Howa Mini Rifles, Builds, and Upgrades

[4090Sharps]

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Can you tell me more about that barrel? I’d like a 17 cal barrel done like that for a Howa Mini.

 

[BBob]

I use guide studs and the hillman plastic spacers as Al does in that Howa post. I tape the barrel in two places to set the action height. With the tape, the studs, and the spacers, everything will be aligned and the action will float. I use strips of rubber cut from bike inner tubes to wrap around the stock and barrel to hold it in place. I start the wrap in the middle of the tube strips cross crossing and finishing with a single overhand knot. Mock it up to check action height before committing to the epoxy. I use a strip of blue masking tape down the sides of the action going approximately 1/8” below the stock line and mark a horizontal line on the tape at the stock line for reference when it’s bedded. You don’t care if epoxy gets in the bolt holes, it’s going to regardless. When it’s cured you remove the guide pins before you pop the action out. Once the action is out you drill the holes back out removing any epoxy. I also glue the plastic spacers in with a little medium or heavy super glue. They’ll also get drilled/pushed out when you clean up and drill the epoxy out of the holes.

Some pull the action into the stock when gluing it up, I prefer to float it as described.

Most Ace Hardware’s carry the hillman spacers.

Oh, on the stocky’s stock you need to remove some the angled stepped edge (the accublock) in front of the lug so it’s not impinging on the lug.

 

[BigWoods]

Use tape, not too tight. Get bolts at the hardware store to fit the action screw holes. Cut the heads off. Thread them in and they will protect your action and keep the holes in the stock from filling with resin. Lots of good videos on YouTube. Don’t forget to coat all the metal with release agent.

Very helpful; thanks!