Thread: Howa Mini owners opinions

@Tommy what chassis you running man. Tossing up buying either the same or a 22 semi for, reasons

Originally Posted by Nick-D

@Tommy what chassis you running man. Tossing up buying either the same or a 22 semi for, reasons

I got one of those Sharps Heatseeker jobs. Quite like it.

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

@Hiawatha

Why would you pick the 7.62x39 over the blackout? I thought their supersonic ballistic performance was pretty similar?

The Howa 300 blackout is 1:7 twist from what I have read so I thought that would be fine for 120ish grain supersonics out of something like a 12" barrel? or are you meaning the twist rate in the 7.62x39 is an issue?

I picked the x39 as I had spoken to four different people who I trust who had shot a number of deer (100 or more) using supersonics and then gone to the x39. They all to a person said that the x39 was noticeably better at killing. Go figure. On paper they look the same but there you have it. I have shot over 200 deer and pigs with my x39 and cant fault it so am happy with my decision. I was referring to twist rates needed for long sub sonic projectiles. Cheers

Originally Posted by Tommy

What's the stock out of interest?

Stug. Remington Mod7 shape. Cracking stock.

Gents I have had a 300 blk since they were introduced in the states, imported the first reamer.

I have taken lots of goats and fallow with mine using 110gr vmax.

It performs like a soft point at the 30-30 velocities that the case produces.

I can’t compare it to the x39 but it does a better job than my 223 just doesn’t shoot as flat. I have shot goats at 400m+ , yes I own a rangefinder and yes it works well for crease shots.

I have ownta sako vixen and loved it and if I had the know how would be setting up to make Bdl bottom metal out of alloy and CF stocks for these as I think they beat the sako hands down. With the above features they would become the modern vixen.

That said I’m looking at another howa mini in blk / x39 or 223 to get a few bits for. Would be great to chop a blk down to min legal OAL and put a muzzle forward can on. 11” is heaps of barrel...

I don’t think you can really go wrong with any of the calibres listed, wife has a grendel which is the softest shooting and best killing machine I have seen on wallaby.

Cheers,

Originally Posted by Tommy

I got one of those Sharps Heatseeker jobs. Quite like it.

Got a pix Tommy?, they look very nice. I guess that they are really designed to run a carbine stock length rather than full length? Would be cool with a folder.

Originally Posted by berg243

@300_BLK how do you find the 300 on deer chest shooting them with those vmax. have you used them on reds. cant make up my mind on which to get the 300 seems to be quite versatile with subs as well as supers but the 39 has some cheap factory ammo and the grendel looks to have a bit more range with only a slightly longer barrel.

I have not shot reds but would use it in a heartbeat, the 30-30 smashes them so I’d load a 125sst or 150 sp and go for it up close <100m

I have used the subsonic factory loads and my own 186gr cast but subs are more of a gimmick than anything. They are great if using lehigh pills and correct zero in the bush but TBH the supersonic 300 blk has just as much power as a x39. One has better and more prolific factory Ammo, the other does the job and has cheap Bulk Ammo if you want to plink that I’m sure will put down a deer just as well at the ranges I’m talking.

The Grendel needs a long barrel and the bullets will penetrate better than the other too due to sectional density, 123sst was developed for the calibre and works great.

The Grendel and x39 have a larger selection of configurations in the Howa Mini line IIRC.

My advice is you can’t go wrong, just go and handle one first to make sure you are happy with the configuration it comes in etc.

Originally Posted by 300_BLK

Gents I have had a 300 blk since they were introduced in the states, imported the first reamer.

I have taken lots of goats and fallow with mine using 110gr vmax.

It performs like a soft point at the 30-30 velocities that the case produces.

I can’t compare it to the x39 but it does a better job than my 223 just doesn’t shoot as flat. I have shot goats at 400m+ , yes I own a rangefinder and yes it works well for crease shots.

I have ownta sako vixen and loved it and if I had the know how would be setting up to make Bdl bottom metal out of alloy and CF stocks for these as I think they beat the sako hands down. With the above features they would become the modern vixen.

That said I’m looking at another howa mini in blk / x39 or 223 to get a few bits for. Would be great to chop a blk down to min legal OAL and put a muzzle forward can on. 11” is heaps of barrel...

I don’t think you can really go wrong with any of the calibres listed, wife has a grendel which is the softest shooting and best killing machine I have seen on wallaby.

Cheers,

Out of interest @300_BLK why not cut to legal length and fit an overbarrel and have overbarrel portion recess into stock meaning total oal is much less?could almost certainly get away wil a small 223 type overbarrel if one exists also. I was trying to remember did you have a 30 arx?

Originally Posted by Tommy

The .223 HB shoots the Belmont loaded 77gr Sierra HPBT real well, don't know what muzzle speed it was offhand but @Feral may know. The red hind I shot with his Howa was with a 55gr PPU, and it did great. Recovered in opposite skin, still @ 50 something grains.

2750fps for the Belmont 77gr black.

No I didn’t have one. Could do that and just cut the stock back, might save some weight.

Will see what I want to do when I get one in my hot little hands...

Can you get a wood stock for the Howa mini's ?

Also anyone fitted open sights ?

Originally Posted by BushHunter

Can you get a wood stock for the Howa mini's ?

Also anyone fitted open sights ?

2020 Howa catalog has the Mini action with a walnut stock.

I've got a hankering for a Howa Mini in 450 Bushmaster or maybe a Ruger Ranch. Not sure why......

Originally Posted by bumblefoot

I've got a hankering for a Howa Mini in 450 Bushmaster or maybe a Ruger Ranch. Not sure why......

Yea same feel like a new rifle maybe, Howa mini, wood stock, open sights, short barrel, mag floor plate in 7.62 or 450bm either that or cz527 carbine in 7.62, Will keep dreaming.