RARE Howa 1500 Long Range Rifle 308

Published on July 30, 2022
Duration: 11:30

This review examines a Howa 1500 barreled action paired with an American Built Arms (ABA) chassis, chambered in .308 Winchester. While the Howa 1500 barreled action is praised for its smooth operation and accuracy potential, the ABA chassis receives mixed reviews, particularly concerning its ergonomics and buttstock adjustability for PRS-style shooting. The reviewer notes the rifle's sub-MOA potential at 100 yards but highlights limitations in reaching 1000 yards with the .308 cartridge and this specific setup.

Quick Summary

The Howa 1500 .308 rifle, housed in an American Built Arms chassis, offers initial sub-MOA accuracy at 100 yards with its 20-inch, 1:10 twist barrel. However, the ABA chassis presents ergonomic challenges for PRS shooting, including a rounded bottom and a flimsy, non-adjustable buttstock. Its effective long-range capability is limited to around 800-900 yards.

Chapters

  1. 00:25Rifle Details: Howa 1500 in ABA Chassis
  2. 01:03Barrel Specs & Ammunition Testing
  3. 01:24Trigger & Scope Setup
  4. 02:20Chassis Accessories: Muzzle Brake, Bipod, Weights
  5. 02:42Grip & Buttstock Ergonomics
  6. 03:18Cheek Piece & Buttstock Downsides
  7. 04:22Monolithic Rail Advantages
  8. 05:02Accuracy Testing & Results
  9. 05:35Long Range Performance: 800-1000 Yards
  10. 06:09Positional Shooting & Chassis Bottom
  11. 06:38M-LOK Slots & ARca Rail Potential
  12. 06:56Overall Recommendation & Rating
  13. 07:11Howa 1500 Barreled Action Assessment
  14. 07:30Critique of the ABA Chassis
  15. 08:05Recommendation for Budget Shooters
  16. 08:23Alternative Chassis/Stock Options
  17. 08:34Rifle Rating: 4.5-5 out of 10
  18. 09:25End-of-Day Accuracy Issues
  19. 10:17Review Summary & Discontinued Product

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key specifications of the Howa 1500 rifle reviewed?

The Howa 1500 features a 20-inch factory barrel with a 1:10 twist rate, chambered in .308 Winchester. It has a factory two-stage trigger set to approximately 3.5-4 pounds. The rifle is housed in an American Built Arms chassis.

How accurate is the Howa 1500 in the ABA chassis at 100 yards?

Initially, the rifle demonstrated sub-MOA accuracy at 100 yards, with a three-shot group near an inch and a five-shot group around three-quarters of an inch. However, accuracy degraded significantly by the end of testing.

What are the main ergonomic drawbacks of the American Built Arms chassis?

The ABA chassis has a rounded bottom, which is less stable for PRS barricade shooting. The buttstock offers limited adjustability, and the cheek piece is flimsy, requiring workarounds for proper eye relief.

What is the effective long-range capability of this .308 rifle setup?

The reviewer found that reaching 1000 yards with this .308 setup was not feasible. The effective range is considered to be around 800 yards, with 900 yards presenting a significant challenge.

Would you recommend buying the Howa 1500 in the ABA chassis?

The reviewer recommends the Howa 1500 barreled action but suggests foregoing the ABA chassis due to its ergonomic limitations for PRS. It might be a viable option for those on a budget ($1100-$1200) seeking a chassis rifle with a monolithic rail.

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