Thanks for the thoughts guys. I do know their ammo is high, but the ballistics on the little .257 W. Mag are very good. Recoil is rather mild also, probably just below that of a .30-06. Interesting tho.

bigbulls- I was under the impression that Howa used to make those rifles for Weatherby but that Weatherby bought out a production facility in Massachusetts (or similar locale) and are now making their own. I did, however, see a marking on a Vanguard barrel in a mag that said made in Japan. Isn't that where Howas are made and then imported and marketed by Legacy Sports? I dunno.