RE: Howa rifles
Bronk you have probably owned or at least shot a rifle built by the folks who build Howa, you just might not have known it. Miroku of Japan is the company that builds the Howa and they still build the Vaguards for Weatherby and the A-bolts for Browning. From the late 60s too the mid 90s they likewise built the Mark V for Weatherby. All of the guns I mentioned are generally considered quality firearms so that should give you some idea as too the quality of the Howa you are looking at.
The "Golden Eagle" by Howa was always one of my favorites when I was a kid. They were considered an "affordable alternative" too the Mark V that they then mirrored,
RA