Howa Mini Rifles, Builds, and Upgrades

[General RE LEE]

Same ammo you had loaded for previous barrel, or did you make a change?

Same ammo. I could tweak it and probably will later but it’s shooting pretty good.

 

[Schroedernd]

Are these the factory 90 cx? If so, where do you find them in stock?

Had the chance to chrono factory 80 ELD-VT last week out of the 16” barrel. 10 shots averaged 2735 fps.

The 108s averaged 2487 the same day.

Taking the chrono values from the last two range sessions and comparing them to Hornady box values, this 16 inch barrel is shooting just under 91% of the box speed. I’d expect to get around 2700 fps from the factory 90 cx.

90gr ELD-X over 28gr of 8208. Im getting 2850 average out of the factory 22" barrel.

 

[tall]

90gr ELD-X over 28gr of 8208. Im getting 2850 average out of the factory 22" barrel.

At a very rough calculation, I think you could expect around 2580 fps with the same load through a 16" barrel, give or take.

 

[Schroedernd]

At a very rough calculation, I think you could expect around 2580 fps with the same load through a 16" barrel, give or take.

Oof. I've found some posts with guys running custom shorter barrels on their Howa's and still getting pretty good velocity. I may have to look at a custom barrel at some point.

 

[FSB12B]

May have missed it, but I have found conflicting information everywhere. Anyone has rough weights on the 20” HB, 22” pencil, and 20” CF barreled actions?

Any experience with accuracy in the CF barrel? Going to set up an ARC for my daughters first.

 

[UnckleBob]

May have missed it, but I have found conflicting information everywhere. Anyone has rough weights on the 20” HB, 22” pencil, and 20” CF barreled actions?

Any experience with accuracy in the CF barrel? Going to set up an ARC for my daughters first.

 

[Mike D Texas]

For anyone interested, Brownell’s received a shipment of 20” 22ARC heavy barreled actions today.

With my account, plus an online coupon I found, I got it for under $500 shipped to my FFL. Also got 1.5% cash back through Active Junky.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

[ShakoMako]

No one within an hour drive has any Howa Minis in stock and I don’t want to commit before handling. I compared Tikka T3x to the available specs from Howa’s catalog and they appear to be within .75” (20” barrel) and a 1/4lb of each other. I’ve contemplated a JTAC Elf Owl chassis for a Mini in 6mm ARC but seems like there’s some inherent headaches with bottom plastic/metal, action issues, and a barrel that my local barrel threader says is a pain in the ass to cut shorter (the Howa, that is..as I would want to cut this to 16” or even 14.5 with pinned suppressor mount)

Is the Howa worth it over a Tikka for 6mm CM or ARC, even if I have to rechamber/get the bolt cut for the Tikka?

Am I missing something?

 

[BBob]

Am I missing something?

Tikka is a nicer rifle than a Mini. I own a Mini and have worked on and with Tikka's. For me a Mini is a fun cheap gun. Tikka is more of an investment in a nicer gun than a Mini IMO. I had no issues shortening my Mini. I do my own work so there's that. I made some tooling (not difficult or too time consuming) to be able to shorten a barreled Mini action in my lathe without too much difficulty. Yes it takes a bit more time and would cost a bit more to do but I wouldn't say it's a PITA.

 

[nm.otter]

6mm Creedmoor would work in a Howa Superlite action -- quite a bit lighter than either their Mini or a T3x.

 

[General RE LEE]

No one within an hour drive has any Howa Minis in stock and I don’t want to commit before handling. I compared Tikka T3x to the available specs from Howa’s catalog and they appear to be within .75” (20” barrel) and a 1/4lb of each other. I’ve contemplated a JTAC Elf Owl chassis for a Mini in 6mm ARC but seems like there’s some inherent headaches with bottom plastic/metal, action issues, and a barrel that my local barrel threader says is a pain in the ass to cut shorter (the Howa, that is..as I would want to cut this to 16” or even 14.5 with pinned suppressor mount)

Is the Howa worth it over a Tikka for 6mm CM or ARC, even if I have to rechamber/get the bolt cut for the Tikka?

Am I missing something?

The Howa Mini will not be as refined as a Tikka, but it’s still a great platform. The HACT two stage trigger is really good. I own Tikkas but this site has an almost unhealthy obsession with them. The Howa Mini already has the appropriate bolt face and there are stock options.

 

[nm.otter]

I'm still dreaming of a bomb-proof action that's the size of a Kimber 84M or a Howa Superlite.

 

[General RE LEE]

No one within an hour drive has any Howa Minis in stock and I don’t want to commit before handling. I compared Tikka T3x to the available specs from Howa’s catalog and they appear to be within .75” (20” barrel) and a 1/4lb of each other. I’ve contemplated a JTAC Elf Owl chassis for a Mini in 6mm ARC but seems like there’s some inherent headaches with bottom plastic/metal, action issues, and a barrel that my local barrel threader says is a pain in the ass to cut shorter (the Howa, that is..as I would want to cut this to 16” or even 14.5 with pinned suppressor mount)

Is the Howa worth it over a Tikka for 6mm CM or ARC, even if I have to rechamber/get the bolt cut for the Tikka?

Am I missing something?

Here’s my Howa Mini with a custom barrel chambered in 6 ARC. Great rifle and I enjoy it as much as my Tikkas.

 

[ShakoMako]

Here’s my Howa Mini with a custom barrel chambered in 6 ARC. Great rifle and I enjoy it as much as my Tikkas.

View attachment 957918

Really good looking rifle and thanks for the reply. I have this idea of a sub-7lb scoped/suppressed, sub-30” folded or collapsed stock 6mm arc. Seems like the Howas and Tikka t3xs are a both a good basis for this.

 

[General RE LEE]

Really good looking rifle and thanks for the reply. I have this idea of a sub-7lb scoped/suppressed, sub-30” folded or collapsed stock 6mm arc. Seems like the Howas and Tikka t3xs are a both a good basis for this.

My rig is 9.5 lbs largely cause of the heavier profile barrel so I can direct thread my can 5/8x24.

 

[Marshfly]

No one within an hour drive has any Howa Minis in stock and I don’t want to commit before handling. I compared Tikka T3x to the available specs from Howa’s catalog and they appear to be within .75” (20” barrel) and a 1/4lb of each other. I’ve contemplated a JTAC Elf Owl chassis for a Mini in 6mm ARC but seems like there’s some inherent headaches with bottom plastic/metal, action issues, and a barrel that my local barrel threader says is a pain in the ass to cut shorter (the Howa, that is..as I would want to cut this to 16” or even 14.5 with pinned suppressor mount)

Is the Howa worth it over a Tikka for 6mm CM or ARC, even if I have to rechamber/get the bolt cut for the Tikka?

Am I missing something?

Until you actually handle a Howa Mini you do miss it, honestly. How small and compact the action is just feels right for a cartridge like the 6ARC. No Tikka will ever feel or handle as well as a short barrel Howa Mini IMHO.

 

[General RE LEE]

Until you actually handle a Howa Mini you do miss it, honestly. How small and compact the action is just feels right for a cartridge like the 6ARC. No Tikka will ever feel or handle as well as a short barrel Howa Mini IMHO.

100% agree. It would be a tad disappointing to cycle a standard length action on such a small case after working a Howa Mini bolt.

 

[UnckleBob]

No one within an hour drive has any Howa Minis in stock and I don’t want to commit before handling. I compared Tikka T3x to the available specs from Howa’s catalog and they appear to be within .75” (20” barrel) and a 1/4lb of each other. I’ve contemplated a JTAC Elf Owl chassis for a Mini in 6mm ARC but seems like there’s some inherent headaches with bottom plastic/metal, action issues, and a barrel that my local barrel threader says is a pain in the ass to cut shorter (the Howa, that is..as I would want to cut this to 16” or even 14.5 with pinned suppressor mount)

Is the Howa worth it over a Tikka for 6mm CM or ARC, even if I have to rechamber/get the bolt cut for the Tikka?

Am I missing something?

A Tikka is not available in 6CM or 6ARC? It can be done, but there is no easy button. The 243 is available.

The two rifles I use the most are a 223 Tikka and a 6 ARC Howa. The Tikka action is slicker than the Howa's, but not enough that I worry about it. My Howa is at least as accurate as the Tikka. The Howa has a better stock. With the same stock, the Tikka might surpass it.

 

[Middle_Ridge]

May have missed it, but I have found conflicting information everywhere. Anyone has rough weights on the 20” HB, 22” pencil, and 20” CF barreled actions?

For the 22-inch pencil, my barreled action in 6 ARC (2025) weigh 59.2 oz.

Additional 3.9 oz for the other parts (mag, bottom metal, and action screws).

 

[Choot]

I was playing around with my gun and noticed that if I pull the trigger with the safety on and then take the safety off the trigger pulls extremely hard unless I cycle the bolt again. Does anyone else’s trigger do this?