How many people are happy with their Howa Mini?

[General RE LEE]

General RE LEE, any chance you weigh that stock for me?​

I’d go with listed weight on their site. It’s likely right.

 

[timbernomad]

I replaced my 223 Mini with a Ruger American Ranch and am very satisfied. It's handier, it takes AR mags, and it is just as accurate. The trigger is no Tikka trigger, and it's not even as good as the Howa trigger, but I still like it quite a bit.

 

[ianpadron]

Lots of room and full free float all the way to the lug with the sporter barrel and the Bell and Carlson M40. No modifications needed. I’ve heard some comment the Stocky VG should be half the price they ask for the stock.

View attachment 805801

View attachment 805802

Agree 100% about Stockys being over-priced for what they are. My VG is absolutely bottom of the barrel in terms of fit/finish. Inletting for bolt handle and release is flat out atrocious and their CS said it was within spec.

They did knock it down to "blem" pricing for me because a big chunk of paint was missing on the buttstock LOL

Good ergonomics though, I'll say that

 

[Natebonebusta]

I just went Bell and Carlson on mine. I want to want to grab this rifle as much as I do my xbolt and this helped. Lighter than factory, shorter length of pull. It’s a win, but not inexpensive.

 

[General RE LEE]

I just went Bell and Carlson on mine. I want to want to grab this rifle as much as I do my xbolt and this helped. Lighter than factory, shorter length of pull. It’s a win, but not inexpensive.
View attachment 809153

Nice rig. I really enjoy my Howa 6ARC. It’s not as accurate as my Tikkas, but a little under 1 MOA is plenty accurate.

 

[Lentuk]

Natebonebusta, what model B&C is that?​

 

[Natebonebusta]

Natebonebusta, what model B&C is that?​

BELL & CARLSON SPORTER STOCKS FOR HOWA MINI ACTION | Brownells

Check out BELL & CARLSON SPORTER STOCKS FOR HOWA MINI ACTION | Brownells available Online at Brownells Today and many more Rifle Stocks & Parts products are available in our Gun Parts Department.

www.brownells.com

Right where I ordered it from.

 

[jroot327]

BELL & CARLSON SPORTER STOCKS FOR HOWA MINI ACTION | Brownells

Check out BELL & CARLSON SPORTER STOCKS FOR HOWA MINI ACTION | Brownells available Online at Brownells Today and many more Rifle Stocks & Parts products are available in our Gun Parts Department.

www.brownells.com

Right where I ordered it from.

I'm in the process of jumping into the straight wall game for hunting in MI. Currently between grabbing the Howa mini in 350L and going with an aftermarket stock. First are the barreled actions from Brownells cerakoted? Are B&C stocks any better for accuracy than say the stockys or Oregon Gunsmithing? Other options are the new Tikka Roughtech ranch 16", RA Gen 2 Ranch, or the Savage Magpul Ranch 16". All are within $100ish of each other(except the RA, so maybe put the money towards a can if I go that route) all said and done.

 

[The Guide]

First are the barreled actions from Brownells cerakoted?

The barreled Howa Mini Action in 350 Legend says that it is Cerakote black.

Are B&C stocks any better for accuracy than say the stockys or Oregon Gunsmithing?

Stocks don't make a rifle more accurate however, they can make them easier to shoot. I have a Stockys VG and a B&C M40 on different Mini Actions. Stockys is a much lighter stock but also has a very narrow forend. I like them both for different reasons.

Other options are the new Tikka Roughtech ranch 16", RA Gen 2 Ranch, or the Savage Magpul Ranch 16". All are within $100ish of each other(except the RA, so maybe put the money towards a can if I go that route) all said and done.

The Howa Mini Action 350 Legend rifle package is on sale right now for cheaper than the barred action with no stock. Unless you really need a gun that is Cerakoted, I'd start there and get some shooting done before you decide on what stock you want.

HOWA M1500 Mini 350 Legend 16.25" BBL (1)10RD Mag HTI Stock Black SKU: 430105670 | Brownells

Check out HOWA M1500 Mini 350 Legend 16.25" BBL (1)10RD Mag HTI Stock Black SKU: 430105670 | Brownells available Online at Brownells Today and many more Bolt Action Rifles products are available in our Guns Department.

www.brownells.com

The other one that is a heck of a deal right now is the Tikka 350 Legend at Eurooptic.com. Hard to lose money on a $600 Tikka with a 223 bolt face. If you moved and wanted a 223 for hunting you'd just need a barrel or if you hated the gun, you should be able to get your money back on the classifieds easily.

Tikka T3x Lite 350 Legend 16" 1:16" Bbl Rifle JRTXE313SB

Tikka T3x Lite 350 Legend 16" 1:16" Bbl Rifle JRTXE313SB For Sale

www.eurooptic.com

Jay

 

[Kyguy]

Man, I'm debating buying one of those tikka's and making it into a 300 ham'r

 

[waspocrew]

I do like the Howa Mini, but you really can't go wrong with a Tikka for a 350 Legend. Between the two, Tikka is what I would pick. My mini is nice, but the action and trigger could be better.

 

[Te Hopo]

I like my Mini .223 enough that I'm thinking of setting another up in .300BLK.
Short barrel, suppressed with subs will be a hoot

 

[PC356]

Got the ol man’s Christmas Project together and to him. He was pretty stoked .
16” 6.5 Grendel, custom CeraKoted, DIP bottom metal, Vixen 3-12 in Talleys, and a Stockys CF stock that I bedded in the recoil lug area. Came in at 6.1 lbs loaded mag, no can or bipod. Shooting 90 gr CXs with decent speed.
Was really happy with how it grouped considering the LW nature of the build. We do a lot of dog/hog hunting in the TX hill country granite. Oughta be a great rifle for toting around in the rough stuff.

 

[menhaden_man]

Mine experience is so so. It shoots well and the 6.5G mini was great for the kids when we lived in a state that required 6mm min.

The action isn’t very smooth, safety feels a little janky, but it’s been good. Wish I didn’t overpay for it (maybe $650 with that shitty scope Legacy includes), feels more like a Ruger American than it does Tikka or X Bolt.

 

[PC356]

Mine experience is so so. It shoots well and the 6.5G mini was great for the kids when we lived in a state that required 6mm min.

The action isn’t very smooth, safety feels a little janky, but it’s been good. Wish I didn’t overpay for it (maybe $650 with that shitty scope Legacy includes), feels more like a Ruger American than it does Tikka or X Bolt.

It’s a shame the stainless barreled actions from Brownells aren’t more readily available.
They are considerably smoother and more refined.

 

[jroot327]

The barreled Howa Mini Action in 350 Legend says that it is Cerakote black.

Stocks don't make a rifle more accurate however, they can make them easier to shoot. I have a Stockys VG and a B&C M40 on different Mini Actions. Stockys is a much lighter stock but also has a very narrow forend. I like them both for different reasons.

The Howa Mini Action 350 Legend rifle package is on sale right now for cheaper than the barred action with no stock. Unless you really need a gun that is Cerakoted, I'd start there and get some shooting done before you decide on what stock you want.

HOWA M1500 Mini 350 Legend 16.25" BBL (1)10RD Mag HTI Stock Black SKU: 430105670 | Brownells

Check out HOWA M1500 Mini 350 Legend 16.25" BBL (1)10RD Mag HTI Stock Black SKU: 430105670 | Brownells available Online at Brownells Today and many more Bolt Action Rifles products are available in our Guns Department.

www.brownells.com

The other one that is a heck of a deal right now is the Tikka 350 Legend at Eurooptic.com. Hard to lose money on a $600 Tikka with a 223 bolt face. If you moved and wanted a 223 for hunting you'd just need a barrel or if you hated the gun, you should be able to get your money back on the classifieds easily.

Tikka T3x Lite 350 Legend 16" 1:16" Bbl Rifle JRTXE313SB

Tikka T3x Lite 350 Legend 16" 1:16" Bbl Rifle JRTXE313SB For Sale

www.eurooptic.com

Jay

I'm really looking to build an ultra lightweight compact hunting rifle for Eastern WT. I do like the idea of Cerakote (or SS) for dealing with all day sits in less than ideal conditions. The minis are interesting because of the smaller and lighter action. That Tikka is a great deal, however I plan to add a suppressor at some point so I'd like the barrel to be threaded for that reason.

I'm leaning the Howa cerakoted action with a stocky's carbon and the hinged bottom metal. I can essentially get a cerakote job for about $80 by building it versus buying their carbon stalker already sold together. I know Tikka makes a great gun and hold its value as well so may still end up going that direction.

Thanks for the response!

 

[Lentuk]

6mm ARC 22 inch action has arrived at FFL, Jefferson bottom metal in hand, waiting for Stocky's VG carbon.
I was in Montana for muzzleloader deer season and picked up a few boxes of Hornady 105s and 108s to try, now I need some dies, any recommendations on a good die set?

 

[Lentuk]

Staring to think I should get the carbon hunter version instead of the VG hunter, sleeker and a few ounces less with the Jefferson bottom metal, going to use this in a saddle scabbard.

 

[BBob]

Staring to think I should get the carbon hunter version instead of the VG hunter, sleeker and a few ounces less with the Jefferson bottom metal, going to use this in a saddle scabbard.

That’s what I was after and what I did exactly. Nice small really sleek gun. I stayed with the skinny barrel on mine. If I did it again I’d ask for the heavy barrel channel for the skinny barrel. I had to open it up a bit to ensure clearance under forend load.

 

[Lentuk]

I had been reading about the barrel clearance issues also and ordered the varmint barrel stock option for my skinny barrel, hopefully I will get someone on the phone tomorrow to change the order.