Howa Mini Rifles, Builds, and Upgrades

[waspocrew]

Thanks! I had pretty much ruled out the carbon, but wanted the confirmation. Do you think an 18" barrel would be a good fit for my purposes?

Just how light are you wanting to go?

I went with the 20" heavy barrel version. With Vortex 4.5-22 LHT, rings, pic rail, stockys carbon VG, and gunwerks bipod, it weighs 7 lbs 4.5 oz. Add a little over 1 lb for my Gunwerks 8ight suppressor (thinking of buying a Scythe Ti specifically for this rifle). As is, it's probably my lightest rifle in my safe.

The 22" cut down to 20" or 18" will definitely be lighter, but you're also adding in costs as well.

 

[KyleR1985]

Thanks! I had pretty much ruled out the carbon, but wanted the confirmation. Do you think an 18" barrel would be a good fit for my purposes?

Determine minimum velocity for the bullet you want to shoot.

Pick cartridge/powder/barrel length that gets that bullet to the distance you want to shoot.

if you’re shooting factory stuff, well, you only get to pick barrel length.

here’s a rough idea for factory 108’s.

 

[Marshfly]

Thanks! I had pretty much ruled out the carbon, but wanted the confirmation. Do you think an 18" barrel would be a good fit for my purposes?

I hunt almost 100% above that 5k mark here in Montana and my 17.75" Mini 6ARC is absolutely money for me. My factory ELD-M dopes out to having a 2550 MV and holding 1800FPS out to 600 yards.

So yes.

My rifle ended up at like 5# 1oz bare with the VG stock.

 

[Cantharellus]

Just how light are you wanting to go?

I went with the 20" heavy barrel version. With Vortex 4.5-22 LHT, rings, pic rail, stockys carbon VG, and gunwerks bipod, it weighs 7 lbs 4.5 oz. Add a little over 1 lb for my Gunwerks 8ight suppressor (thinking of buying a Scythe Ti specifically for this rifle). As is, it's probably my lightest rifle in my safe.

The 22" cut down to 20" or 18" will definitely be lighter, but you're also adding in costs as well.

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That's a sweet rifle! Thank you for the info. That helps me narrow things down for sure. I was thinking 7 to 8 pounds total, so with the 9.4oz Normad Ti XC I would be right in there with your build. My main hunting rifle right now is a 9lb Tikka 270 without the can, so anything lighter would be a noticeable difference!

How is the balance with the heavier barrel and can? Does it feel weight-forward?

Determine minimum velocity for the bullet you want to shoot.

Pick cartridge/powder/barrel length that gets that bullet to the distance you want to shoot.

if you’re shooting factory stuff, well, you only get to pick barrel length.

here’s a rough idea for factory 108’s.

That's a helpful chart, thank you! Looks like 18 to 20" should be plenty of MV for my purposes!

I hunt almost 100% above that 5k mark here in Montana and my 17.75" Mini 6ARC is absolutely money for me. My factory ELD-M dopes out to having a 2550 MV and holding 1800FPS out to 600 yards.

So yes.

My rifle ended up at like 5# 1oz bare with the VG stock.

That sounds like a sweet setup! Probably right, about 7 pounds with a light scope and can?

 

[JJ3]

Just how light are you wanting to go?

I went with the 20" heavy barrel version. With Vortex 4.5-22 LHT, rings, pic rail, stockys carbon VG, and gunwerks bipod, it weighs 7 lbs 4.5 oz. Add a little over 1 lb for my Gunwerks 8ight suppressor (thinking of buying a Scythe Ti specifically for this rifle). As is, it's probably my lightest rifle in my safe.

The 22" cut down to 20" or 18" will definitely be lighter, but you're also adding in costs as well.

View attachment 812428View attachment 812429

Nice build.

Can you take a diameter measurement at 12.5” on that barrel please?

Thanks

 

[waspocrew]

That's a sweet rifle! Thank you for the info. That helps me narrow things down for sure. I was thinking 7 to 8 pounds total, so with the 9.4oz Normad Ti XC I would be right in there with your build. My main hunting rifle right now is a 9lb Tikka 270 without the can, so anything lighter would be a noticeable difference!

How is the balance with the heavier barrel and can? Does it feel weight-forward?


That's a helpful chart, thank you! Looks like 18 to 20" should be plenty of MV for my purposes!


That sounds like a sweet setup! Probably right, about 7 pounds with a light scope and can?

Thanks! Without the can, it balances pretty well. It does feel forward heavy with the can though since it’s an 18 oz steel suppressor. I’m thinking a Ti can would be just fine.

 

[bigbuckdj]

It’s 40.4 ounces with the chassis, fostech aluminum castle nut, mdt buffer tube, magpul dt-pr, and mdt premier pistol grip. My friends daughter is using the 6 arc, I’ll get it back in a couple weeks and a give a full weight.
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This is probably the coolest gun I have per dollar spent. I’m excited to see how many kids can put a 108 eldm through a whitetail with this thing. 7 pounds 12 ounces with a dnz one piece mount, 3.5-10x44 meopro, CGS suppressor qd mount, howa 6 arc mag, howa rubber bolt ball, factory seconds mdt lss gen 2 chassis, mdt buffer tube, mdt premier grip, fostech aluminum castle nut, magpul dt pr buttstock.

 

[bigbuckdj]

This is probably the coolest gun I have per dollar spent. I’m excited to see how many kids can put a 108 eldm through a whitetail with this thing. 7 pounds 12 ounces with a dnz one piece mount, 3.5-10x44 meopro, CGS suppressor qd mount, howa 6 arc mag, howa rubber bolt ball, factory seconds mdt lss gen 2 chassis, mdt buffer tube, mdt premier grip, fostech aluminum castle nut, magpul dt pr buttstock.

Also I bought the tactical bolt knob that @General RE LEE shared a while back and twisted off a screw head trying to install it. I’m going to see if legacy sports will send me another. If not, the rubber ball they sell is still a nice addition.

 

[Qholum37]

I have been really interested in these Howa Mini's lately and was trying to decide between 6 ARC and 6.5 Grendel. We have a few Grendel AR's already, so I have all the reloading stuff for it which was making my decision difficult...until I walked into my local sporting goods store today. They had a 6.5 Grendel and a 223 (both 20" threaded models) on some yellow tag clearance deal for $340! I snagged the Grendel, and my wife got the 223! Pretty excited to see how they do.

 

[General RE LEE]

Also I bought the tactical bolt knob that @General RE LEE shared a while back and twisted off a screw head trying to install it. I’m going to see if legacy sports will send me another. If not, the rubber ball they sell is still a nice addition.

It makes cycling the bolt so much quicker and easier for sure.

The 6 ARC in a bolt gun is no slouch. It’s what I’ve been grabbing on just about every hunt.