Those Howa Mini's can flat out shoot

[Newtosavage]

I continue to be impressed by the consistent accuracy my Howa Mini delivers. The first one I owned started life as a 7.62x39 barreled action and after bedding it into a Boyd's stock, it delivered both factory and hand loads into routine sub-MOA groups. My buddy borrowed it to kill his first buck and now it's his.

My 2nd Howa Mini is a 6.5 Grendel that came with the factory plastic stock and Nikko Stirling scope. I sold the scope and eventually worked down the stock to a more reasonable, lighter (and more attractive) dimension, then bedded it and painted it with textured paint. It already had aluminum pillars. Then I topped it with lightweight bases and rings and a Leupold American Marksman 3-9x40 with the excellent ballistic reticle. That reticle just happens to match my handloads exactly at 200 and 300 yards, when zeroed at 100.

This was yesterday's group with 120 grain ELD-M's over 28 grains of 8208 XBR. It will do this every time out.

So far, the Howa Minis are the only factory rifles I've owned that can keep up with the consistently boring accuracy of my Tikka rifles. I've owned and built many Savage rifles, and they are close, but the Howa Minis and Tikkas are on the next level IMO. My Howas and Tikkas have all been 1/2-3/4" guns. My Savages have all been 3/4"-1" guns.

 

[zeroforhire]

That mini Grendel is my favorite rifle.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

 

[Oldffemt]

Mini Grendel is on my short list. I built an AR with 18” Faxon barrel that’s lights out, routine 3/4”-1” groups at 200yds with AA 129gr sst’s. I haven’t started loading for it yet. What kind of weight are you guys ending up with on the mini’s?

 

[Newtosavage]

You mean total rifle weight or powder charge?

 

[Newtosavage]

Mine is 6 lbs. 13 oz. total, with a 3-9x40 Leupold on aluminum Weaver bases and rings. I suppose I could save a few ounces with a lightweight Leupold scope and flip-flop butt pad, but this one is done IMO. Shoots too good and carries too well to mess with at this point. That's a 22" barrel by the way.

Paint is a single can of Rustoleum multicolored textured spray paint in desert sand color. Goes well with the really dark matte bluing on the Howa. I love that paint for rifle stocks. I've probably painted five with it by now and it provides a fantastic feel in the hands and a very attractive non-glare finish.