SBR Howa mini vs ULUL- 7.62/6.5/300blk

[Ferrulewax]

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?

 

[StupidLightweight]

Sweet rifle. Well done. I'd like to build something almost identical.

My Mini .223 would have the barrel chopped and threaded at 12.5 inches. I'd spin on a Griffin GP5 suppressor and pin and weld the can to the barrel. This would be short, handy, balance nicely, and provide adequate ballistics to the edge of my field shooting ability when using a lightweight rifle.

 

[Megalodon]

I'd personally go SBR and probably 300blk

This and have it cut down:

HOWA 1500 300BLK 16.25" HEAVY THREADED BARREL MINI ACTION | Brownells

Check out the HOWA available Online at Brownells Today and many more Rifle Receivers & Parts products are available in our Gun Parts Department.

www.brownells.com

Or just get a short 300blk prefit.

 

[Ferrulewax]

I'd personally go SBR and probably 300blk

This and have it cut down:

HOWA 1500 300BLK 16.25" HEAVY THREADED BARREL MINI ACTION | Brownells

Check out the HOWA available Online at Brownells Today and many more Rifle Receivers & Parts products are available in our Gun Parts Department.

www.brownells.com

Or just get a short 300blk prefit.

I wish it was a standard barrel (like they used to make) and that would be perfect. A heavy barrel is the opposite of what I want, even in a short length.

 

[Ferrulewax]

After playing with some calculations on the 7.62x39 factory sst it looses velocity rapidly and at a MV of 2100 (conservative, from a 11.5" barrel) is already below the 1800fps threshold right past 100 yards. Unless someone has some concrete MV from a short 7.62x39 that is probably too slow. May stick with the 6.5gren

 

[KyleR1985]

6x45 or 6ARC don’t interest you?

Both will likely get you MV from short barrel.

 

[Ferrulewax]

6x45 or 6ARC don’t interest you?

Both will likely get you MV from short barrel.

Main reason for the 300blk or 7.62 was for Subs, since I would only be taking short distance shots anyway. I already have 6.5gren ammo and the rifle. 6x45 would require an aftermarket barrel which I don't want to bother with. 6arc would be fine but I don't really seen a reason for it when 6.5 gren will do eveything I need, but I may be convinced for the 6arc- particularly if howa offers it in stainless soon.

 

[gtriple]

I don't see any reason not to go with a 223 ULUL unless it is against your state regs.

 

[StupidLightweight]

I don't see any reason not to go with a 223 ULUL unless it is against your state regs.

Darn good point, but the AR isn't for everyone. It's too industrial in appearance, I suppose.

 

[Luke S]

This is exactly my dilemma... I want an SBR bolt action so I can always have a suppressor on. A UL UL pistol gets me there with less hassle I just don't like it as much.

Really come down to where the rifle is 90% of the time. If I strap it to my pack the UL UL rifle or pistol wins (assuming a folding stock). If it's in my hand I assume the Howa would win. With that in mind I plan to try a UL UL as something to take on backpack trips. But not sure I'll grab it if I'm actually hunting.

To the OP... how does that blind mag work? Any issues?

 

[Ferrulewax]

This is exactly my dilemma... I want an SBR bolt action so I can always have a suppressor on. A UL UL pistol gets me there with less hassle I just don't like it as much.

Really come down to where the rifle is 90% of the time. If I strap it to my pack the UL UL rifle or pistol wins (assuming a folding stock). If it's in my hand I assume the Howa would win. With that in mind I plan to try a UL UL as something to take on backpack trips. But not sure I'll grab it if I'm actually hunting.

To the OP... how does that blind mag work? Any issues?

Haven’t had an issue with the blind magazine yet but I haven’t worked it real hard either. It has cycled everything fine so far. It is a little hard to get the cartridges in because the action is pretty narrow, I tend to reach my left hand under the action and use those finders to push the rounds in, particularly the second round because it loads to the left side of the magazine.

 

[_S_R_]

Sweet rifle. Well done. I'd like to build something almost identical.

My Mini .223 would have the barrel chopped and threaded at 12.5 inches. I'd spin on a Griffin GP5 suppressor and pin and weld the can to the barrel. This would be short, handy, balance nicely, and provide adequate ballistics to the edge of my field shooting ability when using a lightweight rifle.

If you don’t mind, I would love to see pictures. Thank you

 

[StupidLightweight]

When I do it, I’ll post pics. At this point, it’s purely theoretical

 

[hereinaz]

SBR and FYI, you can open the bolt face and do a 22 BR or 6BRA, get some velocity back from the reduced barrel length. The Berger 95s for the 6mm fit easily inside my mags after opening the feed lips and cutting them back a bit.

Eventually I may pin and weld a suppressor on my Mini with a 12 inch 22 BR barrel when I am limited to 200 yards as I venture east. Or, I will SBR it, but then you have to get ATF permission to take the SBR out of state in advance of any trip.

I think the idea of hunting suppressed inside 100 has some allure, but it leaves a lot of questions IMO. I looked a killing with sub sonics and just wasn’t impressed with my options.

That said, I have an SBR AR with 5.5” barrel and suppressor for HD. Shooting suppressed is fun, and inside my home I am good with heavy subs loaded in a couple 30 round mags instead of a pistol.

 

[Ferrulewax]

SBR and FYI, you can open the bolt face and do a 22 BR or 6BRA, get some velocity back from the reduced barrel length. The Berger 95s for the 6mm fit easily inside my mags after opening the feed lips and cutting them back a bit.

Eventually I may pin and weld a suppressor on my Mini with a 12 inch 22 BR barrel when I am limited to 200 yards as I venture east. Or, I will SBR it, but then you have to get ATF permission to take the SBR out of state in advance of any trip.

I think the idea of hunting suppressed inside 100 has some allure, but it leaves a lot of questions IMO. I looked a killing with sub sonics and just wasn’t impressed with my options.

That said, I have an SBR AR with 5.5” barrel and suppressor for HD. Shooting suppressed is fun, and inside my home I am good with heavy subs loaded in a couple 30 round mags instead of a pistol.

After exploring cartridges that can shoot subs, it seems like supersonic performance is really poor, particularly in an SBR. I think 6arc or 6.5gren is the plan. I don’t really want to reload or rebarrel a rifle that I only need like 4MOA performance from, and the velocity really isn’t needed for the range I am looking at. Looks like a 6 ARC out of a 11” barrel would still be above 1800fps to basically 400.

 

[hereinaz]

After exploring cartridges that can shoot subs, it seems like supersonic performance is really poor, particularly in an SBR. I think 6arc or 6.5gren is the plan. I don’t really want to reload or rebarrel a rifle that I only need like 4MOA performance from, and the velocity really isn’t needed for the range I am looking at. Looks like a 6 ARC out of a 11” barrel would still be above 1800fps to basically 400.

Also, the 22 ARC might have more velocity with the 77 TMK and similar. I would definitely go 6 over 6.5.

I found the same, I don’t even waste time with supers in my 300 BO.

 

[waspocrew]

If really wanting to hunt subsonic, I'd go 300 BLK for more flexibility in projectile choices. However, hunting with subs does introduce some challenges. You really need to know your drops. With my 300 BLK and 200 gr Makers, with a 100 yard zero, you have 3.5 minutes of drop at 125 and 7.6 minutes at 150.

That being said - a SBR would be pretty fun. How short could you go with your current stock? A 12" 6 ARC or 22 ARC (assuming legal for big game in your state) would probably be plenty.

 

[turbobrick]

If I was going to SBR a Howa Mini and hunt with subs it would 100% be a 338arc, in subs weight and expansion are king. I had a SBR 6arc, and it was great, but the ballistics aren't that great. I have a 8.6blk and love it for subs, hope to be able to harvest something with it soon.

 

[turbo406]

If you landlord the 6 arc with some of the new brass offerings I've seen guys getting alot spicier velocities

 

[turbo406]

Texas predator hunting has a plethora of arc info and is constantly pushing the arc to its potential