Howa Superlite review, shooting 6 different factory offerings.
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- Опубліковано 27 сер 2024
- I've had my eyes on a Howa Superlite 308w for a while and now I finally have one in my hands. stick around and see how it preforms and what I love about this little rifle.
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Sorry, to everyone that wanted to comment and couldn't because I had them turned off for some reason. I've now turned comments on 👍
Great video Zeb.
A lot of time and effort goes into the testing and setup of new equipment.
Thanks for putting this video together. I can see one of these little Howa's in my safe soon.
Cheers Paul, i appreciate you taking the time to comment. The Howa is a sweet handy rifle.
I have one of these and i agree, i would prefer a aluminum trigger guard...I am a reloader and I have had no trouble getting sub-moa 3 shot groups out of mine and its not a picky shooter at all...Good luck
Care to share which projectiles you have managed to get to shoot sub moa ?
Really good job Zeb! That's a lot of time and effort you have put in just to create a good load that's without thinking about making it into a video for us, I have been up and down like a yo yo working up a load for my tikka playing with seating depth and powder charges all takes time! Good luck mate and thanks for putting together a good knowledgeable video good luck with it mate!
Thanks Tim, it's certainly is a lot of work but also enjoyable to put together. Hard to find good reviews sometimes so thought I should have a go. Thanks for your feedback
130 TTSX + Varget, produced a solid hunting load for me and performed well on two whitetails last year. A little less recoil as a bonus.
Our adi 2208 is very similar to varget and is a good choice for the 308w. Thanks for commenting
Hi Zeb, this is an in depth well constructed video. I was impressed how well you controlled the recoil on such a light weight rifle. If i was to buy a super light rifle like this, i would do a full action glass bedding job. My Howa mini action .223 with the cheap plastic stock was very picky and sensitive to heat where if it sat in the sun the point of zero would shift. After a glass bedding job it will hold zero well and will shoot different ammo consistently to similar points of impact.
Cheers for your feedback mate, I believe this rifle will benefit from a bedding job. Most Factory rifles do. I'm sure it will happen in the off season.
You can get metal plate for the Howa for just $25. from the Barn.
Will it fit the Superlite? It has a unique action length
@ZebrasSambarhuntingAdventures I believe so if not they should be able to get one in for you . Check out on their website. 👍
@ZebrasSambarhuntingAdventures being able to tighten front 60 rear 30 brought my group from .8 inch to .3 from 100 yards.
Nice review
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the content 👍
You need to do a full length action bedding job. And make sure your barrel is completely free floated. Ivecseen this happen w my howa 1500 super light. Puts 2 tight and the rest go all over. Tryst me. Bed the action and do a wide free float around the barrel. She will stack em right in there
🇦🇺😎👍Me personally ( I’m not saying you are wrong ) I’d find out which ammo suited the rifle only using a much bigger scope . Once I worked out the best ammo to group , factory or reloads , then I’d sight in the smaller scope. Unfortunately for me , my eyesight is not what it youse to be…Great rifle , great results and a very informative video 🏁.308 w🏁
Yeah I believe that's a great idea. When I do a load work up for it I'll put a bigger scope on.
My experience with pencil barrels has always been 2 shots touching or close and 1 outside the group. For me, the only shots that count is the cold bore and the next one just in case. Never used a second shot hunting yet so I'd say you have an awesome hunting rifle there. I had a pencil barrel Howa in 7mm Rem Mag, it was an awesome and accurate rifle but, I only ever shoot Fallow so it was over the top
Great feedback mate, I would agree with the cold bore shot statement but I believe I can get this rifle to shoot neat 3 shot groups with handloads. With the small test I've already done it showed amazing results. Definitely sub MOA.
I have a Howa Elevate in 6.5CM and love it. 8lb finished with brake, Leupold scope, Ckye-Pod and strap. Love it and 0.60MOA with first box of factory ammo. Going to buy 270 Howa Carbon Stalker next, only thing I didn't like was 22", would have preferred 24" and no thread for brake (I think all lightweight guns need a brake).
That's great accuracy 👌
I'd bet the barrelled action is moving in the stock on the shot due to the very low action screw torques. This may effect accuracy. I'd be bushing the bottom metal screw holes with metal tubes or putting After-market bottom metal on it and increasing action screw torque. I realise this will effect weight but for me, that action screw torque is too low to anchor the barrelled action in the stock for consistency. Excellent review. Greatly appreciated
I agree and have since pillar bedded this rifle. It still needs aluminium bottom metal
@@ZebrasSambarhuntingAdventures Very keen to hear how it goes after this work. Howa are excellent value and that thing is very light. Keep up the excellent work.
The first 2 touching is good news.Wait 15 or 20 minutes for the 3rd shot, and you will get 3 shots joining.A solid concrete bench and cool weather is the way to go on a new rifle.
I think your are spot on. Such a light barrel needs time. I'm going to have to invest in a solid bench soon.
I like it. Definitely capable. I reckon theres merit it 8x 2 shot groups to make a judgement on ammo. Use the remainder of the box to adjust POI once you find one you like. Its the 1st two shots that count in a hunting situation.
💯 agree with the first 2 shots being the ones that are important. I believe I'll get it to group 3 without dramas with a few ammo tweaks.
I've got a stainless howa .308 sporter 22inch barrel and it does exactly as yours is doing when its hot weather, first two shots touching then starts walking down the target.
Mine loves the hornady superformance 150 best and good with the 165 aswell
Thanks for the feedback mate. I've found since reloading for it that I have fixed the 2 and 1 grouping. I do believe that this rifle along with most Factory rifles benefit from a bedding job. From other people's accounts this has been a massive improvement in group sizes for this rifle.
Got 1 of these on order in 308W, should be ready for Pick up in about 2 weeks, got a couple of packets of the winchester BST's in 150Gn and 162GN hopefully it likes them as well as yours does till I can work out some Loads
I've had feedback that the winchester power points in 150gn shoot well in this rifle. Hope you have as much fun with your superlite as I have
@@ZebrasSambarhuntingAdventures cheers. I'll pick up a packet and see how it goes
hey mate, picked up the rifle but struggling to get 150gn and 165gn, got a few different 180gn bullets, if I could get it to group would you recommend 180gn for Samabr?
@rockynrolling6206 they'll be fine just have a rainbow trajectory
Hey Zeb
I’ve got my superlite set up exactly like yours with the 2.5-8x36 and the tally rings. Had the same results as you with the factory ammo. I noticed the barrel was rubbing slightly on the stock at the very front so not completely free floated. I ended up removing some material until it was floating. Not sure if this made a difference as I haven’t shot the factory ammo again. I worked up a quick hand load with the 150 grain accubonds and got them shooting 1” groups which I’m happy with. Shot a small stag in he’s bed with them. Bullet broke both shoulders and the spine on the way through and stopped under the skin on the other side. Weighed 126 grains after cleaning it up.
Yeah nice, the Accubonds always worked for me when I used them. Mine has tge same barrel contact which i plan to rectify shortly
Make sure you have good free float. Bed the rifle with marine tex grey and will have better groups
The barrel is only just free floating and it definitely needs bedding.
Thanks for making the video. Keen to buy this rifle
It's a great rifle and hard to beat for the money.
You should take up firearm reviews. Top job.
Thanks Barry, maybe if someone would send me new rifles to review 🙂
That combo is hard to beat. Have had good luck with the howa/weatherby rifles in past only complaints have been weight and stock fitment. This looks to sort that. I am a sucker for a sako though might finish up on a peak 90 in .308 of course..
Yeah well there is no complaints on weight here 😁 at the price of a Sako you could have 2 of these 🤷
@@ZebrasSambarhuntingAdventures I know 🤦♂️ after many years I have come to settle on the buy once, cry once method no matter how big that cry may be 😂
Hi Zeb, what height talley rings did you go for? I am looking at mounting a 30mm tube 1-6x leica or 30mm 1.5-5 Leupold on mine. Reckon the low mounts will work? trying to keep it as low as possible. unfortunately have to buy the rings online as my gun shup doesnt have any.
Groups are still minute of deer but the rifle does seem to be very picky.
Still a very good review mate, thank you so much.
Yeah your right, no deer will be missed. As you would have seen with reloads it was very accurate for such a light rifle. Thanks for your feedback Wayne 😀
I will check out this Howa Superlight, see how it fits, I would think this rifle would be my off hand bolt action, and I like a shorter length of pull with off hand shooting.
I find the Howa Superlite unbelievably steady when shooting offhand for a rifle so light.
@@ZebrasSambarhuntingAdventures Thank you for sharing that info about off hand shooting the howa superlite. it is something that gun reviews so often skip over. Being short and lite, I was hoping it could be good for off hand shooting.
Great review, I have exactly the same rifle and nothing can compare weight and price point wise.
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them!
Great feedback mate 👍 thanks for your comment
Hey mate, you using the 308 for sambar I assume ? What weight projectiles do you recommend ? I’m thinking about loading up some accubonds to try
Hey Glenn, yes it's my guide gun. I'm using a few different ones. Atm I'm loaded up with 140gn bbt outer edge. I also use 165gn Nosler ballistic tips. In saying that though I'm yet to kill a deer with this rifle
This gun needs aluminum bottle metal for superb accuracy. Any rifle I have had that has plastic bottom metal doesn’t shoot well until you put metal there and tighten the action screws to their proper torque. This gun needs 55in-lbs at action screws, and the plastic won’t allow that without cracking.
I'd love an aluminium bottom metal 😍
@@ZebrasSambarhuntingAdventures Oregonsmithing LLC. I just ordered one for my Superlite from them (my barreled action is on its way from Brownells). $150. You use your stock OEM mag body, spring, and follower, and then the bottom metal has a hinged floor plate that the mag body sits in.
They currently have the Superlite version in stock.
Still waiting on the Stockys stock I want to be back in….stock.
@@jimyeats are you sure it's a superlite?
@@ZebrasSambarhuntingAdventures Am I sure what I ordered from Brownells is a Howa Superlite? I mean, as sure as I can be. 16” in 308. On sale for $430. The bottom metal from Oregonsmithing is $150 and I spoke directly with the owner and he confirmed it’s for the Superlite, as it says on their website.
@@jimyeats yeah righto, I'll have to see if they'll post to Australia
I was leaning toward a sog cross trax but with this being nearly 2lbs lighter I think I’ll go this route. If my math is right, with a swfa super light scope, Talley rings and a banish backcountry suppressor, it should weigh right around 5.5 lbs
Not sure what your suppressor weights but my setup is right at 5.5Lbs
@@ZebrasSambarhuntingAdventures the new 16" version they announced at shot this year takes the weight down from 4lbs 7oz to 4lbs 3oz. Then you have 9.5oz for the swfa 2.5-10x32, 2.2oz for some talley rings, and 7.8oz for banish backcountry. Comes out to 86.5oz or 5.4lbs
@Legitonion that's an extremely lightweight setup. And a quite one to
Hey zeb, just wondering what scope you are running on that?
It's a Leupold vx3hd 2.5-8x36 cds
I’ve got a weatherby (howa barrel and action) it shoots the superformance sst really well. Admittedly it’s a heavier rifle tho.
Yeah the Vanguard are made by Howa. Much heavier
@@ZebrasSambarhuntingAdventures 100% 👍🏻 holds 5 as well and no removable mag which I’m a fan of.
@danstevens2204 I'm a fan of the drop floor mag myself. Never leave it behind and is a simple sturdy system
Years ago I got a Weatherby Vanguard and it initially shot crap. When I checked everything from scope mounts and action screws nothing helped. Eventually I had put thru 200 plus rounds and then it started to shoot half moa. I later got a sako carbon light it had a similar problem just give it time to put more rounds thru, now I'm getting 3/4 inch groups Barnes ttsx 168gn. Don't know if this helps.
Thanks for sharing your experience, I've been told by target shooters that they like to have st least 150 rounds down the barrel before it settles.
Would a muzzle brake settle it down a bit?
Yeah it has helped, I'm running a Maisey Varimax
@@ZebrasSambarhuntingAdventures is it this one - Varimax® - Quick Change adjustable muzzlebrake
@deanricho1967 yeah that's it, pretty awesome
It’s definitely the barrel heating up.
I'm not 100% convinced of that yet.
Okay then try this. Spread three shots out over 30 minutes. This allows the barrel to cool for 10 minutes between shots. If the third shot isn’t a flyer it’s not a heat issue.
@shawncoleman2280 I'll have to give it a go, I'm a little impatient so I'll need to slow down 😉
Maybe it needs to break in a bit?
Perhaps, she's broke in now. Probably shot 200-250 now. Averages 1.3moa.. which is pretty good with a superlite rifle and 8x scope.
@@ZebrasSambarhuntingAdventures Agreed, the 2 to 8 power scope (I have a Leupold 2 to 8) is a bit hard for me at the bench as well. I put that scope on my 22 and it works great out to about 60 yards. I am old with old eyes.
this barrel is so thin it probably throws the 3rd shot it looks like.
It is a thin barrel but with ammo it's likes it holds 3 together
You look to be off balance when shooting or straining to keep yourself comfortable. Try putting your left hand under the butt area , as this will be more comfortable
I've done a lot of shooting and never found the hand under the butt a consistent form when shooting bigger calibres or light rifles. Works fine with my heavy 223 just not a fan of letting the forend free recoil. Everyone is different and if it works for you keep doing it 👌
I gave up on my 308 Howa. It just wouldn’t shoot.
That's a shame. Some get be very fussy and take a lot of work to shoot. Some just shoot
not for me .
Why is that Nick ?
If you have ever owned a Howa before, tighten action screws. None are set properly from factory.
I have a torque wrench 👍
@@ZebrasSambarhuntingAdventures I reckon that was problem... spraying third I would think heat, but this was spraying 1 and 2 as well, wasn't it?
@gesheepistemology8050 I've since bedded the action and from the small amount of shooting I've done since seems more consistent
No need to bed because it has carbon composite bedding already! Probably pillar bedding to! Good value for the $$$, that bedding is awesome.
@gesheepistemology8050 sorry mate I disagree with that statement 💯. It's not bedded at all from factory. All rifles benefit from being properly bedded.
Shot mate I’d be sending that back. Thats just not good enough. Yea it’s a pencil barrel but so is my tikka 308 and it’ll group 10 shots at just over an inch with no cooling period.
This rifle has a much lighter barrel than the Tikka. Tikka is somewhere around 2.7-2.8kg the Howa Superlite is 2kg. After 250 rounds it's average group size is 1.3"