting more eye relief was that you were really having to chase site picture at high mag. The way you have those mounts set up you can't bring the scope back any further. There might be a sweeter head position in the eye relief range that allows for a natural head position at higher mag. Not sure if that makes sense.
@@jamesmanallack1134all good mate. The scope position is fine but the eye relief on it is shorter than most. Actually around 60-81mm which probably doesn’t make it the best choice for such a lively recoiling rifle. Only an issue if I don’t hold on 😳😂😂
good review, if you moved to nz you could buy a suppressor ,bye bye recoil
Then I’d miss our snakes and crocodiles🤪
Good greetings from Canada. Is the trigger polymer or metal?
@@CarlPatrickMarks g’day from downunder mate👍. It’s Metal. Thanks for tuning in👍
Got 1 in 308, fanatstic little rifle, cant go wrong with it
Good to hear mate. Enjoy.
Im pretty tempted by this rifle. Keep going back to my Bergara BA13 as the all round bush stalking gun. Not the lightest but it points ans carrys so well. Which one you prefer?
The Bergara you mention is a great little rifle but feels considerably heavier when carried all day. This little Howa rifle is great to hunt with. Each have their purpose. You just need to assess which is better for the particular job on the day🤔
Thanks Steve , great vid. Does this replace the 7mm rem mag for you, or just another option?
Cheers mate. No the 7mm mag is in another league of its own👌
@@BoltActionProductions good call - I hope we get to see a full vid of the HC trip in due course! cheers
Hey mate just wondering if you tried any different overall lengths in your hand loads?
Yes I did. Seated in a little deeper the average velocity dropped by around 20-30 fps with the same powder charge and with similar accuracy.
@@BoltActionProductions ok that’s interesting,thanks for that 👍🏼
I am currently working on a titanium floor plate for these rifles. Would you be interested in one
Thanks for the offer mate but not at this stage 👍
Hi mate ,give the FIOCCHI 150gr a try , my Howa likes them
Thanks bud 👍👍
that was a sitter ;)
@@HillDogTV yep 🙄
I'd like to know about how good patch out is as well?
@@WayneErickson-dg8lf it’s very good but hard to get here in Australia
Thanks mate@@BoltActionProductions
You should not have aimed high. The rifle shot better than you thought at 300 yards. You should aimed right on.
I should do a lot of things but you are correct😟. Hindsight is a marvellous thing. Did you enjoy or get anything out of this video besides informing me of my error?🤔🤔
Yes not trying to be rude. I have missed many a time thinking my bullet would drop and finding out the load shot flatter than expected. That’s hunting.
All good mate. Rifle's zero was a little higher at 200yds than it should have been. If this was good my hold would have been on the money but as you say "that's hunting". Thanks for watching.
Handy outfit.
I think so 👍
🇦🇺😎👍Aussie Aussie Aussie 🏁
Oi Oi Oi..................
@@BoltActionProductions🇦🇺😎👍 🏁🇦🇺
Dunno, this rifle seems disappointing, yes its light but it seems to have no standout feature that makes you want to go grab one.
That’s a fair individual assessment. It all comes down to priorities
@@BoltActionProductions I do wish you all the best luck hunting with it and I look forward to the videos even if its not for me.
@@BoltActionProductionsexcellent review on what seems to be a great choice for a lightweight mountain rifle. That stock looks really cool.
I know Howa rifles generally shoot quite well and are hard to beat at their price point. I'm looking for a lightweight rifle to mount my 2-10×38 Maven on and you definitely gave me one to look at.
Yeah, nice to carry but not so nice to shoot. If it does not shoot straight with factory ammo it is useless. Sorry that's just the way it is.
@@Aussie038 it does shoot straight with factory ammo just not the stuff I tested apparently. Finding what ammo it likes is part of the chore and the same for all rifles. That’s the way it is 👍
Useless for people that don’t know how to hand load maybe. By refusing to hand load, people miss out on a ton of accuracy, performance, and rifles. There’s no such thing as a rifle that can’t shoot well, some just require more love than others.
So true............
Try norma factory ammo. My howa loves them
Cheers mate 👍
👍👍