Has anyone gotten their paws on a Howa Mini action yet?

[swampcrawler]

So i just ran across this little guy on the Legacy Sports site.

"NEW! Howa Mini Action available in .204 and .223. Other short action calibers are coming. Chamber and bolt are 12% shorter than regular short actions with shorter bolt throw for faster reloads. 20" hammer forged barrel, three position safety and H.A.C.T. two-stage trigger. Factory equipped with a ten round, synthetic detachable magazine. Lightweight and Fast!"

I'm not sure if I'm a fan of the goofy Dangle Mag on this particular rifle, but I am thoroughly impressed with what you get for your money from Howa, and as a lover of smaller cartridges, I'm excited about this one.

Howa does use a rather beefy action, so their rifles do weigh a bit more than one might expect, but I greatly prefer the solidity and smoothness of their action to what in my opinion is a general cheap feel to the Ruger American and Savage Axis. Anyhow, these little guys, according to the Legacy Sports site, weigh in at 5.7 lbs for a 20" #1 contour barrel and 6 even for the 22" #2 barrel.

Another bit that interests me is the "Newly aquire stock" mentioned in this video: https://youtu.be/_f8TeE0cMK4
will this thing be just another Tupperware Special or could it actually be a reasonably stiff, well made stock? It's apparent that Howa has tried to lighten this rifle in every way possible except by reducing the beef of the action design as they did with their Mountian Rifle. However, as I said earlier, I like the action design and am willing to put up with a little extra weight for it.


Now 223 and 204 ruger are all well and good, but what really gets my attention is that little bit about "other short action calibers are coming!"

What cartridges may be coming? 6.8 spc? 300 blackout? Personally i think this rifle would be an absolutely jewel if offered in the beautifully efficient 6.5 Grendel.

If this rifle becomes available in practically any small efficient cartridge suitable for deer and hog I will, without a doubt, be purchasing one. As a matter of fact I may pick one up in .223 just for giggles in the meantime. If anyone beats me to it, or has already, please give us a review!!!

 

[Gtscotty]

I stumbled onto these the other day while looking at the forthcoming Howa Alpine rifle. I think the mini action rifles are pretty interesting in .223, $600 for a 5.7 lb rifle is not too bad. I agree though they could become even more interesting depending on what other short action cartridges will be offered. I'm sure they will be offered in 300 Blk, but I agree that it would be much more interesting in 6.8 SPC II or 6.5 Grendel. Either of those would make a great sub-200 yd, lightweight, light recoiling, deer clobbering carbine. I know that the two deer I killed with my 6.8 SPC II AR were pretty impressed with a 110 gr Accubond at 2660 fps. I bet with the two extra inches of barrel and a little higher comfort zone pressure wise, you could get the same bullet up to 2700 or 2750 fps in this rifle. Alternatively, the 120gr SST @ 2550 - 2600 fps would be a solid option as well.

I will say that while trolling for information on the interwebs I found a thread on the 6.5 Grendel forum where a poster claimed that he had inquired via email as to whether the mini would be offered in 6.5 G, and had received a response from Legacy stating that they were working on it as they spoke...

 

[swampcrawler]

I saw the same thread! I believe they would have a winner if that is truly the case. I'v not shot one yet but from my research the 6.5 grendel is a superb little round. I'm sure I'm not the only one wanting it in a bolt action without having to rebarel a cz 527 carbine with the x39 bolt face. I also sent them an email inquiring about a few cartridges earlier today. I'm not too optemistic about getting an answer but if I do I will certainly post it.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

One in 7.62x39mm would be nice.

 

[Gtscotty]

I've been watching for these to come up on GB or any of the other usual suspect's websites. Having not seen a single Howa Mini come up for sale, I decided to call Legacy last week and find out when these rifles should start showing up. The company rep I talked to stated that they had just started getting in their first shipments of the mini rifles, and that they would probably be trickling into stores by August or September. I tried to sneak in a question about whether they were working on versions in 6.5 G or 6.8 SPC, but the rep just politely told me that he couldn't discuss what other calibers they were looking at offering, just that they were looking at offering other calibers.

 

[jakk280rem]

Any word on twist rate on that 223? 1:8 would be dynamite, but it's most likely to be 1:9.

 

[USAF_Vet]

any word on a southpaw? I'm wanting a lefty bolt action in .223, and I like the look of the Howa with the Highlander camo stock.

 

[Corn-Picker]

any word on a southpaw? I'm wanting a lefty bolt action in .223, and I like the look of the Howa with the Highlander camo stock.

I havn't heard anything official, but as far as I know Howa doesn't produce anything that's left handed, so you're probably not going to see a left handed version.

 

[Gtscotty]

Any word on twist rate on that 223? 1:8 would be dynamite, but it's most likely to be 1:9.

On Legacy's standard twist rate page, they call 1:9" standard for .223, so I'd imagine they will be 1:9". I agree 1:8" would be ideal for this rifle, but honestly I still count 1:9" twist as a big win in .223 bolt guns. The last 1:9" bolt gun I had shot it's best with 69 gr hpbt's, but also did pretty well with certain 75 gr loads.

 

[Tophernj]

This rifle in a 6.5Grendel would be the next on my list if it comes to fruition.

C