I picked up a Howa Lightning 1500 in 6.5x55 for my boys to start deer hunting with. So far, I have been impressed with the rifle's handling, smoothness and reliablity. Zero problems feeding firing and extracting. Accuracy has only been so so. I am hoping that it will be helped by glass bedding the action (which I plan to do once deer season is over. It will shoot "minute of deer at 200 yards with its' chosen handload for this season). My groups have been in the 2" range for 3 shots at 100 yards from a bench rest. I was really hoping for a MOA rifle, like my equally inexpensive Model 70 Super Shadow from Walmart in .270WSM. So far, it is no contest as the .270WSM averages around 3/4 of an inch with its' favorite load. The Howa barely gets under 2 inches with handloads or factory Federal 140 gr loads. I would buy another Howa, but I sure hope the glass bedding job will cure its' accuracy woes.

Take it for what its worth. I have been tracking a HOWA on another board, its not a pleasant experience. I have never heard of another shooting this piss poor but judge for yourselves:



http://www.pistolsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=21291&highlight=



It sounds like the warranty is valid though. Just can't get excited on Japanese rifles, my experiences from a couple of lossers way in the distant past is they make crappy barrels. Nothing seems to have changed much in my buying mind in 25 years.



I would ( and did ) buy a CZ, the barrel contour is too light but welcome to all new rifles. If you want a 6.5x55 that really shoots check out SARCO they have some Swede CG63's available again. Probably the best shooting 6.5x55 for the buck. I wish they were $150 cheaper is my only comment. But I know I couldn't build on for twice that. Check:



http://www.sarcoinc.com/guns12-3.html

Mines a keeper! Its a 243 sporter that I've experimented with lots to learn about things and it still shoots quite well.
When I first got it, it was a 1" rifle day in, day out. I've mucked around with all sorts of bedding styles ( only out of my curiosity) and ended up with a .75 -.8" rifle. Thats not too bad for a budget rifle. Many will shoot better , but many wont either. The triggers spot on on mine, its light with zero creep.
I would buy another in a heartbeat.

I'll chime in for the Savage, My first was a 30/06, and shot 1" groups out of the box. They are not a "pretty" rifle, but very functional. I was told they spend the money on the barrels, good steel, and on pass button rifling.

I have had 4--3in a WBY Vanguard and one in a Model 1500 Smith and Wesson. And the only Recall I know of was the on older bolt shrouds. They sent me a return package and than sent it right back-just on one of the Wby's. And just like Old Fart say's, if the trigger is not right it should be done by a Smith or a Timney trigger in stalled, or send it back to be fixed.

Count me in the so-so category. I've had two of them and shot several more. While I will admit that most of the ones I did not own, I didn't have a chance to work up loads for, they all shot fair. Nothing to write home about, but not bad either. I keep hearing that people are getting them to shoot fantastic, but I can't seem to find anyone around here that has a really good one.
One thing I don't like about them, is their weight. They seem to be quite a bit heavier than any of their counterparts.
If it were me, and the money difference is not that much, I'd go for a Ruger or Savage.

I can't say anything negative about the (Howa-made) Weatherby Vanguard I have. Except that I wish it had at least a 26" barrel instead of that little snub nosed 24" one. It's a fine shooter. (It's a .300 Weatherby.)

Here's my two cents...Personally, I think they make a very good barrel, but that's just my impression.

They tend to be a little on the heavy side since they use a single barrel contour regardless of the size of the hole down the center.

My last one was a .243 and HOLY COW did it shoot! My pet load used a 100 gr Hornady SP seated WAY out there, but it grouped them all day long at 1/3" That's right, under a half inch every time! I decided to sell the rifle as I really didn't want an 8.5 lb .243, but these days I wish I had it back.

I have 2 Howa 1500s(.223 Rem and .243 Win)as well as 2 Weatherby Vanguards(7mm-08 and .300 Weatherby) which were built by Howa. They are all accurate and consider them an excellent value. I use the .223 as my walking varmint rifle.

I have 4 of them, a 223, 243, 7RMag and 30-06. All except the 243 were real shooters right out of the box. Reading of the other 243 users' experiences here, I think I may need to try seating the bullets out a little further!!

They are a little heavier than I'd like, but, overall, I think they're well worth the money.