Howa mini action 6.5gren questions

[DLT]

I’m looking to pick up a howa mini in 6.5 grendel. I have a good bit of ammo and reloading components for a grendel so I’m in good shape there. Question is, I’m wanting a 20” barrel so are they the only length that is heavy contour ? They seem to offer a 20” and 22” and I don’t think box stores know what they are listing on their sites with generic pictures claiming this or that and I had rather not order the wrong one. I have never owned a howa so are they ok accuracy wise ? Thanks dudes

 

[Hammertime1]

I have a Howa mini in 204 and it shots amazing. With the proper factory ammo I get 1/2" groups, so no need to reload. It does have the 20" heavy barrel.

I have a second mini that has a custom barrel, which also shoots very well. Love the mini!

 

[Lone Hunter]

I’ve got a 6.5 G in a Howa Mini 20” HB. I’ve shot probably 120 rounds through it. Shoot’s really good with Hornady 123 ELDM and 8208 Powder. I run pretty near the same load out of my 20“ AR. Using Lapua brass in the Mini and Hornady in the AR. In the Mini I have a Boyd’s AT1 stock but I really don’t like it because it feels too small for me. The Boyds is adjustable but needs plllars and bedded. I bought the aluminum bottom metal (howa’s plastic bottom metal is a pos) and EGW picatinny rail but there are too many other projects going now. If you get a Grendel you will certainly like the round and the mini shoots good.
CZ has a 24 or 26” barrel in a 6.5 Grendel too. Not sure of the barrel length. My buddy bought one but has never shot it so I can’t say how it does.
I’m considering getting rid of my Howa Mini because of other projects . I really would like to try a 6x45. Believe it would be a good round for coyotes and ground hogs.

 

[jghoghunter]

I have a bone stock mini in 6.5 grendel. Spindly little sporter barrel and it shoots amazing out to 600 yards.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

I've had a Grendel heavy barrel, since they were avaialable. I changed the stock for an MDT and fitted a 20MoA rail. Trigger job ( You Tube version). Shoots OK. 123 Lapuas with Power Pro Varmint or 8208XBR near the max loads. I have both Hornady and Lapua brass - guess which is best... Worth noting that there was not much accuarcy improvement with the MDT. The Tupperware that it came with was solid and had amluminium "oillars" of sorts. Great fun rifle. Planning on a 30 Blackout next year.

 

[jbmarshtx]

I had a 20" HB. The barrel contour is not that heavy, probably like a 3B bartlein or #5 Lilja. I used it for hunting, it shot pretty well for a factory rifle with factory ammo.

 

[DLT]

I had a 20" HB. The barrel contour is not that heavy, probably like a 3B bartlein or #5 Lilja. I used it for hunting, it shot pretty well for a factory rifle with factory ammo.

What does the HB stand for ?

 

[jbmarshtx]

heavy barrel

 

[Downeast]

I was looking at the Brownells offerings but the new Howa HACT trigger sucks. And it is not interchangeable with the older 1500's. Kind of turned me off with the Howa's. They had a great product and ruined it. So plan on spending $100 plus on a decent trigger on any new Howa purchase.

 

[Rtheurer]

I was looking at the Brownells offerings but the new Howa HACT trigger sucks. And it is not interchangeable with the older 1500's. Kind of turned me off with the Howa's. They had a great product and ruined it. So plan on spending $100 plus on a decent trigger on any new Howa purchase.

I put a 1500 Timney trigger in my Mini. Bolted right up and works like a Gem. about 10 oz trigger and breaks like glass as they say.

 

[DLT]

I was looking at the Brownells offerings but the new Howa HACT trigger sucks. And it is not interchangeable with the older 1500's. Kind of turned me off with the Howa's. They had a great product and ruined it. So plan on spending $100 plus on a decent trigger on any new Howa purchase.

How recent was that change made ?

 

[jghoghunter]

Mine has the HACT trigger. If you're looking for a bench rest trigger it's not. If you're looking for a hunting trigger that comes on a $350 rifle that's better than Savage, Ruger American and T/C Compass this is your trigger. My buddies 8-year-old used my rifle to kill a buck at 128 yd a couple of years ago. He wasn't having any problem with the trigger and he's used everything from my Bix&Andy, Jewell and factory Remington's.

 

[JSH]

I’m looking to pick up a howa mini in 6.5 grendel. I have a good bit of ammo and reloading components for a grendel so I’m in good shape there. Question is, I’m wanting a 20” barrel so are they the only length that is heavy contour ? They seem to offer a 20” and 22” and I don’t think box stores know what they are listing on their sites with generic pictures claiming this or that and I had rather not order the wrong one. I have never owned a howa so are they ok accuracy wise ? Thanks dudes

I had 4, now I have 5.
All but a pencil barrel 223 are good shooters. The pencil barrel had vertical string issues as it heated up. I had enough 223’s so used it for a build.
Triggers are usable and work ok for an off the shelf rig, no better or worse than anyone else’s.
Same with the factory Tupperware stocks.

Barreled action you may see a little saving over a complete rig. Factory bottom plastic is a bigger issue than the trigger imho. Nothing a CC or checkbook won’t fix, lol.

Always find it strange when folks pay $500 for a rig then complain it isn’t a BR quality rig?

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Awesome little actions for the money. Don’t hesitate!

Recommend getting the Howa HACT trigger springs from “Gun Blokes” in Australia. Makes a world of difference in the trigger pull. Also replace the plastic bottom metal with a good aftermarket aluminum one so you can get a good consistent torque on the action screws.

 

[Downeast]

I own 3 Howa's and 3 Wby Vanguards. The original trigger with a little bit of polishing was wonderful with a 2 1/2 to 3 pound trigger. Great for hunting. That last HACT trigger I had broke at 5 pounds. Just saying. And barreled actions are going for over $400 and when you add a decent stock you are talking a $700 to $800 rifle. I haven't seen a straight up $350 Howa rifle in many years. The Wby Vanguard II's (including the Wongmart version) were selling for that but a true Howa was selling for twice that amount. But regardless, if you get a No. 2 barrel or heavier they all shoot very well.

 

[DLT]

Is the 2 stage HACT trigger user adjustable ?

 

[DGP4]

Is the 2 stage HACT trigger user adjustable ?

Yes, mine both came in at about 3.5# from the factory but adjusted down to a little over 2#. You can also perform a pretty simple trigger job by extracting the spring and cutting a coil off if you want it that light.

 

[Laurie]

Yes, mine both came in at about 3.5# from the factory

Yes, that's what they're supposed to be, but mine (6.5G Mini Oryx) was a lot heavier at c.5.5lb and it seems that's not at all unusual. Rather than play around with it, I spent the £15 Sterling on a replacement pair of springs from The Gun Bloke in Darwin, Australia which gave a claimed 2lb when I bought the kit. That's exactly what the trigger breaks at after fitting, and I wouldn't accept the HACT is a poor design at all, very crisp and consistent, just set too heavy from the factory. I notice that the Aussie's springs kit is now for 1.5lb which would be better still.

 

[Laurie]

I’m wanting a 20” barrel so are they the only length that is heavy contour ?

The spec and cartridges seem to keep changing for the 'Mini', but they were 20-inch HB and 22-inch 'sporter' pencil profile until at least recently. The 'heavy' barrel isn't really at all heavy though, and in string shooting on an e-target, even the little 6.5G cartridge will get it pretty hot after 20 plus rounds on a still day.

I have never owned a howa so are they ok accuracy wise ?

I've only really made a start on load development thanks to two years of UK Covid lockdowns and range closures shortly after getting the rifle. Most bullets I've tried to date shoot full-MOA plus or minus a quarter MOA 5-round groups at 100 yards, but the 120gn Lapua Scenar-L will shoot half-MOA groups reasonably consistently in mine depending on powder choice. Next year, I'll get onto trying the various 123s and the Berger 130 AR-Tactical, and I hope /expect to find at least one more model that the barrel likes enough to also shoot half-inchers, maybe a tad better.

Ultimately though, this outfit with the MDT stock and some modestly priced enhancements is more than good enough to justify a heavier match quality stainless barrel. I think a 26-inch 'Palma' or 'Heavy Palma' profile chambered in 6mm-ARC would be a very nice combination.

 

[DGP4]

Yes, that's what they're supposed to be, but mine (6.5G Mini Oryx) was a lot heavier at c.5.5lb and it seems that's not at all unusual. Rather than play around with it, I spent the £15 Sterling on a replacement pair of springs from The Gun Bloke in Darwin, Australia which gave a claimed 2lb when I bought the kit. That's exactly what the trigger breaks at after fitting, and I wouldn't accept the HACT is a poor design at all, very crisp and consistent, just set too heavy from the factory. I notice that the Aussie's springs kit is now for 1.5lb which would be better still.

Just looked up the fella you mentioned and he now has a 1# trigger option!