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Howa 1500

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Howa M1500
TypeBolt-action rifle, Sniper Rifle
Place of originJapan
Production history
ManufacturerHowa Machinery, Ltd.
Produced1979 to present
Specifications
Mass3400g (DX)
4200g (heavy barrel)
Length1080mm (DX)
1118mm (heavy barrel)
CartridgeShort action:.22-250, .223 Remington, .204 Ruger, 6.5×55mm, .308 Winchester. .30-06
Long action: .300 Winchester Magnum, .338 Winchester Magnum, 7mm Remington Magnum, .375 Ruger
Mini action: .223 Remington, 7.62x39, 6.5 mm Grendel
ActionBolt-action, Mauser type
Muzzle velocityDepends on caliber
Effective firing rangeDepends on caliber
Maximum firing rangeDepends on caliber
Feed system3-5 (internal magazine, varies on caliber), 5 or 10 (removeable box magazine)

The 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 in favor of hunters as a hunting rifle with various cartridge offerings. It is also utilized military and law enforcement elements as a sniper rifle. It is sold under the name of Howa Model 1500 Rifle for overseas markets.

Overview

The M1500 was a fully new rifle, following the Howa Golden Bear hunting rifle that Howa Industries once manufactured. When designing the M1500, Howa used the the Weatherby Mark V - which was manufactured by Howa Industries on an OEM basis - as the reference. However, 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[1] calibers are available including, but not limited to .22-250, .223 Remington, .204 Ruger, 6.5×55mm, .300 Winchester Magnum, .308 Winchester, .30-06, .338 Winchester Magnum, .375 Ruger, so the user can freely choose to suit his purpose. In 2015, Howa introduced the "mini action" for .223 Remington, 7.62x39, 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]

There's been confusion about M1500s and Weatherby sold between 1970 and 1993 being recalled. Howa Golden Bear - which was sold between 1945 to 1979 - was sold under the name Weatherby Vanguard in 1970 as well as the M1500.[citation needed]

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.

Information on the M1500 is not available on the Japanese website of Howa Industries, but only a brief explanation on the English website.

Adoption

Japanese Law Enforcement

The M1500 was originally a hunting rifle, but Prefectural police departments in Japan has adopted them as sniper rifles.[11][2] 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. 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.[12]

Japanese Self-Defense Forces

It was adopted as a successor to the long-used M1 Garand as a new ceremonial gun for the special ceremonial corps formed from the 302nd Security Police Squadron. After testing and evaluation purchase, in 2018, SDF ordered 240 guns as ceremonial rifles for 65,520,000 yen, which is 648,000 yen per gun. It was used as by the honor guard and was seen in use at the Japan-Singapore Defense Ministry meeting between Defense Minister Iwaya and Defense Minister Eun Enhen.[13]

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.^ Short-action is used for .30-06 or smaller cartridge, while long-action is used for .300 Winchester Magnum or larger cartridge.
1.^ As an example similar to the M1500, overseas, the Remington Model 700 is used for hunting as well as for sniping by the military and police.

References

  1. ^ http://www.howa.co.jp/en/products/firer/history.html
  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. ^ http://www.howa.co.jp/en/products/firer/history.html
  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".
  8. ^ Frank de Haas, Wayne Zwall, Bolt Action Rifles, Klaus Publications, 2003, pp. 274-275.
  9. ^ https://www.recallrtr.com/Howa/
  10. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xVpy7KLmYM
  11. ^ Otsuka, Masatsugu (January 2009). "Guns of the Japanese police". Strike and Tactical Magazine (in Japanese). 6 (1). KAMADO: 50–57.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ 新しい「儀じょう銃」がお披露目2019年5月23日 航空新聞社
  • Monthly "GUN" May 2011 issue "Howa M1500 Howa Sporting Bolt Action Rifle" Text: Truk Takano Published: International Publishing 2011

See also


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