Howa Mini Rifles, Builds, and Upgrades

[UsAndThm]

I was finally able to get in an order for Jefferson Outdoors BDL style bottom metal. I hate magazines stick out the bottom of rifles.

I get that. I couldn't decide so I have both the magazine and bdl floorplate and use them in different circumstances. The magazine floorplate is mostly for the scout rifle vibe.

 

[Te Hopo]

Picked up a bargain 6.5 Grendel at a price that couldn't be refused.
Popped it into my spare Stockys Sporter along with a Jefferson Outdoors bottom metal with a cut down mag, the barrel will be getting trimmed to 15-16" so the reflex suppressor will be close up to the fore end.
Still deciding on the scope.

 

[JHcaliber9]

Hey all,


Just picked up a Howa Mini Stainless Carbon Stalker in .223 Rem with 1:8 twist as a lighter backpack/fun gun after running heavier stuff (smallest was 6.5 Creedmoor). Super light and handy, low recoil for more range time and precise shooting on game.


I don’t reload, so I’m looking for solid factory ammo recommendations. I know you guys have tons of experience (and this massive .22 caliber centerfire thread) on these for game. Looking for real-world input before taking it into the deer woods:


• Best factory loads / bullets for deer? (Especially ones that perform well in a 1:8 twist Howa Mini – 70-77gr range like TMKs, TSX, etc.)


• What velocities/distances to keep it ethical and effective? (Shot placement is key, but any rules of thumb on max range or energy?)


• Things to know switching from heavier calibers – wind, terminal performance quirks, preferred shot angles, etc.?


• Any Howa Mini specific tips or gotchas in the field?


• Will 5.56 ammo be safe in this .223 chambered rifle, or should I stick strictly to .223 Rem labeled ammo?


Appreciate any input from folks who’ve run similar setups. Planning lots of practice this summer. Thanks!

Rifle:

Howa mini 223 1:8 stainless 22” sporter
Stockys carbon fiber stock
Jefferson bottom metal

 

[Williammcinall]

Made some changes to my mini 20” 6 dasher
Notably added the check riser to the stock. It’s a Canterbury tikka riser kit. Heated it up with a heat gun to allow it to expand and fit the stockys stock. Replaced the nxs with a nx6 2-12x42

 

[SUD1988]

Made some changes to my mini 20” 6 dasher
Notably added the check riser to the stock. It’s a Canterbury tikka riser kit. Heated it up with a heat gun to allow it to expand and fit the stockys stock. Replaced the nxs with a nx6 2-12x42

What bottom metal are you running now?

 

[Williammcinall]

What bottom metal are you running now?

MDT with the factory mag modified to work with it. It was on my 22 arc but I Cut out the front of the mag for more mag length to work with the 6 dasher

 

[shomi]

Anybody put peep sights or iron sights on their mini?

My 16" 6ARC is a woods gun for shots less than 150 yards, usually in the rain, under dark cover. I'm thinking about ditching the scope for something simpler and hopefully less affected by rain. I also like doing things the old way for a challenge.

I haven't used a peep sight since shooting 22LR in the Boy Scouts decades ago. If you have experience hunting with peeps, please feel free to tell me why it's a good or bad idea before I figure it out the expensive way.

 

[Te Hopo]

I mounted a Lyman aperture sight on my CZ455 22WMR and it is a hoot to use
They're nice an low profile, light weight and look damn cool.
But my eyes limit me, contacts or glasses are hard for me to focus/aim with range much more than 50m.

I've been thinking of trying a Bushnell TRS25 red dot on my new Grendel just because I have one sitting around

 

[shomi]

I mounted a Lyman aperture sight on my CZ455 22WMR and it is a hoot to use
They're nice an low profile, light weight and look damn cool.
But my eyes limit me, contacts or glasses are hard for me to focus/aim with storage much more than 50m.

Thanks for the tip! I also wear lenses and wonder what my effective range might be.

I've been thinking of trying a Bushnell TRS25 red dot on my new Grendel just because I have one sitting around

I used a Vortex Crossfire II last year. I liked how light and minimal it was. I’d like it even better with a shorty pic rail that doesn’t interfere with loading rounds into the JO bottom metal.

 

[Te Hopo]

Thanks for the tip! I also wear lenses and wonder what my effective range might be.


I used a Vortex Crossfire II last year. I liked how light and minimal it was. I’d like it even better with a shorty pic rail that doesn’t interfere with loading rounds into the JO bottom metal.

I've used target aperture sights out to a few hundred meters, it took a bit of adjustment of peep size to really dial it in.
I also just remembered I had a 10/22 with TechSights for a while.
I find with the Lyman and the Techsights, they're easy to use but I'm realistically only effective for hunting small game out to maybe 50-60m.

I've got a Talley rail on my Grendel and will be sticking with the mag cause on my 223 with the JO bottom metal and no rail, its still fiddly to load.

 

[KSdude]

I'm new to the group here. Picked up a Mini in 22 ARC. Standard model with 22" barrel, KVP plan B muzzle device, Diligent Defense Enticer S, 1.5 coils cut off the trigger spring, and a sponge paint. Trying to improve the horrendous bolt lift is my next goal. Sighted it in yesterday with factory Hornady Black 75gr ELD-M. These were the first 11 rounds (1 sighter, then 5 round group in the red, another 5 round group on the number) down the barrel and in a 20 mph wind, so I'm pretty excited for this little gun.

 

[Natebonebusta]

I'm new to the group here. Picked up a Mini in 22 ARC. Standard model with 22" barrel, KVP plan B muzzle device, Diligent Defense Enticer S, 1.5 coils cut off the trigger spring, and a sponge paint. Trying to improve the horrendous bolt lift is my next goal. Sighted it in yesterday with factory Hornady Black 75gr ELD-M. These were the first 11 rounds (1 sighter, then 5 round group in the red, another 5 round group on the number) down the barrel and in a 20 mph wind, so I'm pretty excited for this little gun.

Looks like you did a good job on the paint. All my Howa minis have been shooters.

Bolt knob from exterra has been a nice slim add for two of my minis and eliminated the ridiculous lift.

 

[Pilsner]

Just got an email about this deal:

New! Stocky's NextGen Ultra Carbon™ Hunter Composite Accublock® Stocks Howa Mini Action *Factory Seconds*

Stocky's Stocks Aftermarket Rifle Stock Supplier

stockysstocks.com

Stocky's CF Howa mini stock - blemished for $99

 

[gwh97]

I just pulled the trigger on the stockys blem deal. Now I’m debating between buying the 22 arc or 223 barreled action. I’ve already got brass and dies for 223. Thoughts?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[180ls1]

Whats the lightest barreled action for one of these? Anyone compared them to the superlite?

 

[The Guide]

Just got an email about this deal:

New! Stocky's NextGen Ultra Carbon™ Hunter Composite Accublock® Stocks Howa Mini Action *Factory Seconds*

Stocky's Stocks Aftermarket Rifle Stock Supplier

stockysstocks.com

Stocky's CF Howa mini stock - blemished for $99

Thanks! I have the VG model and want to try the standard one. For a hundred dollars I'll try it out. If they have 90+ blems in each barrel contour (91 of one and 93 of the other at my order time) of one of their own stock designs, I can see why they are having issues filling the Rokstok orders...

Jay

 

[Ferrulewax]

Whats the lightest barreled action for one of these? Anyone compared them to the superlite?

Superlight is lighter, and you get a factory bottom metal. They just don’t come in the cool mini calibers.

 

[Ferrulewax]

Thanks! I have the VG model and want to try the standard one. For a hundred dollars I'll try it out. If they have 90+ blems in each barrel contour (91 of one and 93 of the other at my order time) of one of their own stock designs, I can see why they are having issues filling the Rokstok orders...

Jay

Stocky makes these for the Howa OEM rifles, so I assume they are making a ton of volume and stockys sells all the seconds throwaways on their website

 

[OneShot]

I just pulled the trigger on the stockys blem deal. Now I’m debating between buying the 22 arc or 223 barreled action. I’ve already got brass and dies for 223. Thoughts?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If you have a smaller, one man gun shop close by, get a quote on the whole gun and compare it to the barreled action from brownells. The last two minis I ordered though the local shop were cheaper than a barreled action, with discount codes from brownells.

 

[wilkup]

New to this thread, but definitely not to the Mini platform.
I fell in love with them when they were first teased years ago and promised myself I'd buy one if they ever chambered it in Grendel.
Instead, I picked up a 6 ARC Mini about three years ago, and it exceeded every expectation.
Since then it's evolved quite a bit, and I recently picked up a second one as a dedicated experiment. I'd still love to find a stainless barreled action.
Right now I'm prototyping a steel magazine system that's essentially a hybrid of the CZ 527 and AICS, paired with matching aluminum bottom metal. The bottom metal is a scaled-down Atlasworxs design, but with the mag release integrated into the trigger guard instead of hanging below the front of it.
Once my action gets back from LRI, it'll wear a 17" 6mm 1:7 PBB Taperless (.810) barrel w/ their helical fluting. Then I'll start final testing to see if the new bottom metal and magazine provide enough room (~2.65" internal length) to feed a 6 GT. If not, it'll become a long-throated Dasher, and I won't complain.
My first Howa has already gone full wildcat — a cartridge I designed with Dave Kiff at PTG. I call it the 350 Smilodon. It's essentially a +P, short-neck 358 Winchester pushing 140gr Stone Hammers at 3,100 fps from a 18.5" barrel.
That rifle now sits in a Stocky's CF Hunter stock with an LRI-fluted bolt, Oregunsmithing hinged floorplate, Jard trigger set to 6 oz, Talley LW 30mm rings, Tract bubble level, and a Trijicon Credo 2-10×36 FFP with AADMOUNT lens caps. I also made the leather/spandex butt cuff myself because I couldn't find one that fit what I wanted.
Really glad I found this thread.