Howa Mini Action Hinged Floorplate conversion to detachable mag

[ekraus]

I have a Howa Mini in 223 with a hinged floorplate. Can that be upgraded to detachable mag and use the Howa mags?

 

[Oso]

Maybe… all depends on how the bottom metal was installed.

I have a Mini Howa (6.5 Grendel) kitted with Oregunsmith’s Hinged Floorplate (internal magazine). It is designed as a drop-in replacement for the factory plastic bottom metal that uses the factory plastic magazines. In my case I went ahead and bedded the hinged floorplate to further stabilize the action and also eliminate the large void left from trmoving the factory mag well.

Assuming your upgraded bottom metal (hinged floorplate) was simply dropped in, and not also bedded, then you should be able to simply unscrew the rifle’s action screws and change out the hinged floorplate bottom metal & internal box magazine for the original factory setup (plastic bottom metal and plastic internal mag well).

Side Note: DIP offers a replacement bottom metal (made from metal) to replace/upgrade the chintzy Howa factory plastic bottom metal. The DIP upgrade includes a mag release that is a touch longer for ease of access. Just something to consider…

 

[Adam in WI]

I have the factory mini with the 10 rd detachable mag if you're interested in swapping

 

[52 Winchester]

I have a Howa Mini in 223 with a hinged floorplate. Can that be upgraded to detachable mag and use the Howa mags?

I just sent my Howa Mini 223 to auction. Had it for 10 years and seldom took it out shooting due to the crummy magazine situation. I ordered a steel floorplate from Midwest gun parts and didn't realize I would have to get new magazines to make it work. Midwest graciously accepted return. After all these years Howa is still making that second rate magazine.

 

[Oso]

It is surprising how unresponsive Howa (Japan) and Legacy Sports International (Howa USA) have been over past 8-10 years. There are people who have no issues with the factory magazines. Perhaps they have fixed their manufacturing tolerances on their magazines. If they have then you would think that they would have addressed it on key shooting forums, podcasts, and made a PSA video on YouTube… I haven’t seen or heard anything.

Really had hoped someone, like MDT, would produce an aftermarket magazine. If you have ongoing issues or just don’t trust the factory magazines there are solutions by Jefferson Outdoors and Oregunsmith. I have both and they work just fine.