The RAVEN mini action thread

[ElPollo]

Ar mags could be an option


I see what you are say but there is a market for lighter rifles albeit smaller than all the carbon magnums. Also why couldn’t something in the$2000 ball park could be attained?

As much as I’d agree that would be awesome. You won’t get a Tikka type action to feed from a double stack, double feed AR mag. Tikka mags are single stack and the bolt wouldn’t catch the offset cartridge to feed it. Making something like you are describing would be a ground-up development of something totally new. Given the number of Howa minis and CZ 527s you see on the street, not many companies are going to take something like that on. Hope the market changes one of these days to allow for more stuff like this.

 

[wind gypsy]

Mini action would be cool but if it's limited to AR mag length it would be significantly less cool to me.

 

[wind gypsy]

I would love to see Sako bring back the L46/L461. The L46's had single stack metal magazines, It was chambered in 22 Hornet, 218 Bee, 222 Rem, and 222 Rem mag. In 1964 they went to the L461's, these had Bdl floor plates.
I have a Sako Vixen Heavy barrel 222 Rem L461 that my dad bought new. Perfect size action for the 222 family.

They made PPCs on the Sako A1s so in theory a barrel swap should be all that's needed to have one in ARC. I've looked for a donor rifle a fair bit and not seen exactly what I want for a palatable price.

Would be kind of cool to just keep original wood stock if everything is decent and rebarrel one to ARC.

 

[Marbles]

So, the Sako 90 comes in 5 action sizes to fit the round. If you want an expensive mini action that has no real support (what a Tikka mini would be), get a 223 Sako 90. You can get integrated pic rail, comes with dual bolt ejectors, and very nice barrel.

I'm pretty sure Sako actions work with Tikka prefits.

Seriously, I don't get the draw for an custom mini action with zero ecosystem built around it.

A Sako 90 mini in a wood Rolstok Lite would be a sweet set up.

 

[eLightfoot]

So, the Sako 90 comes in 5 action sizes to fit the round. If you want an expensive mini action that has no real support (what a Tikka mini would be), get a 223 Sako 90. You can get integrated pic rail, comes with dual bolt ejectors, and very nice barrel.

I'm pretty sure Sako actions work with Tikka prefits.

Seriously, I don't get the draw for an custom mini action with zero ecosystem built around it.

A Sako 90 mini in a wood Rolstok Lite would be a sweet set up.

The Sako 90XS actions have not come to market yet. They will have a single plunger ejector(there is no room for double on a 223 bf). I plan to buy one when they become available. Nobody else has the balls to invest in making magazines for a mini actions. Personally I think a 3 lug with a bdl floor plate would be the way to go. Keep it light and simple. it would be an ultra light hunting set up. No need for a ten round mag hanging off the gun.

 

[left hunter]

Is there any company that offers custom mini actions (or has ever offered them)? I am aware of the how minis, Zastava/charles daily m85, old Sakos and old Kimbers but can’t think of any mini custom action I have ever seen. The original Montana rifle company had one listed but never got around to producing them. Seems like an area that has never actually been explored by a company to me.

Anyway, I’m in for 4 custom mini left hand actions when they are available

 

[General RE LEE]

Funny when I take my Tikka and Howa Mini to the range, after several rounds with my Tikka, I always slam the bolt home as soon as I put the Howa Mini on the bags. The short bolt stroke on the Mini throws me off.

 

[yfarm]

CZ 527 needs to return

 

[elkman392989]

What about a q fix mini? Would have to get over the stock but it's something I have been thinking about.

 

[PistolPete]

I would LOVE a high quality 2.5" mini action, but I would be almost as happy to see Kimber get off their assess and just chamber the 84 in 223 and the ARCs...

 

[nm.otter]

So all we have to do is convince Sako to sell barreled actions to UM?

 

[Jt89]

Ehhh.... Unpopular opinion but I'm happy with a standard action length. Put a lighter scope on and cut your barrel shorter, quit whinging. The only valid reason to have for liking a mini action of any sort is they can be readily had in the weird AK bolt face for the grendel/ARC cartridge family. Chasing ounces costs way more than going for a run and it matters not come time to carry out the meat.

 

[Stocky]

Ehhh.... Unpopular opinion but I'm happy with a standard action length. Put a lighter scope on and cut your barrel shorter, quit whinging. The only valid reason to have for liking a mini action of any sort is they can be readily had in the weird AK bolt face for the grendel/ARC cartridge family. Chasing ounces costs way more than going for a run and it matters not come time to carry out the meat.

A shorter rifles is way nicer to carry especially with a suppressor which still isnt short even with a 16inch barrel. Who wants to carry non functional length and weight? There's heaps of valid reasons for wanting a scaled action.

 

[Jt89]

A shorter rifles is way nicer to carry especially with a suppressor which still isnt short even with a 16inch barrel. Who wants to carry non functional length and weight? There's heaps of valid reasons for wanting a scaled action.

... If the country you hunt is that hard to move and hunt in with a chopped and suppressed rifle, you're not getting any more opportunities using a mini action. If 16 inches is still too long then cut it to 14.5... For the cartridges used in a mini action the velocity loss at those barrel lengths is hardly a valid argument either. This is a have your cake or eat it type situation.

 

[Stocky]

... If the country you hunt is that hard to move and hunt in with a chopped and suppressed rifle, you're not getting any more opportunities using a mini action. If 16 inches is still too long then cut it to 14.5... For the cartridges used in a mini action the velocity loss at those barrel lengths is hardly a valid argument either. This is a have your cake or eat it type situation.

Bash through a west coast scrub layer down here in NZ with a large rifle getting to alpine and you will curse any extra length when you rifles getting hung up on everything. Using a mini action cartridge is one of the few is where you genuinely are potentially going to be limited in range by the terminal performance and catridge and not your ability.

Im not saying its essential just theres as valid a reason for wanting a more compact action as there is for using any cartridge that's bigger than 223 or 6Arc if you need a 6mm legally. If we dont want improvement why aren't we using black powder muskets. There's no negative to a mini action except it doesnt exist in a proven platform currently. You dont want it cool but why do you feel the need to say its not valid to want one. Whys it worse than what's available?

 

[Jt89]

Bash through a west coast scrub layer down here in NZ with a large rifle getting to alpine and you will curse any extra length when you rifles getting hung up on everything. Using a mini action cartridge is one of the few is where you genuinely are potentially going to be limited in range by the terminal performance and catridge and not your ability.

Im not saying its essential just theres as valid a reason for wanting a more compact action as there is for using any cartridge that's bigger than 223 or 6Arc if you need a 6mm legally. If we dont want improvement why aren't we using black powder muskets. There's no negative to a mini action except it doesnt exist in a proven platform currently. You dont want it cool but why do you feel the need to say its not valid to want one. Whys it worse than what's available?

I'm very familiar with bush bashing around NZ mate and being shorter than the average kiwi I find longer guns pretty challenging to drag around sometimes. My main rifle is still only an 18" .308... I agree with you 100% but apart from a takedown option (single shot not ideal above our bush line, great in creek and bush situations) I just really think there's a point of diminishing returns when it comes to trying to shorten up a bolt action. At some point the supplejack and fallen logs win and you have to safely poke the rifle through ahead of you.

 

[TradLife406]

I was chatting with Ryan last night, mentioned how cool a mini arc action would be. He questioned my sexuality and inserted some racial slurs haha ok not that bad. But basically no go. He's just not an arc fan.

 

[NSI]

Yeah you're right, nobody wants this ;-)

Mags, stock, & BM are an interesting question.

-Could use howa mini footprint to accept howa mini stocks (RS lite, stocky's, JTAC, etc), Jefferson outdoor BM, and Howa mags. This seems like the lowest brain damage approach.

-Could use ICAR mags and have someone like Thomas (high desert) make a custom BM for it. If pairing with something over which we can have influence like an RS lite, inlet is a non-issue.

-Could use Sako XS mags when those are available, and either Sako XS bottom metal or a custom bottom metal as above.

-Could just try to make a volume deal with Sako for 95XS when available, and buy mags & BM alongside the actions or barreled actions. Bolt face would still need to be opened up for ARC family, and mags modded. Probably a bit of a nightmare.

-J

 

[Stocky]

I'm very familiar with bush bashing around NZ mate and being shorter than the average kiwi I find longer guns pretty challenging to drag around sometimes. My main rifle is still only an 18" .308... I agree with you 100% but apart from a takedown option (single shot not ideal above our bush line, great in creek and bush situations) I just really think there's a point of diminishing returns when it comes to trying to shorten up a bolt action. At some point the supplejack and fallen logs win and you have to safely poke the rifle through ahead of you.

Not to get personal but i mentioned the coast for a reason its not the same thing as most of the rest of NZ. You posted your first Chamois on here not all that long ago. Im just saying wanting a shorter gun is valid and if i was trying to invalidate it id want decades of hunting it all possible conditions (I dont have enough to do so and I've spend almost all my spare time hunting the southern alps, guided in BC, and hunted the lower 48, Im off for 10 days solo in Alaska in 2 weeks).

Sure everything is diminishing returns. A folding chassis is a solve but heavy and wide when folded, a single shots also good (I hunted the tops with a 16.5" Bergara 308 for a few years so i could take it down and hitchhike back to the car) a single shots no worse in the alpine than anywhere else since its down sides a quick follow up and to be honest in the tops a follow ups way more likely due to open terrain and dont have to be as quick. Same with bigger chamberings, lighter guns, BC, etc.

Id personally buy a reliable scaled action as i still dont think there's a perfect 308 or even 223 sized action in terms of good stocks available, reliable, lighter weight. Kimber's come close but 223 examples are rare and reliability is not perfect. The howa minis alright but trigger issues etc and in NZ we pay too much for stockys stocks. Id honestly prefer it was scaled to be too small for the ARC cases and just stick with 223 for cheap brass and save a bit more weight. I'm a very specific niche though.

 

[Stocky]

Yeah you're right, nobody wants this ;-)

Mags, stock, & BM are an interesting question.

-Could use howa mini footprint to accept howa mini stocks (RS lite, stocky's, JTAC, etc), Jefferson outdoor BM, and Howa mags. This seems like the lowest brain damage approach.

-Could use ICAR mags and have someone like Thomas (high desert) make a custom BM for it. If pairing with something over which we can have influence like an RS lite, inlet is a non-issue.

-Could use Sako XS mags when those are available, and either Sako XS bottom metal or a custom bottom metal as above.

-Could just try to make a volume deal with Sako for 95XS when available, and buy mags & BM alongside the actions or barreled actions. Bolt face would still need to be opened up for ARC family, and mags modded. Probably a bit of a nightmare.

-J

View attachment 911241

I found Jeffersons hinged BM to decrease reliability significantly as well as contribute significantly less smooth bolt travel and increased bind (in 223). The Howa mags are much more reliable but short coal and require being non flush. Sako mags were longer back for the 75 but obviously getting supply is an issue. You could very nearly make aics mags work not ideal but they appear like they could be shoehorned into the minis foot print. Personally an AR mag is maybe better maybe modified with a centre extension similar to the shape of a DTI mag for longer coal with a notch so you could run both factory AR mags and a custom option. Double stack highly available, cheap, only pay extra for long coal options if required (PRI mags are already almost as long as howa mini mags. If just running the factory option only then the total action footprint could be shrunk even further.