Any reports on the Howa Mini Action in .223?

I don't have one but I don't think you can go wrong. The only negative, for me anyway, would be this particular model has the sported weight barrel but that really isn't a big deal.

I would guess it wasn't wildly popular because it isn't all black and tactical and having a mini action is a niche anyway. What's the point of having a piddly little bolt action sporter weight 223 when you can have an ar15 with lights, lasers, and a tactical zombie knife.

Howa also doesn't seem to have a real big following which I have found a bit odd.

If I had the spare bucks, a Howa Mini action would be high on my list.

I think they would make a great little suppressed target rifle. Cabelas also has the Zastavas in 223 for just over $300, i saw a few at the local store the other day. Wish they would get in the howa though so i could see it in person.

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Howa has made quality firearms imported to the US for 40+ years, they made rifles and shotguns distributed under the S&W logo and their own name. I would not have the least hesitancy about purchasing one that suits your needs. I have AR's in .223 as well as a Ruger Scout and Handi rifle, as far as the .223 cartridge, and given the extra cost, a Ruger American Ranch would be my choice. I have one in 300 Blackout and have found it to be easy to manuver (16" barrel) nice trigger, rail installed for scope/sights and just a bit too long length of pull. A bit more money than what you will spend on a Howa and both will provide a lot of shooting fun.

My brother had one briefly. I handled it but never gota chance to fire it. Accuracy was fine, but the magazine kept falling out. He sold it and bought the Ruger Ranch in 5.56. He likes the Ruger better and says it is at least as accurate.

There is a review on YouTube from a guy in New Zealand that takes a good look at this rifle. Accuracy was decent, but if action wasn't cycled fast enough the cartridge had a tendency to pop out of the magazine and jam. I'll see if I can find it again and post a link.

There is a review on YouTube from a guy in New Zealand that takes a good look at this rifle. Accuracy was decent, but if action wasn't cycled fast enough the cartridge had a tendency to pop out of the magazine and jam. I'll see if I can find it again and post a link.

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That sounds like the Ozzie Reviews video review. He's Australian - lives in Queensland, Australia. He said in the video comments the magazine was replaced by the distributor which fixed the problem immediately. I personally own one of the Howa Mini Actions in .223 and have not had any issues with the magazine feed.

IMO they're some of the best value rifles on the market. Very solid, well built little units. The mini action is significantly scaled down and much lighter than the old short action (I have one of those too). I've seen reports on another site that Boyds is developing inletting for them, so replacement stocks will be available in a few months. My main complaint is I much prefer a top loadable internal magazine with flush floor plate over a bulky DBM on a hunting rifle. Apparently the manufacturer has no plan to develop one right now, so fingers crossed a third party manufacturer steps up and releases something soon.

I'm tempted to buy one given the price. I already have a TC dimension in 223, and it is the most accurate rifle I own (1 MOA at 300 yards with 50 grain factory ammo), but it is really heavy and long compared to the Howa mini action, and it has the slower 1:12 twist rate.

I have a Weatherby Vanguard S2 in 308. Their (Howa's) two stage trigger is the best factory trigger of any rifle I own. I own a CZ 527 in 7.62x39, so I don't "need" another mini action. Part of me thinks I should buy the Howa mini action for the weight/length/trigger/price advantages, and part of me thinks it's dumb to sell a rifle that's demonstrated one MOA at 300 yards with $10/box factory ammo.

Edit: The one thing that will keep me from buying the Howa mini is the full sized LOP. My CZ 527 youth, Weatherby Vanguard S2 youth, and TC Dimension all have about a 12 1/2" to 12 3/4" LOP. I prefer a short LOP, and the Howa minis have a full sized LOP.

Have one, love it, shoots good. 223 varminter, fluted heavy barrel, shoots 1 moa or better.

My son and I use it to shoot paper out to 200 and steel out to 500 yards, but, have occasionally thrown lead further if the wind is cooperating.

YMMV

Dave

What magazine pattern does it use?

Who handle Howa warranty and parts?

Legacy Sports.

http://www.legacysports.com

Considering that this rifle action has been around in various forms (S&W, Weatherby, and others) for probably 30 to 40 years, it's pretty much a known quantity.

According to legacy sports customer service, the magazine is not interchangable with AR-15 mags, or any other mags.

Mags are plastic and new ones are $55.00

The rifle I posted about here is brand new. This is their new "Mini Action" which is 12% shorter than their short action. It was launched late last year.

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Understood; my point was that the company that makes the rifle and the base rifle itself are very established entities.

I would like if they offered a Houge/hinged floorplate model.

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Does anyone make stocks for these other than Howa? I see that barreled actions are being sold, but where would you find a stock? I might jump on one if I could find a youth LOP stock. I could always shorten the synthetic stock I guess...

http://www.brownells.com/rifle-part...n-mini-action-lightweight-blue-prod84750.aspx

I've seen references to five round magazines, do these exists or are they just planned? I've not seen any for sale on the internet. I'd feel like a dufus deer hunting with ten rounds on tap.

Buds has a whole bunch of them in stock. The magazine bothers me, it is plastic and a new one is $55. Not compatable with any other platform, so their CS says.

One in 7.62x39 with a hinged floor plate would be on my short list, if they ever offer the hinged floor plate.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog...i&osCsid=icomtc8v4sdj6onorm87oa52p4&x=10&y=11

Macchina

Looks like a winner to me! What scope did you put on it?

jaysouth said:

Buds has a whole bunch of them in stock. The magazine bothers me, it is plastic and a new one is $55. Not compatable with any other platform, so their CS says.

One in 7.62x39 with a hinged floor plate would be on my short list, if they ever offer the hinged floor plate.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog...i&osCsid=icomtc8v4sdj6onorm87oa52p4&x=10&y=11

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I'm assuming you've considered the CZ 527? The CZ has metal 5 round mags for $40 each (also proprietary), but they've worked flawlessly for me. The CZ has a much nicer stock and is CRF instead of PF (I prefer CRF so I can control how far I throw the empties during ejection). The CZ single set trigger is very nice, but I prefer my Weatherby Vanguard S2 trigger (same as in the Howa mini) over the CZ's. That may just be my preference for a two stage trigger though.

I agree a hinged floor plate would be nice. It seems that these small calibers like the 6.5 Grendel/6.8 SPC/7.62x39 appeal more to the AR crowd, so the Howa minis look a lot more "tactical" than I would prefer. I'd like one in Walnut with a hinged floor plate.

I rebarreled this one in .375 SOCOM. It's a nice rifle. Way nicer than a Mossberg MVP.

Tony Rumore
Tromix

jaysouth said:

Buds has a whole bunch of them in stock. The magazine bothers me, it is plastic and a new one is $55. Not compatable with any other platform, so their CS says.

One in 7.62x39 with a hinged floor plate would be on my short list, if they ever offer the hinged floor plate.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog...i&osCsid=icomtc8v4sdj6onorm87oa52p4&x=10&y=11

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With the mini action, the receiver opening may be hard to top off and force you to reload by removing mag which is plastics, no a good thing for long term durability. Metal mag at a reasonable price. Nice to have one in 7.62x39 which is supposedly coming out.