Review: Howa 1100 rimfire rifle, a sharp-priced sharp shooter
Small game hunters have been waiting for Howa to release an inexpensive rimfire for the last four or five decades. Finally it happened. The Model 1100 is outstanding, with a competitive price and several attractive features not found on most small bore rifles.
The Howa Model 1500 centerfire rifle has been around for a long time, its continued success is probably due to it being a clone of the hugely successful Sako Finnbear system. The new Rimfire builds on that success.
Of course, the Howa 1100 has a tubular receiver, and the polishing and blueing of the metalwork is superb for a relatively inexpensive rifle. On the rear, the bolt sleeve is contoured to match the shape of the case, giving it a streamlined look.
The Howa’s receiver is drilled and tapped to allow for scope mounting, just one of several unusual refinements found on this competitively priced rimfire.
The bolt is the typical half-cut rimfire type with two extractors and a round firing pin instead of a chisel nose. The rifle cocks when you lift the bolt handle, which has a large pear-shaped hollow handle. Locking is achieved by turning the root of the bolt handle down into a matching square notch on the side of the receiver.
Another nice touch is a bolt release on the left rear of the receiver that runs in a slot in the bolt body, rather than using the sear as a bolt stopper like most .22s.
The Howa has a 457 mm (18.5 in) barrel that is pressed and pinned into the receiver. Much work has been done to screw rimfire barrels into the receiver ring, but instead of being screwed in to attach to the action, the barrel stock has a smooth finish and is force fitted into the receiver and then pinned. This is nothing new. Anschutz, whose track record is exemplary, uses the same method to fasten his barrels.
The barrel is medium sport weight and is straight tapered from 22mm at the receiver ring to 16mm at the threaded muzzle cap, making it quite stiff – something conducive to high accuracy. The twist rate is the standard of 1:16 for .22LR.
My test rifle had an injection molded black plastic disc stock with a vertical pistol grip and a buttstock with a high, straight comb. It also had sling swivels and a soft 1-inch stock pad. The forend is flat on the bottom with grip grooves on the upper edges and M-LOK slots for attaching accessories.
The stock is obviously optimized for sandbag or prone shooting, but feels like a piece of 4×2 in your hand when shooting handheld. The stock will no doubt retain most of its sporting appeal, but Howa will offer the rifle with a classic Sporter stock made from walnut. Traditionalists will find that the wait was worth it.
The Howa M1100 comes with two 10-round banana-shaped polymer magazines. Nut and magazine shaft are made of the same material.
I began accuracy testing with Dynamite Nobel Target Rifle ammunition. My buddy, watching through a scope, exclaimed, “The groups look small!”
When the first five clusters were measured, we found that they were .500, .720, .580, .660, and .740, with an average cluster size of just .640 inches. This was only the first goal, but it made me think that the Howa M1100 is a very desirable rifle.
It is in the orbit of CZ, Sako and other high-end European small-caliber rifles. A summary of the accuracy data obtained with different types of ammunition is shown in the table below.
The crisp, clean trigger helped me win tight groups. According to my RCBS Trigger Pull Scale, the trigger pull consistently broke at 3½ lb (1.6 kg). The trigger can be lightened by turning the adjustment screw on the front of the trigger housing.
The accuracy of the rifle was very consistent. I have fired 10 different .22 Long Rifle rounds and the average total group size was 50 yards under an inch. The load that made the closest groups was Lapua Polar Biathlon, the best five-shot group with this cartridge, which measures just .383.
I believe that the Howa M1100, sold in the semi-budget price range, will capture a significant segment of the market. The bottom line is that the Howa Rimfire has proven to be one of the best bargains available today.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Manufacturer: Howa, Japan
- Type: Twist Latch Latch
- Caliber: .22LR, .22WMR
- Capacity: 10 rounds
- Barrel: 457mm, 1:16 inch twist
- Total length: 940mm
- Weight: 2.6kg
- Stock: synthetic black; Goal
- Handles: Textured
- Draw Length: 360mm
- Finish: Blued, matte
- Trigger: 1.6kg / 3½lb (adjustable)
- Sights: None, drilled and tapped for scope
- Price: $690 MSRP
- Contact: Outdoor Sports Agencies
