7.62x39 Howa Mini into 30 BR

[X-Caveman]

 

[Philly]

Nice!

 

[Bill Norris]

That 30BR definitely does not play around with a good 125 gr. bullet. And the cool part is it will run it @ 3000 fps with the right powder. Compare that to the fact a Rem 25-06 barely does run a 120 gr. much faster (3100 fps) according to the latest Nosler reloading manual.

REM M 7 23 INCH 1 - 15 TW. BARREL
125 GR. NOSLER A B **HBN C 1.584 O M 2.284 COL T/L B S .290 B C .366
POWDER H-4198 34.2 GR. CCI 400 .324 BU. NK. DIA .326
SEATED @ 1.557 O M 2.257 COL .027 OTL
.249 3-SHOT GP. M V 3006 FPS 09/06/23

 

[X-Caveman]

I’m at same 34.2 of H4198 and getting right under 2,900, but with a 16” 3 groove Lilja 17tw. Suppressed. It’s my favorite play gun.

 

[Philly]

That 30BR definitely does not play around with a good 125 gr. bullet. And the cool part is it will run it @ 3000 fps with the right powder. Compare that to the fact a Rem 25-06 barely does run a 120 gr. much faster (3100 fps) according to the latest Nosler reloading manual.

REM M 7 23 INCH 1 - 15 TW. BARREL
125 GR. NOSLER A B **HBN C 1.584 O M 2.284 COL T/L B S .290 B C .366
POWDER H-4198 34.2 GR. CCI 400 .324 BU. NK. DIA .326
SEATED @ 1.557 O M 2.257 COL .027 OTL
.249 3-SHOT GP. M V 3006 FPS 09/06/23

Since you touched in that, anyone know of a 25br or how they perform?

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Since you touched in that, anyone know of a 25br or how they perform?

A few have done them but for competitive shooting, the lack of good custom bullet selection is the biggest issue. If this is a hunting rifle, the selection is still relatively small but ample for killing critters. Like a few other good calibers, bullet selection is the limiting factor more so than if it will be a very effective cartridge. 22,6mm and 30 cal are all in a different realm in terms of bullet selection vs everything else.

 

[JSH]

Ah, the elusive H4198, pixie dust with dried unicorn tears is easier to find ;-).

 

[Jonnyofalltrades]

i cut and retreaded mine to 7/8-20. Worked great.

Just curious, why would you change from metric to UN threads?
Lathe limitations?
I understand those that hate threading metric. It's a bit of a pain if you aren't set up for it.

 

[Philly]

Just curious, why would you change from metric to UN threads?
Lathe limitations?
I understand those that hate threading metric. It's a bit of a pain if you aren't set up for it.

I’ve only changed out my lathe gears once and to me was a pain so I keep is standard. Also if I want to rebarrel it again, it will be easier.

 

[X-Caveman]

Ah, the elusive H4198, pixie dust with dried unicorn tears is easier to find ;-).

I loaded N130 for this season. My suspicion is that the deer/ pigs won't know the difference. Saving my H4198 for when/ if I get back into VFS.

 

[TaperPin]

At first the little voice in my head wondered if there is enough meat in the barrel threads - cutting a .474” hole in a 22mm/.870” (minus thread depth) barrel for a high psi cartridge - then it dawned on me the little Weatherby Varminter in 22-250 is very similar and it’s downfall wasn’t cracks developing in the chamber walls.

The Howa is a neat little rifle - it makes sense for more scaled down little rifles for Russian and 223 size cartridges - I’m on the fence using them for larger cases, but hopefully a friend builds one so I can shoot it

 

[X-Caveman]

I loaded N130 for this season. My suspicion is that the deer/ pigs won't know the difference. Saving my H4198 for when/ if I get back into VFS.

N130 impacted within 1” of my h4198 load at 300 when I confirmed zeros last Friday. Close enough. Little rifle has 3 more marks carved in the stock. Two pigs and a cull spike. OP, if you haven’t done it yet, what are you waiting for?

 

[JSH]

I hope for just an action and nothing else at this point.
Still have not tried a .308 jacketed bullet to see if what I have read is true.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

A 30 Major will fit your bolt face. It's just a 30 Grendel. Loads and shoots much like a 30 br but my favorite powder is n120. H4198 shoots great too. Very full case full of it with typical 110 to 118gr bullets with 4198. N120 is awesome for either and a tad faster

 

[TaperPin]

Lately I’ve seen a number of near new used Howa mini rifles in 7.62x39 selling for barely over $300 - for guys used to cheap ammo, that supply must have dried up pretty quick the last few years.

 

[Zero333]

I've taken deer in deep brush woods with my 1954 sks and 123 Hornady SP. I have some Facotry Geco 150 gr SP I will use next time I find myself in the deep woods. I used to use Factory Hornady SST cartridges, but they don't make them anymore. Sad because they were super accurate even my best handloads were only as good !
Good old days in Canada when I got my SKS's for $ 190 are over. But I'm glad I got 2 and only use 1. Both have chrome lined barrels. The one I use has a bore that mic's at .31065" so I can use any .310" to .312" bullets. Hornady makes 150 gr .312" SP I might try loading sometime. But the 123 SP is great with H-335.

Prices of all gun related stuff are stupid expensive now in Canada. Thank you Liberals/NDP/BlocQuebec for turning out beautiful tiny country we Love into a Pure Communist Totalitarian Fascist State.

I did get a lighter trigger spring and ground down the creep. Breaks at 3.5 lb now. So it feels more like a hunting trigger than a military 6 lb creepy triger.

Edit: forgot to mention I put a peep sight on it. Has the same exact elevation sliding step ladder but instead of the notch it's a peep. I love it and should of got 2. But the other SKS never gets used and I like to keep it the way I bought it. It's rare because the stock is the original 1953 stock matching serial #'s with the rest of the rifle. Not something you find often.

 

[mauser284]

Not trying to talk anyone out of a Howa mini action I want one myself. I got so tired of them in 6.5 Grendel and 7.62x39 always being sold out I got AR Uppers in those calibers.

All I am going to say is that if you wait for sales you can get 7.62X39 AR uppers from large reputable companies just not top of the line for $385 and under. I just purchased a 7.62x39 upper on a one day sale for $199! If it is as accurate or better than a Mini-30, SKS, AK47 then it was worth every penny! I have owned brand new SKS, AK and Mini-30 and 20-30 years ago they where fantastic because the price was so low but today the juice is not worth the squeeze.

You can almost never go wrong with a Howa.