Howa Machinery, Ltd. is a Japanese firearms manufacturer that has produced bolt-action rifles since the mid-20th century. The Howa 1500 series is the core of their lineup, built with a forged steel receiver, cold hammer-forged barrel, and a three-position safety. These rifles are chambered in calibers including .223 Remington, .308 Winchester, and 6.5 Creedmoor, covering hunting and long-range target use. Howa sells complete rifles as well as barreled actions, which allow shooters to pair them with aftermarket stocks. The Howa Carbon Stalker uses a carbon fiber stock for reduced weight, and the Howa Mini Action is a shorter platform suited to compact calibers and smaller-framed shooters.