Howa Mini Rifles, Builds, and Upgrades

[KyleR1985]

Built a 6mm arc Howa mini and I’m just not in love with it. Doesn’t give me confidence over my trusted 308. Thinking of parting with it. I’m not a reloader and the Hornady 103 ELD-Xs just aren’t giving me the velocities I had hoped for.

What are you missing?

What distances do you want to shoot?

What are you shooting at?

What velocities are you getting out of that ammo?

 

[Styer22]

What are you missing?

What distances do you want to shoot?

What are you shooting at?

What velocities are you getting out of that ammo?

Was assembling it for an antelope hunt in the fall for 300yards and in. It’s a 22” barrel and I’m get 2620fps with suppressor shooting the factory loaded 103 eld-x. Was hoping for about 100fps more. Even called and talked to Hornady and they did state the factory loading was being loaded lighter than advertised.
Just doesn’t hold a candle to the Barnes 130ttsx factory loading outa my 18” 308.

 

[The Guide]

Was assembling it for an antelope hunt in the fall for 300yards and in. It’s a 22” barrel and I’m get 2620fps with suppressor shooting the factory loaded 103 eld-x. Was hoping for about 100fps more. Even called and talked to Hornady and they did state the factory loading was being loaded lighter than advertised.
Just doesn’t hold a candle to the Barnes 130ttsx factory loading outa my 18” 308.

I'm getting nearly the same velocity as you are with factory Hornady Precision Hunter 103 ELDX and my gun is an easy 600 yard gun. Even if you want a 2000 fps impact, you are good to 450 yards. I have no issues hunting for deer/elk/antelope to 600 yards and the 103 ELDX has been a great bullet.

Jay

 

[Styer22]

I'm getting nearly the same velocity as you are with factory Hornady Precision Hunter 103 ELDX and my gun is an easy 600 yard gun. Even if you want a 2000 fps impact, you are good to 450 yards. I have no issues hunting for deer/elk/antelope to 600 yards and the 103 ELDX has been a great bullet.

Jay

I’m showing 2000fps out to roughly 375 yards. Rifle shoots sub moa by a little. But that’s with significantly more drop and only slightly less wind drift then my 308 with 130ttsx that’s a ~1/2moa gun. I think I would have felt better if it had that 100fps more and at least was close to matching the 308s drop.

 

[jpndave]

That is strange. My wood stock came in at 31.8oz.

Is your barrel free floated? The sides on mine are fine, but it is touching on the bottom. I will almost certainly sand the channel to get my barrel.

The pillar bedding seems sturdy, but I will probably glass bed the recoil lug

Mine is porky with the heavy 3-12 scope I am testing. Once that test is done, I'll swap in a lightweight Leupold and lighter rings. That will save me about 12oz.

Yes, it is floated as delivered from the factory. That's within the weight differences that walnut can have. Higher figured (prettier) wood is usually quite a bit more dense than the straight plain wood so that tracks looking at both stocks. The one I have is definitely nicer to look at but yours has better layout on the grain directions and is lighter. I suspect you could loose 8 oz or so on that stock by hollowing it out. I am not pursuing that as I bought that rifle for the action only. Yes, kind of stupid but I REALLY wanted a stainless one. I have one of the Stocky's carbon stocks. I'll either sell that wood stock with the 6mm ARC barreled action or part it all out. It's getting re-barreled with a Bartlein gain twist I have from a BLR project I changed my mind on. Should work out well just need to get to the lathe and get after it. I'll probably bush the bolt and true things up while I'm opening up the bolt face for the larger case head.

 

[jpndave]

Shot my 6arc mini this weekend and loved it. I am going to throw a brake on it but I am having trouble finding a 6mm 1/2"x28 brake though. Any suggestions?

Are you wanting a self timing brake or something that can be blended in to look more at home on the rifle?

 

[The Guide]

I’m showing 2000fps out to roughly 375 yards. Rifle shoots sub moa by a little. But that’s with significantly more drop and only slightly less wind drift then my 308 with 130ttsx that’s a ~1/2moa gun. I think I would have felt better if it had that 100fps more and at least was close to matching the 308s drop.

What altitude are you using? I used 4500' DA as that is a very common altitude for antelope to live at in Montana and Wyoming. The only way I can get close to your drops is by putting my calculator to sea level.

Jay

 

[Styer22]

What altitude are you using? I used 4500' DA as that is a very common altitude for antelope to live at in Montana and Wyoming. The only way I can get close to your drops is by putting my calculator to sea level.

Jay

Using my home elevation, but really pressure and humidity readings, which is just shy of 1000ft but comparing apples to apples with the 308.

 

[Unckebob]

Yes, it is floated as delivered from the factory. That's within the weight differences that walnut can have. Higher figured (prettier) wood is usually quite a bit more dense than the straight plain wood so that tracks looking at both stocks. The one I have is definitely nicer to look at but yours has better layout on the grain directions and is lighter. I suspect you could loose 8 oz or so on that stock by hollowing it out. I am not pursuing that as I bought that rifle for the action only. Yes, kind of stupid but I REALLY wanted a stainless one. I have one of the Stocky's carbon stocks. I'll either sell that wood stock with the 6mm ARC barreled action or part it all out. It's getting re-barreled with a Bartlein gain twist I have from a BLR project I changed my mind on. Should work out well just need to get to the lathe and get after it. I'll probably bush the bolt and true things up while I'm opening up the bolt face for the larger case head.

I didn't even notice there were stainless actions available. . I really don't like actions that rust. If I had known, I would have done the same thing.

The gun is really light as is. The easy weight solution is the scope. The last Sig scope I had was trash. SIG sent me the one on the rifle to replace it. It is better, by a mile than the old SIG, but it will be comeing off once I can source a lighter scope I like. The bolt handle just barely clears the SIG. That change gets me into the 6.5lb range.

The $299 Stocky's factory second stock gets me under 6lbs, but I don't know I want to go that light.

I hope you like yours.