Here are the specs:
Howa 1500 24" (#6) BBL .204 Ruger
Bell & Carlson Medalist A2 stock
Legacy Sports drop-in magazine system (5 rd. magazine, 10 rounders are available).
Harris "S" Bi-Pod 6-9" with "pod-lock" to keep it steady.
Mueller Scope 8.5-25x44AO (mildot reticle)
DNZ one-piece scope mount (Medium)
This rifle has the new trigger which is now a 2-stage style (HACT) and it is adjustable. I haven't lightened it yet. It pulls about 3-3.5 lbs from the factory. Its really nice. The magazine and stock was all "plug & play" dropped right in with no issues. This will be my "tactical" squirrel destroyer rig. I bought 500 rounds of Fiocchi factory ammo from CheaperThanDirt for a great price. 400 rds of 32 grain and 100 of the 40 grain Vmax. I was worried that the 40 grainers might not work so well after reading all the horror stories. No problems with either. I was really happy with the results. It shoots like a dream. My best two groups are in the photo. A sub-MOA rifle right out of the box, not bad!
) .204 , but one with a detachable magazine, 24" barrel and decent stock trigger. Compared to, for example the excellent C-Z Kevlar Varmint, this Howa setup looks at least equal. Am thinking the Howa uses the same scope bases as the Rem. 700; a person could save a few bucks by not having to buy the expensive rings and do the requisite bolt-handle mod just to scope the C-Z at a decent height. Even by adding the cost of the Medalist stock - often on sale @ Stocky's - the Howa should still come in at a cost equal to or less than the C-Z. Just thinking out loud here...
