Howa Mini Rifles, Builds, and Upgrades

[Raghornklr]

Who has done a custom barrel and was it a big improvement over the factory? The stock barrel has always kinda sucked on my 22” sporter. It’s 1.5 MOA unless I run a can and a specific load. Not bad but not really good either.

I bought one of the pre fits off of Lswild and swapped my 22” 6arc to a 16.75” 22arc. It’s been a definite improvement.

 

[KY_coop]

If i can't figure out these pressure issues in mine i may try a McGowan prefit for my 6 arc.

 

[longrangelead]

If i can't figure out these pressure issues in mine i may try a McGowan prefit for my 6 arc.

looking at your previous pic of fired cases, the primer isn't even starting to flatten out which leads me to agree with others that it's probably a burr or sharp corner on the ejector/extractor cuts.
I've had to address this on many rifles of many brands, it's pretty common.

When pressure is suspect, all indicators need to be considered, not just one. Ejector swipe, flat primer, hard bolt lift, velocity, case head growth, etc.

Howas are cheap and feel rough empty so bolt lift can be misleading. Ejector swipes can be misleading as example above. Hornady brass is notoriously soft and can show a swipe way before Peterson or even LC.

Primers vary in cup thickness and hardness so you have to have a feel for that primer in comparison to others. I've had one primer look fine and another look scary flat from the same load.

If a couple signs are there and velocity is slow, it's usually not actually pressure.

Do you have a good chronograph?

To polish the chamber area, cut a 12"x ¼" dowel length ways for 1". insert either 600 grit sand paper or grey scotch brite. using a drill, insert it into the chamber while slowly rotating. You can feel the shoulder of the chamber, stop there. At full speed, work it in and out letting the sandpaper or scotch Brite polish the corner of the chamber the shell hits going in.

It doesn't take but a minute or 2 so don't get crazy, start at 30 seconds and check.

 

[Caseknife]

Agree that it is not pressure looking at the primers.

 

[KY_coop]

I've got garmin chrono that's proofed out pretty accurate. 26.5 gr varget yielded 2485 if I'm remembering correctly. Will have to get a 1/4" dowel rod and try what you reccomended. I've got the ejector cleaned up and sanded the edges though I did not think it was sharp. But I will have to work on the extractor when I get home as well. Thanks for the input

 

[KY_coop]

Used the dowel and 600 grit sandpaper in the chamber and put some sandpaper on spent case heads and cleaned up the bolt. Hit the ejector hole edges again as well. Couldn't get the extractor out but I cut some strips of 400 grit and got them down into the extractor and pulled them out against the edges probably 30 or so times. Whenever the ejector gets here I'm hoping this has it fixed.

 

[General RE LEE]

Just dropped off my Howa Mini 6 ARC at Bug Holes to get a 22” Muller Works barrel. It’s will be a few months but it’s going to be a shooter I’m sure.

 

[Stocky]

Just dropped off my Howa Mini 6 ARC at Bug Holes to get a 22” Muller Works barrel. It’s will be a few months but it’s going to be a shooter I’m sure.

I've only seen one mullerworks barrel and it sets very high expectations.

 

[KyleR1985]

HOWA MINI ACT 350 LEG 16.25' HVY TB

<p>Howa Mini Action, Bolt Action Rifle, 350 Legend, 16.25' Heavy Threaded Barrel, Black Polymer Stock, Right Hand, 3 Round Mag, Manual Safety HMA350B</p>

dahlonegaarmory.com

For anyone wanting to build on a howa mini action. 100 bucks cheaper than the cheapest barreled action at Brownells.

 

[longrangelead]

HOWA MINI ACT 350 LEG 16.25' HVY TB

<p>Howa Mini Action, Bolt Action Rifle, 350 Legend, 16.25' Heavy Threaded Barrel, Black Polymer Stock, Right Hand, 3 Round Mag, Manual Safety HMA350B</p>

dahlonegaarmory.com

For anyone wanting to build on a howa mini action. 100 bucks cheaper than the cheapest barreled action at Brownells.

have you used them before? I'm always skeptical of a great price now days. so many scammers it's ridiculous.

 

[Nicaburns]

have you used them before? I'm always skeptical of a great price now days. so many scammers it's ridiculous.

Dahlonega Armory is legit… I’ve used them several times

 

[Ophidian]

I finally got my build out to the hunting cabin. I tested it with my 95 grain LRX hand loads (2750 fps avg velocity). With a 25 yard zero and zero scope adjustment I was able to hit an 8 inch gong at 280 yards off a bipod 100% of the time

The chronograph verified that I have a 298 yard Maxpoint blank range for a 6 inch circle. The funny thing is that 108 grain ELDM factory ammo has the same point of impact. I’m at the low end of the Barnes load data for varget and that bullet but with that accuracy I’m not sure I’m going to change anything. Maybe load for book max to see if it’s better. But for the hunting, I plan on doing with it I couldn’t ask for a better set up. Get deer vitals in crosshair and within 300 yards it should fall over.

Final build:
Howa mini action 6arc 22” barrel
Stockys VG blem stock
Tricer bipod
SRS pic rail
Jefferson’s bottom metal
Area 419 2 port hellfire brake
Warne mountain tech rings
Nx8 2.5-20 Mil-c

I have never an easier setup with a dedicated hunting rifle from start to finish.

 

[KyleR1985]

have you used them before? I'm always skeptical of a great price now days. so many scammers it's ridiculous.

Chased internet reviews then called them before ordering.

For what it’s worth I tried to get them to match the price of that rifle with a walnut version. Why not right?

The reply I got is that they basically make 5-20 bucks a rifle they don’t even house the inventory it’s all distributors (I assume in this case legacy). They have some inventory, but most of it is just being the middle man and taking a small cut for the transaction. It’s crazy!

I’ll post to confirm receipt of gun, or that I’ve been bamboozled.

 

[Ophidian]

Forgot to add a picture of the build.

 

[Ferrulewax]

Chased internet reviews then called them before ordering.

For what it’s worth I tried to get them to match the price of that rifle with a walnut version. Why not right?

The reply I got is that they basically make 5-20 bucks a rifle they don’t even house the inventory it’s all distributors (I assume in this case legacy). They have some inventory, but most of it is just being the middle man and taking a small cut for the transaction. It’s crazy!

I’ll post to confirm receipt of gun, or that I’ve been bamboozled.

They are gtg. They have a very small storefront/building to store anything on hand.

 

[KyleR1985]

They are gtg. They have a very small storefront/building to store anything on hand.

They’re too good to go. My FFL was on vacation till Monday. It shipped next day, arrived today, with no one to sign for it haha! Figured it would take a week.

Bummer could’ve had my hands on it today if he was there

 

[longrangelead]

HOW MANY OF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN OTHER CARTRIDGES THAT FIT IN THE MINI?

Might be worth a separate thread?

At $400 +/- for a Brownell's special, I'm looking at buying several 223's to do 17 Rem, 20 Practical, 204 Ruger and who knows what else after my current projects.

 

[KyleR1985]

.223ai, 6x45, 6dasher are the ones that seem interesting that don’t exist.

 

[Ferrulewax]

I have found myself interested in a 6GT on a howa ultralight action. Gain some speed, loose some action weight, win-win.

 

[Te Hopo]

Wellll I do have a die set in .25-45 Sharps that I scored stupid cheap.....

I've gone .223AI with my Mini in the mean time but there's something about the 25-45 that does intrigue me.