Would a Howa Mini Action be too short to build a 30BR Hunting Rifle?

[mauser284]

I am trying to get the shortest lightest and most affordable action to do a light weight deer and smaller rifle in 30BR.

Cheap and NOT CUSTOM action is what I am going for.

I am guessing a standard short action from Ruger, Savage, Remington especialy a Model 7 would be ideal.

Just wondering what the shortest action on the market would be that would magazine load would be.


Thanks for your professional experience! I appreciate it! I do not have a Howa Mini Action to measure.

 

[X Count]

They make them in 6.5grendel and 204ruger and both are around 2.3". I have a howa mini and a 1500 and although I like the actions the mini has absolutely rubbish mag / bottom metal.

If you figure out a way to modify an aftermarket bottom metal / mag you will then need to either rebate the case rim to suit Grendel / PPC bolt face or see if you can open the bolt face to 308.

Before you commit, weight up the pros and cons of a howa mini + the cost of new bottom metal vs a howa 1500 and how many more accessories are available for the 1500 and it's factory 308 bolt face

 

[NZ_Fclass]

It's available in 450 Bushmaster, doesn't that have a 308 bolt face? Magazine should work too. OAL may be a little tricky with long pills, but 100g soft point should be OK

 

[dantiff2]

It's available in 450 Bushmaster, doesn't that have a 308 bolt face? Magazine should work too. OAL may be a little tricky with long pills, but 100g soft point should be OK

Yes, they used to offer them in 450 BM which is a .473 (308) bolt face. However, they discontinued that model in 2022 due to "lack of sales" according to the rep I talked to. I'm sure they're are a few on the used market. Would make a nice little hunting rig ; )
Dan

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

A 30 Major aka 30 Grendel

 

[AlNyhus]

A 30 Major aka 30 Grendel

That's the slam dunk choice for a 6.5 Grendel chambered Howa Mini.

The .30 Sierra 125 Pro Hunter and the Nosler 125 BTips are deadly on deer sized game.

 

[dantiff2]

That's the slam dunk choice for a 6.5 Grendel chambered Howa Mini.

The .30 Sierra 125 Pro Hunter and the Nosler 125 BTips are deadly on deer sized game.

Might at well just get it in the 7.62x 39 option. They run slightly smaller bores and shoot 308 bullets just fine.

 

[joshb]

That’s what I’d do.^^^^^^ The Easy button.

 

[DGP4]

I bought a 7.62X39 variant for wild pig hunting here in Florida and it works great! I do believe the bore is .311 so stick with that diameter bullets when reloading. I use Speer Hot-Cor 150 grain soft points and Sierra Pro Hunter 125 and 150 grain soft points. People say the trigger guard is rubbish because it is polymer but it keeps the weight down and after 4 years dragging my rifle through rough terrain, I have never had a problem. I do hate that the release of the magazine is on the front and can easily cause you to drop the mag unintentionally, but that is a small flaw.

 

[AlNyhus]

Might at well just get it in the 7.62x 39 option. They run slightly smaller bores and shoot 308 bullets just fine.

Yep...if he can find a 7.62×39 that's another option. Brownells had some of the barrelled actions available recently. One of my best pals bought one and dropped it into a B&C stock shooting his hand swaged .30 Benchrest bullets that have had the diameter 'adjusted' for the .311 bore.

 

[dantiff2]

I bought a 7.62X39 variant for wild pig hunting here in Florida and it works great! I do believe the bore is .311 so stick with that diameter bullets when reloading. I use Speer Hot-Cor 150 grain soft points and Sierra Pro Hunter 125 and 150 grain soft points. People say the trigger guard is rubbish because it is polymer but it keeps the weight down and after 4 years dragging my rifle through rough terrain, I have never had a problem. I do hate that the release of the magazine is on the front and can easily cause you to drop the mag unintentionally, but that is a small flaw.

There may be a metal aftermarket option for the trigger guards. Both or my rem 700 plastic guards broke and were easily replaced with steel. You are correct, It does look like Howa runs the true .311 bore (after some research). Sorry for suggesting otherwise.

 

[DGP4]

There is a metal trigger guard option made by DIP if you ever feel you need it. For the time being I am happy with the OEM guard, but it's nice to know you can replace it.

Howa Mini Action Aluminum Trigger Guard

 

[AlNyhus]

The DIP bottom metal is well made and a bargain.

When he has them in stock, I'd not ruminate long.....

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

There may be a metal aftermarket option for the trigger guards. Both or my rem 700 plastic guards broke and were easily replaced with steel. You are correct, It does look like Howa runs the true .311 bore (after some research). Sorry for suggesting otherwise.

This is very true and, if you can get "good" brass, even the ugly little 7.62x39 is capable of shooting very well. It gets a bad rap for several reasons but its actually pretty capable if you load it up for a good bolt gun, with good components. Brass is the big issue and you can use Lapua Grendel brass to form it, but that brings us back to just doing a 30 Major anyway, if putting a good bbl and chamber into the project is viable.

 

[RGRobinett]

Yep...if he can find a 7.62×39 that's another option. Brownells had some of the barrelled actions available recently. One of my best pals bought one and dropped it into a B&C stock shooting his hand swaged .30 Benchrest bullets that have had the diameter 'adjusted' for the .311 bore.

Those [112 Gr. bullets] left the shop perfectly good point-blank BENCH-REST quality bullets - I took them back before the purchaser hurt himself!! The customer had completely screwed-up the "pointing" - they have diameters ranging from .311x to .313x" !. . . When the intent is point-blank B-R, there's not enough [potential] BC gain to risk wrecking bullets for more!

So, I bought the HOWA MINI 7.62x39 barreled-action, to see if they - the ruined bullets - were any good . . . they shot like the crap. With out-of-the-box, actual factual .311" bullets, the platform would likely make a decent deer rifle. Especially for the $, the action and trigger are decent. I'm turning mine into a .220x30*Russian . . . so, the 7.62x39 wasn't much risk. RG

 

[joshb]

“I am trying to get the shortest lightest and most affordable action to do a light weight deer and smaller rifle in 30BR.”
Last year, I bought a Howa mini in 6.5 Grendel. The year before, I bought an AR in 7.62x39. A couple months ago, I built a 30br on a Remington action.
Last winter, I worked up loads with the Grendel and the 7.62. The “cheap” Howa Grendel really surprised me. I was hoping for a 2 moa hunter. With my loads, I’m getting under 1 moa. The AR x39 is a 2 moa gun with my loads. The 30br build was already in the works but I started thinking I should have gone with another Howa in 7.62x39. I wouldn’t have to turn brass. I could shoot factory ammo in a pinch but I think I could load for it and get under 1 moa.
I’ve read about guys using the Grendel for deer with good results and I’ve read the same about the x39.
Given that a good 30br barrel will cost you more than a Howa barreled action, the cheap and easy route is pretty obvious.

 

[WSnyder]

IMO the nicest bottom metal is made by Jefferson Outdoors. They offer three versions. A flat blind, a hinged and one that takes CZ mags. The next up is Oregunsmithing and then DIP. All come in and out of stock quickly. I have two of Jefferson’s hinged, one in .223/300BLK and the other in Grendel/6ARC/7.62x39.

 

[ebb]

I just avoid all the fuss and shoot Sierra 125s and Nosler 125 BTs out of my 30-06. Why make a project out of it????

 

[JSH]

I bought another mini, wood stock 7.62x39, because I am not a 30x221 and it’s derivatives can. If I do anything it will be a new barrel in 7.62x39 aka 30x39.
I will see how it likes cast bullets. If it is not as easy to work with as it should be, the .308 bore barrel will show up.

I have a 6.5 Grendel sporter I put in a B&C sporter stock, Jefferson outdoors first design bottom hinge metal, 3x9 Leupold, buddy worked the trigger over. It is a dandy handy rig.

 

[msalm]

I can’t help dinking around with stuff, so I took a Howa Mini barrel in 7.62x39 and opened up the body of the chamber with a 6.5 Grendel reamer and ended up with a .311 Grendel/Major….gives a little more velocity than the x39 chamber…. Figured on a nice lightweight 311 caliber deer plonked myself and fire forming with x39 brass worked well also (Starline).