Thread: Howa Mini owners opinions

Thanks for the replies, after doing more research on the 300 Blackout I don’t know if it’s for me really.
From my internet research it seems that it is difficult to get decent expansion out of the heavier bullets in the 300 Blackout.
Is anyone a 300 owner that could comment?

300blk is best with 125gr pills at super speed
it needs bullets that work at the speed its going at which is 30-30 speed
bigger bullets that will hold up in 300winmag are not suitable

I have one in 7.62x39. Can quite comfortably shoot 1 inch groups with 123gr hand loads.
As the others say the only issue is the magazine and the location of the release button. Mine has been chopped down, but still doesn't sit flush.

Originally Posted by stug

Here is the Jefferson Outdoors link. Looks good but only for Grendel and 7.62x39
https://www.jeffersonoutdoor.com/sho...h-bottom-metal

That looks ideal and exactly what I'm after, just need go through the import hassle again.

That looks the business,only thing holding me back from getting one was the magazine length an$ setup,fat chance of getting anything from the states these days though..someone with a CNC or 3D printer should whip something up locally I reakon..DPT could probably do something..

https://www.jeffersonoutdoor.com/sho...h-bottom-metal
If you don’t like the detach you can get floor plate style magazines from jefferson outdoors

I loved my mini in 6.5 Grendel but sold as i had a couple of other things I wanted
And it was the only rifle I own that i 100% didn’t have a true perpose for
Was purely a big boys toy

But I miss it big time and since they now have a walnut stock option for the mini I’ll get another when the shops re open

Originally Posted by Tribrit

Did u get the MDT LSS chassis one that Guncity was selling?

I went on the website yesterday to buy that exact rifle in 7.62x39 but it had sold.
Lots of rifles have sold over the lockdown. People with nothing else to do I guess.

I'm gonna buy a Howa Mini barreled action in 7.62x39 instead and drop in in a Boyds

No @Tribrit but there is one left in stock:

https://targetdynamics.co.nz/product...hassis-system/

Originally Posted by stug

Here is the Jefferson Outdoors link. Looks good but only for Grendel and 7.62x39
https://www.jeffersonoutdoor.com/sho...h-bottom-metal

I think there is a 223 option also

Originally Posted by 300CALMAN

I think there is a 223 option also

The option for 223 and 222 is on the website - unsure if it's available just yet. I posted a question on the forum it originated out of for more info. Will post up if I get a reply

Originally Posted by Steelisreal

The option for 223 and 222 is on the website - unsure if it's available just yet. I posted a question on the forum it originated out of for more info. Will post up if I get a reply

If you go to their website and try to order, 222-223 out of stock

Originally Posted by Ground Control

Thanks for the replies, after doing more research on the 300 Blackout I don’t know if it’s for me really.
From my internet research it seems that it is difficult to get decent expansion out of the heavier bullets in the 300 Blackout.
Is anyone a 300 owner that could comment?

You definitely need light bullets and to get them moving fast. 110-125gr. The 110 VMax is pretty violent, as is the Sierra Hollowpoint. The 125 Speer TNT by all acounts behaves pretty well at blackout sedate speeds and would be a good choice for fallow. The 125 NBT and TMK's were made with blackout in mind and are great choices too. Belmont offer ammo loaded with 130-135 hollowpoints which no doubt work too. No, you can't really drive heavier traditional bullets (i.e. 150gr SP's) fast enough to for them to perform on game.

When you get into subsonic loads, up and above 190gr, there are some specialty bullets that will fragment and expand, like Lehigh's or Hornady Sub-X, but they're expensive and rare as hens teeth. You can also load a long heavy bullets (that are right on the ragged edge of stability for the twist rate of your barrel) and hope that they tumble on impact for goats and deer.

If you want to do some ultra-quiet <150m bunny blasting, Hornady do a wee 90gr XTP bullet. They have a giant hollowpoint and will expand all the way down to 700fps.

I have posted on this in other threads. I have a mini stainless 7.62x39. Have killed a lot of big game with it and out to 250m. I would pick that every day over the blackout but if you want to use subbies then go blackout and use Le Highs. Trouble then is the twist rate though in the factory offering I think. I use the 123gn SST. Great little bullet at slower speeds. Mine is a 14 inch barrel in a CF stock. Weight all up is under 5 pounds with scope and ammo. I run a Leupold 1.5 - 5 x20. Great wee scope. Rifle shoots sub inch at 100m. The Howa minis are let down greatly by the magazine and the terrible big heavy Hogue stock. Fix these and you have a great wee rifle. If you don't you may as well carry around a standard 308 as there is no advantage in having the mini. Howa have taken an awesome concept that could have been the modern Sako vixen and cheapened and stuffed it. As I said I have a CF stock and I cut the magazine down to 3 shots and the release down too. It works really well. The ali chassis options aren't light either. I am going to buy a floor plate. Hope this helps.

Cheers

Originally Posted by Hiawatha

I have posted on this in other threads. I have a mini stainless 7.62x39. Have killed a lot of big game with it and out to 250m. I would pick that every day over the blackout but if you want to use subbies then go blackout and use Le Highs. Trouble then is the twist rate though in the factory offering I think. I use the 123gn SST. Great little bullet at slower speeds. Mine is a 14 inch barrel in a CF stock. Weight all up is under 5 pounds with scope and ammo. I run a Leupold 1.5 - 5 x20. Great wee scope. Rifle shoots sub inch at 100m. The Howa minis are let down greatly by the magazine and the terrible big heavy Hogue stock. Fix these and you have a great wee rifle. If you don't you may as well carry around a standard 308 as there is no advantage in having the mini. Howa have taken an awesome concept that could have been the modern Sako vixen and cheapened and stuffed it. As I said I have a CF stock and I cut the magazine down to 3 shots and the release down too. It works really well. The ali chassis options aren't light either. I am going to buy a floor plate. Hope this helps.

Cheers

What's the stock out of interest?

Originally Posted by Hiawatha

I have posted on this in other threads. I have a mini stainless 7.62x39. Have killed a lot of big game with it and out to 250m. I would pick that every day over the blackout but if you want to use subbies then go blackout and use Le Highs. Trouble then is the twist rate though in the factory offering I think. I use the 123gn SST. Great little bullet at slower speeds. Mine is a 14 inch barrel in a CF stock. Weight all up is under 5 pounds with scope and ammo. I run a Leupold 1.5 - 5 x20. Great wee scope. Rifle shoots sub inch at 100m. The Howa minis are let down greatly by the magazine and the terrible big heavy Hogue stock. Fix these and you have a great wee rifle. If you don't you may as well carry around a standard 308 as there is no advantage in having the mini. Howa have taken an awesome concept that could have been the modern Sako vixen and cheapened and stuffed it. As I said I have a CF stock and I cut the magazine down to 3 shots and the release down too. It works really well. The ali chassis options aren't light either. I am going to buy a floor plate. Hope this helps.

Cheers

do you have a picture of the rifle? that sounds like exactly what im after

Bought a 223 howa mini for my mrs and now I love it. Cut the mag release down and cut the mag down to 5 shot theres a set of instructions with pictures somewhere I found. (Possibly on this forum cant remember) chopped barrel to 18inch and put a dpt with an extra baffle on it. Shoots like a laser I've tried 5 different types of ammo from 53 grain (I think) to 69 and it shoots them all under and inch at 100. Zero recoil and quiet as fuck its bloody awesome. People often moan they are heavy but I dont notice a difference carrying it around for a weekend to carrying my tikka