Howa 1500

The Howa 1500 or Howa M1500 (豊和M1500, hōwa-M1500) is a bolt-action rifle produced in Japan by Howa Machinery. Introduced in 1979,^[1] it has been used by hunters as a hunting rifle with various cartridge offerings. It is also utilized by military and law enforcement elements as a sniper rifle. It is sold under the name of Howa Model 1500 Rifle for overseas^{[clarification needed]} markets.

Howa M1500
Type	Bolt-action rifle
Place of origin	Japan
Production history
Manufacturer	Howa Machinery, Ltd.
Produced	1979–present
Specifications
Mass	3400g (DX) 4200g (heavy barrel)
Length	1080mm (DX) 1118mm (heavy barrel)
Cartridge	Mini action^[a]: .223 Remington, 7.62x39, 6.5 mm Grendel Short action: .22-250, .223 Remington, .204 Ruger, 6.5×55mm, .308 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor. Long action: .270 Winchester, .30-06, .300 Winchester Magnum, .338 Winchester Magnum, 7mm Remington Magnum, .375 Ruger
Action	Bolt-action, Mauser type
Muzzle velocity	Depends on caliber
Effective firing range	Depends on caliber
Maximum firing range	Depends on caliber
Feed system	3-5 (internal magazine, varies on caliber), 5 or 10 (detachable box magazine)

Overview

The M1500 was a fully new rifle, following the Howa Golden Bear hunting rifle that Howa Industries manufactured previously. When designing the M1500, Howa used the Weatherby Mark V - which was manufactured by Howa Industries on an OEM basis - as the reference. However, whereas Mark V's bolt opening / closing angle is 54 degrees narrow, the M1500 uses the more general 90 degree opening / closing angle.

At present, the M1500 is one of three large-calibre bolt-action rifle platforms produced in Japan, and is sold as Howa's representative rifle not only in Japan, but throughout the world. The others are the Browning AB3 and X-Bolt platforms, produced by Miroku, located in Kochi, Japan.^[2]

In terms of the mechanism as a bolt action, it is classified as a Mauser type one-piece structure, cock-on opening. The trigger is a two-stage trigger that enhances precision shooting. In 2011, a new two-stage trigger system called HACT (Howa Actuator Controlled Trigger) was introduced.

The safety device is a relatively rudimentary in design, that locks the trigger, but it uses a US patented^[3] three-position system that has a safety position where only the trigger is locked and a safety position where the bolt is locked at the same time as the trigger.

The internal magazine can hold 3–5 rounds, loaded through the open action, similar to the Type 38 infantry rifle. For models sold overseas, there is option for removable box magazine system for Model 1500 as well. These magazines come with 5- and 10-round capacity.^[4]

Barrels are chromoly, not chrome-lined as seen on arms of the Type 64 rifle. Barrels are offered in both sporting length, weight and profile as well as Varmint length and weight. All guns circulating within Japan undergo fire-testing at the Toyokazu Company, and every new rifle has its paper test target enclosed with the firearm.

There are two main products for the domestic market. The Deluxe model fitted with open sights and the sightless varmint-hunting model, known as the "Heavy Barrel". Both versions are available either blued or in stainless steel, for a total of four models on sale, independent of caliber. Short action and long action^[b] calibers are available including, but not limited to .22-250 Remington, .223 Remington, .204 Ruger, 6.5×55mm Swedish, .300 Winchester Magnum, .308 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield, .338 Winchester Magnum, and .375 Ruger, so the user can freely choose to suit his purpose. In 2015, Howa introduced the "mini action" for .223 Remington, 7.62x39, and 6.5 mm Grendel. Since introduction of mini-action, in certain markets, short action is now called "standard action".^[5]

For foreign exports, the barreled action with trigger mechanism are also supplied in a stripped-down form to various small arms manufacturers. It is common that a maker will choose and attach its own gunstock to Howa's barreled actions, and then sell it under their own brand. Weatherby Vanguard is such an example. Previously, Smith & Wesson, O.F. Mossberg & Sons^[6] and Inter-Arms sold them as the M1500. Currently in the United States, Legacy Sports International, a firearms manufacturer and distributor in Reno, Nevada, markets and sells bolt-action rifles that use the Howa M1500 barreled action. Their latest rifle to use the Howa M1500 barreled action is the HCR (Howa Chassis Rifle) which accepts some AR-15 components^[7]

For overseas specifications, the M1500 standard 24-inch (about 60 cm) barrel was shortened to 22 inches (about 56 cm) in 1982, and the M1700LS was made lighter by omitting iron sights like the heavy barrel on the assumption that it would be used in a scope. In 1985, at the request of Mossberg, the M1550, which was based on the M1500 and had a 5-box magazine specification from the beginning, was additionally sold, but both are now discontinued.^[8]

In addition, among the models sold overseas, if a defect in the rifle's bolt is detected, Howa will provide a new bolt, free of charge, for the target serial number.^[9]

The M1500, while being comparatively low priced compared to other overseas models, has been judged to have all the delicacy and robustness one would expect from Japanese engineering. In a live-fire test by overseas enthusiasts, a video showing that succeeful sniping of an empty can from 800 yards (730 meters) away was released.^[10]

Spare parts have also sold fairly well, however starting with the incursion of Remington into the Japanese domestic market, foreign companies with stronger brand recognition and more competitive prices have caused M1500 sales to become sluggish. For this reason, more than 95% of Howa's M1500 are produced in stripped down form for overseas export.

In March 2020, the Howa 1500 was the third best-selling bolt-action rifle in the United States.^[11][12]

Variants

• Three action lengths:
  • Howa 1500 Mini action: .223 Remington, 7.62x39 mm, 6.5 mm Grendel, and 6 mm ARC
  • Howa 1500 Short action: .22-250 Remington, .223 Remington, .204 Ruger, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5×55 mm Swedish, and .308 Winchester.
  • Howa 1500 Long action: .30-06 Springfield, .300 Winchester Magnum, .338 Winchester Magnum, 7 mm Remington Magnum, and .375 Ruger
• Hogue - with 22 or 24 in (560 or 610 mm) barrel options
• Alpine Mountain - 20 in (510 mm) lightweight barrel
• Scout - Scout rifle with 18.5 in (470 mm) threaded barrel, available in .308 Winchester only.
• HCR (Howa Chassis Rifle) - accepts AR-15-style furniture for customization.
• HS Precision - 22 and 24 in (560 and 610 mm) Standard Barrel or 26 in (660 mm) Semi Heavy Barrel

Adoption

Japanese Law Enforcement

The M1500 was originally a hunting rifle, but Prefectural police departments in Japan have adopted them as sniper rifles.^[c][13] This model was designated "Heavy Barrel." Heavy barreled "Varmint" or colloquially, "Sniper" rifles are fitted with longer, heavier barrels to increase projectile velocity, resist heat soak, and provide more repeatable shots.

In addition, the Japanese police stipulate that equipment other than pistols are referred to as special guns, and the ordnance name of M1500 is Special Gun Type-I (特殊銃I型, Tokusyu jū I-gata). The Police M1500 has a wooden stock with a bipod and a scoped sight.

In addition to the police, M1500 are also introduced in the Special Assault Team, Special Security Team, anti-firearms squad, and the Fukui Prefectural Police's Nuclear Special Guard Unit.

It is also utilized by Japan Coast Guard. However, on the ocean, it is said that the Howa Type 64 designated marksman rifles that is easier to fire faster than M1500 are used more frequently.^[14]

Ukraine

The Armed Forces of Ukraine's 3rd Special Purpose Regiment (Kropyvnytskyi) has adopted a type called "Hogue 20" as a sniper rifle. The ammunition used is .308 Winchester ammunition, and the mount has been changed to Picatinny Rail. It is also used by the Azov Battalion.^{[citation needed]}

Notes

1. From 2015 onwards. Short-action and Long-action have been available since rifle was introduced in 1979.
2. Short-action is used for .30-06 or smaller cartridge, while long-action is used for .300 Winchester Magnum or larger cartridge.
3. As an example similar to the 1500, overseas, the Remington Model 700 is used for hunting as well as for sniping by the military and police.

References

1. "Our History （Howa Machinery Firearms Dept.） | Rifle | Our Products | Howa Machinery, Ltd".
2. "A Brief History of Browning and the Legendary Miroku Factory".
3. U.S. patent 6,957,508 - Safety mechanism for bolt-action firearm
4. A BETTER RIFLE A BETTER VALUE - howarifles.eu
5. "Our History （Howa Machinery Firearms Dept.） | Rifle | Our Products | Howa Machinery, Ltd".
6. ^ フィリップ・ピーターソン、アンドリュー・ジョンソン『Gun Digest Book of Modern Gun Values』、F+W（英語版）、2016年、361頁。
7. "Rifle Review: Howa HCR by David E. Petzal - Tuesday, January 31, 2017". 24 February 2021.
8. Frank de Haas, Wayne Zwall, Bolt Action Rifles, Klaus Publications, 2003, pp. 274-275.
9. "Home Page".
10. Archived at Ghostarchive and the : Howa M1500 tactical 800 Yards 3 shots. YouTube.
11. Suciu, Peter (29 July 2020). "The Howa 1500 May Be the Most Underrated Rifle You've Never Heard Of". National Interest.
12. "GunBroker.com Announces Top-Selling Firearms for March 2020". American Hunter.
13. Otsuka, Masatsugu (January 2009). "Guns of the Japanese police". Strike and Tactical Magazine (in Japanese). 6 (1). KAMADO: 50–57.
14. Komine, Takao [in Japanese]; Sakamoto, Shinichi [in Japanese] (2005). SST - the Japan Coast Guard Special Forces (in Japanese). Namiki-shobou. pp. 45–74. ISBN 978-4890631933.

• Monthly "GUN" May 2011 issue "Howa M1500 Howa Sporting Bolt Action Rifle" Text: Truk Takano Published: International Publishing 2011

See also

• Howa Machinery, Ltd.
• SIG Sauer 200 STR
• Tikka T3

External links

• Howa Rifles Official page
• Official Page - Howa Model 1500 Rifle
• Legacy Sports Int'l - Official Howa M1500 Product Line