Howa Mini Rifles, Builds, and Upgrades

[JFK]

Guys with factory barrels on their howa minis, is there a consensus on what the odds are of getting a dud barrel? I’m really tempted to get a 22arc, throw it in a better stock with better bottom metal, but all the appeal goes away if I have to rebarrel. Trying to gauge what the norm is on accuracy from factory barrels. 1-1.5 moa with hadloads would be acceptable.

 

[buck40]

Anyone had any weird accuracy issues with their Minis or noticed they are sensitive to dirty barrels?

I have a 22” 6 Arc in a Stockys with 50-60 rounds through it. During initial break in it was shooting 1-1.5 MOA, next range trip was .75-1 MOA but trip this week was 2-2.5 MOA. I checked scope rings and action screws and everything was torqued properly.

I cleaned it good and will take it back out to test; just curious if it’s happened to others

Not that but once I got it sighted in, I'd shoot three times without letting it cool. Without fail, cold bore shot would be on, shots two and three would be almost touching but 1-1/2" higher than shot one.
Let it cool, repeat, same result.
I plan on trying another load and/or bedding after season.
223 Rem 22" sporter, Stocky's, JO, factory 75gr Speer Gold Dots.

 

[RWT]

I bedded my mini myself in a Stockys and replaced the BM with Oregon’s. Factory barrel and it shoots 1.5” with Hornady 123 Match. I am on the fence with a rebarrel. I want to but am not sure the juice is worth the squeeze. Mine is a 6.5G and I have a hard time getting it to cycle or load smoothly. For the cost of the rebarrel I may just build a Tikka in 6.5G and move to AICS mags. If I could go AICS with the Mini I would.

I moved a ruger g1 to a bravo stock and it solved the feeding issues using AICS mags.

 

[4090Sharps]

I bedded my mini myself in a Stockys and replaced the BM with Oregon’s. Factory barrel and it shoots 1.5” with Hornady 123 Match. I am on the fence with a rebarrel. I want to but am not sure the juice is worth the squeeze. Mine is a 6.5G and I have a hard time getting it to cycle or load smoothly. For the cost of the rebarrel I may just build a Tikka in 6.5G and move to AICS mags. If I could go AICS with the Mini I would.

I moved a ruger g1 to a bravo stock and it solved the feeding issues using AICS mags.

The Oregunsmithing BM is rough AF. I immediately ditched it for the DIP; https://www.diproductsinc.com/Howa_it-1371404.aspx?CAT=12462

 

[KyleR1985]

The Oregunsmithing BM is rough AF. I immediately ditched it for the DIP; https://www.diproductsinc.com/Howa_it-1371404.aspx?CAT=12462

Same. Follower and box sucked.

Jefferson box and follower fixed it.

Whole Jefferson kit works great