Howa Mini Rifles, Builds, and Upgrades

[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.

 

[SUD1988]

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.

Will these mags and bottom metal be commercially available? That’s what I have been waiting for is a mag system to do a 6 Dasher.

 

[The Guide]

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

Only for one premium model (Carbon Stalker with steel barrel) and one super premium model (Carbon Elevate with CF barrel). Carbon Stalker has 6 Mini Action cartridges and Carbon Elevate has 1 Mini Action Cartridge. All other CF models have been swapped to HS Precision stocks as their factory offering. I've never seen any of those model rifles (in a mini action) in a gun shop in person. Everyone has to order it if they can or you have to buy it from Gunbroker. If Stockys makes 2000 CF stocks for those specific models plus 400 for their own inventory that's 2400 stocks. If ~200 are blems, that is an 8.3% failure rate if zero failures are trashed.

Regardless, almost 200 being sold as blems is crazy, to me. If Stockys is that busy, it is another potential reason why the RS and RS Lite are slow to market.

Jay

 

[wilkup]

Will these mags and bottom metal be commercially available? That’s what I have been waiting for is a mag system to do a 6 Dasher.

If/when get it figured out, absolutely!

 

[gwh97]

I ended up moving forward with the 22arc build, with the HB barreled action through brownells. I might end up chopping the barrel down, but figure I’ll try it out first at 20”.

 

[KyleR1985]

If/when get it figured out, absolutely!

You figure out a bottom metal mag situation for minis that allow 2.5” coal loading and feeding, you’ll sell a pile in this thread. Shoot me a PM if you want, I have some work done on the hinged metal side I can share with you that might help what you’re doing. I’m too busy to mess with it

 

[wilkup]

You figure out a bottom metal mag situation for minis that allow 2.5” coal loading and feeding, you’ll sell a pile in this thread. Shoot me a PM if you want, I have some work done on the hinged metal side I can share with you that might help what you’re doing. I’m too busy to mess with it

I’m doing it for myself but when I get it sorted might be open to making/selling in small batches on the side. I’ve always thought the cheap plastic mag system that keeps COAL limited is the Achilles heal of the Mini. I started messing around stretching the internal mag box and machining the action so really take advantage and maximize real estate like a Barney Box would. While on that journey I thought, if I’m doing this internally making an aftermarket mag can’t be that hard. So here I am on a quest to create a better and longer mag fed Mini with an aluminum BM to accompany the concept

 

[vonb]

So this thread got me. I couldn't stand it any longer. I ended up purchasing a Mini 20" heavy barrel in 6 ARC. I've already ordered the Jefferson Outdoor BDL bottom metal, Stocky's carbon hunter stock and a Warne 20 MOA mountain rail and 30mm rings. I'd like to have a lighter weight rig to knock around the farm but the scope is my nemesis and I'm already adding weight with the rail and rings. I'm deciding b/t a Steiner H6xi 2-12x42 or the more expensive Nightforce NX6 2-12x42. What other scopes should I consider in this mag range that may be lighter and reliable? I've looked at SWFA SS 3-9 and lack of parallax does not interest me. I'm looking forward to stoking up some 108s with Lever and 2520 in Starline brass.

 

[KyleR1985]

I’m doing it for myself but when I get it sorted might be open to making/selling in small batches on the side. I’ve always thought the cheap plastic mag system that keeps COAL limited is the Achilles heal of the Mini. I started messing around stretching the internal mag box and machining the action so really take advantage and maximize real estate like a Barney Box would. While on that journey I thought, if I’m doing this internally making an aftermarket mag can’t be that hard. So here I am on a quest to create a better and longer mag fed Mini with an aluminum BM to accompany the concept

Perfect.

I have three minis I’m messing with, one a 6 dasher, one a 223ai, one 6x45.

I have the 223ai action and mag box opened up to load 2.55”. 88 TMK’s with lever at around 2800fps out of a 16.5” barrel.

The extra oal makes these little guns really fun

 

[wilkup]

Perfect.

I have three minis I’m messing with, one a 6 dasher, one a 223ai, one 6x45.

I have the 223ai action and mag box opened up to load 2.55”. 88 TMK’s with lever at around 2800fps out of a 16.5” barrel.

The extra oal makes these little guns really fun

I’ve opened up the load port ~0.30” and the ejection port as well. With this I “should” be able to get an internal 2.65+ inches on my stamped steel mags. Again, all theory based on my machined openings for now but 3d printing to confirm modeling begins some point in the next 2 weeks.
It’s my pet project just cuz I like tinkering after hours to see how far I can push things and find the limit of maximization. If/when I chamber this sucker for 6 GT, I’m going to exuberant.

 

[KyleR1985]

I’ve opened up the load port ~0.30” and the ejection port as well. With this I “should” be able to get an internal 2.65+ inches on my stamped steel mags. Again, all theory based on my machined openings for now but 3d printing to confirm modeling begins some point in the next 2 weeks.
It’s my pet project just cuz I like tinkering after hours to see how far I can push things and find the limit of maximization. If/when I chamber this sucker for 6 GT, I’m going to exuberant.

Man at this point you should build a superlite and just design a new metal magazine for it. 2.8” loading, lighter than the mini.

 

[wilkup]

Man at this point you should build a superlite and just design a new metal magazine for it. 2.8” loading, lighter than the mini.

Is the Superlite action really lighter than a Mini!?
I don’t have both for a comparison. I also thought AICS mags already worked with it…? JTAC makes a chassis for the Superlite that takes AICS mags…

Elf Owl Chassis Superlite - JTAC Industries

The Elf Owl Chassis, is a compact, affordable and modular Howa Mini Action chassis. Perfect for bolt action pistol and compact bolt action rifle builds.

jtacindustries.com

 

[Chase4566]

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

Those of you with these Stocky stocks, how much finish work do they need to be useable? Do you bed them? Minor fitment work? Direct drop in and good to go?

I was planning to get the B&C M40 stock sooner or later, but for $100… kind of hard not to give this a shot.

 

[wilkup]

Those of you with these Stocky stocks, how much finish work do they need to be useable? Do you bed them? Minor fitment work? Direct drop in and good to go?

I was planning to get the B&C M40 stock sooner or later, but for $100… kind of hard not to give this a shot.

I’ve never bought a blem but if the standard version I received is any indication of their QC, I’d imagine the blem will require plenty of work.
My first hunter arrived 3oz overweight with the spray foam filling in the stock uncured and spooging out cracks between the stock and recoil pad. The rear sling stud stripped out and my rile fell on the ground the first time I took my rifle out.
I have several now and at $100 they’re a great deal. I’d never pay $600 for one, in fact at that price I would definitely buy a B&C instead.
They are light, but from my experiences not the weight they advertise and when I called them on it with the first stock they told me it was “within tolerance.” So tolerance is 15%

 

[Chase4566]

I’ve never bought a blem but if the standard version I received is any indication of their QC, I’d imagine the blem will require plenty of work.
My first hunter arrived 3oz overweight with the spray foam filling in the stock uncured and spooging out cracks between the stock and recoil pad. The rear sling stud stripped out and my rile fell on the ground the first time I took my rifle out.
I have several now and at $100 they’re a great deal. I’d never pay $600 for one, in fact at that price I would definitely buy a B&C instead.
They are light, but from my experiences not the weight they advertise and when I called them on it with the first stock they told me it was “within tolerance.” So tolerance is 15%

The weight is not something that would bother me as it isn’t really a big deal to me (although I 100% understand where you are coming from) but those other issues… yeah that’s what has me second guessing it. I don’t mind a little cosmetic work on a $99 seconds stock, but I’m not looking to have action fitment issues or things like a stud strip out.

Sounds like from what I’ve read, plus your reply even at $99 it’s not something I want to play with and will just get the B&C if I decide to do it. Seems like the draw of the Stocky’s is the weight, not the great fit/finish.

 

[wilkup]

The weight is not something that would bother me as it isn’t really a big deal to me (although I 100% understand where you are coming from) but those other issues… yeah that’s what has me second guessing it. I don’t mind a little cosmetic work on a $99 seconds stock, but I’m not looking to have action fitment issues or things like a stud strip out.

Sounds like from what I’ve read, plus your reply even at $99 it’s not something I want to play with and will just get the B&C if I decide to do it. Seems like the draw of the Stocky’s is the weight, not the great fit/finish.

I forgot to mention I also had to open up tbe barrel because even though I ordered a sporter contour and that’s what I had I could not get my barrels action screwed together without some modification.
Again, they’re unbeatable for the weight but you better be handy if you buy one.