Howa Mini Sporter/Varminter

[johno1]

Trev, they don't look off mate, I was very surprised actually thought it was 5 shot. They arnt single stack, its a staggered magazine. Really I was impressed and i'm a fussy old bugger. the action was every bit as smooth as my old sako.

Certainly worth going in and having a look at one even if your not buying, reckon these howas are a great value rifle

Johno

[trevort]

Trev, they don't look off mate, I was very surprised actually thought it was 5 shot. They arnt single stack, its a staggered magazine. Really I was impressed and i'm a fussy old bugger. the action was every bit as smooth as my old sako.

Certainly worth going in and having a look at one even if your not buying, reckon these howas are a great value rifle

Johno

you wicked evil man

like I could just look!!!!!

[johno1]

[adamjp]

Was in Sydney today and stopped in to see Pete at Safari Firearms. He graciously allowed me to handle the new Howa Micro. It is smaller in all dimensions than the standard Howa. Go and see Pete at Safari if you are looking to buy one, he will cut you a solid deal on one.

Howa Short Action v Howa Mini Action

The Mini Action itself

The all-plastic DBM.

The bolt handle is proportional to the action, the trigger appears the same as factory and the action is profiled to take Rem700 bases. Very similar to the Zastava m85, but better final finish.

[bigfellascott]

Looks good Adam, what sort of $$ are they going for at Safari?

[adamjp]

The blued sporter weight I photographed seemed to be about $750, but I am sure Pete can work a great deal if you buy a scope, etc. at the same time.

[bigfellascott]

The blued sporter weight I photographed seemed to be about $750, but I am sure Pete can work a great deal if you buy a scope, etc. at the same time.

Thanks for that Adam - Once I find out how the shoot etc I might just do that!

[kjd]

Good bits of kit it seems!

[Con]

That grumpy fart Johno raised my interest. Shot off to the LGS and handled the Mini -standard (22" C/M lite barrel), and the HB 20" stainless.

$785 and $895 respectfully.

The 20" HB is my pick, if a blued 204Ruger comes to market I'm in, may even stretch for a stainless HB but must be a 204Ruger for flinging 34gr pills. The HB I'd be tempted to set back to 20Practical given the amount of 223Rem brass I have.

Oddly, the Ruger Ranch 300BO is not a bad handler either and at just under $700, could make a fun cast bullet rifle.
Cheers...
Con

[johno1]

Grumpy old fart, oh well you can't argue with facts

Really mate I see a 5 shot magazine as an after market offer or maybe factory down the line a bit. Reckon the best 20 cal option would be a simple 20/222 like Mark did. Nice and simple for a school teacher eh?

Johno

[Con]

Mate,
Might just keep it as a 204Ruger, the HB is about $875. Grab a x1000 pack of 34gr SHOT projectiles, load them as hot as can go and just blast through the barrel rather than paying to shunt it and rechamber.

That the rifle is under 100cm is a bonus too, will fit nicely in the bread box in the back of the ute as a travel rifle.
Cheers...
Con

[MISSED]

Yeah Nah

[Camel]

Con and Johno, you two blokes should really get onto the Zastava M85 action band wagon, nice and cheap, perfect fit for 222, 223 and 204 cartridges, blah blah blah blah, etc, etc, etc, you know the rest. The biggest plus is no friggen hang down detachable magazine.

[adamjp]

Con and Johno, you two blokes should really get onto the Zastava M85 action band wagon, nice and cheap, perfect fit for 222, 223 and 204 cartridges, blah blah blah blah, etc, etc, etc, you know the rest. The biggest plus is no friggen hang down detachable magazine.

I've been the owner and shooter of a Mark X Mini Mauser since 1995 (many would know it as a Zastava m85) and owned a few more along the way. I'm pretty confident I know their strengths and weaknesses through many years of tinkering.

The Howa Mini action is a better thing all the way around - except for the DBM. Don't really like the DBM although it would be great for teaching new shooters in the bush as you will know exactly what state the rifle is in - UNLOADED. I don't think it will take too long for a proper bottom metal to come to market.

They are sized similar to a L461 Sako (ie. a bit bigger than the m85), but you can buy spare parts for them, extractors, triggers, replacement stocks, aftermarket triggers,... well you get the idea. Even with the current DBM style metal, a proper bottom metal is still more available for a Mini Howa than new bottom metal for a L461 because someone MIGHT actually make one. They are not a 30yo+ action being flogged as the holy grail of smallbores for stupid money.

[bigfellascott]

Con and Johno, you two blokes should really get onto the Zastava M85 action band wagon, nice and cheap, perfect fit for 222, 223 and 204 cartridges, blah blah blah blah, etc, etc, etc, you know the rest. The biggest plus is no friggen hang down detachable magazine.

I've been the owner and shooter of a Mark X Mini Mauser since 1995 (many would know it as a Zastava m85) and owned a few more along the way. I'm pretty confident I know their strengths and weaknesses through many years of tinkering.

The Howa Mini action is a better thing all the way around - except for the DBM. Don't really like the DBM although it would be great for teaching new shooters in the bush as you will know exactly what state the rifle is in - UNLOADED. I don't think it will take too long for a proper bottom metal to come to market.

They are sized similar to a L461 Sako (ie. a bit bigger than the m85), but you can buy spare parts for them, extractors, triggers, replacement stocks, aftermarket triggers,... well you get the idea. Even with the current DBM style metal, a proper bottom metal is still more available for a Mini Howa than new bottom metal for a L461 because someone MIGHT actually make one. They are not a 30yo+ action being flogged as the holy grail of smallbores for stupid money.

Well Said.