Howa 1500 H-S Precision Rifle

LOCK, STOCK & BARREL

- Lee J. Hoots

There’s probably no great need here to list the double handful of distributors that at one time or another imported Howa Machinery (sometimes referred to as Howa Manufacturing) bolt-action rifles into the U.S. since the late 1960s. This is due to the fact that Legacy Sports International and Weatherby dominate that market now. Their respective rifles include a mind-boggling assortment of Howa 1500 models and Weatherby Vanguards. Both of these are fine rifles, with many of the Vanguards somewhat following the traditional lines of the Weatherby Mark V, clearly indicating the company knows its end users, their needs and preferences.

On the other hand, Legacy Sports follows no real tradition. Instead it keeps track of the whims of the U.S. shooter/hunter, acts quickly and does so quite successfully. Furthermore, the Reno, Nevada, importer has done an enviable job in creating its own niche successes with pistols, shotguns, rimfire and bolt-action rifles. One reason for this is its head marketing man, Andy McCormick, a fellow I’ve known since neither of us needed to shave our chins on a regular basis. This column, however, is not about a longtime hunting chum. Instead, it’s about a new rifle – or a new version of an “old friend.”