Howa Mini Action Vartarg Build

[Ramblerman]

I would like to see one of the minis as well. I ended up putting a vartarg barrel on my least desirable L46 Sako (cosmetic issues).

I also have a CZ527 in 6mm FatRat and can say with some use, they smooth up considerably and make a nice rifle...but really need a single loading adapter...hence a non push feed action might be better for those without the predilection to a claw extractor...just me, chiming in

SF
/ Kevin

 

[flatlander]

Laurie,
No, I never fired a single round through any of the OEM 6.5 Grendel bbls. But...I've nearly finished a 6.5 Bartlein 1-8tw bbl in Remington Magnum sporter contour for the last of the Mini 6.5 Grendel bbl'd actions I had in stock. All that I'm waiting on is a 9/16-24 flash suppressor from TBAC - when it gets here, I'll dial the bbl in, part-off the extra inch of the muzzle, then turn & thread the tenon for the TBAC. It's going into a new Bell & Carlson #1003 stock for the Mini that UPS delivered today. I'll probably skim-bed it, then clean up the bbl'd action, blast, and CeraKote it. I've got plenty of 6.5 G brass from Starline to test in this Mini, just need to get caught up with the spring farm work that the lousy late-winter weather has kept me from getting accomplished. Will post photos of rifle & targets when I've got them.

 

[mac86951]

Laurie,
No, I never fired a single round through any of the OEM 6.5 Grendel bbls. But...I've nearly finished a 6.5 Bartlein 1-8tw bbl in Remington Magnum sporter contour for the last of the Mini 6.5 Grendel bbl'd actions I had in stock. All that I'm waiting on is a 9/16-24 flash suppressor from TBAC - when it gets here, I'll dial the bbl in, part-off the extra inch of the muzzle, then turn & thread the tenon for the TBAC. It's going into a new Bell & Carlson #1003 stock for the Mini that UPS delivered today. I'll probably skim-bed it, then clean up the bbl'd action, blast, and CeraKote it. I've got plenty of 6.5 G brass from Starline to test in this Mini, just need to get caught up with the spring farm work that the lousy late-winter weather has kept me from getting accomplished. Will post photos of rifle & targets when I've got them.

And I was just about to say that Bell and Carlson had released their mini action stock; but you've beat me to it. I'm interested to hear your opinions on it and in particular compared to the Boyd's pro varmint model that you've used.

So, back to OP (several years ago); I've read on the all trusting internet many accounts of decent feeding with 6.5G; but the bottom trigger guard being plastic is a weak link. Certainly when applying torque to the action screws.

If 221 fireball, 6RAT (fat and skinny) and others are feeding fine; I take it the mags are ok? DIP bottom metal would resolve the action screws issue; but so would CDi. CDi would then insert another issue by using a magazine for 2.8+" in an action that isn't.

Thoughts / experiences on magazine and the plastic bottom and guard?

-Mac

 

[flatlander]

I bought DIP aluminum DBM for all four of the Mini builds I have. At the time, it was the only option, and a good one. The way DIP had done the geometry of the pocket where the mag latch & spring are located put more of a pre-load on the mag latch spring, making it far less likely that you'd accidentally drop the magazine. They followed that up by designing and selling a new aluminum mag latch that requires a pull down to release the magazine, which basically eliminates any chance of accidentally releasing the mag. This latch is available from them to replace the OEM latch in existing DIP DBM installations.

There's another aluminum DBM unit available now, from a guy who posts on the 6.5 Grendel forums, and whose handle there is HokeyPokeyKid. He works full-time in a cnc machine shop, and has designed & made DBM units that are basically a copy of the OEM plastic units. I've not bought one yet (only because I had enough DIP units on hand to equip all the Mini actions I had), but the guys over on the 6.5 Grendel forum that have them have had nothing but positive comments on these aluminum DBMs.

My only negative experience with the DIP DBM is that in the Boyds stocks I've used (ProVarmint & Prairie Hunter), I've found that in both 20 Tactical & 22 Grendel rifles, I really need a mag latch that's .020"-.030" longer in order to hold the magazines up far enough to give really smooth & reliable feeding. Let me be clear - this is a function of the depth of the stock inlet, not the fault of the DIP DBM. I can deepen the DBM inlet to accomplish the same thing as a longer mag latch, but that's going to result in the DBM being at least .030" below flush to the bottom of the stock. I might also try adding a layer of J-B Weld to the tips of the existing plastic mag latches; if it'll stay attached to the tip of the latch, it'll be a quick 'n easy fix, and can easily be filed to fit if made too long in the first place.

I had one of the OEM plastic bottom units split at the rear action bolt while trying to torque that action bolt to 35 in/lbs, so in addition to being a cheesy plastic part that detracts from the overall sense of quality of the Mini action, they're very limited on what can be done when it comes to testing different action bolt torque values effects on accuracy. Howa & Legacy Sports have to be well aware of the limitations of the plastic bottom unit; I'm slightly more than somewhat disappointed that they haven't dealt with the issue themselves.

 

[mac86951]

I bought DIP aluminum DBM for all four of the Mini builds I have. At the time, it was the only option, and a good one. The way DIP had done the geometry of the pocket where the mag latch & spring are located put more of a pre-load on the mag latch spring, making it far less likely that you'd accidentally drop the magazine. They followed that up by designing and selling a new aluminum mag latch that requires a pull down to release the magazine, which basically eliminates any chance of accidentally releasing the mag. This latch is available from them to replace the OEM latch in existing DIP DBM installations.

There's another aluminum DBM unit available now, from a guy who posts on the 6.5 Grendel forums, and whose handle there is HokeyPokeyKid. He works full-time in a cnc machine shop, and has designed & made DBM units that are basically a copy of the OEM plastic units. I've not bought one yet (only because I had enough DIP units on hand to equip all the Mini actions I had), but the guys over on the 6.5 Grendel forum that have them have had nothing but positive comments on these aluminum DBMs.

My only negative experience with the DIP DBM is that in the Boyds stocks I've used (ProVarmint & Prairie Hunter), I've found that in both 20 Tactical & 22 Grendel rifles, I really need a mag latch that's .020"-.030" longer in order to hold the magazines up far enough to give really smooth & reliable feeding. Let me be clear - this is a function of the depth of the stock inlet, not the fault of the DIP DBM. I can deepen the DBM inlet to accomplish the same thing as a longer mag latch, but that's going to result in the DBM being at least .030" below flush to the bottom of the stock. I might also try adding a layer of J-B Weld to the tips of the existing plastic mag latches; if it'll stay attached to the tip of the latch, it'll be a quick 'n easy fix, and can easily be filed to fit if made too long in the first place.

I had one of the OEM plastic bottom units split at the rear action bolt while trying to torque that action bolt to 35 in/lbs, so in addition to being a cheesy plastic part that detracts from the overall sense of quality of the Mini action, they're very limited on what can be done when it comes to testing different action bolt torque values effects on accuracy. Howa & Legacy Sports have to be well aware of the limitations of the plastic bottom unit; I'm slightly more than somewhat disappointed that they haven't dealt with the issue themselves.

Not to dissuade the op from years past; I'll start a new thread. Thanks for your valuable inputs and my action arrived today and I fully understand the challenges now.

Mac

 

[flatlander]

In response to a request for a photo of the M700 CDL in 20 VarTarg that I built several years ago, here's one of the only photos I still have of it. This started as a M700 CDL SSFL 17 Fireball - I pulled the fluted SS 17 cal bbl & sent it to Bartlein to have them duplicate the contour, but with a .20 cal 1-12 blank to finish at 26". Looking back with the advantage of 20-20 hindsight, I should've finished the bbl at 22" or 24" at the most. But anyway, it shot nice groups, even with the crappy R-P 221FB brass I had. If I'd known that Lapua was going to come out with 221 brass, and that the loaded neck dia of that brass was going to be .232" or larger, I'd certainly have specified a larger neck dia on the reamer I bought from PTG, which was - naturally - .232". Would've loved to have seen how well it would've shot with a .235" neck and Lapua brass.

I built it thinking it'd make a fine prairie dog rifle (especially in the spring when the pups were out), but neglected to do some scouting of the dog towns of my youth. When I did start looking for a decent dog town, I quickly found that there were none within easy driving distance. Eventually, I sold the rifle to a fellow who was heading out on a PD safari up in the Dakotas, and last I heard, he was quite pleased with the way the rifle shot.

 

[bobcat93]

Just the topic I was looking for..thanks guys..