Small action rifle stocks?

[oldcars]

Hi, does anyone know if any place makes decent scaled down stocks for small actions like the Howa Mini, Sako A1, etc?
I have tried Boyds, and they just have one of their larger patterns with a small inlet, and I have a Bell & Carlson for a Howa Mini, and it's a nice stock for the price, but the area around the floorplate is very square-ish in profile and not very comfortable to carry in one hand at the balance point. I'm not wanting a short length of pull, just a stock that is scaled down around the action to fit/look right.

I would be interested in wood or fiberglass/synthetic, just not factory injection molded or Hogue .

Looking for something fairly light weight and for a sporter type barrel profile.

Any ideas? I love the small action size for small cartridges, but when you put a big clunky stock on it, well it just doesn't make much sense !

 

[geraldgee]

McMillan inlets for the Howa 1500 and some sakos. I would start there. Good luck with it.
Gerald

 

[Skattergun]

Could have one built?

 

[jpmimproved]

I would look at Stocky’s and use their stock finder. Large selection there.

 

[oldcars]

Stock's and Mcmillan only have the full size actions, not the mini's

 

[Oso]

The Howa Mini has large following on 6.5 Grendel Forum. Recently, I built a 6.5 Grendel on Howa Mini Action. I had been sitting on the project for several years waiting for someone to worked out the kinks and provide aftermarket solutions to the stock, magazine, and trigger. Mc Millan did a short run inletting stocks for the Howa Mini a few years back, but stopped. They encountered issues with unreliable feeding from the Howa factory magazine. Recently (2020), B&C introduced their new stocks for the Mini and rediscovered the major QC issue with Howa's manufactures/outsources the plastic magazines that has resulted in significant deviation in dimensions from one batch to another (Google it ... this is the curse that has kept Howa Mini from being more popular). Initially, the blowback was on B&C as if it were a failure of the stock design. However, their customer services and active engagement with the shooting community, especially the 6.5 Grendel Forum, helped identify the true culprit. To address this weakness, there are several aftermarket parts for the lower/bottom metal issues and magazine.

Here is link to the evolution of products for Howa Mini action. https://www.65grendel.com/forum/showthread.php?22569-Howa-Mini-Comparison-of-Bottom-Metal-Upgrade

Stock Options:
1) Boyd makes laminated wood stock models
2) Bell & Carlson is only major stock maker currently producing a composite stock (2 models). Stocky's doesn't carry this you have to go straight to B&C's website.
https://www.bellandcarlson.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_ID=1041
3) Oregunsmith manufactures a small batches of composite stocks
http://www.oregunsmithingllc.com/
4) Chassis Systems
MDT (2 models) https://mdttac.com/us_en/catalogsearch/result/index/?action=30&q=howa+mini
JTAC Elf Owl https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2020/05/13/jtac-industries-elf-owl-howa-mini-action-chassis/
Oryx (MDT jv) https://oryxchassis.com/

Bottom Metal Upgrades / Magazine Replacement:
1) DIP Innovations - Bottom Metal to replace Howa Factory Plastic lower.
http://www.diproductsinc.com/Products.aspx?CAT=12462
2) Replacement Bottom Metal that includes an Internal Magazine (no more plastic factory magazine):
a) Oregunsmith LLC http://www.oregunsmithingllc.com/
b) Jefferson Outdoors https://www.jeffersonoutdoor.com/shop/howa-mini-flush-bottom-metal

Trigger Upgrade:
1) Timney Trigger - Oregunsmith has license for distribution of Timmney's trigger for Howa Mini
2) Jard Trigger - from posts this seems to be hit or miss.

 

[McFred]

Wildcat Composites makes an inlet for the Sako L-461/A1/Vixen/etc.

 

[RandyB]

Brownells has a walnut stock for the mini. Light and heavy barrel. I have one and its not bad. More appropriately sized for the mini. Description says "oiled finish". Mine is what I would describe as "wiped once with oily rag" Nicely checkered and will look great when I get it finished. I suspect you are right about the Boyd's stock. Would likely be oversized with the mini inlet. Appears to me they have gone to a "one size fits all" approach.

 

[Oso]

I have the B&C M40 stock and it is right-sized. I also went with Oregunsmith's bottom Metal and internal magazine. Once you remove the housing for the factory magazine there is a lot of extra/empty space around the new replacement internal magazine well. All of this space and action got bedded.

Whatever stock you choose, you will want to bed the action. If you decide to stick with the factory magazine then you really should consider buying the DIP bottom metal, which is actually made from metal, so that you can properly torque the action screws.

 

[oldcars]

Thanks for all the replys ! I have looked at the Brownells stocks, they might be a good option. I have a Jefferson hinged floorplate on my Howa Mini, very nice upgrade.

 

[msalm]

If you’re willing to go all out, get in contact with James Anderson, gunmaker. He has done a Howa mini upgrade...really an all out custom and it is exceptional.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

May be worth talking to Legacy, the Howa importer. I have seen Howa's in laminated stocks in Australia, which were not catalogue items ( some good colours too) - not sure if any were Mini actions.
They also distribute the TSP-X chassis, which is made in Aussie.