Howa Mini Rifles, Builds, and Upgrades

[OneShot]

Can y'all give me some thoughts on what to expect for bolt lift on a Howa Mini. I was set on buying a 22 ARC barreled action to build up a rifle for my three boys.. I've since read a couple threads complaining that the bolt lift is terrible? What's the reality of the situation? Did these individuals just get outliers or do Howa Mini's generally exhibit a heavy bolt lift? If so, would it be too heavy for my boys (6, 8, and 10 years old)? Any fixes for it assuming it is indeed a reality to the Mini? etc... Any thoughts would be appreciated.

The two we have a fairly heavy. I’m getting one of the bolt handles threaded and will add a longer knob to see if that helps. If it does, I’m sending the other bolt off to do the same.

My brother shot one of them a couple months ago and thought the reloads were over pressure as the lift was so heavy. Told him, nope, that’s just the amazing bolt lift of this little rifle.

 

[WyoWild]

Can y'all give me some thoughts on what to expect for bolt lift on a Howa Mini. I was set on buying a 22 ARC barreled action to build up a rifle for my three boys.. I've since read a couple threads complaining that the bolt lift is terrible? What's the reality of the situation? Did these individuals just get outliers or do Howa Mini's generally exhibit a heavy bolt lift? If so, would it be too heavy for my boys (6, 8, and 10 years old)? Any fixes for it assuming it is indeed a reality to the Mini? etc... Any thoughts would be appreciated.

It is a bit on the heavier side but honestly about the same as my Tikka's. I just compared them side by side and they feel nearly the same. I think it gets amplified by the fact that most Howa Mini actions are set up as light rifles so you don't have as much rifle weight to counteract the bolt lift.

 

[Brandon_SPC]

Can y'all give me some thoughts on what to expect for bolt lift on a Howa Mini. I was set on buying a 22 ARC barreled action to build up a rifle for my three boys.. I've since read a couple threads complaining that the bolt lift is terrible? What's the reality of the situation? Did these individuals just get outliers or do Howa Mini's generally exhibit a heavy bolt lift? If so, would it be too heavy for my boys (6, 8, and 10 years old)? Any fixes for it assuming it is indeed a reality to the Mini? etc... Any thoughts would be appreciated.

All my Howas have had heavy bolt lift, keep in mind that isn't always a bad thing, especially hunting in piss poor conditions. Your primer strikes will never be light. With that said it's heavy but it isn't that bad. There's ways to remediate it. One example is what I did, I polished the bolt face because alot of my heavy bolt left was coming from the finish. Another thing you can do, is remove the firing pin spring, and cut off like 1/8 of an inch of the spring, install it, and keep doing that until you get the desired bolt lift. Keep in mind, don't go too light to cause light primer strikes but there is a few guys that have done that on the Howa Mini FB page.

 

[Austin Kaufman]

It is a bit on the heavier side but honestly about the same as my Tikka's. I just compared them side by side and they feel nearly the same. I think it gets amplified by the fact that most Howa Mini actions are set up as light rifles so you don't have as much rifle weight to counteract the bolt lift.

I’d 100% agree with this. My minis are built heavier my 6 arc is 9.5 pounds and my trainer 223 is 13.5 pounds sometimes heavier if I add weights for PRS practice. I never have noticed them being different from a tikka or R700 action. The actions definitely get smooth if you shoot a lot. My 223 is over 2000 and 6 arc over 500 and the actions are buttery smooth, and bolt lift definitely gets easier. My biggest gripe since having those guns the last 6 or 7 months is I wish someone made better mags. That cheap plastic and spring really go to crap on the 223 every 500 or so rounds. I love my minis in chassis but the 223 needs better mags. I can never find any of the discontinued MDT ones in 223 or 6mm arc.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Calrissian]

I have one. My example is not bad. The bolt lift is little heavier than my other rifles…but I would have never noticed if it had not been mentioned by others. My 12 year old has no issues running the bolt. Your six year old might have issues…but frankly six year olds often have issues running a bolt and you should be there to supervise / help out anyway.

 

[droptine818]

Just finished my Howa Superlite build. 308 with a 18” barrel.

-Stocky’s carbon stock (custom painted)
-JRD trigger
-Oregun smiths hinged bottom metal & internal follower
-Tally ultralight rings
-Salmon River solutions mini arca rail
-MTN Gear mountain bipod
-Trijicon Accupoint 3-9x40

Total weight 5.8lbs

 

[bnsafe]

my bolt lift SUCKS. now its a new rifle with 20 ish rounds thru it but I highly doubt my 7 yr old grandson could bolt it while shooting targets from a lead sled. He might in a hunting situation IF he brought it down to his side. Im gonna do a few things to it to hopefully help, but I see myself moving on to a tikka 243 because of it. shame, it shoots lights out.

 

[Murdy88]

I’m new to the Howa and was extremely disappointed with my bolt lift, as well as showing high pressure signs with factory ammo. I’m not 100% sure because I did it last, but I took acetone and soaked a cotton 4/10 cleaning “brush” and cleaned the camber with it throughly. Since that it’s been great, honestly. I was desperate so I did a bunch of other things before and some at the same time:
1. Polish the cocking ramp (I did this before I fired the gun because I was waiting on a barrel chop and a stock). This obviously did not help the heavy bolt lift issue.
2. Took a dremel with a polishing head to the lugs, and bolt body.(I think this smoothed things up but really don’t think it helped the bolt a lift much
3. Dissembled the bolt and took off the sharp edges of the face and extractor. I was seeing a lot of brass shavings on the bolt face and thought the extractor was grabbing the case head and trying to rotate it with the bolt. I don’t have near the brass on the head so I think this could have been a factor.

Not to detour you but I also just got the “heavy single stage trigger” thing going on at around 180rds while testing loads. I never had that issue but blew a primer working up a load and it started every almost every firing… couldn’t find too much online as a solid solution but think I have it figured out and was an easy fix if so. I’ll hopefully shoot tomorrow and will post if it solved it.