Thread: Carbon fibre stock options for Howa Mini Action

I am buying a Howa to replace my doomed AR. I want something close to what I had - a short light rifle that I can shoot anything with (if using the right projectile).

To that end I am fitting a DPT suppressor with stainless baffle. I will get the barrel shortened so that the suppressor is flush with the stock. I would also like to replace the factory plastic stock with something lighter, stiffer and generally more tacticool.

Does anybody know of a carbon fibre stock that will fit the Howa mini action?

Can't help you with the stock but I wouldn't go with the stainless baffle as it adds weight and isn't necessary on a bolt action with it's slow rate of fire.

Originally Posted by 10-Ring

Can't help you with the stock but I wouldn't go with the stainless baffle as it adds weight and isn't necessary on a bolt action with it's slow rate of fire.

Hey mate,

Have you tested this theory with a short barrel rifle? I as looking to add a DPT suppressor to my 7mm08 with 16" barrel. I had the suppressor already then got the barrel cut. Called DPT to make sure I wasn't missing anything (other than a wider bush) and they said if I used the standard suppressor without the SS baffle I'd be at high risk of stuffing the suppressor.

Hmm. Have used a Sako .308 with their suppressor without a stainless baffle for over 400 shots without any damage and a friend has done over 300 shots with any issues with his Tikka.

I think the issue is firing shot strings without the ss baffle will rapidly erode the first in line.
With my ar strings of 7 to 15 rapid fire were quite common on goats, the ss baffle got pitted but the others were fine.
For normal hunting firing one or two shots then a long rest im not sure about the need for the ss.

Originally Posted by 10-Ring

Can't help you with the stock but I wouldn't go with the stainless baffle as it adds weight and isn't necessary on a bolt action with it's slow rate of fire.

Not quite rate of fire doesn't need to be much my 15 inch 7mm08 chewed up an aluminium baffle but is going strong with the stainless. Its actually still chewed up the second baffle in line a bit but I just rotate it. My 16.5 308 has the 7mm dpt stainless baffle first in line which is a tight fit but clears a 308 projectile easily enough. The following 308 baffles look new when wiped clean. But I doubt any mini cases have enough unburnt powder to worry about for a stainless baffle.

Ken at 55six has a fresh howa chassis with carbon handguard/fore end

My Howa 7.62x39 with DPT magnum suppressor and a Weaver K4 scope.
Still quite light and easy handling even though it's heavier than the standard over barrel suppressor.

Not sure on how much more noise reduction I'm going to get out it though.

Theres a real market there for nice thin little light weight stocks for the Howa Mini, cool wee shooters but the factory stock is a big fat heffer of a thing. Shame Stu isnt making anymore of his CF stocks, as the Rem Model 7 stock would be ideal inletted for the howa mini

Re the suppressor. This is also me varmint rifle (it's replacing my AR) so could potentially get a lot of shots. When I suppressed the AR I went with a gunworks one choosing durability over lightweight because the DPT was only rated for 1200 round which isn't that much in a semi. The first baffle is basically a consumable item which you replace eventually.

Building this rifle it's still likely to have a high round count but not being a semi not quite as rapid fire. It's also getting a barrel chop. Given all that the stainless baffle seemed like a good compromise. For my deer rifle I went with a all alloy dpt.

@Tommy thanks for the tip and will check out Ken's chassies.

@Synthetic thats a nice rifle. Is that the factory length barrel?

Does a carbon fibre stock not exist? If thats the case I will spend the extra $55 for the factory camo stock to make it more tacticool.

I think that chassis that Ken is selling will be too heavy for me. The factory web site says that it's 4.2lb \ 1.9kg. Does anyone know how much the factory stock weighs?

Originally Posted by GWH

Theres a real market there for nice thin little light weight stocks for the Howa Mini, cool wee shooters but the factory stock is a big fat heffer of a thing. Shame Stu isnt making anymore of his CF stocks, as the Rem Model 7 stock would be ideal inletted for the howa mini

Ken Henderson must do a Howa mini action inletting, as a mate has one in 6.5 Grendel that had been re-stocked by Ken.

Originally Posted by gqhoon

Ken Henderson must do a Howa mini action inletting, as a mate has one in 6.5 Grendel that had been re-stocked by Ken.

Thats appreciated. Do you have his contact details?

Ok, a carbon stock to fit a Howa Mini is going to be quite tricky.

The carbon stock maker is very constrained by the exact dimensions of the mould. More so than the Wood stock worker. Unless they have made many of them regularly for the specific action you have then it is going to be a custom job. So far no one has recommended a supplier who offers a howa mini fit as Standard, which is not a good sign.

From frustrating experience, the difficult dimensions to get right are the fore and aft location of the action in the stock ie relative to the hand grip, the depthof stock around the magazine and bottom metal, the comb height, the length of pull and recoil pad angle to barrel, the length of foreend to accommodate the suppressor and the location and recessing of the sling swivels or front picatinny if it’s tactical.

Yes, it's factory barrel length of 20 inches.