Howa Chassis Option Help

[ojj317]

I am a UK buyer so dont have the same access as some of your US based owners so really after some final help. I am buying a 6.5CM after some advice to change from a 308. This has narrowed down my options mainly to the Howa 1500. Gun will be used on shorter ranges with a view of getting into 800-1000m shooting.

As I cant get hands on aide my side the chassis options I am after some advice on the following.

HCR
APC
Bravo
Orxy

I do like the look of the HCR and Orxy but feel the HCR has been superceeded to an extent for a reason. I understand the aussie has a worse mag and forward mag release which a lot of people dislike.

Not too sure on the Bravo as im a bit OCD and dont like the fact the seam isnt straight where it joins. I know its intentional but it gets to me.

No one has a HCR or an Oryx near me either which is annoying.

Any help and comparisons are really appreciated. All are within £100 of eachother so price is not an issue.

 

[stilesg57]

HCR has been superseded due to cost reasons, NOT because the APC is better. It isn't; it's substantially worse in many ways even beyond the unacceptable mag release. I'd cross it off your list.

Of the three remaining, I see them this way (and I am currently choosing between the HCR and Bravo):
HCR: best factory traditional chassis option
Bravo: best inexpensive chassis that looks like a traditional stock option
Oryx: don't know enough about it personally, but it looks like a middle ground between the HCR (grip modularity) and Bravo (polymer forend and mostly fixed stock)


Honestly, as a UK shooter I'd look for a 700 footprint action just to expand my options for parts since so much fewer will be available for the Howa. And I say that as a Howa fanboy.

 

[Kickin45]

Will MDT (Canada) not ship to U.K.?

 

[ojj317]

57 thank you for your detailed reply. I had just ruled out the 700 PCR and settled on a Howa and you open it all back up ?

 

[Al A]

I know this was not something you inquired about but can you get Ruger in the UK. I have a Ruger Precision Rifle (often refered to as RPR in 6.5 creedmore. It's not much more cost wise in Canada. I am a first year shooter and I get .236 to .5 groups all the time with my reloaded ammo.

 

[ojj317]

I know this was not something you inquired about but can you get Ruger in the UK. I have a Ruger Precision Rifle (often refered to as RPR in 6.5 creedmore. It's not much more cost wise in Canada. I am a first year shooter and I get .236 to .5 groups all the time with my reloaded ammo.

Yes you can but its retailed nearer to £2000 or as close that makes no difference. Thats nearly double what you would pay for a howa chassis. Just cant be justified at that cost.

 

[Jibles]

The Oryx is a great option for the Howa.

 

[ojj317]

Yeah I love the look of them but theres so few reviews around and being 6ft 3 the LOP concerns me. No one near me has one either to try.

 

[Jibles]

The lack of reviews concerned me too but it turned out just fine. I'm 6ft 2in and its totally comfortable for me with no extra spacers. Let me know if you have any other questions, I will do my best to answer them.

 

[ojj317]

Can you give a review of the chassis?

 

[Old_Longhair]

Worse comes to worse, the APC isn't all that bad. Aside from the ATIM mag cost and limited availability I have no real issues with it. The front mag release isn't a big deal unless you're planning to use it for run-n-gun.

 

[CavReconScout]

I own 3 HCR rifles (6.5 duty rifle, 6.5 practice rifle, and a 6mm comp rifle) and have put around 3000 rds through them in the last 1 1/2 years. My partner has a duty 6.5 HCR and a practice HCR. I am not sure of his exact round count but it’s around 1500 rds. They are solid, smooth, and amazingly accurate rifles. My comp rifle has a Timney trigger, Arca rail, MPA grip, and XLR stock with bag rider. Duty rifle is stock. If you have any specific questions I can answer I would be happy to help.

 

[ojj317]

Guess im just stuck really. I know I will love what I buy but im torn between a howa, bergara hmr and a t3x ctr.

I like the looks of the Oryx but prefer the modularity of the HCR.

Cavscout, be interested as to what brough you to the 1500 over others and why you choose is as a duty rifle. What makes it work for you?

 

[CavReconScout]

It’s a small department with no budget so AI etc was out. We were able to T&E the HCR and Rem 700 police the Howa were more adjustable, more accurate (easy .5 moa and better with 147gr TAP and ELD-M) and the Rem triggers sucked. As we finished the evaluation the HCR must have gone on sale (we purchased them for around $800 or $850) which sealed the deal and we never looked back.

All three rifles you listed are decent, get the one you want so there is no buyer remorse and shoot the hell out of it ?

 

[ojj317]

Nice to know. I just want the best I can get for my money. Not sure there will be remorse as the UK has far kess exposure to firearms so unlikely to stumble over another to frequently but the other issue is I cant go out and 'test them' like you guys as nearest place than has all 3 in 400 miles away.....

 

[CavReconScout]

Jeez that sucks I just handled all three of them plus a bunch of others at Scheels last week. I think best I can remember the Tika was around $1700-$1800, the Begara was around $1300, and the Howa was around $1050. I have a friend who just bought a multi cam HCR for $1250 it is beautiful.

 

[Old_Longhair]

I paid a total of $690 for my APC (bare rifle), figuring that if I wanted to later it wouldn't be a big deal to drop it in a different chassis. So far I'm pretty happy with it just as it is

 

[CavReconScout]

Thats a lot of rifle for that price. That’s crazy cheap.

 

[Old_Longhair]

Thats a lot of rifle for that price. That’s crazy cheap.

That's transfer paperwork cost and all. The MSRP is $1349, so I figure I got it for about half price......couldn't pass it up for that.

 

[ojj317]

Nice! See in the UK the Bergara is the cheapest at circ £1000, then the HCR and Tikka at £1200. Prices over here are just weird and the public being pertified of guns makes it a very niche sport so access is so limited.

How do you find the butt stock on the HCR? Thats the part that gets the biggest negatives.

As for the APC does the chassis its in allow for easy bottom metal change to AI mags without any fiddling?

 

[Old_Longhair]

I haven't changed the bottom metal yet, but I'm leaning toward the Aussie made Atlasworxs conversion. It's the same price as the PT&G, but from what I've gleaned in my research the Atlasworxs sounds like it's better quality.

As for the Luth stocks......you either like 'em, or you don't. I personally get along with them just fine. I've got an MBA-1 and an MBA-3, and for me they do what they're supposed to do.

 

[ojj317]

Is the bottom metal a direct fit with not fettling though? Im used to milsurps so im not great with 'tweaking' stocks to fit.

 

[Old_Longhair]

Both are made of T-6 aluminum and sold as "drop-in replacements", but also say that they do require minor inletting (often requiring just sandpaper)" for proper fit. PT&G also says all sales are final, and that they offer inletting at an additional charge, while Atlasworxs offers a free "footprint PDF".

The Atlasworxs has a longer mag release lever, a trigger guard that appears to have more finger room than the PT&G, and the mag well itself is flush with the stock in front of the guard.

 

[ojj317]

Cool thank you....cant imagine doing much inletting to an alumninium chassis...

Cant wait to purchase!

 

[CavReconScout]

How do you find the butt stock on the HCR? Thats the part that gets the biggest negatives.

The Luth is ok it doesn’t bother me other than the “recoil pad” feels cheesy. I replaced it with a regular recoil pad on my duty gun. On my comp gun I run an XLR tactical buttstock to balance out the barrel.