Although Weatherby Vangaurd and Howa are both fine firearms, made in Japan. I personally wont own one, or any other foriegn made gun for that matter. There are plenty of great firearms made right here in the good ol U.S.A.. Our nations economy is in enough trouble, I will only buy guns made in America, by Americans who pay taxes and support our Nations economy, not a gun assembled by a foriegner that probably cant even spell firearm. JMO.
I will to provided that the American made product is of equal or greater quality... even if it costs a little more money for the American made rifle. Unfortunately for the American made rifles this isn't the case. The Howa is a better made rifle than Ruger, Remington, Savage, Marlin, Mossberg, etc...
In fact, the only production grade rifle made in America that is of equal or better quality to the Howa's are the FN made Winchester model 70's.
Our economy isn't in trouble simply because of imported goods but that is another topic all together.