Howa M1500 HCR

About the Howa M1500 HCR

The Howa M1500 HCR (Heavy Chassis Rifle) is a bolt-action precision rifle built on the proven Howa M1500 barreled action and mounted in a full-length aluminum chassis. Introduced in 2016 and imported to the United States by Legacy Sports International, the HCR pairs a heavy contour barrel with an AR-15-style pistol grip, an M-LOK forend, and a fully adjustable LUTH-AR MBA-3 buttstock, giving shooters an out-of-the-box long-range platform at a budget price point. It feeds from a detachable box magazine and uses Howa's two-stage HACT (Howa Actuator Controlled Trigger) for a clean, consistent break. The rifle is offered in .223 Remington/5.56 NATO, .243 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor, and .308 Winchester, with the 6.5 Creedmoor chambering being especially popular among precision rifle series (PRS) and hunting shooters for its flat trajectory and low recoil.

Howa launched the HCR to bring true chassis-rifle ergonomics to shooters on a working-class budget, taking the same M1500 barreled action that Japanese police departments trust for counter-sniper work and dropping it into an aluminum chassis with an adjustable AR-style stock.

Howa M1500 HCR specifications

The HCR is one of several chassis and precision variants Howa builds on the M1500 action, alongside the APC (Australian Precision Chassis) and Mini Action rifles. Chassis and Cerakote finish options include black and various Kryptek camouflage patterns. Barrel lengths vary by chambering, with lighter cartridges such as .223 typically offered in shorter barrels than the 24-inch heavy barrel common to the 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 versions.