Howa 1500

Lore & Background

The Howa 1500 followed the Howa Golden Bear hunting rifle and used the Weatherby Mark V—manufactured by Howa on an OEM basis—as a reference. Unlike the Mark V's 54-degree bolt opening angle, the M1500 uses a more general 90-degree opening/closing angle. The rifle has a Mauser-type one-piece structure with cock-on opening and a two-stage trigger that enhances accuracy; in 2011 a new two-stage trigger system called HACT was introduced. The safety device is relatively rudimentary, locking the trigger with a US patented three-position system that includes a position where only the trigger is locked and another where the bolt is locked simultaneously. Barrels are chromoly, not chrome-lined, and are offered in sporting and varmint lengths and weights. All guns circulating within Japan undergo fire-testing at the Toyokazu Company, and every new rifle has its paper test target enclosed.

Two models are available on the Japanese market: the Deluxe model with open sights and the sightless varmint-hunting Heavy Barrel model, both in blued or stainless steel. Short action and long action calibers are available, including .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. In 2015, Howa introduced the mini action for .223 Remington, 7.62x39, and 6.5mm Grendel. For foreign exports, the barreled action with trigger mechanism is supplied to various small arms manufacturers, who attach their own stocks and sell under their own brands—Weatherby Vanguard is one example. Previously, Smith & Wesson, O.F. Mossberg & Sons, and Inter-Arms sold them as the M1500; currently, Legacy Sports International markets rifles using the Howa M1500 barreled action, including the HCR (Howa Chassis Rifle) which accepts some AR-15 components.

Japanese law enforcement adopted the Heavy Barrel model as a sniper rifle, designated the Special Gun Type-I. It is used by regular police snipers, the Special Assault Team, Special Security Team, Anti-Firearms Squads, and the Fukui Prefectural Police's Nuclear Special Guard Unit, as well as the Japan Coast Guard. The Armed Forces of Ukraine's 3rd Special Purpose Regiment and the Azov Battalion have adopted a type called 'Hogue 20' as a sniper rifle in .308 Winchester.

Reader's Guide

The Howa 1500's significance lies in its dual role as a widely exported hunting rifle and a law enforcement/military sniper platform. It is one of only three large-caliber bolt-action rifles produced in Japan, alongside the Browning AB3 and X-Bolt from Miroku. Its design, based on the Weatherby Mark V but with a more conventional 90-degree bolt throw, reflects a blend of Japanese engineering and Mauser-derived action. The rifle's comparatively low price, combined with its robustness and accuracy—demonstrated in a live-fire test showing successful sniping of an empty can from 800 yards—helped it gain a global market. However, competition from foreign brands with stronger recognition and more competitive prices caused domestic sales to become sluggish, leading to more than 95% of production being exported as stripped-down barreled actions for other manufacturers to stock. In March 2020, the Howa 1500 was the third best-selling bolt-action rifle on GunBroker. Its adoption by Japanese police and special units, as well as by Ukrainian forces, underscores its continued relevance as a sniper rifle. The availability of mini, short, and long action lengths, along with multiple stock configurations (Hogue, Alpine Mountain, Scout, HCR, HS Precision), demonstrates its adaptability to different roles and markets.

Did You Know?

• Japanese police designate the M1500 as the Special Gun Type-I (Tokushujū I-gata).
• In 2015, Howa introduced a mini action for calibers such as .223 Remington and 7.62x39.
• The HCR (Howa Chassis Rifle) accepts some AR-15 components for customization.