Howa Mini Rifles, Builds, and Upgrades

waspocrew

WKR
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Apr 2, 2022
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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.

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KyleR1985

WKR
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Jul 28, 2019
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662
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.
 

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Marshfly

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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

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Sep 25, 2014
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180
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Colorado
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

FNG
Joined
Mar 1, 2022
Messages
27
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

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Apr 2, 2022
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MT
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

WKR
Joined
Jul 29, 2019
Messages
747
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.
 

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bigbuckdj

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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.
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

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Mar 31, 2023
Messages
237
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.
 
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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.
 

The Harbor Master

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Apr 17, 2022
Messages
136
Location
SW Idaho
Read through this thread and I see most guys are really chasing a lightweight, easy to carry rifle. That's awesome. I'm not looking at the mini quite from that perspective. I'm planning a hunting rifle for my son to grow into and I'm sold on the 6ARC. While I am a Tikka guy, the Howa seems like the best option to have a factory 6ARC instead of the extra work and money to get the Tikka set up. Although, if I were to get the mini, stockys, bedding... I'm priced closer to just doing the T3X.

Anyone have a mini in factory configuration without any major mods, shooting factory 6ARC loads with success? Bonus question, anyone have a youngster shooting that set up with success?
 

bigbuckdj

WKR
Joined
Jul 29, 2019
Messages
747
Read through this thread and I see most guys are really chasing a lightweight, easy to carry rifle. That's awesome. I'm not looking at the mini quite from that perspective. I'm planning a hunting rifle for my son to grow into and I'm sold on the 6ARC. While I am a Tikka guy, the Howa seems like the best option to have a factory 6ARC instead of the extra work and money to get the Tikka set up. Although, if I were to get the mini, stockys, bedding... I'm priced closer to just doing the T3X.

Anyone have a mini in factory configuration without any major mods, shooting factory 6ARC loads with success? Bonus question, anyone have a youngster shooting that set up with success?
The one I posted a few posts back in the chassis was a chopped down Tupperware factory stock before that. Young lady shot her first deer with a 108 ELDM in that macgyver compact stock configuration. There are some limb saver pads that are very close dimensionally but I really wanted a chassis for the adjustable LOP, so I just put the factory one back on to get me to the mdt factory seconds sale.
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The Guide

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Montana
Read through this thread and I see most guys are really chasing a lightweight, easy to carry rifle. That's awesome. I'm not looking at the mini quite from that perspective. I'm planning a hunting rifle for my son to grow into and I'm sold on the 6ARC. While I am a Tikka guy, the Howa seems like the best option to have a factory 6ARC instead of the extra work and money to get the Tikka set up. Although, if I were to get the mini, stockys, bedding... I'm priced closer to just doing the T3X.

Anyone have a mini in factory configuration without any major mods, shooting factory 6ARC loads with success? Bonus question, anyone have a youngster shooting that set up with success?
This was with a Mini Action 6.5 Grendel in stock configuration. I bought one for each of my kids to use as their first rifles. Black one was just a rifle and the green one was the package with the Nikko Sterling scope. This was before the 6 ARC was born. Both rifles have killed lots of deer for my kids. Even though they have moved on to other guns for hunting, these are their comfort rifles. They love to take them to the range and wack steel with them while practicing proper shooting techniques.

Jay

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The Harbor Master

Lil-Rokslider
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Apr 17, 2022
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136
Location
SW Idaho
This was with a Mini Action 6.5 Grendel in stock configuration. I bought one for each of my kids to use as their first rifles. Black one was just a rifle and the green one was the package with the Nikko Sterling scope. This was before the 6 ARC was born. Both rifles have killed lots of deer for my kids. Even though they have moved on to other guns for hunting, these are their comfort rifles. They love to take them to the range and wack steel with them while practicing proper shooting techniques.

Jay

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That's awesome. Thanks.
 

Marshfly

WKR
Joined
Sep 18, 2022
Messages
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Location
Missoula, Montana
That sounds like a sweet setup! Probably right, about 7 pounds with a light scope and can?
Tis is without the Scythe so you aren't far off.
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Bonus question, anyone have a youngster shooting that set up with success?
My 10yo took his first deer at 260 yards with my ultralight Mini this year. He had maybe 20 shots through it at the range before he killed with a single double lung shot. Other than a few shots with the 223, this is the only centerfire rifle he's ever shot. Recoil is simply a non-issue with this cartridge. The longer trigger reach of the VG is a little tough for him but manageable apparently.

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