Howa "mini action" rifles~anyone playing with one of these?

[.22LRGUY]

Hey guys~not too much fanfare when these were announced...but I think they're interesting guns at face value. I know there is a bigger desire to build/shoot rifles you can upgrade component parts on easily, but, assuming this forum is where all the really accuracy-minded folks really like to hang out...has anyone here bought one of these? Opinion? Results?

Looking at (possibly) a .204 Ruger, heavy barrel.

 

[JR Hartman]

nope, but I came close to it, just didn't get the deal and then found something else.

You may find that everyone will tell you that you should get what they shoot or your #### will fall off, according to some other threads lately. Apparently innovating or doing things differently is bad now.

Mostly I am subscribing because I like the idea of those rifles and would like to see if they hold up to the test of time and if the aftermarket does a bit for them

 

[ben777lemay]

tagged for interest

 

[Suther]

While not a mini action, I lust for a howa mountain rifle in 7mm08. Who wouldn't want a sub-6lb rifle for carrying all day? Randy Newberg sure likes em...

 

[porpoise]

I have one in 7.62x39. Its truly mini not just short, almost as small as my cz 527. Its accuracy with norco is poor like 4 or 5 inches. Barnaul a bit better. I havent tried handloads yet. I like the 5 round mag although its a bit bulky and some people dont like the mag release. Its light despite the clunky hogue stock. Im not sure why they use this stock. Mine is the light barrel thinner than my 527 but a bit longer. If i can get it to shoot reasonable with my loads thats good but i bought it for the cheap norco maybe i was expecting too much for cheap

 

[Suther]

I have one in 7.62x39. Its truly mini not just short, almost as small as my cz 527. Its accuracy with norco is poor like 4 or 5 inches. Barnaul a bit better. I havent tried handloads yet. I like the 5 round mag although its a bit bulky and some people dont like the mag release. Its light despite the clunky hogue stock. Im not sure why they use this stock. Mine is the light barrel thinner than my 527 but a bit longer. If i can get it to shoot reasonable with my loads thats good but i bought it for the cheap norco maybe i was expecting too much for cheap

Is your 527 the same caliber?

 

[porpoise]

Is your 527 the same caliber?

Yes my 527 is also 7.62x39 but i have a peep sight on it. Its a bit lighter than the howa, thicker barrel and slightly smaller action. It seems accurate enough with the barnaul but the norco is not very good although without a scope i could not tell you the accuracy except that it does better than the howa with a scope

 

[madashell]

So are guys generally going with the light or the heavy barrel x39 Howa ?

Guessing the light makes more sense for this cartridge.

 

[jiffx2781]

Would like a mini action in 6.5 grendel but im not interested until they come with the standard hinged floorplate and a decent stock. Something like the Alpine Mountain rifle I just picked up. Beautiful well made piece of kit even though it's a howa. I think another manufacturer cough cough, remington cough cough, could learn a lot from this rifle. Just sayin'

 

[jiffx2781]

While not a mini action, I lust for a howa mountain rifle in 7mm08. Who wouldn't want a sub-6lb rifle for carrying all day? Randy Newberg sure likes em...

Not meaning to derail but my Alpine only meets the advertised 5.7 pounds with the plastic dbm kit and NO magazine inserted. With the hinged metal floorplate installed it brings the weight up to 6.1 lb. Still very decent though. I wish they made the mini action in a decent configuration like the Alpine.

I think the Howa's are viewed as being a lower end or bargain brand mainly due to the use of the cheap Houge stock and plastic dbm kits. A rifle is only as good as the stock and the Bansner stock on the Alpine is top notch. Would like to see it available for the mini action.

 

[madashell]

That Hogue stock sucks. I guess that keeps the cost down.

 

[Canada tail]

I handled a howa in 762 and I was not impressed by the quality.

 

[madashell]

I handled a howa in 762 and I was not impressed by the quality.

I had high hopes for this rifle, but when I saw that huge forend around that tiny barrel the stock turned me off from the rifle just about completely.

If I had the money to blow on it I'd get a smith to build a x39 like this and be done with it:
h ttps://rifleshooter.com/2016/03/building-a-remington-700-in-7-62x39-mm-russian/

 

[Suther]

Not meaning to derail but my Alpine only meets the advertised 5.7 pounds with the plastic dbm kit and NO magazine inserted. With the hinged metal floorplate installed it brings the weight up to 6.1 lb. Still very decent though. I wish they made the mini action in a decent configuration like the Alpine.

I think the Howa's are viewed as being a lower end or bargain brand mainly due to the use of the cheap Houge stock and plastic dbm kits. A rifle is only as good as the stock and the Bansner stock on the Alpine to top notch. Would like to see it available for the mini action.

Fair enough. Still lighter than my savage axis lol


A mini in 6.5 grendel wouldn't be a half-bad woods cartridge... But apparently, they are the same weight as the alpine mountain, according to the catalog.

 

[JR Hartman]

Not meaning to derail but my Alpine only meets the advertised 5.7 pounds with the plastic dbm kit and NO magazine inserted. With the hinged metal floorplate installed it brings the weight up to 6.1 lb. Still very decent though. I wish they made the mini action in a decent configuration like the Alpine.

... A rifle is only as good as the stock and the Bansner stock on the Alpine is top notch. Would like to see it available for the mini action.

see, for me, I feel that a rifle is only as good as its populated receiver and barrel. Stock is easy, but it requires a quality smith and specialized tools to true up the hard parts

 

[jiffx2781]

see, for me, I feel that a rifle is only as good as its populated receiver and barrel. Stock is easy, but it requires a quality smith and specialized tools to true up the hard parts

Not disagreeing about the importance of barrel and receiver but, put the best receiver and barrel money can buy into a garbage stock and see what happens. You're not going to be pleased with the results. A quality stock makes a quality foundation to build the rest into.
I'm not saying a Howa is the greatest thing out there (far from it) but the tupperware stock they come with is definitely the weakest link. If there was more aftermarket support I'd buy the Howa over a Remington any day. The receiver and especially the bolt are a better design but it's potential is wasted by it being installed in a cheap stock and having very limited options to upgrade. I've had many mediocre rifles turn into performers with nothing more than a stock upgrade.
Building a rifle is no different than building a house. Without a good foundation what goods the rest.

 

[JR Hartman]

yea, I fully agree I am saying a stock is easy tho. Buy it, take the old one off, install the new one.

Fixing a poor receiver, barrel etc is much harder for a non experienced gunsmith, especially if you are not equipped for it.

 

[Hank44]

Other than the poorly thought out magazine release they seem like pretty neat rifles. I tend to carry my rifles right where the latch is.

 

[.22LRGUY]

Thanks for the input guys. Still undecided...but until I see/hear/read something very convincing...a CZ527 Varmint may be next-up.

 

[porpoise]

i loaded and shot today 2 loads. The photo with the tape shows 2 four shot groups the small one a little less than an inch with hornady .311 bullet 26 gr. Dominion 4198 the other one berrys plated bullet 14 grains n110. The berrys load was aimed at the top dot but fell right beside the other group. The other photo is norco at about 5 inches. I used leupold fx6. 100 metres these are my first reloads for this rifle. Actually that group is 1 and 1 eighth