Howa Mini Rifles, Builds, and Upgrades

[glennjones]

I see a little slabby slab goin on there.

I had that done to a very early on grendel, fluted and bolt knob hollowed also, 2.5-3 oz deduct. Playing around with scopes and ring currently on my money pit as kids still like to kill stuff with it. Without scope and rings it’s 4 lb 13 oz, but includes the Burris steel bases, a sheet of talon grip, and a single slot alum weaver ahead of front sling stud you can slap a little o-light on for bedtime, oh forgot, the 22" is chopped to 18.5". It’s not bedded and touching the front stock it rattles off the barrel but doesn’t seem to stop it from shooting annoyingly tiny groups with factory 123 eldm black box. Jefferson hinged, feeds a little smoother than the cz 527 kit I have for it also, and is lighter but kids can't lose a magazine this way. Love to hate on this thing, and it has only stuck around because it shoots so good, it’s the first one to be offered to kids when they move out lol, fuggin howa, get it out of my house

We're you able to thread it 5/8 or did it have to be 1/2 at that length?

 

[Ferrulewax]

We're you able to thread it 5/8 or did it have to be 1/2 at that length?

If you want a proper shoulder, it’s pretty much impossible to cut a mini down enough to thread it 5/8s. Mine has an 11” barrel and still didn’t have enough meat for 5/8 without a shoulder added. At least on the sporter barrel

 

[Stinky Coyote]

We're you able to thread it 5/8 or did it have to be 1/2 at that length?

My smith won’t cut past 18.5” it’s a Canadian law thing. We don’t get mufflers here. Need you to come through with 51st state threat. Take Alberta first please!

You can buy factory gear with shorter barrels but cutting them has length limits here. Dumb af.

 

[glennjones]

My smith won’t cut past 18.5” it’s a Canadian law thing. We don’t get mufflers here. Need you to come through with 51st state threat. Take Alberta first please!

You can buy factory gear with shorter barrels but cutting them has length limits here. Dumb af.

Hate to hear that A. We still have stupid rules too like if you cut it shorter than 16" you have excessive paperwork to do in the 40 or so free States left in the union. We've got room for more good people if you promise not to vote in idiots like where you came from.

 

[Luke S]

If I didn't have access to suppressors I probably would not do a 16 inch barrel again legal or not. Just loud even with ear pro.

 

[glennjones]

My plan is to buy a 22" 223 cut the barrel to 18" and run an stockys carbon stock, an airlock nano, and some lightweight scope on it.

 

[Stinky Coyote]

Hate to hear that A. We still have stupid rules too like if you cut it shorter than 16" you have excessive paperwork to do in the 40 or so free States left in the union. We've got room for more good people if you promise not to vote in idiots like where you came from.

Oh we fackin promise! Hurry up and expose the election fraud down there as same shat been going on in our country too! You guys are leading the charge...let’s go. Friggin votes haven’t mattered in prolly 30 freakin years, don’t get me started haha

My tinfoil hat is bigger than yours haha, been building mine for 6 years steady.

 

[Stinky Coyote]

If I didn't have access to suppressors I probably would not do a 16 inch barrel again legal or not. Just loud even with ear pro.

100% low pressure factory grendel from 16.1” is about same as 20” 308, unmuzzled. About as rude as you want for the odd no ears hunting shot. Dreaming about the day we get mufflers here

 

[Chase4566]

Sent the first rounds through my 20” 6.5 Grendel yesterday. Shot some cheap Frontier stuff through it to get on paper and put 10 rounds through the barrel. Then my first round of handloads with 8208 and 120 gold dots. Couple show promise and I will play around with those. Mainly with seating depth. Thanks to Bbob I have a good idea of what I can work out to.

Going to try some TAC and Lever as well.

 

[shayes11]

Just put my OG6-S on this morning and I'm going to call that a wrap. Shooting the first rounds through the can tomorrow. Bear hunting with it the rest of the week.

20" Howa 6arc, Stockys VG, DiP bottom metal, talley rings (which are going to be replaced with Exterra ring mounts), LSI clamp on knob, Athlon Helos BTR 2-12, Scope Bumpers, and an SRS pic rail.

Shooting 107 TMKs at 2730 on top of 30.0gr of Lever.

Love this little thing and appreciate everyone on this thread for the inspiration.

 

[J_Jacobson]

View attachment 1055633

Just put my OG6-S on this morning and I'm going to call that a wrap. Shooting the first rounds through the can tomorrow. Bear hunting with it the rest of the week.

20" Howa 6arc, Stockys VG, DiP bottom metal, talley rings (which are going to be replaced with Exterra ring mounts), LSI clamp on knob, Athlon Helos BTR 2-12, Scope Bumpers, and an SRS pic rail.

Shooting 107 TMKs at 2730 on top of 30.0gr of Lever.

Love this little thing and appreciate everyone on this thread for the inspiration.

I hadn't heard of the exterra mounts before, they look like a great option. Do you know their weight?

 

[shayes11]

@Fred@Exterra would know for sure but I want to say 4oz all in with the level. His new extended bolt knob looks like THE answer for Howa Mini bolts too.

 

[Exterra]

I hadn't heard of the exterra mounts before, they look like a great option. Do you know their weight?

The weight will vary by configuration, 4.05 oz for lows without a level up to 4.83 oz for highs with a top level

 

[glennjones]

@Fred@Exterra would know for sure but I want to say 4oz all in with the level. His new extended bolt knob looks like THE answer for Howa Mini bolts too.

I didn't see the bolt knob on their website. Where can I find info about it?

 

[Exterra]

I didn't see the bolt knob on their website. Where can I find info about it?

Thread 'Exterra Tikka/ Howa Bolt Knob Design '

Mar 20, 2026

We are just finishing up the testing on our new bolt knob. The attachment system we came up with is working exceptionally well. Installation and removal only takes about 30 seconds, and requires zero modification to your rifle. Unlike the clamp on bolt knobs, this one isn’t bulky & once it is installed, it’s super rigid & won’t vibrate loose. Works exceptionally well and definitely decreases any issues with heavy bolt lift.

Our system should fit any Tikka of Howa with the hollow bolt knob. Some early Howas and very recent Tikkas have solid bolt knobs, but the vast majority have a bored...

• Fred@Exterra
• Replies: 35
• Forum: Firearms

• 

 

[basko152]

I literally check the site several times a day. I think this will improve my mini drastically.

 

[Tanner]

View attachment 1055633

Just put my OG6-S on this morning and I'm going to call that a wrap. Shooting the first rounds through the can tomorrow. Bear hunting with it the rest of the week.

20" Howa 6arc, Stockys VG, DiP bottom metal, talley rings (which are going to be replaced with Exterra ring mounts), LSI clamp on knob, Athlon Helos BTR 2-12, Scope Bumpers, and an SRS pic rail.

Shooting 107 TMKs at 2730 on top of 30.0gr of Lever.

Love this little thing and appreciate everyone on this thread for the inspiration.

Damn I like that a lot. How’s it shoot the 107s?

 

[shayes11]

Damn I like that a lot. How’s it shoot the 107s?

Thanks man!

Pretty good thankfully, it wasn't liking the Lever/95tmk combo and I was getting a little worried. But its shooting the 107s well enough for a lightweight field gun in my opinion. Biggest ten round group was 1.6moa so far, smallest ten rounder was .79. I'm definitely the inconsistent problem with the system.