Howa Mini Rifles, Builds, and Upgrades

[General RE LEE]

Got the all thread and JB Weld in and bedded the recoil lug only on my 6 ARC.

The B&C has a built in aluminum chassis so the tang area is pretty solid with the action. There is a little front to back movement with the lug in the lug channel so the bedding will make it tighter.

Shoe polish as release agent, all thread in action screws and wrapped it tight with electrical tape. Will take it to range tomorrow.

 

[Ferrulewax]

Just sanded out the channel of my stockys sporter. It’ll fit a few dead cats now with the sporter profile barrel

The factory sporter channel was pretty tight and lopsided so it contacted my barrel on the right side. Now no such problems!

 

[General RE LEE]

Lug bedding job done. It’s tight with no front to back. Without action screws, barreled action see saws a bit but zero front to back movement. I evenly torqued action screws to 35 in/lbs. Will see how it shoots.

 

[General RE LEE]

Not bad first group post bedding the lug.

 

[Marshfly]

Just sanded out the channel of my stockys sporter. It’ll fit a few dead cats now with the sporter profile barrel

The factory sporter channel was pretty tight and lopsided so it contacted my barrel on the right side. Now no such problems!

Mine was similar. Wish I had bought the stock with the larger profile from the get go.

 

[hereinaz]

I talked with a rep and he thought there was a stainless mini action rifle in .223 available on the product line.

 

[jeremy.b]

I haven't seen one, but does anyone know if they make a stainless version of the 6 ARC?

 

[Benjy howell]

I haven't seen one, but does anyone know if they make a stainless version of the 6 ARC?

Take my money i would have to have on in stainless

 

[hereinaz]

I haven't seen one, but does anyone know if they make a stainless version of the 6 ARC?

Don’t think they have them in the US. The rep I talked with today thought there was one stainless style imported and it was .223x

 

[KyleR1985]

Howa mini .223 cut to 16”

65* loading temp, 25* shooting temp

Lever
F205
LC once fired 31gn+ water capacity
77tmk
Loaded long

Shot 25,25.5,26g x 5 groups after pressure test. Didn’t get good till 26.

No signs of pressure until 27g, slightly cratered primer. No heavy or sticky bolt lift on any.

Will load up 26,26.3, 26.6 x10, and roll with the best.

The extra case capacity loading long makes a big difference.

Don’t take advice from me, just data.

 

[OneShot]

What would be a good option for a short LOP for the mini? My 7 year old loves to shoot and this will mainly be a gun for the kids.
I’ve looked at the Boyd’s, still debating if I want to go that route with an adjustable LOP. Will make the gun heavier than what I was trying for.
Maybe buy a VG2 and cut it to shorten the LOP. Which would keep the overall weight really good.
Right now I’m going to cut the factory stock so they can shoot the gun, but definitely want to upgrade the stock.

 

[KyleR1985]

the stockys is like 12.5”. Mine is anyway

 

[hereinaz]

What would be a good option for a short LOP for the mini? My 7 year old loves to shoot and this will mainly be a gun for the kids.
I’ve looked at the Boyd’s, still debating if I want to go that route with an adjustable LOP. Will make the gun heavier than what I was trying for.
Maybe buy a VG2 and cut it to shorten the LOP. Which would keep the overall weight really good.
Right now I’m going to cut the factory stock so they can shoot the gun, but definitely want to upgrade the stock.

I would cut the factory, and run that for a while. Pick up used ones to cut longer ones as they grow. Most or the time the factory stocks shoot fine with a lower recoiling mini, especially if you replace the bottom metal.

You can cut a VG2, then make spacers for it as they grow. That’s what I would do. If you make the cut clean enough, you can replace the cutoff portion back to full length with epoxied inserts.

Another alternative is a chassis with an AR stock. A little heavier, but still not bad.

 

[Qholum37]

Anyone use the GY6 Precision bottom metal that Brownells has?

 

[Benjy howell]

Anyone use the GY6 Precision bottom metal that Brownells has?

I have 1 seems nice ..

 

[9.3koolaid]

Finally got to take it to the range. Handloads turned out pretty good. Also shot some factory ammo, this is a 16.5" barrel, all ten round groups at 100 yards:

108 eld match, 2+ inches, 2551 avg
103 eldx precision hunter, 2 inches, 2526 avg
80 eldvt match, 1.9 inches, 2689 avg

87 vmax on 31 grains of cfe223 in alpha brass, 1.0 inches, 2716 avg

 

[Randy11]

What would be a good option for a short LOP for the mini? My 7 year old loves to shoot and this will mainly be a gun for the kids.
I’ve looked at the Boyd’s, still debating if I want to go that route with an adjustable LOP. Will make the gun heavier than what I was trying for.
Maybe buy a VG2 and cut it to shorten the LOP. Which would keep the overall weight really good.
Right now I’m going to cut the factory stock so they can shoot the gun, but definitely want to upgrade the stock.

I like 12.5" and ended up ordering the Boyds heritage at 12.75". I'm not worried about weight on mine though.

the stockys is like 12.5”. Mine is anyway

Can you measure? They list it as 13.5"

 

[Tanner]

Howa mini .223 cut to 16”

65* loading temp, 25* shooting temp

Lever
F205
LC once fired 31gn+ water capacity
77tmk
Loaded long

Shot 25,25.5,26g x 5 groups after pressure test. Didn’t get good till 26.

No signs of pressure until 27g, slightly cratered primer. No heavy or sticky bolt lift on any.

Will load up 26,26.3, 26.6 x10, and roll with the best.

The extra case capacity loading long makes a big difference.

Don’t take advice from me, just data.

View attachment 828493

Single feeding ?

 

[KyleR1985]

Single feeding ?

Nope.

Rifle has oregunsmith hinged bottom metal.

It’s my wife’s. First trip to range was disaster because the follower is garbage in that metal.

Talked to Chris at Jefferson outdoors and he sent me his mag box and follower to try. Has cycled flawlessly across a few hundred shots now.

I can load 2.45” in this mag box without issue.

Same with the mag box that came in the oregunsmith metal.

And I’ve windowed the factory magazines to work with detach metal. This allows you to load to flush with front of magazine(have to be deliberate loading the mag so tips don’t catch). This ends up being 2.375-2.39”


.020” off the lands for this rifle with 77TMK is 2.435” OAL. That’s where the above results were loaded.

If I end up going with magazines for her, we’ll be down to 2.375” OAL probably. So I’ll have to back off a little. And I plan to work up again in summer to get a “hot weather” max with lever.


I’ve been surprised at how much there is to be gained with the increase in case capacity loading long.

 

[Tanner]

Nope.

Rifle has oregunsmith hinged bottom metal.

It’s my wife’s. First trip to range was disaster because the follower is garbage in that metal.

Talked to Chris at Jefferson outdoors and he sent me his mag box and follower to try. Has cycled flawlessly across a few hundred shots now.

I can load 2.45” in this mag box without issue.

Same with the mag box that came in the oregunsmith metal.

And I’ve windowed the factory magazines to work with detach metal. This allows you to load to flush with front of magazine(have to be deliberate loading the mag so tips don’t catch). This ends up being 2.375-2.39”


.020” off the lands for this rifle with 77TMK is 2.435” OAL. That’s where the above results were loaded.

If I end up going with magazines for her, we’ll be down to 2.375” OAL probably. So I’ll have to back off a little. And I plan to work up again in summer to get a “hot weather” max with lever.


I’ve been surprised at how much there is to be gained with the increase in case capacity loading long.

Nice, that’s super handy. 2850+ with a 77 seems like a lot of ass for burning 26.5gr of powder. The little 223 case is a gem.