6.5 Grendel truck gun- Howa mini or Ruger??

[joshb]

I have a recoil sensitive cousin looking for a cheap truck/buggy gun he can use and abuse for hogs.
Both guns are about the same price. I’m interested to hear pros and cons from guys that have either.
Thanks!
Josh

 

[darkangel_r2]

I have a recoil sensitive cousin looking for a cheap truck/buggy gun he can use and abuse for hogs.
Both guns are about the same price. I’m interested to hear pros and cons from guys that have either.
Thanks!
Josh

I have a ruger american ranch in 300 blk. No significant complaints about its performance. Feeds well, goes bang when the trigger is pulled, supers are accurate enough at 200 to use at that range, still working on subs. Trigger could be better I guess but for close range hunting its not bad.

For that work though you may want to consider semi autos, both those bolts are longer than many setups in semis and follow up shots are slow if thick brush is a short run for the hog. Add a brass deflector so you don't crack a windshield and you're golden.

 

[howl]

Not really cheap anymore are they? I know they cost more than I have in my grendel AR truck gun. You do get a better trigger with the bolt actions for the same money though.

 

[jdh47]

I’d look hard at the Ruger American Ranch if you can find one.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

Happy with my Howa.

 

[Mark W]

I’ve brought home two Weatherby Vanguards that were made by Howa and neither one got to stay. Given the choices I would be looking for the Ruger.

 

[rockhound78]

Have the Ruger in 350 legend. Finally found a load that shot well. Trigger is OK, feeding from the mag is "iffy" at best. Sometimes yes, sometimes maybe. Grendel might feed a lot better.

 

[DGP4]

I have both, but in different calibers. Fit finish and feeding go to the Howa, by a narrow margin. Accuracy is possibly a scootch better in the Ruger. I'd say they come out pretty dang equal overall. One concern with Howa is service and parts availability. Because of that, I'd give the tip of the hat to Ruger.

 

[jghoghunter]

Extremely happy with my 6.5 Grendel. It's a howa mini. It bangs steel, 1.5 moa plates, out to 600 yd with boring regularity. The only thing I do not like about it is the magazine release lever drops the mag way too easily.

 

[joshb]

I’d look hard at the Ruger American Ranch if you can find one.

That’s the quandary. The Ruger sits on the rack at a local Gibson’s. I’d have to order a Howa mini.

 

[Adam in WI]

I prefer the feel of the Howa stocks to the Ruger, but I'm a decent sized fellow.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I noticed Yo Dave has a lighter trigger spring for the Ruger.

 

[Bc'z]

That’s the quandary. The Ruger sits on the rack at a local Gibson’s. I’d have to order a Howa mini.

Sounds like you need to go down to Gibson's.
I do recommend changing the stock on the Ruger.

 

[Lone Hunter]

Can’t say about the Ruger but the Howa mini shoots good. I have one but I had to upgrade the plastic bottom metal and magazine release. Also put it in a Boyds AT-1 stock. Needs to be pillar bedded and skim bedded. My AR shoots better but is heavier. Both are 20” barrels. If you don’t mind the upgrades on the Howa it’s okay but I like Rugers of any flavor except some of those stocks. Am considering getting rid of the Howa Mini for something else but not sure. I have BHW Barrel on the AR and am real impressed with the accuracy. He might want to look at an AR too.

 

[DGP4]

I agree with Bc'z on the stock. The Ruger plastic stock is awful. I dropped mine in a Boyds pepper laminate.

 

[mac86951]

Hmm, with a needed stock replacement; I'd take a hard look at a howa barreled action from Brownells. Yes you'd have to order it; yes they have the heavy barrel in stock (threaded for muzzle protection device).

Trouble with the how's is plastic mags. Mine have held up, but makes me wonder...

 

[msalm]

I’ve gone through a dozen+ of the Howa Mini’s, bought them dirt cheap as barreled actions in 6.5 and 7.62x39. Great little rifles IMO. Have them now in 20, 22, 243, and 6.5 Grendel, also a .311” Grendel I ran a Grendel reamer into a 7.62 chamber. Paid as little as $229 for the barreled actions and picked up cheap takeoff sticks and a couple of the B&C’s. Every one of them has the mag release snipped off with a side cutter and filed smooth. They don’t accidentally drop their mags anymore and are easily released when needed. Have only looked over a few of the Rugers but have had several of the CZ 527’s, and I prefer the Howa. Good little rifles.

 

[No manches"]

HOWA mini's are hard to beat!

 

[bluealtered]

Had two Howa's, both gone. I have two Rugers now and they both had long break in's but came around. The 5.56 does MOA at 100yds and the 7.62x39 finally came together after many rounds and the last target is on cardboard and is roughly half inch at 100yds, 5rd group.
I was amazed so I kept the target, It was at our river range with ice on the river and me stopping every few minutes because i had to warm up my fingers to shoot. A very good day everything considered.

 

[STOMP442]

I have a Howa Mini in 6.5 Grendel that shoots fantastic. It has become my go to coyote rig. It shoots the recently discontinued 85gr Sierras into itty bitty holes and anchors the yotes very well. I have mine in a B&C stock with a Timney Trigger and couldn't be happier with that set up.