Ferrulewax
WKR
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2014
- Messages
- 859
I am currently thinking about making a change to my howa mini for mountain hunting, shots within a 100-150 yard max range, with most around 20-75 yards. Rifle is currently 5.5lbs scoped and supressed.
Build is:
6.5 Howa mini, 16.25” barrel
Stocky CF sporter Stock
Talley LW mounts
Leupold FX2.5
Blind floorplate
Raptor 8
Option 1:
Leave well enough alone, quit thinking about it, and go hunting. And/or wait and hope a lightweight reflex style suppressor comes to market soon, like what is available overseas.
Option 2:
I love my rifle in it’s current configuration, but I find myself wishing it was even shorter once the supressor is on. Easy thing to do would be to tax stamp and cut it down further, or just “man up”and hunt unsuppressed (not really an option)
Option 3:
I would like the option to shoot suppressed subs, although I will typically shoot supersonic frangible bullets. The 7.62 factory barrel howa mini with hornady SubX seems like a good option for this use case. I hope to be able to pick up a cheap 7.62x39 barrel someone took off or just purchase another barreled action.
7.62 should also cut a slight amount of weight down due to the larger bore than the 6.5 in what I would assume to be the same howa barrel blank. I’m an absolute weight nerd. According to some quick math with chat GPT even in a 13" barrel, the 7.62 barrel would be a little over an ounce lighter than the 6,5 of the same length.
However, I don’t know how well the terminal ballistics of the 7.62 match style supersonic projectiles stack up in comparison to the 6.5gren/6 arc. Anyone have a suggestion for a frangible bullet for the 7.62x39/.310? Is the 123sst .310 up to par? I know form suggests the 123sst 6.5 bullet for the grendel, but I assume the .310 is a much shorter fatter projectile and may not fragment and still retain weight well.
Option 4:
Third option is the ULUL build in 300blk for the same reasons as the 7.62x39, but with more projectile options. If I build it as a pistol there is no tax stamp and it should be the lightest option- I just honestly like a slightly more traditional bolt action with a CF stock. The mini is a joy to carry in hand largely because of its rounded stock and balance point.
Can anyone talk some sense into me?
Build is:
6.5 Howa mini, 16.25” barrel
Stocky CF sporter Stock
Talley LW mounts
Leupold FX2.5
Blind floorplate
Raptor 8
Option 1:
Leave well enough alone, quit thinking about it, and go hunting. And/or wait and hope a lightweight reflex style suppressor comes to market soon, like what is available overseas.
Option 2:
I love my rifle in it’s current configuration, but I find myself wishing it was even shorter once the supressor is on. Easy thing to do would be to tax stamp and cut it down further, or just “man up”and hunt unsuppressed (not really an option)
Option 3:
I would like the option to shoot suppressed subs, although I will typically shoot supersonic frangible bullets. The 7.62 factory barrel howa mini with hornady SubX seems like a good option for this use case. I hope to be able to pick up a cheap 7.62x39 barrel someone took off or just purchase another barreled action.
7.62 should also cut a slight amount of weight down due to the larger bore than the 6.5 in what I would assume to be the same howa barrel blank. I’m an absolute weight nerd. According to some quick math with chat GPT even in a 13" barrel, the 7.62 barrel would be a little over an ounce lighter than the 6,5 of the same length.
However, I don’t know how well the terminal ballistics of the 7.62 match style supersonic projectiles stack up in comparison to the 6.5gren/6 arc. Anyone have a suggestion for a frangible bullet for the 7.62x39/.310? Is the 123sst .310 up to par? I know form suggests the 123sst 6.5 bullet for the grendel, but I assume the .310 is a much shorter fatter projectile and may not fragment and still retain weight well.
Option 4:
Third option is the ULUL build in 300blk for the same reasons as the 7.62x39, but with more projectile options. If I build it as a pistol there is no tax stamp and it should be the lightest option- I just honestly like a slightly more traditional bolt action with a CF stock. The mini is a joy to carry in hand largely because of its rounded stock and balance point.
Can anyone talk some sense into me?
Last edited:
