How many people are happy with their Howa Mini?

[KyleR1985]

I bought a .223 mini in stocky’s VG off classifieds. 16” barrel. For my wife for Christmas.

Seller included a 3x9 vortex that he had been using and just stuck back on gun.

First five shots of 77otm BH to zero.


maybe I’ll keep it for me…





Followed it up with 20 round group inside 1.5” as fast as I could shoot. And I suck. Then rang 8” steel at 200 five in a row as fast as I could shoot it.

 

[Tanner]

I bought a .223 mini in stocky’s VG off classifieds. 16” barrel. For my wife for Christmas.

Seller included a 3x9 vortex that he had been using and just stuck back on gun.

First five shots of 77otm BH to zero.


maybe I’ll keep it for me…


View attachment 803650


Followed it up with 20 round group inside 1.5” as fast as I could shoot. And I suck. Then rang 8” steel at 200 five in a row as fast as I could shoot it.

That was a good deal, I had to use some restraint on buying it.

Curious if you could get 75 ELDM’s in the mag box and still get them shooting decent.

 

[IAm_Not_Lost]

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…

Dumping what? 45 minutes sanding and doing some bedding? Grabbing some bottom metal that has the internal magazine I want? I don’t understand your aversion to someone improving basic items on a budget barreled action build. It’s like you’re upset that someone can work on their rifle and improve the stock, since that particular stock is one of the few ultra light choices for it.

If you want I can post some three shot groups that are 0.4” demonstrating how “accurate” it is, or I can post a realistic 10 shot group and show you that mine shoots about an MOA or a little more.

Either way, it’s still a good buy, I got a 4.5lb rifle that shoots about an MOA or 1.25 MOA for half the cost of other comparable brands.

My post was simply to note that there are some things that you might have to do, or might want to do with the setup that the OP was talking about getting.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

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.

I just wanted a cheap truck gun. My lightweight back country rifle is a Ridgeline FFT in 280 AI with a tenmile 3-18x44 - it weighs nothing. My point is still valid. If the barreled action doesn’t shoot, kick it down the road and buy another one until you find one that does. I have always taken that approach with factory rifles.

 

[KyleR1985]

That was a good deal, I had to use some restraint on buying it.

Curious if you could get 75 ELDM’s in the mag box and still get them shooting decent.

I got 2830 average with the 77tmk’s out of my straight pull AR today @ 2.425” COAL. Single feed. 16” Shaw 1:8 portless

This mini is 2.44” touching the lands. I’ll test fit some tonight or tomorrow and see what I can fit.

I don’t have any 75eldm’s, but if someone wants to send me a few I’ll load em up and test.

 

[The Guide]

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.

Until someone carries and shoots a Mini Action it is hard to explain to them what it is like as there is little to compare it to. I'm ok with that because heavy guns would keep most people out of the places I've been going to lately.

Jay

 

[RWT]

I sold all my Model 7’s and am now wishing I had not. I’ll build another Howa in a 223 simply because I couldn’t bear to have the twisted barrel on a Ruger Ranch. I would Ike to see a comparison between the HOWA mini and a Tikka ranch. Curious on total length and weight

 

[KenLee]

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

Thanks. Mine would never see a bipod

 

[Tanner]

I got 2830 average with the 77tmk’s out of my straight pull AR today @ 2.425” COAL. Single feed. 16” Shaw 1:8 portless

This mini is 2.44” touching the lands. I’ll test fit some tonight or tomorrow and see what I can fit.

I don’t have any 75eldm’s, but if someone wants to send me a few I’ll load em up and test.

Right on… curious to see what you see.

 

[Deere_Man]

I sold all my Model 7’s and am now wishing I had not. I’ll build another Howa in a 223 simply because I couldn’t bear to have the twisted barrel on a Ruger Ranch. I would Ike to see a comparison between the HOWA mini and a Tikka ranch. Curious on total length and weight

You can still purchase the Gen 1 Ruger American Ranch.

 

[KyleR1985]

Right on… curious to see what you see.

Assuming this is correct, I can load right up to lands in my gun if I want with TMK’s.

From what I found looking around quick - the 75ELDM needs to be 2.35”+ to get it moving. And found several people loading them 2.4-2.45”

I think you can do what you need to do with 75eldm’s in the mini. But might not meet velocity goals barrel length pending.

 

[Tmac]

They are entry level type rifles. Seem to be solidly built actions. Triggers are OK. Stocks are meh. They have one of the most convoluted barrel break in regimens I’ve ever seen. Started it with my first one, after about 7-8 shoot and clean cycles, said f it and just shot it. Second one I just shot it.

Have two, third on the way. My 6.5 Grendel 20” HB barreled action runs and feeds very smooth and sits in a MDT LSS chassis. Its accuracy is OK, not great. 1.75 moa ish gun with 120 gr fusions. Only shot factory loads. Got it for the grands to use with the AR butt stock LOP adjustment. Was well before we had a 6mm ARC. But to 250yards or so it’s accuracy/velocity hold up fine.

A year ago I got a mini action rifle in 6mm ARC. Factory stock with the 22” threaded sporter barrel. It shoots well, 1.25 moa ish gun with Hornady factory ammo in the 108 eld-m. It’s a bit long with a can, but very nice to shoot. This one has a real rough spot in about the last 1/2” of rear bolt travel. If you don’t tilt the bolt just right it binds and does not go back enough to reliably chamber the next round. I’ve been cycling the bolt to smooth it out, it's a little better. Have not spend any more time sorting it out. Suspect a burr in there someplace, I just need to take the time to find it and smooth it out.

Just ordered a third, 6mm ARC barreled action with the 20” threaded HB, have not decided on a stock yet. Hoping it runs smooth and shoots better, Probably put it in the LSS and see how it shoots. If it shoots well will probably keep it in the MDT LSS, or get a Bell and Carlson or Stocky’s stock. If it does not shoot and function well, probably sell it and the Grendel to a hand loader to wring out.

 

[pbroski]

Mine is the Carbon Stalker in 223. It's one of my favorite rifles. It's light, trim, good looking and shoots great. Below, I listed the factory mag assembly weight, but I actually have the JO hinged floorplate. It holds 5 in the mag. IMO it's a very nice rig overall. The downside is that it's somewhat difficult to top load because of the small action size. Not a deal breaker for me though.

Here are some of the actual weights:

Barreled action with action screws - 3lbs 13oz.
Stock - 1lb 1.8oz.
Bottom plastic with mag - 3.2oz.
Rifle total - 5lbs 2oz.

 

[Tanner]

Mine is the Carbon Stalker in 223. It's one of my favorite rifles. It's light, trim, good looking and shoots great. Below, I listed the factory mag assembly weight, but I actually have the JO hinged floorplate. It holds 5 in the mag. IMO it's a very nice rig overall. The downside is that it's somewhat difficult to top load because of the small action size. Not a deal breaker for me though.

Here are some of the actual weights:

Barreled action with action screws - 3lbs 13oz.
Stock - 1lb 1.8oz.
Bottom plastic with mag - 3.2oz.
Rifle total - 5lbs 2oz.

What’s your barrel length and velocity on those 75s?

 

[pbroski]

What’s your barrel length and velocity on those 75s?

It's 22". They are 73 ELD-M's at 2930 fps.

 

[Tanner]

It's 22". They are 73 ELD-M's at 2930 fps.

That’s smoking, nice. Obviously no issues with COAL then either if they’re shooting that well.

 

[pbroski]

That’s smoking, nice. Obviously no issues with COAL then either if they’re shooting that well.

No issues. The COAL is 2.400", and they fit in the JO magazine just fine..

My other load is 73's with 24.75grs. H4895 at COAL of 2.382" for 2975fps. It shoots just as well, or better.

This is 15 rounds - .911" at 100 yards.

 

[ianpadron]

My .223 Mini is one of the most accurate rifles I own. Legitimate 1-1.2" 10 shot gun with 77 grain OTMs. Pics floating around somewhere in the 223 thread with proof.

I put mine in a stockys VG and adjusted the trigger as low as it would go. Got my eyes on a 6ARC next, just had our first kiddo so i gotta start vetting potential first rifle options... you know, for the kids

 

[Tanner]

My .223 Mini is one of the most accurate rifles I own. Legitimate 1-1.2" 10 shot gun with 77 grain OTMs. Pics floating around somewhere in the 223 thread with proof.

I put mine in a stockys VG and adjusted the trigger as low as it would go. Got my eyes on a 6ARC next, just had our first kiddo so i gotta start vetting potential first rifle options... you know, for the kids

Sounds like a blast Ian… and yes it’s all for the kids! I’m on the same warpath…

 

[KyleR1985]

Can confirm 2.45” with 77tmk fits in oregunsmith bottom metal. This exceeds my 2.44” at the lands measurement with that bullet in my chamber.

The 2.45” bottom metal dimension will translate to any bullet. My guess is this will allow you to shoot your 75’s, with your chamber being the variable determining velocity and accuracy, not the DBM.

That was a good deal, I had to use some restraint on buying it.

Curious if you could get 75 ELDM’s in the mag box and still get them shooting decent.