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

 

[General RE LEE]

nice, I've been eyeing that bell and carson to replace my stocky's vg stock.

You don’t like the Stocky’s?

 

[The Guide]

You don’t like the Stocky’s?

I like my B&C stocks a lot more than my Stockys when in reference to the Howa Mini. It is 4 B&C to 1 Stockys currently. Only other Stockys Mini stock I would consider is a Rokstok Lite version.

Jay

 

[UnckleBob]

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.

I don't think you can get a statistically significant sample size on the thread.

My 20” Carbon Fiber shoots under 1 MOA almost all the time shooting a variety of handloads. Sometimes, my gun doesn't like my handloads 103g Eld-x.

The 108g Hornady match load is right at 1 MOA most of the time.
My 95g Nosler AccuBond load and 70g Tipped Hammer Hunter loads are sub moa.

 

[Tbuckus]

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.

I cant answer the question about dud barrels, but my 6ARC shoots factory 105’s at 1.5” and 108’s at 1.8”
Personally, I was hoping for closer to 1”. I’ve bedded the lug and tang and messed with action screw torque changes without any luck. Saving brass for hand loads in the future.
I wish I shot the rifle before I have the barrel chopped for a can. Just to see how it shot before the change.

 

[Te Hopo]

I wish I shot the rifle before I have the barrel chopped for a can. Just to see how it shot before the change.

I wouldn't worry too much about that, over the years I've had most of my rifles cut and threaded and they always shot the same or better with a crisp new crown.

 

[Johnboy041586]

You don’t like the Stocky’s?

I like it ok shooting from a bench, but I don't care for it in the field

 

[KY_coop]

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.

My 6 arc barrel had issues. But I think the whole barreled action was messed up. Very tough bolt lift, constant pressure signs from factory ammo and wimpy reloads. Fairly slow speeds. I swapped bolt and it fixed the bolt lift but the pressure signs still existed. I ordered a mcgowen barrel to replace it.

 

[JFK]

My 6 arc barrel had issues. But I think the whole barreled action was messed up. Very tough bolt lift, constant pressure signs from factory ammo and wimpy reloads. Fairly slow speeds. I swapped bolt and it fixed the bolt lift but the pressure signs still existed. I ordered a mcgowen barrel to replace it.

This is what I don’t want to mess with. Appreciate the info. The platform seems awesome but they seem pretty hit or miss.

 

[KY_coop]

To be honest id give another one a try if I had to. I've had 3 howas now and they've been great for me. Actions smooth up alot with some rounds on them and they are cheap and make for fun projects. All the barrels have been relatively slow however.

 

[Bratch]

Very unscientific torque testing today, only one 3 shot group at each torque setting due to time and ammo limitations. I’d also cleaned the rifle since last time so changes to two variables.

I worked from 30-55# on the front and 20-45# on the rear in 5# increments. 22” Sporter, Stockys and Jefferson bottom metal shooting factory 103 ELDX. No bedding and it looks like the action flat isn’t floated but I’m not sure if it’s the side of the stock or the bottom touching.

Targets start at 30# top left and work up 5# at a time to the right. Bottom center was 55# after rezeroing. I waited about a minute between shots and a few minutes between groups.

I’ll try another range trip after deer season and try adjusting the rear torque while keeping the front at 55#. After that I’ll start looking at bedding and go from there.

 

[RWT]

Very unscientific torque testing today, only one 3 shot group at each torque setting due to time and ammo limitations. I’d also cleaned the rifle since last time so changes to two variables.

I worked from 30-55# on the front and 20-45# on the rear in 5# increments. 22” Sporter, Stockys and Jefferson bottom metal shooting factory 103 ELDX. No bedding and it looks like the action flat isn’t floated but I’m not sure if it’s the side of the stock or the bottom touching.

Targets start at 30# top left and work up 5# at a time to the right. Bottom center was 55# after rezeroing. I waited about a minute between shots and a few minutes between groups.

I’ll try another range trip after deer season and try adjusting the rear torque while keeping the front at 55#. After that I’ll start looking at bedding and go from there.


View attachment 967954

So what lbs are the bottom RT ?

 

[Bratch]

So what lbs are the bottom RT ?

55# front/45# rear.

Same torque is on the center target bottom row after adjusting zero.