Wanted to share my experience so far - I'm not the most experienced hunter or shooter, so bear with me if this isn't as helpful as it could be.
I needed a coyote gun, so I bought a Howa. My budget was $600 for rifle and scope, which was obviously limiting. I started off looking at the Ruger American and Savage Axis rifles, which seemed like they would work just fine but felt a little bit like Super Soakers in my hands. I was more impressed with the Savage 10 and 11 series rifles, which seemed a little more robust.
Howa rifles first caught my eye when I first got interested in shooting and hunting several years ago. I thought the Hogue stocks were cool. I was pleasantly surprised when I started doing real research, and I learned that Howa rifles aren't half bad. Negative comments were easy enough to find, though. They're heavy, just like the Weatherby Vanguards that use the same action, and that seemed like the most common complaint.
Seeing the new Mini Action on sale for about $330 was enough to seal the deal for me, though. I was able to get the exact model I wanted - #2 contour, 22 inch barrel, green color - and it was more than $200 less than the scoped combo. This way I could afford to add a halfway decent scope of my choice. The rifle arrived about a week after I ordered it, and I mounted a new Nikon Prostaff 3-9x40. All in all, the setup weighs about 7 lbs and cost me less than $500.
On first inspection, I was very pleased. The stock seems pretty much like a Hogue stock without the rubbery texture. I like the rubbery feel of the Hogues, but I'm not too worried. The stock seems plenty stiff. I like the option of a color besides black, and I'm plenty happy with the green.
The safety has three positions, which I like. Fire, safe, and locked bolt. The trigger is about 3 1/2 pounds (my estimate) and is perfectly fine for hunting. I would say it's excellent, but I don't exactly have refined tastes in firearms. The action is smooth and the bolt seems strong with no obvious weak points. The trigger guard and magazine setup are plastic, and the magazine holds ten rounds. Attaching the magazine is not too finicky, but you can't just slam it in. You have to learn the right angle, and then it starts to become habit. When the mag is in, it's just a tad bit wobbly. The magazine release is in front of the magazine, which means that it is disturbingly easy to release the mag on accident.
I took the rifle to the range this weekend and did the whole break-in process as recommended by Howa. The range north of Grand Junction was pleasantly uncrowded for a Saturday. I decided to go for two inches high at a hundred yards, and my very first shot was nearly right there.
Now I'm not a great shooter by any means, but with the help of shooting sandbags, I had the rifle sighted in quickly. With Winchester Varmint X 55 gr ammo, I shot a 1 inch group of three as I finished up the break-in. I then switched to Hornady 55 gr V-Max ammo and shot another group that was impressive for me - about an inch and a half. I was easily shooting beer cans and shotgun clays and the other random junk people leave out at the range out to about 300 yards, which is pretty good for me.
Cycling and extracting were pretty flawless. The recoil pad is ludicrously comfy for a .223 rifle. The ergonomics and comfort of the stock are nothing to write home about. I did accidentally release the magazine twice - first at the range, and then that evening while out calling coyotes.
So far, I'm very pleased. I will give more info as I put the gun to more use. And hopefully I'll have some good coyote pics to post as well!
I needed a coyote gun, so I bought a Howa. My budget was $600 for rifle and scope, which was obviously limiting. I started off looking at the Ruger American and Savage Axis rifles, which seemed like they would work just fine but felt a little bit like Super Soakers in my hands. I was more impressed with the Savage 10 and 11 series rifles, which seemed a little more robust.
Howa rifles first caught my eye when I first got interested in shooting and hunting several years ago. I thought the Hogue stocks were cool. I was pleasantly surprised when I started doing real research, and I learned that Howa rifles aren't half bad. Negative comments were easy enough to find, though. They're heavy, just like the Weatherby Vanguards that use the same action, and that seemed like the most common complaint.
Seeing the new Mini Action on sale for about $330 was enough to seal the deal for me, though. I was able to get the exact model I wanted - #2 contour, 22 inch barrel, green color - and it was more than $200 less than the scoped combo. This way I could afford to add a halfway decent scope of my choice. The rifle arrived about a week after I ordered it, and I mounted a new Nikon Prostaff 3-9x40. All in all, the setup weighs about 7 lbs and cost me less than $500.
On first inspection, I was very pleased. The stock seems pretty much like a Hogue stock without the rubbery texture. I like the rubbery feel of the Hogues, but I'm not too worried. The stock seems plenty stiff. I like the option of a color besides black, and I'm plenty happy with the green.
The safety has three positions, which I like. Fire, safe, and locked bolt. The trigger is about 3 1/2 pounds (my estimate) and is perfectly fine for hunting. I would say it's excellent, but I don't exactly have refined tastes in firearms. The action is smooth and the bolt seems strong with no obvious weak points. The trigger guard and magazine setup are plastic, and the magazine holds ten rounds. Attaching the magazine is not too finicky, but you can't just slam it in. You have to learn the right angle, and then it starts to become habit. When the mag is in, it's just a tad bit wobbly. The magazine release is in front of the magazine, which means that it is disturbingly easy to release the mag on accident.
I took the rifle to the range this weekend and did the whole break-in process as recommended by Howa. The range north of Grand Junction was pleasantly uncrowded for a Saturday. I decided to go for two inches high at a hundred yards, and my very first shot was nearly right there.
Now I'm not a great shooter by any means, but with the help of shooting sandbags, I had the rifle sighted in quickly. With Winchester Varmint X 55 gr ammo, I shot a 1 inch group of three as I finished up the break-in. I then switched to Hornady 55 gr V-Max ammo and shot another group that was impressive for me - about an inch and a half. I was easily shooting beer cans and shotgun clays and the other random junk people leave out at the range out to about 300 yards, which is pretty good for me.
Cycling and extracting were pretty flawless. The recoil pad is ludicrously comfy for a .223 rifle. The ergonomics and comfort of the stock are nothing to write home about. I did accidentally release the magazine twice - first at the range, and then that evening while out calling coyotes.
So far, I'm very pleased. I will give more info as I put the gun to more use. And hopefully I'll have some good coyote pics to post as well!
