Update from Howa



Looks like Matt could use a few tips on keeping cheek weld, and a bit more secure target stand.

I think I'm gonna order the 22" heavier barrel model for my son. I believe the barrel is heavy enough to thread for a brake. That rifle will not recoil.

damn ya'll quit it

I'll probably order the heavy barreled version too. - In either .222 Rem, or 6.5 Grendel.

Still looking for aftermarket stocks. Has anybody heard of any?

I would want a wood stock for the .222 Remington. I guess the 6.5 Grendel would be the best one to get first, as the Hogue stock should be OK for that.

On the .222, I"d be tempted to rust blue the barreled action, then sink it into a nice piece of Walnut. - Make it purdy, and put a good quality scope on it.

A note of caution here about scopes and scope mounts on a mini-action. The problem to work with is the short distance between the rings, which will limit how far forward or back you can move a scope. If possible, try the scope on the rifle before you buy. - I got stuck with a Nikon Monarch once that would not work out with my CZ Mini-Mauser. There was no way to move the scope forward enough, so I finally gave up, put the scope on the shelf and tried another scope that fit a little better.

A good way to go here would be to see what present mini-action Howa owners seem to be happiest with.

Charles you can use the 2 piece bases and offset rings to give more room between the rings if needed. Howa at this time has no plans for additional stocks for this rifle. A guy in Australia is sending them dimensions and plans on tactical stocked versions he is making and they are interested in those for the heavy barreled versions. Have heard some stock makers here have shown interest but think they may be taking the wait and see on how the waters are on if there will be aftermarket stocks.

The video link I posted above they used the 20 inch heavy barreled model.

I'd be happy with a few of the Boyds or Stocky's stocks designs.

The rubber-coated Hogue stocks usually shoot OK - but are the direct opposite of "elegant". Howas can actually look pretty good, if you put one in a good looking stock.

Have you seen the Webley & Scott? They put a Howa action in a good-looking stock with a steel detachable magazine, and it's a knockout. Only a Weatherby Vangaurd II Deluxe comes close. I like the Webley & Scott much better than the Weatherby. It costs just a bit less, and looks better.


I would round-file those scope mounts though, it looks like somebody gave a nice rifle to Bubba. The only way they could be worse would be if they were "see-through" mounts. So, if I were buying a Webley & Scott, I'd be getting rifle only, and let them keep the scope package deal.

This is the kind of stock that I would like to see as an option on the mini-Howa. Something with a bit of class to it.

Mines been on order since shot show. Can't wait to get it

Good news on the scope mounts for the mini action

http://warnescopemounts.com/?s=howa

New Warne 0moa and 20moa one piece rails!

More news for rifles with this action

Boyds will be offering a replacement stock for the Mini action.

I barreled a savage 10 in 6.5 Grendel for my kids to shoot. Wish I had waited for the howa. My go to calling rifle in 223 is a howa with the 10rd mag. Shoots great and functions perfectly. Howa is a wonderful rifle for hunting/rough use.

Has anyone got their hands on one these yet? If so how do they shot?

They're listed in 6.5 Grendel in the Howa catalog - but none of the wholesalers I deal with will admit to having one of them yet.

I love simple and straight forward videos that demonstrate the virtues of 5.56 vs 6.5mm

He was even shooting a target (light jacket) Amax round the 5.56 seems to be soft point...

Well of course the larger case and heavier bullet is going to put more energy on the target. That is a given.

My question about the new Howa is how heavy a bullet will its magazine properly handle. Much of the 6.5 caliber's reputation stemmed from the use of long, heavy bullets in the Swede on elk-sized game.

If the Howa cannot properly utilize at least 140 grain bullets, then it will be no better a performer than an AR, and hunters wanting a light, handy deer rifle will still be better off with a 30-30 shooting 170 grain bullets.

The Howa mini in 6.5 Grendel comes with a 1:8 twist barrel and that will stabilize bullets to the 154gr Norma Onyx which is a short for weight bullet. Magazine length for the Mini is for SAAMI spec loading so 2.26 or 2.27 are realistic expectations to work well. In the CZ Mini I can load to 2.29 and still cycle rounds through it. In my 1:8.4 barreled Grendel 140gr partitions are doable but velocity is in the 2300 range, still plenty for any deer walking but I prefer the 130gr Accubond LR at 2450fps which is easily obtainable and with the high BC it retains enough for a whitetail much further than most should be shooting.

By the way the first shipment of the Howa Mini have arrived in country and are being sent out, some have already gotten their pre ordered rifles. That first shipment was the 22 inch version and there are heavy barreled ones and the light weight ones in customs with more on the way according to Legacy Sports.

In the current consumer market the Howa Grendel is going to be a hot ticket item, regardless of how it performs with heavy bullets.

A) A 123gr SST is a proven shonuff killer round, lightyears beyond 5.56, as you say "a given" but point being you don't need 140gr at lesser velocity.

B) There are a lot of people who are bought in already on Grendel ARs so they'll likely want a bolt gun for the simple reason of already being invested in the caliber

C) The rifle will be affordable

That's my opinions, I don't believe anybody is expecting the Howa Grendel to revolutionalize the cartridge and be a magic bullet type solution - there are too many other caliber a like the good ole 270 that can stretch out the bullet weights better.

The guys trying to hunt subsonic will of course want to push the longest, heaviest bullet that they can, to get the energy level up.

I am wanting to run the heavier bullets in order to emulate the ballistics of one of the most popular and successful 6.5's of all time, the 6.5x54, which Europeans use as we might use a 30-30 with the 170 grain bullet. Moderate velocity with a long, heavy bullet does a great job at the ranges that most deer are shot at. (Under 200 yds)

The 6.5 Grendel has about the right case capacity for this, and with its moderate recoil it should be great in a light, handy rifle.

A 140 grain bullet would be OK, but a 160 grain RN would be outstanding.

If you look up discussions where the primary advantage of the 6.5 bullet diameter is mentioned, you'll hear about long, heavy for caliber bullets with high sectional density that perform beyond normal expectations. Usually this will be mentioned when they talk about the 6.5x55 being used in Sweden on the local elk-sized critter.

When you are stuck with the shorter, lighter bullets, then this outstanding advantage has just been peed away. - Then you are stuck with talking about it being better than a .223 - which is true enough but with the heavier slugs, you would be talking about how it is better than the 30-30, which is something else entirely.

Creedmoor

You can load down a creedmoor to 6.5x54 levels, but it will use more powder than the Grendel and give you a bit more recoil. Accuracy may be an issue due to reduced loading density.

The Howa Mini action is getting noticed by some Stock makers, one Chassis is now available from Brownells

link

MDT LSS link

MDT is making a chassis for it

Boyds now has stocks available for the Howa mini rifles link

Classic and light available with more on the way