Howa Mini Rifles, Builds, and Upgrades

[Qholum37]

Does Howa keep tolerances close enough for pre-fit barrels or do you need a custom barrel spun up? Barrel Nut?

McGowen did a 7PRC shouldered prefit for me a couple years ago on a Howa 1500 that headspaced good without them ever seeing the action. Shoots great, not sure if they still offer shouldered prefits for that action or not.

 

[UnckleBob]

I took my Howa out for the first time today. It is replacing a Savage 110 with a heavy 20" barrel.

Impressions:
1) I had trouble getting rounds to feed from the magazine. The second round kept tipping up

2) The 3-9 scope Leupold fit the Howa perfect, the glass was very clear, but with my poor vision, it was a hard to aim precisely at 100 yards.

3) Action is much much smoother than than the Savage.

4) The light carbon barrel made it easy to handle.

 

[Ferrulewax]

View attachment 860294
Another barrel to try. Actually the original barrel off this action.

Got any info on that barrel? Just had the factory one turned down?

 

[KyleR1985]

First 40 out of the mini 6dasher today with virgin brass.

Best load was 108eldm 32gr Varget 2700fps.

I’m pretty happy with this project. Fed and ejected flawlessly.

 

[KyleR1985]

What length is your barrel again? The 22” factory sporter 6arc use to get 2730 with the factory loaded 103eld-x till Hornady changed powders/decided to download it in the last 6ish months. Now it’s 2610ish.

16”. I started a thread on the gun

 

[Stocky]

Does Howa keep tolerances close enough for pre-fit barrels or do you need a custom barrel spun up? Barrel Nut?

The 2 i have measured were within 0.01mm so 0.0015" but that's a sample of 2.

 

[UnckleBob]

What are you using for bore guides?

Even my skinny bore guide won't fit because the tip is too large. I like Possom Hollow guides, but cannot locate the correct size.

 

[BBob]

What are you using for bore guides?

Even my skinny bore guide won't fit because the tip is too large. I like Possom Hollow guides, but cannot locate the correct size.

Contact to verify: Possum Hollow for the Mini in 6.5 #326, 223 #325

I used one of those four piece with plastic ends and an alu bushing for bolt bore and modified it. It was sitting unused in my junk box and I have no idea who made it. Had small diameter replaceable noses for different bores. I machined a smaller bushing for the bolt bore and used the original handle off the original bushing.

 

[IDVortex]

Curious, has anyone used the Brownells bottom metal?

 

[Qholum37]

Curious, has anyone used the Brownells bottom metal?

I have been thinking about that one as well since the Jefferson one hasn't been available in months. I have reached out to them a few times and the answer has been the same. They say "A couple weeks" but I still haven't seen any pop up in stock.

 

[270quest]

I have been thinking about that one as well since the Jefferson one hasn't been available in months. I have reached out to them a few times and the answer has been the same. They say "A couple weeks" but I still haven't seen any pop up in stock.

Jefferson just finished a batch about 3 weeks ago and they were for sale. They finish a batch of around 25-30 about every 3-4 weeks.

 

[BBob]

They say "A couple weeks" but I still haven't seen any pop up in stock.

They used to have you email and request to be put on a notify list. Have you asked if they do that anymore? I've purchased two in the past and that's the way it went. I get an email telling me "hey I have some ready and if you want one tell me quick and you'll get one".

 

[hereinaz]

Curious, has anyone used the Brownells bottom metal?

Isn’t it the factory plastic mag system? Did they get a new one in?

 

[Qholum37]

I picked up The Jefferson one in the last month. You have to check and refresh their site like a hound a few times a day. They drop a handful at a time. But I’m selling my mini and the Jefferson hinged bottom metal together over in the gun classifieds section. But I won’t sell the bottom metal before the rifle goes.

Jefferson just finished a batch about 3 weeks ago and they were for sale. They finish a batch of around 25-30 about every 3-4 weeks.

I have been waiting for the one that takes factory mags which I havnt seen but I did see the hinged floorplate ones around that time.

 

[Qholum37]

They used to have you email and request to be put on a notify list. Have you asked if they do that anymore? I've purchased two in the past and that's the way it went. I get an email telling me "hey I have some ready and if you want one tell me quick and you'll get one".

Yep, that's what I did as well. Looking to get the one for factory mags.

 

[IDVortex]

Isn’t it the factory plastic mag system? Did they get a new one in?

Nope, it's aluminum

 

[IDVortex]

Isn’t it the factory plastic mag system? Did they get a new one in?

Oh I'm a moron, yes, it's for the factory mag.

 

[IDVortex]

Another question. This is the first time I've messed with rifles (besides assembling a AR). What are you wanting to bed with the howas? I've read the entire action and than just the lugs? What should I do? I'm thinking of just bedding it and not worry about it. Is there any special techniques to do it?

 

[Qholum37]

Another question. This is the first time I've messed with rifles (besides assembling a AR). What are you wanting to bed with the howas? I've read the entire action and than just the lugs? What should I do? I'm thinking of just bedding it and not worry about it. Is there any special techniques to do it?

I did the lug and tang and it turned out good with way less work than doing the whole action. Groups tightened way up. My factory bottom plastic cracked upon reassembly though so I swapped it out from another mini to get by. Need 2 bottom metals real bad!

 

[hereinaz]

Nope, it's aluminum

I didn’t see that aluminum bottom metal before. Interesting. How new is it?