actually the howa is BETTER than a 700 clone, it has a flat-bottomed all steel receiver, integral recoil lug, better trigger, smoother action, and there is no cheap "ADL" type model, they all have a floorplate and 3-position safety, where one can lock the bolt if one wants to.
the barrels on howas seem very well made, i have never had a problem with copper.
the bolt handle is part of the one-piece bolt, no soldering here.
so not quite a clone...better.
-Matt