Howa Mini Rifles, Builds, and Upgrades

[Ferrulewax]

Also- anyone have experience swapping barrels between Minis? If I find a takeoff barrel what at the chances it will mount up and function fine? It seems like all the prefits have an adjustable barrel nut

 

[turbobrick]

Also- anyone have experience swapping barrels between Minis? If I find a takeoff barrel what at the chances it will mount up and function fine? It seems like all the prefits have an adjustable barrel nut

Carbon6 told me that they consider their Mini barrels to be pre-fits, no barrel nut. I sent them my action, they popped off the old barrel, screwed on the new one, checked the headspace, and it was spot on per their print out, no adjustment and not chambered on the receiver.

 

[Te Hopo]

Thanks, I like the direction he took. I have been toying with a few different things. Probably will do similar to the action body, without creating a gap between the action and stock. Ending the cut at the stock line would be slick.

Hopefully I can get to it before my bolt gets back from the smith.

In a factory Inlet stock, those cuts line up, I'll dig up some recent pics now that it's in a Stockys carbon sporter.

At the time I had adjusted a Rem Model 7 carbon stock to fit the Mini as carbon stocks weren't available

 

[hereinaz]

In a factory Inlet stock, those cuts line up, I'll dig up some recent pics now that it's in a Stockys carbon sporter.

At the time I had adjusted a Rem Model 7 carbon stock to fit the Mini as carbon stocks weren't available

Nice!

 

[Ferrulewax]

In a factory Inlet stock, those cuts line up, I'll dig up some recent pics now that it's in a Stockys carbon sporter.

At the time I had adjusted a Rem Model 7 carbon stock to fit the Mini as carbon stocks weren't available

Any idea how much weight the action modifications shaved?

 

[Te Hopo]

Any idea how much weight the action modifications shaved?

According to my records, 71gms (2.5oz)

 

[Te Hopo]

I was an early adopter of the Mini, I'd always loved the Sako Vixen actions but they are very pricey here, a 40 year old Vixen is more than twice the price of a new stainless Mini.
So when the Mini .223 became available in New Zealand, I was straight in to the shop with money I'd made from trapping possums for skins/fur.

Took it home, sighted it in up the back of the farm and that first day, took my first animal with it

 

[Te Hopo]

I saw on forums that folk were shaving down the factory stock to feel better in hand, so that was the next step along with a cheap stainless steel suppressor and a better scope to start stretching the range a bit

 

[Te Hopo]

What I really wanted was a carbon stock to really drop some weight and stiffen it up.
In the meantime I'd had my smith mill off the action sides to mimic the original Howa 1500 Alpine.

A Model 7 stock came up cheap and I grabbed it to try out.
It took a fair bit of carving out and then building back up to fit the action in but man, it had exactly the feel I was looking for.
A quick spray of Rustoleum OD Green sorted out that horrible digicam

 

[hereinaz]

According to my records, 71gms (2.5oz)

I hope to get a little more, but I am ok with that. I can take more time to play with it. Probably open up the top like a sheep rifle, flute the bolt, put an aluminum bolt handle, mill off material the back of the bolt, all the stuff…

 

[Te Hopo]

I hope to get a little more, but I am ok with that. I can take more time to play with it. Probably open up the top like a sheep rifle, flute the bolt, put an aluminum bolt handle, mill off material the back of the bolt, all the stuff…

I reckon you could hog a fair bit out of the underside of the action, there's some large chunks of metal down there

 

[Te Hopo]

Finally the Stockys carbon sporters became available in New Zealand without a lengthy import process so I got one ASAP.
Here it is alongside my 14" Rossi .357Mag single shot


I'm quite pleased with it, the rubberized coating is a bit patchy and it definitely requires a skim bed of the action, but I like the lines and it feels great for off hand shooting.
I did switch out the butt pad and screws for a piece of foam glued on, there was another oz or so

 

[Te Hopo]

I switched the old and heavy muzzle forward MAE suppressor for a light alloy over barrel Nielson Sonic 35 with minimal baffles.
I'm not looking for maximum noise suppression, just more hearing friendly.


Oh and a Jefferson Outdoors bottom metal came up locally as well, it was a pretty outrageous price but I didnt have to worry about import paperwork and international shipping so I was willing to pay.
Plus a Timney trigger which was cheap so why not give it a go.

 

[Te Hopo]

This was just the other week, I live next to the ocean and this is why I love stainless rifles.
My old man is currently borrowing the rifle, when I get it back I'll get an updated weight and some close up pics.

 

[hereinaz]

Beautiful!

 

[KY_coop]

I'm just waiting on my stockys vg for my 20"hb 6arc to be complete. Not going for a super lightweight build but I'm excited to finish it up and get it out shooting. Athlon 2-12, Jefferson bottom metal, warne mounts and rings, stockys vg.

 

[General RE LEE]

This was just the other week, I live next to the ocean and this is why I love stainless rifles.
My old man is currently borrowing the rifle, when I get it back I'll get an updated weight and some close up pics. View attachment 804661

Damn, that’s beautiful.

 

[General RE LEE]

Anyone try the Howa Mini in an Oryx chassis? Would it serve as a hunting chassis?

 

[Marshfly]

Anyone try the Howa Mini in an Oryx chassis? Would it serve as a hunting chassis?

I really think anything heavier than a HNT26 wouldn't really keep to what the Mini is. The Oryx is over 4 pounds.

 

[General RE LEE]

I really think anything heavier than a HNT26 wouldn't really keep to what the Mini is. The Oryx is over 4 pounds.

True, although I bet it makes the Mini in 6ARC even more stable and possible more accurate. My primary #1 hunting rifle is a Tikka UPR in 6.5 CM and it is 11 lbs.