Howa Classic Heavybarrel Varminter
Howa was a Japanese industrial machinery company that got involved in firearms manufacturing during WWII. Since then, they’ve become a mainstay for civilian shooters by specializing in heavy barreled hunting rifles that are known for quality, accuracy, and being easy on the wallet. You might think of them as the Honda of rifles.
With it’s heavy barrel construction, laminated stock with cooling vents and a raised cheek rest, and 2-stage match trigger, the M1500 has been recognized by many as a natural sniper rifle. In fact, the Japanese Nation Police Agency adopted the “Varminter” as its official sniper rifle. It’s also reportedly used by Ukraine’s Special Forces.
RELATED: Eyeball Test: Can You Spot These Heavily Camouflaged Snipers?
The rifle itself is pretty plain Jane, which is kind of the beauty of it. Its laminated stock offers some head turning flair, as well as utility. The short action, magazine conversion capabilities, and heavy barrel configurations (stainless or blue) are nice features. The rifle also comes chambered in two of our favorite calibers, .243 Win and .308 Win.
RETAIL: $650