Howa Mini with a Follower

[oneshot 66]

I'm thinking of building a Howa Mini in 221 FB. Is it going to be a problem loading a single with a follower? It is a very small action.

 

[SmokinJoe]

I just bought one for a project and it looks like a single shot follower could be adapted to the action, but you would need to either buy the "BDL" type bottom metal which comes with a mag box and follower/spring, or create your own version of an "ADL" type blind magazine to make it work properly. Or you could just epoxy the fitted single shot follower onto the action. It is a nice little action on the order of the old Sako small actions. Please share what you do and any "how-to's".

 

[tmwinds]

I have a Howa Mini in .223. The loads I shoot are to long for the magazine. I leave the magazine in the rifle and drop a loaded round on top of the magazine follower and it feeds just fine when closing the bolt.

 

[3Ackleys]

These 2 companies make bottom metal for the mini. They are for the 6.5 Grendel, but Oregon is working on a .223 follower. Nice little action- I have a 222 Rem and a 6.5 Grendel. The factory plastic mag/mag well are JUNK the designer of the factory mag/mag well should be banned from further design work.


https://www.jeffersonoutdoor.com/shop
http://www.oregunsmithingllc.com/

 

[SmokinJoe]

There are one or more articles about shortening the box mag to make it close to flush, so you could do that and single load as TMwinds said. That would make for a reasonably sleek little rifle. However, if I was going to do what you are going to do, I would just buy a Howa 1500 short action rifle in 223, maybe the HB version depending, and go from there; Weatherby Vanguard is same thing with different stock.

 

[JSH]

Joe, the mini is smaller than a CZ527 and quite a bit smaller than anyone’s short action.

I have three of them, 222,223 and 6.5 Grendel. All feed smooth and slick. Toss a round in ontop of the follower and it eats it. For my wants and likes, it’s better than the 527.
My 223 is going to be a 22 Nosler by fall.

 

[oneshot 66]

JSH, What about a pre fit?

 

[NZ_Fclass]

The magazines aren't great - but honestly, I have not had a problem with my Grendel. I have put mine in a DPT LSS chassis, but accuracy was fine in the standard "green" stock. I just wanted the chassis!. Given the options available now - I would look at the Oryx chassis. Less money and probably more rigid than the LSS - having an aluminium rear stock, rather than the AR mount. Why 221, rather than the 222?

 

[McFred]

I doubt you'll have an issue with a .221 Fireball as a single shot. The Mini was also factory chambered in .222 as well which isn't much different. FWIW, This guy is running a .22 wildcat in his Mini with a COAL of 1.69" from a magazine. Seems to be working for him. Not sure if he had to modify the receiver much, if any.

 

[McFred]

Joe, the mini is smaller than a CZ527 and quite a bit smaller than anyone’s short action.

How do you define "smaller?" There's shorter, thinner, lighter etc.

Mini vs CZ 527

Reference: http://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/9411043/m/7291044912?r=3711031522#3711031522

Mini vs Remington Seven

Cooper M38 (discontinued) vs Mini:

Reference: http://www.saubier.com/forum/showpost.php?p=288518&postcount=32

 

[JSH]

Weight was my thing.
I would have sworn it was a lot smaller than the CZ. I have all three as you picture and an XP rifle. The Howa just feels smaller, maybe it is they made no attempt to make it feel larger.....
I know it is a whole lot smoother than any of the five CZ’s. I totally hated the single stack magazine, though I am not a huge fan of the fuggly howa mag.

The Oryx stock, I have mixed feelings about, this my first chassis stock. It’s almost to low in the stock to run a cleaning rod through. The only reason for the adjustable check piece would be if you used super duper extra tall rings, like 2” high.

On the swap to 220 Nosler, I am looking at the prefit. Why the 220 Nosler some will ask. Well, I fell into some factory ammo cheap. I look at it more on the line of the 222 magnum as I do a 22-250. And, no muss no fuss on the bolt.

I got rid of two 527’s and got three mini’s. There is more and more support for them.

 

[stacy]

I have 2 mini one in 6.5 grendal and a 7.63x39 I use dpi bottom metal and I cut mag to flush fit works great

 

[Laurie]

I have a Howa Mini in .223. The loads I shoot are to long for the magazine. I leave the magazine in the rifle and drop a loaded round on top of the magazine follower and it feeds just fine when closing the bolt.

What I do with my 6.5 Grendel Oryx 'Mini' Varmint- it feeds perfectly.

I have three of them, 222,223 and 6.5 Grendel. All feed smooth and slick. Toss a round in ontop of the follower and it eats it. For my wants and likes, it’s better than the 527.

I don't know about 'better' than the Cz527 (in the UK 'better value' certainly applies especially the factory 'Oryx' variant with the eponymous MDT chassis stock compared to equivalent 527s), but I agree it is far superior in single-loading over-magazine length rounds. The Howa is push-feed and the 527 a mini-Mauser with non-rotating extractor. No doubt a gunsmith could reprofile the CZ's extractor claw to allow low-friction slip-over into the case extractor groove, but the Howa is much better out of the box in this respect.

 

[linebaugh]

I have 2 mini one in 6.5 grendal and a 7.63x39 I use dpi bottom metal and I cut mag to flush fit works great

Same here but he is looking for a single shot I think. Mine is not finished yet but its in a B&C stock so thats another option.

 

[JSH]

Notice I said better for MY wants and needs. Opinions are like elbows, everyone has a couple. I won’t go into details or start a Ford vs Chevy, knowing a fellow that works for CZ, they are not without fault.
I am a blue steel and walnut guy for the most part, which is what drew me to them along with their out of the box reports of good accuracy. Though I do know where there are a couple of “problem child” 527’s.

Guys holler about the magazine falling out of the mini, I and others have had issues with the CZ. I spent quite a bit of time searching for a 17 Hornet magazine a couple of years ago. It had fed two rounds out of it before deciding to fall out.

It would be a dull place if we had the “perfect” rifle everyone agreed on. Lol, I have set around camp fires sipping an adult beverage with good friends discussing such things.

 

[Laurie]

Notice I said better for MY wants and needs. Opinions are like elbows, everyone has a couple. I won’t go into details or start a Ford vs Chevy, knowing a fellow that works for CZ, they are not without fault.
I am a blue steel and walnut guy for the most part, which is what drew me to them along with their out of the box reports of good accuracy. Though I do know where there are a couple of “problem child” 527’s.

I like 527s too, although it's some years since I owned one. That was a 'Carbine' in 7.62X39mm. If it had been available in Grendel (unlikely as I don't think it was even on the go at the time), I might well still have it as it was the cartridge, not the rifle that saw me trade it in. I briefly considered a rebarrel to .22 or 6mm PPC.

It really was a great little rifle and shot the 7.62 very well indeed over short distances. I did intend to see what it would do with match 150s or 155s, but never got that far. It was a nicely blued and excellent walnut timbered job for the price as well. Around that period, some of the rimfire 452s had really great timber for the (then) bargain price. Since that time, most CZ prices have risen well above inflation in the UK so they are no longer cheap rifles.

 

[McFred]

Not to get too far off track of the Topic, the 527 seems to suffer from inconsistency in manufacture. Before I purchased one I had an opportunity to try a few, side by side, at the local gun shop. They can be pretty gritty/rough in function, and the trigger can be inconsistent between the same models on the rack. The "matte" finished receivers seemed to be even rougher than the glossier finished receivers. That said, clean them up, oil them and run the bolt during a binge-watch of your favorite TV series and they get better by a lot.

The 3 new examples of the Mini I've handled were better and more consistent in feel (working the bolt) when compared to CZ examples new off the rack. The trigger is better than the 527s in its normal setting, but the 527's "set" function can make for a very light, crisp feel if you have time to use the feature, albeit with wicked overtravel. The Mini's plastic furniture are crap, but what do you expect for a $300 rifle?

The perception of the detachable magazine on both makes is greatly affected by personal aesthetics and ergos, so I won't address that here. If you hate external/detachable mags then that's your preference and others will likely differ.

Personally, if I were to assemble a .221FB, I'd use the 527. In fact, I intend to do just that too after recently investing heavily in Third Gen Shooters Supply's discounted 40gr Hornady Vmax and Nosler Ballistic Tips. The savings to me were enough for a new reamer and a barrel.

 

[oneshot 66]

Not to get too far off track of the Topic, the 527 seems to suffer from inconsistency in manufacture. Before I purchased one I had an opportunity to try a few, side by side, at the local gun shop. They can be pretty gritty/rough in function, and the trigger can be inconsistent between the same models on the rack. The "matte" finished receivers seemed to be even rougher than the glossier finished receivers. That said, clean them up, oil them and run the bolt during a binge-watch of your favorite TV series and they get better by a lot.

The 3 new examples of the Mini I've handled were better and more consistent in feel (working the bolt) when compared to CZ examples new off the rack. The trigger is better than the 527s in its normal setting, but the 527's "set" function can make for a very light, crisp feel if you have time to use the feature, albeit with wicked overtravel. The Mini's plastic furniture are crap, but what do you expect for a $300 rifle?

The perception of the detachable magazine on both makes is greatly affected by personal aesthetics and ergos, so I won't address that here. If you hate external/detachable mags then that's your preference and others will likely differ.

Personally, if I were to assemble a .221FB, I'd use the 527. In fact, I intend to do just that too after recently investing heavily in Third Gen Shooters Supply's discounted 40gr Hornady Vmax and Nosler Ballistic Tips. The savings to me were enough for a new reamer and a barrel.

 

[oneshot 66]

McFred,
I have been searching for a donor and the CZ's plastic carbine is $499&UP. The Howa mini plastic is $380&UP. Are there better sources?
Scott

 

[McFred]

So far as I've seen, prices are up on everything, probably due to The Plague and political/economic shenanigans.

I know nothing about these vendors, but they have the lowest prices I've seen advertised recently:
Howa Mini .223 $413
CZ 527 .223 SYN $418

Whitakers or Buds Gun Shop or other large online shop might price match. I will say that sometimes CZ does NOT include rings and their uncommon 16mm dovetail can run you a bit depending on whose you buy. The Mini uses inexpensive Remington 700 2-piece mounts or Warne makes a one-piece Picatinny rail for it.

Apparently, if you only care about a donor action, Brownells still has some Mini barreled actions for sale. You might be able to find a discount code, seems they usually have a few deals floating around. There are a couple stockmakers that are supporting the Mini now too: Bell/Carlson, Boyds and I think McMillan. Legacy International sells their chassis too, if that sort of thing appeals to you.

.300 Blackout barreled action $330