Howa Mini-Action in 17 Remington

[AP2020]

So I sent my Howa Mini-Action off to get re-barreled and chambered to a 17 Remington. I have done some research, however I have not found anyone who has done this. There are a handful of folks who have done a Mini-Action in 17 Fireball.

Anyone seen or heard of one?

Thanks!

 

[Rubberduckie]

I had a rem 700 In 17 remington. I hated trying to reload tiny bullets with my fat fingers. Brass is hard to get as well as ammo. Hope you enjoy it. Ammo isn't cheap either. I figured I'd stick with 40 gr as in bullets in my 222 or 223. If I every get a .17 itch I'll get a 17hmr

 

[AP2020]

My current affliction are the 17's. I have a 17 Fireball which will be relegated to groundhogs. 17 Remington for the occasional coyote at night!

 

[AWS]

Sounds like a good fit. Like RD I have a hard enough time with 20cal bullets in my 20P's with my old arthritic fingers. A lot of folks really liked the 17 when pelts were king.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

The Rem ammo WS has 17 Rem ammo available, $$ 47 for 20, 25 gr HP @4040 fps. I'm glad to see new production of my favorite cartridge.

 

[Oso]

It’s not a current factory offering. No Fireball offerings for Howa Mini..
Howa US - Howa Mini 1500

If this is something you want then just have to buy barreled action chambered in 223 and rebarrel it in 17 Fireball. You may need to test Howa 223 Magazine to determine if 17 Fireball will reliably feed without prematurely popping out of feed lips. Will the Mausier-style extractor claw engaged/captured the Fireball case prior to cartridge releasing from magazine?

A potential solution would be either upgrading the bottom metal to a hinged floorplate with internal mag well. There are two sources for this upgrade, Oregunsmith and Jefferson Outdoors.

A second option is a magazine conversion that replaces the bottom metal that then allows you to use and CZ527 metal magazines. Keep in mind that the CZ527 magazines vary in length based on length of the cartridges (hornet, fireball, 222, 223, 204). As a result the magwell slot was different lengths in the CZ factory bottom metal. I assume that the Jefferson Outdoors upgrade has only two sized magwell cutouts to accommodate the CZ Mags for either .223 or 6.5 Grendel. Although CZ offered 221 Fireball magazines, their shortened length may not work with Jefferson’s product.

Food for thought. Hopefully, someone has already done this to their rifle and can save you from chasing your tail.

 

[L.Sherm]

I gotta believe a 17 Remington will feed in 223 mag. The 17 brass is actually .030 longer brass i believe so I dont see why not.
At the end of the day it's really nothing more than a necked down 223 or 222.
A little longer than 222 at the body - shoulder and little shorter than 223.

 

[AP2020]

I gotta believe a 17 Remington will feed in 223 mag. The 17 brass is actually .030 longer brass i believe so I dont see why not.
At the end of the day it's really nothing more than a necked down 223 or 222.
A little longer than 222 at the body - shoulder and little shorter than 223.

Exactly what I am thinking.

The few Howa Mini 17 Fireball conversations I have seen have had some feed issues because of the shorter COL.

 

[Shutstr8r]

I would do a 17Rem and call it good. Should be no feeding issues at all.

—Darrell

 

[Nevned]

So I sent my Howa Mini-Action off to get re-barreled and chambered to a 17 Remington. I have done some research, however I have not found anyone who has done this. There are a handful of folks who have done a Mini-Action in 17 Fireball.

Anyone seen or heard of one?

Thanks!

I shot the barrel out of my first 17 Remington. It has been my favorite cartridge for a very long time. Easy to load for. I try to keep my velocities around 4000 or a bit less.

 

[JB10]

I have heard of this and seen it in person. My old gunsmith had made 17 fireball and 221 fireball from the howa mini. Just had to modify the magazines.

 

[ChrisA]

Here's a pic of 17 Rem and 223 in Howa Mini 223 magazines. The Howa Mini in 223 fed three 17 Rem from the mag just fine. I couldn't keep a 17 rem cartridge on the bolt face to test ejection but I have no reason to believe it wouldn't perform properly.

 

[AP2020]

Here's a pic of 17 Rem and 223 in Howa Mini 223 magazines. The Howa Mini in 223 fed three 17 Rem from the mag just fine. I couldn't keep a 17 rem cartridge on the bolt face to test ejection but I have no reason to believe it wouldn't perform properly.

Thanks!

 

[Oso]

Exactly what I am thinking.

The few Howa Mini 17 Fireball conversations I have seen have had some feed issues because of the shorter COL.

Sorry i misunderstood… I thought you were playing with idea of trying 17 Fireball.

The 17 Remington should be a straightforward barrel swap, and it should run/feed fine from a 223 magazine.

 

[Chris Shelton]

It’s not a current factory offering. No Fireball offerings for Howa Mini..
Howa US - Howa Mini 1500

If this is something you want then just have to buy barreled action chambered in 223 and rebarrel it in 17 Fireball. You may need to test Howa 223 Magazine to determine if 17 Fireball will reliably feed without prematurely popping out of feed lips. Will the Mausier-style extractor claw engaged/captured the Fireball case prior to cartridge releasing from magazine?

A potential solution would be either upgrading the bottom metal to a hinged floorplate with internal mag well. There are two sources for this upgrade, Oregunsmith and Jefferson Outdoors.

A second option is a magazine conversion that replaces the bottom metal that then allows you to use and CZ527 metal magazines. Keep in mind that the CZ527 magazines vary in length based on length of the cartridges (hornet, fireball, 222, 223, 204). As a result the magwell slot was different lengths in the CZ factory bottom metal. I assume that the Jefferson Outdoors upgrade has only two sized magwell cutouts to accommodate the CZ Mags for either .223 or 6.5 Grendel. Although CZ offered 221 Fireball magazines, their shortened length may not work with Jefferson’s product.

Food for thought. Hopefully, someone has already done this to their rifle and can save you from chasing your tail.

Haven’t shot it yet by the vartarg runs great with dummy rounds seated at 1.85”. Factory mag and DIP bottom metal. 17 Remington should work great. I have a 17 rem that feeds out of factory savage mags and it has to travel a lot farther to the chamber than the mini does.