806guns
Lil-Rokslider
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2024
- Messages
- 191
Has anyone shaved the B&C to get a full length arca rail to install flat ?
Howa Mini Rifles, Builds, and Upgrades
- Thread starter Ferrulewax
- Start date
Absolutely! About as much scope in as small a package as possible. It's about the perfect magnification range for everything from the end of the barrel out to 4-500yards. In New England, opportunities tend heavily toward the closer end but it's nice to have some magnification to pick out clear shots through the undergrowth as well as the occasional clear cut or mature timber stand.
Still not crazy about the 'stubby' looks, but I'm coming around on it.
Well I made it out for a quick trip to the range where I was able to test out the loads I have around. In 15deg weather and a bit of crosswind, the initial results are encouraging.
I used Winchester M193 Ball (not pictured), AAC 75gr BTHP (Hornady bullet?), AAC 77gr OTM, AAC 70gr TSX, & AAC 75gr Black Sabre. All were easily right around 1.5". The latter two printed the best at this point. I pulled the one shot on the Black Sabre - otherwise that's a 3/4" group. Next time out, I'll probably try some 10 round groups for better info. After shooting groups, I did a few off hand 100yard shots at an 8" plate, going 3/5. Points and steadies well...even if I rushed a couple shots there. Another observation was that there was very little POI shift between the 70ish grain loads.
Initial impressions on the rifle; It's a joy to shoot. Mine is very smooth cycling...like dare I say it, on par with the Tikka I used to have. The .223 bolt is a hoot and should be even more fun once I get a suppressor on it. Also, I really liked using the factory magazine. It loads and cycles extremely well. For carry purposes I might still get a JO bottom metal, but if I do that, the factory bottom metal will stick around for kid hunts/ kid range days.
I used Winchester M193 Ball (not pictured), AAC 75gr BTHP (Hornady bullet?), AAC 77gr OTM, AAC 70gr TSX, & AAC 75gr Black Sabre. All were easily right around 1.5". The latter two printed the best at this point. I pulled the one shot on the Black Sabre - otherwise that's a 3/4" group. Next time out, I'll probably try some 10 round groups for better info. After shooting groups, I did a few off hand 100yard shots at an 8" plate, going 3/5. Points and steadies well...even if I rushed a couple shots there. Another observation was that there was very little POI shift between the 70ish grain loads.
Initial impressions on the rifle; It's a joy to shoot. Mine is very smooth cycling...like dare I say it, on par with the Tikka I used to have. The .223 bolt is a hoot and should be even more fun once I get a suppressor on it. Also, I really liked using the factory magazine. It loads and cycles extremely well. For carry purposes I might still get a JO bottom metal, but if I do that, the factory bottom metal will stick around for kid hunts/ kid range days.
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Remembered I had a VX2 on my PCP air rifle. Got the 223ai 16” Shaw barrel that @longrangelead finished for me set up.
Jefferson hinged metal, stockys blem, dnz one piece, DD wolf hunter and LSW cover.
Will fire form some brass and then see what kind of speed I can get out of it. Have room to throat it and load 77’s optimally at 2.5”. They currently touch lands just under 2.4”
6.5lbs all in.
Jefferson hinged metal, stockys blem, dnz one piece, DD wolf hunter and LSW cover.
Will fire form some brass and then see what kind of speed I can get out of it. Have room to throat it and load 77’s optimally at 2.5”. They currently touch lands just under 2.4”
6.5lbs all in.
Attachments
Nice setup! Do you know what the bare rifle weighed? I'm hoping to get mine cut down to 16" once I get a suppressor.
Barrel 1:13.
Barreled action with Jefferson hinged metal 3:9
Rifle in stockys stock 4:14
Cutting the factory sporter barrel down would be a couple ounces lighter.
I’m trying to will a barrel maker into having .223 and 6mm fast twist pencil blanks sitting on the shelf for all Roksliders to take advantage of…
Brownells has exclusive on barreled actions.
Buy one with sporter barrel in 223 or 6mm or 300bo and ship it to me I’ll break the factory barrel off and ship it to you, and keep the barrel!
Problem solved!
tall
Lil-Rokslider
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2018
- Messages
- 144
This is the closest thing I know of to what you’re looking for. Might be able to sell the barrel in the classifieds.
braydencase7
FNG
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2022
- Messages
- 50
Whats the consensus for factory barrel accuracy? Picked up a used 6 arc in a vg stockys. I got 2.5 moa factory eldx, bedded lug/tang got that down to about 2 moa tried a handload with good components and got it down to about 1.75 moa just curious if I'm chasing my tail to try different reloading components
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I find them a bit picky & I find rifles as light as these a bit picky to shoot. My groups shrunk substantially when I found the bullets that mine like (95 gr LRX and 90 gr TGK)… both of which shoot to about 3/4 MOA for ten shot groups.
I also have to really drive these rifles. In other words, I have to hold on to them enough that they’ll recoil in a repeatable manner. If I try to let them free recoil, like a heavy gun, my groups open right up.
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I only have one Mini, a Grendel. Pendleton stock, JO bottom metal, Talleys and a Timney waiting to go on. I’m very happy with the rifle and factory barrel.
Shooting small groups with very light rifles is unforgiving of even minor technique errors. There has been quite a bit written about it and it’s worth reading. Grip, cheek weld, being consistently square behind the rifle, and applying consistent shoulder to butt pressure shot to shot are all critical to shooting small groups. I agree with Tarrapin above, free recoil doesn’t work for me either. I have a Hart front rest and a Protektor rear bag. I grip the fore end of my rifle behind the front rest with a consistent grip at each shot. I don’t pull down with force, but I don’t let it jump during recoil. Good, solid, front and rear rests are critical if you want to consistently shoot sub minute groups. I also place the fore end of my rifle in the same position on the front rest for each shot. Check to be sure that neither the front or rear sling swivel stud will contact either front or rear bag during recoil. Consistency in all factors is key to shooting small groups. I have a couple of Kimber Montanas (223 and 308) that taught me these lessons. If you have outside stuff in your head distracting you from concentrating, you might want to shoot another day. The above isn’t necessary to sight in a rifle for hunting out to moderate distance, but are for refining load development and shooting the smallest groups the gun is capable of.
I’d bet some significant money that quite a few of the “problem” Montanas and Howa Minis are sold because of shooter technique more than rifle accuracy. I know I was disappointed in my first Montana until I did some research on technique from shooting light rifles and started to pay focused attention to the multiple “small” things that both matter and add up. I enjoy the challenge.
Shooting small groups with very light rifles is unforgiving of even minor technique errors. There has been quite a bit written about it and it’s worth reading. Grip, cheek weld, being consistently square behind the rifle, and applying consistent shoulder to butt pressure shot to shot are all critical to shooting small groups. I agree with Tarrapin above, free recoil doesn’t work for me either. I have a Hart front rest and a Protektor rear bag. I grip the fore end of my rifle behind the front rest with a consistent grip at each shot. I don’t pull down with force, but I don’t let it jump during recoil. Good, solid, front and rear rests are critical if you want to consistently shoot sub minute groups. I also place the fore end of my rifle in the same position on the front rest for each shot. Check to be sure that neither the front or rear sling swivel stud will contact either front or rear bag during recoil. Consistency in all factors is key to shooting small groups. I have a couple of Kimber Montanas (223 and 308) that taught me these lessons. If you have outside stuff in your head distracting you from concentrating, you might want to shoot another day. The above isn’t necessary to sight in a rifle for hunting out to moderate distance, but are for refining load development and shooting the smallest groups the gun is capable of.
I’d bet some significant money that quite a few of the “problem” Montanas and Howa Minis are sold because of shooter technique more than rifle accuracy. I know I was disappointed in my first Montana until I did some research on technique from shooting light rifles and started to pay focused attention to the multiple “small” things that both matter and add up. I enjoy the challenge.
I reload for mine. It’s a factory heavy barrel 6 ARC in the Stockys VG stock.
My 10 shot groups has averaged 1.12”. The smallest across 5 groups has been .91”. The largest has been 1.27”. (All calculated with the Hornady App. I don’t know what kind of variability the app has.)
I have used Varget and the 108 ELDM or 105 Midsouth Exclusive.
I am in same boat as you. I’ve been on this quest for last couple months. I haven’t shot factory ammo enough to tell what it gets, but intially was shooting 2-2.5” groups with my first batch of hand loads. I finally got groups down to 1.5” and one at switching powders and components around. Last test round was at just over 1”, but slower muzzle velocity than I wanted. Changing bullets and powder for last round of testing. I will settle on something acceptable next session.
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