Howa Mini Rifles, Builds, and Upgrades

[hereinaz]

Pre-sale to help with purchasing things?

I don't even have my stock yet or scope, but I'd would be all over getting a bigger mag capt.

Thanks, your support means a lot. These are definitely niche items, compared to the broader market. But, LS Wild is into the smaller niches. We really like to do cool things and new things. It means we don't have much competition. Also means we have to educate a lot of people.

But, yes, I will do a presale just to kick off the sale and make a deal for Roksliders, but I don't like relying on it. The last thing we want to do is make promises and then have something fall through. That sucks for people like you, and all it takes is a couple things to go wrong and all of a sudden is a giant catastrophe.

Look at the Rokstock, and you know they had every intention of making good. It is actually much harder than people would make out to do this.

I've thought I had things worked out with manufacturers, but the tiny detail can be slow to resolve when both LS and the supplier have other work that pays the bills...

 

[hereinaz]

I have some Howa Mini prefit barrels coming in 223 and 22 ARC that need to get sold, for anyone wanting to help us!

They are on sale right now, but the price will go up when they get into the shop.

 

[nm.otter]

Love that little 6mm.

The 109s are even just a little better…

Especially in a 6mm GT.

My first semi-custom gun is in the works: 6.5 CM Superlite action from Oregunsmithing, with his LRH stock and bottom metal, all Cerakoted. DNZ one-piece mount already drop-shipped to Wayne.

I might re-barrel to 6mm GT in a year -- or just start a new build.

 

[PistolPete]

Bottom metal tip and STATUS UPDATE on my bottom metal project.

FYI, you can modify your factory mags to fit into MDT's bottom metal that works with the Mamba mags they discontinued. Here is a bottom metal for $75 bucks. I figured out how to do it as I was playing with mags for a new design. All you have to do is cut a little notch in the back of them like the Mamba mag. Or, you could probably epoxy on a wedge shaped piece of kydex, but cutting a shallow spot has worked so far. Just don't cut all the way through.

I have been working on new designs for bottom metal for the Mini and Superlite. The mag release will be by the trigger guard which should eliminate some of the reported problems with the Superlite factory bottom metal which is also made of plastic.

I own the factory and DIP bottom metal for both Mini and Superlite, along with Jefferson and MDT's discontinued mag bottom metal. I did a video call explaining it to a CAD engineer, and am now sending all them to have a bottom metal designed off MDT's discontinued version, but improve it.

I will get a couple 3D printed prototypes. Maybe I'll have a few of you test them for me.

Along with the bottom metal prototypes, I am having them make me some magazines. Yes, I am pushing out the front of the magazine so that you can load longer in the Mini. I am making the bottom metal compatible with the factory magazines with the same modification I describe above.

Here is a listing for the discontinued MDT bottom metal.

MDT Howa 1500 Mini Action Bottom Metal Black For Mamba | eBay

The MDT Howa 1500 Mini Action Bottom Metal in black is designed for the Mamba feeder boxes for all calibers. Demo product, in like new condition with only some light scratches from inserting mags. I did not feel this required new pictures to get the point across. You will be happy with the...

www.ebay.com

Have you heard from Howa that they're apparently working on factory bottom metal? I first heard the rumor on here, and they confirmed that in an email. Might be worth looking into before you get too deep (although I'm sure they will screw theirs up somehow...)

 

[hereinaz]

Have you heard from Howa that they're apparently working on factory bottom metal? I first heard the rumor on here, and they confirmed that in an email. Might be worth looking into before you get too deep (although I'm sure they will screw theirs up somehow...)

They won’t depart from the magazine design which requires the catch on the front. I am leaving that design.

Also, weren’t they talking about hinged bottom metal?

 

[IDVortex]

Well, got the email notification today saying my VG stock is on the way. Wasn't expecting it for at least another 2 weeks. So a nice surprise. I just hope it doesn't lack the QC. Still haven't decided on a optic. Plus need to save some cash for one.

 

[Veloci_Wrench]

I’ve had my .223 Mini for 2 years now.

22” sporter chopped to 18”, Mini VG stock, SWFA 3-9, JO blind bottom metal, suppressed.

It’s always been a 1.5 moa gun in the Mini VG, which has been fine, as I killed 2 bucks this past season each at 300+. I decided to open up the barrel channel to see if I could shrink groups and get it closer in precision to my Howa 308 in a KRG Bravo.

After opening up the barrel channel, the precision went to crap. It’s a 2 moa + gun right now. After closer inspection, I realized the bottom of the recoil lug does not make contact with the stock, and the flat section of the action bottoms out on stock just behind lug area, causing the action and stock to get loaded unevenly while torquing up. Previously the barrel channel was supporting the action near the shank, which helped preserve precision. Now with it open, the only support is rearward of the action screw.

Needless to say, I’m bedding the action tomorrow.

This is definitely a Stocky’s fitment issue, as I briefly had a pillar-bedded Hogue stock that shot far better.

 

[BBob]

This is definitely a Stocky’s fitment issue

They think the Accu Block design is the answer but it is not. Once you take the action in and out a time or two the Accu Block isn't doing much anymore. It gets smashed down deeper and deeper until it isn't supporting the lug anymore. As you're doing, bedding is the solution.

 

[IDVortex]

Is it worth even mounting the action to the stocky stock just to see if it shoots, or just bed it as soon as I get it and be done with it? Almost going to the later, almost seems like everyone has to bed a stocky to get it to shoot correctly?

 

[waspocrew]

Is it worth even mounting the action to the stocky stock just to see if it shoots, or just bed it as soon as I get it and be done with it? Almost going to the later, almost seems like everyone has to bed a stocky to get it to shoot correctly?

I think it's worth trying it out. If it's acceptable, keep going with it. I wanted to eliminate any variables, so I had mine bedded (basically to satisfy my OCD).

 

[waspocrew]

I put about 40 rounds through my 6 ARC mini on Friday. I was trying the "painless method" of reloading and didn't get great results with the 76 tipstrike and 100 tipped gameking. 105 hybrid group was "ok" for 10 rounds, but may try working up loads like I have in the past to see if that changes things.

My rifle does not care for the factory 80 gr V Match at all. 2.5" 5 shot groups was the best I could wrangle out of it.

I have a Jard trigger on order now - the factory trigger was fine after I clipped the coil, but just not a huge fan of the 2 stage.

 

[BBob]

almost seems like everyone has to bed a stocky to get it to shoot correctly?

No I wouldn't say that, try it first. I would also say don't go torquing the action bolts to 65inch lbs (especially the front) but start much lower like 35-40 and see how it goes.

 

[Veloci_Wrench]

Update: Action bedding has been put on hold, as I previously bonded and bedded my pic rail while the action was (unknowingly) stressed in the mini VG. I put a straight edge to the pic rail with the action unstressed, and now it is cupped. The action has relaxed and is pushing the ends of pic rail upward, creating a valley. I assumed the pic rail was wonky when I was initially installing, but didn't really care since I was bonding and bedding. Turns out it was action deformation from the stock.

I will need to remove the rail in order to ensure there is no stress on the action before bedding to stock.

 

[PistolPete]

Does anyone know the weight of the Mini walnut stock by itself? Looks pretty nice.

 

[KyleR1985]

Update: Action bedding has been put on hold, as I previously bonded and bedded my pic rail while the action was (unknowingly) stressed in the mini VG. I put a straight edge to the pic rail with the action unstressed, and now it is cupped. The action has relaxed and is pushing the ends of pic rail upward, creating a valley. I assumed the pic rail was wonky when I was initially installing, but didn't really care since I was bonding and bedding. Turns out it was action deformation from the stock.

I will need to remove the rail in order to ensure there is no stress on the action before bedding to stock.

Stock fitment to action causing accuracy issues has always been a confusing concept to me. I “get it” generally.

This post crystallized it in my brain. Excellent information, thanks for sharing

 

[HuntCrazy]

Well, got the email notification today saying my VG stock is on the way. Wasn't expecting it for at least another 2 weeks. So a nice surprise. I just hope it doesn't lack the QC. Still haven't decided on a optic. Plus need to save some cash for one.

When did you order?

 

[jpndave]

Does anyone know the weight of the Mini walnut stock by itself? Looks pretty nice.

If someone doesn't get this for you, I will in a few days. I had a weak moment last week and bought a stainless mini in the walnut stock. I'll be selling my blued action 6mm ARC in that stock when I get it here and everything moved over. I'll try and get everything I have weighed for reference before it leaves.

The wood stocked ss mini inbound is 350 Legend which I do not want, probably why it was still available. I have a Bartlein gain twist 6mm barrel from a redirected BLR project that I plan to put on it to get back to the 6mm ARC.