Any Howa rifle owners?

Howa makes the actions for Weatherby Vanguard Rifles. Many people swear by Vanguards and I have seen on a few hunting shows that people obsess over Howa rifles claiming that they are the best budget rifles. If I remember correctly, one guy even took out an elk at 450 yards with a Howa 1500. I would spend money on a Tikka and decent optics but from what I have heard, Howa makes a solid budget rifle. (They are made in Japan if that is a "turn off" for him).

I'm a Weatherby nut and will tell you that Howa made the Mark V rifles for many years in Japan. Many Weatherby loyalists will confide that the Japanese/Howa guns may have been the best quality Weatherby Mark V's ever. As was mentioned earlier they still make the Vanguard guns. If the price is right they are great guns.