The KRG Bravo with a CruxOrd tripod makes a very stable shooting platform.
Howa, Legacy Sports and their partners worked hard to add a solid lineup of new options to their catalog this year. We got to shoot these guns at this year’s SHOT Show and we liked what we saw.
Two standout new products include the KRG Bravo and the MiniAction Chassis Rifle. Announced late last year these guns represent the next generation of bolt-action rifles. Howa consistently listens to customer feedback and is very receptive to the needs of the market.
Overview
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The two-stage trigger on the KRG Bravo was clean and crisp. The bolt handle is threaded which makes it easy to switch out bolt knobs.
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Length of pull and the comb height can be adjusted on the KRG Bravo chassis.
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The Howa KRG Bravo is barreled action with a factory-installed Bravo Chassis by the Kinetic Research Group. It’s a short-action rifle with a modern take on a traditional stock. The companies have been teasing their collaboration for several months.
The Bravo chassis has a conventional form factor but with an updated, modular M-Lok forend and adjustable stock. The KRG Bravo is available in .223 and 22-250 Remington, .243 and .308 Winchester and 6mm and 6.5mm Creedmoor with 20-, 24- and 26-inch barrels with optional threads.
The MiniAction Chassis Rifle is chambered for cartridges and is suitable for hunters, target shooters and law enforcement.
The rifle incorporates multiple AR-based features including Magpul pistol grip, fully-adjustable Luth-AR MBa-3 stock and a free-floating handguard with full-length M-Lok slots.
Howa offers these rifles chambered for .223 Remington, 6.5 Grendel and 7.62x39mm.
Like all current-production Howa rifles, these guns have a sub-MOA accuracy guarantee. Using premium ammunition, these rifles are capable of producing inch-wide and smaller groups at 100 yards. If they don’t, Howa will fix it.
Impressions
KRG Bravo
Legacy provided us with a KRG Bravo chambered for 6mm Creedmoor. The rifle was extremely accurate, and the gun was very comfortable to get behind. The 6mm Creedmoor cartridge shoots like a laser and has very little recoil. It was a pleasure to shoot all around.
Note the M-Lok handguard. Like the Howa KRG Bravo, the bolt knob can be swapped out on the Howa Mini Chassis Rifle.
MiniAction Chassis Rifle
I am a big fan of the Howa’s MiniAction rifles. The rifle I shoot the most is a MiniAction rifle chambered in 7.62×39. As I move towards chassis rifles in general, I like the thought of getting this version of the Howa MiniAction from the factory.
Pricing
The Howa KRG Bravo pricing starts at $1,279 which is solid for a mid- to long-rage rifle for target shooting, competition and taking game.
The MiniAction Chassis rifle is priced starting at $1,199 and is ideal for hunting small- to medium game, mid-range target shooting and training.
As always real-world pricing will be lower leaving extra for glass. Both of these rifles are “optics-ready,” without iron sights or scopes included.
For more information about these and other Howa products visit legacysports.com.
I currently have 5 Howas in my stable. 2 in 223, a 308, 6.5 Chassis rifle and the mini action 7.62×39. All are great shooters and the pricing is as good or better than many of the “big names”. Affordable and dependable. With the new mini-action Chassis Rifle, I may have to make room for another.
Howa never crossed my radar until last summer when they were running their “sub MOA claim ” for the Mini Action advertising in G&A. I like 7.62×39, it’s inexpensive, good for the range I have access to, (400 yards), so I can practice to my hearts content.
Using Golden Tiger 124 grain FMJBT and paired with a Burris Predator Quest 6-14×42 my best groups at 100 yards were .5 inches or better. “Howa’s sub MOA claim is justified in my book.
2 Questions: a) why is our amigo Thomas so camera shy, we want videos and b) when is Howa going to get into the left hand action market!?!?!
Hi Wade! You might see me on camera later this week. I will pass your concerns along to Howa. Cheers amigo!
I would not buy a Howa if it was the last firearm on Earth. They like many companies refuse to make a Left Handed Rifle.
I’m a lefty! I have several LH rifles. Growing up shooting only (until recently) RH guns, I find left hand guns, and especially rifles, very awkward and slow to use. I have a couple of 1903/A3 and A4 rifles. I hold them w/my left hand at the grip/trigger guard, cycle the bolt w/my right hand without needing to hold the front hand guard/stock. I can actually cycle the gun more quickly and efficiently than any RH shooter (that I know) using the same rifles.
Their is a small co. A B ARMS in Glenrock PA that produces cassis for this type weapon , it is well thought out and is solid as a rock I have shot one for years and love it. Everybody knows the big names in the arms I would look hard before you buy
I have tested the AB Arms chassis. The AB Chassis itself puts a lot of stress on the receiver, and I found shifts in my group depending on how hard I was loading into the rifle.