How many people are happy with their Howa Mini?

[eLightfoot]

Sure wish there were more options on the mini action venture. At this point I’m looking to find an old Sako L46

 

[Ferrulewax]

See this thread too:

Howa Mini Rifles, Builds, and Upgrades

There are quite a few howa mini build threads and questions scattered around the forum but I thought it would be nice to have one thread to compile and discuss builds on this particular platform. Here are some of the threads and discussions that inspired me...

rokslide.com

 

[RWT]

Mine is EEEHHHH? Bought a brownells 20” action in 6.5grendel. Bedding it in a Stockys VG stock with Oregon bottom metal. Pic rail with Warne MT’s and a SWFA 2x10. Shoots 10 rounds into 1.5”. I’ve tried 5 different brands of ammo and it all generally shoots the same. So I wouldn’t call it a tack, driver. More than accurate enough to hunt at the distance I will with this round. Under 300 yards with hold over.

I am still over 7lbs with a TBAC 5. Plan is to cut to 16” once season is over and turn it into my truck gun.

If Tikka made a 6.5 Grendel I would sell the Howa. Sticking with the Grendel as I have one in an AR and it is my thermal set up.

 

[Natebonebusta]

If Tikka made a 6.5 Grendel I would sell the Howa. Sticking with the Grendel as I have one in an AR and it is my thermal set up.

If Browning or Tikka chambered for the 6.5 Grendel or 6 ARC I’d buy either before the Howa. Since they have yet to cater to that market, the Howa has to suffice. I’ve enjoyed mine in Grendel. Needed an oversized bolt knob. A little polishing of the bolt, a cheek riser, trigger spring coil reduction for lighter trigger. I guess the mood would be a project gun that’s “almost right”out of the box.

 

[KenLee]

If Browning or Tikka chambered for the 6.5 Grendel or 6 ARC I’d buy either before the Howa. Since they have yet to cater to that market, the Howa has to suffice. I’ve enjoyed mine in Grendel. Needed an oversized bolt knob. A little polishing of the bolt, a cheek riser, trigger spring coil reduction for lighter trigger. I guess the mood would be a project gun that’s “almost right”out of the box.

View attachment 803435

I'm with you on waiting for something other than the Howa. Will need a compact in Grendel, ARC or 223 by next September. Hoping for one of the first 2.

 

[General RE LEE]

I'm with you on waiting for something other than the Howa. Will need a compact in Grendel, ARC or 223 by next September. Hoping for one of the first 2.

Don’t hold your breath. 6.5 Grendel has been popular and out for a long time and Tikka has never made one. I doubt they will make a 6 ARC ever.

 

[RWT]

I would take a Tikka in a 6.5CM and have it rechambered but I do not know if that is possible.

I assume it would mean cutting the factory barrel down from the action side. If someone has done this or knows if it’s possible. Please provide relevant information

 

[Marshfly]

The beauty of the Howa Mini/carbon stock combo is that it is stupid light and crazy compact. A Tikka of any flavor is a pig comparatively. The 6ARC as a hunting cartridge flat works in the tiny Mini action. It's like they were designed together. A long Tikka just wouldn't be nearly the same.

 

[Natebonebusta]

The beauty of the Howa Mini/carbon stock combo is that it is stupid light and crazy compact. A Tikka of any flavor is a pig comparatively. The 6ARC as a hunting cartridge flat works in the tiny Mini action. It's like they were designed together. A long Tikka just wouldn't be nearly the same.

Well said. The mini and those tiny cartridges are a perfect match.

 

[The Guide]

I'm with you on waiting for something other than the Howa. Will need a compact in Grendel, ARC or 223 by next September. Hoping for one of the first 2.

We are still waiting on a 6 Creedmoor from Tikka that works on a boltface they already have and a barrel they already make. Browning doesn't make anything on the 6 ARC/6.5 Grendel/7.62x39 boltface. Doubt they will start.

I would take a Tikka in a 6.5CM and have it rechambered but I do not know if that is possible.

I assume it would mean cutting the factory barrel down from the action side. If someone has done this or knows if it’s possible. Please provide relevant information

Your boltface will already be too big. You would need to start with a 223 boltface and get it opened. An empty 6.5 Creedmoor case is almost the same length as a loaded Grendel case. You would be into it more in machining than if you started with a barrel blank and had it chambered. If you have a lathe with the skills to use it and wanted a winter project you might make it work but otherwise, it won't be cost effective.

Maybe the new "American made Tikka" that UM is working on will have the correct sized boltface but I think that the Tikka pathway isn't going to be a cost effective or simple formula for the 22 ARC, 6 ARC, or 6.5 Grendel rifles.

Jay

 

[IAm_Not_Lost]

The Mini Actions and the Superlite are 2 completely different actions. The Superlite has very little aftermarket support currently since it is an action built between the Mini and Short action sizes and due to action screw spacing, stocks and accessories for both of those well supported Howa actions won't work. While I do find the Superlite action interesting, I do not see a greater value in it over a well supported short action.

Jay

Wasn’t saying they were the same action. I’m noting that they are similar and both being sold as barreled actions by Brownells, and both often utilizing the Stockys stock. So, in many ways largely applicable to a general question of quality and fit and finish.

 

[IAm_Not_Lost]

Or just go shoot it. This is with factory ammo, did nothing to the gun, completely stock. View attachment 803292View attachment 803294

Awesome…? Not sure how that changes the fact that having a well fitting bedded stock and bottom metal is still overall preferable?

 

[KenLee]

Favorite hunting rifle on the wall right now. Mini 6ARC in a Stocky's VG.

Is the factory stock absolute junk?

 

[Deere_Man]

Is the factory stock absolute junk?

The factory plastic stock is 100% perfectly serviceable. Not what I would call beautiful, but she gets the job done.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

Awesome…? Not sure how that changes the fact that having a well fitting bedded stock and bottom metal is still overall preferable?

If all that doesn’t improve accuracy, why is it preferable?

 

[The Guide]

Wasn’t saying they were the same action. I’m noting that they are similar and both being sold as barreled actions by Brownells, and both often utilizing the Stockys stock. So, in many ways largely applicable to a general question of quality and fit and finish.

In that same sense, I bought a Stockys VG for my 6 ARC and had zero fitment issues. Put the rifle in the new stock, torqued to 45 inch pounds, and went to the range. Shot 5 for a baseline and moved the scope 1.5" left. Shot 5 more to verify movement and new zero. Took it to 510 yards and put the next 5 on the plate. Bought a 223 barreled action from Brownells and put it in the Houge stock the 6 ARC originally came in. I had it shooting 3" groups at 250 yards within the first 10 rounds.

These are not "high dollar" guns and yes they might require a little bit of tuning but nothing at this price point doesn't. The gun will be what you put into it.

Jay

 

[IAm_Not_Lost]

If all that doesn’t improve accuracy, why is it preferable?

Because your argument is based off a sample size of one gun, and would be like saying, “I got a good group - using three shot groups - with my budget gun, so that means there isn’t any reason anyone else needs anything better.”

Sure, you can get good groups with factory budget setups, doesn’t mean that you can’t improve on that or that better components won’t lead to consistently better results.

 

[The Guide]

Is the factory stock absolute junk?

Not really. It is stiffer than the Ruger American stocks and almost as stiff as the Tikka Lite stocks. Will flex under bipod load but doesn't seem to torque shots.

Jay

 

[PredatorSlayer]

Because your argument is based off a sample size of one gun, and would be like saying, “I got a good group - using three shot groups - with my budget gun, so that means there isn’t any reason anyone else needs anything better.”

Sure, you can get good groups with factory budget setups, doesn’t mean that you can’t improve on that or that better components won’t lead to consistently better results.

I think its funny when people dump a ton of time and money into trying to make a cheap rifle more accurate. Why not kick it down the road and buy another one instead of all the upgrades? By the time people like you are done with a cheap rifle you might as well have bought a more expensive rifle to begin with. I get if it is an accurate rifle out of the box (like mine) that you might invest in a better stock or some bottom metal, both of which aren’t necessary. But to dump all that into a cheap rifle trying to make it shoot is incredibly stupid and it makes you seem a little lost…

 

[Marshfly]

I think its funny when people dump a ton of time and money into trying to make a cheap rifle more accurate. Why not kick it down the road and buy another one instead of all the upgrades? By the time people like you are done with a cheap rifle you might as well have bought a more expensive rifle to begin with. I get if it is an accurate rifle out of the box (like mine) that you might invest in a better stock or some bottom metal, both of which aren’t necessary. But to dump all that into a cheap rifle trying to make it shoot is incredibly stupid and it makes you seem a little lost…

A LOT of us bought barreled actions. Buying a good stock was part of the build to begin with.

That said, NOBODY makes anything that comes close to what the Howa Mini is. There's really nothing else like it to "move on down the road" to.

If you haven't handled a mini in a lightweight stock, you really can't understand that part though. I didn't until I put one together.