howa mini 7.62x39

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I finally finished getting my Howa together and out to the range. It is the LW barrel 7.62x39 from Brownells, in a lightened Boyd's classic stock, with a dnz game reaper mount and a vortex crossfire 2-7x. It weighs in around a nicely balanced 6.75 lbs unloaded.

I was a little pushed for time, so I didn't have time to really play with it, but I got it sighted in decently well, then shot a couple of 100 yard groups with Red Army 124gr HPBT, and Tula 134gr HP. With frozen fingers, after too much coffee, and in a bit of a hurry, both of those rounds shot just over 1" at 100 yards. To say that I was pleased would be a major understatement. Accuracy is fantastic, trigger is great, and if feels really nice in hand.
IMG_20181202_113546321.jpg IMG_20181202_130850826.jpg

I am having a problem with feeding though. The inletting in the stock appears to be holding the magazine well about 1/16 - 1/8 inch off the bottom of the action. Some of the rounds hit the bottom of the feed ramp and stopped until you pushed the magine up and wiggle the bolt some. So, it looks like I need to make the inletting for the trigger guard a little deeper. My thought is to do that to get things functioning right. Then, because I am so happy with how this turned out and shoots, I may order bottom metal and reshape the bottom of the stock for a smooth metal to wood fit.
 
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Great to hear high country.
My barreled action is still in the box with a new scope and rings sitting on top of it. Still need to decide on a stock.
Winter project ...
 
I also picked up one of the x39 minis this fall. I put it in a MDT LSS-XL. The intent was a lightweight backpacking gun in 30cal.
Unfortunately the LSS-XL is a ridiculously heavy chassis, maybe 4lbs with the buttstock and grip, and the rifle overall is heavier than my Model 70 in a McMillan Edge stock. And it cost a lot more than a custom McMillan. That's ok, its still a fun rifle, and I'm having a good time with it. If I had it to do over, I definitely would not do the MDT again, but it's a great shooting chassis. I've also learned that aluminum stocks are not so great for hunting, as my gloves have several times now frozen to the chassis and carrying it without gloves is out of the question. Someone mentioned the protruding magazine. In the MDT, the balance point is right at the mag, so it actually makes a really nice (and not so cold) place to carry the rifle, by cupping the mag.

I think the only thing I don't love about the Howa is the safety lever. I know it will smooth out, but it just feels cheap. I'm thinking about 3D printing a cap for the lever, or building up a dollop of epoxy on it to make a bead that gives a better surface to push.

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I bought a Howa Mini 6.5 Grendel with that plastic stock and I have to agree, as plastic stocks go it isn't bad and I like the aluminum pillars. It seems just as accurate as my bedded Boyd's stock on my 7.62x39 and it's a little lighter, even after I attempted to "lighten" my Boyd's stock a bit.

High Country, that group doesn't surprise me one bit. My Howa Mini 7.62x39 ranks right up there with any of the most accurate rifles I've ever owned. Especially after I bedded the Boyd's stock.

My 6.5 Grendel Mini is a real shooter as well. These are just fantastic little rifles. If they had taken the time to put some real bottom metal or better yet - a hinged floorplate like the 1500's - I'd be at a loss for anything to criticize on the gun.
 
Got a Boyds Pro Varmint in Coyote Lam on the way, just got shopping conformation. Then the Hvy Bbl 7.62x39 action can be fitted.
 
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Ford8n, look forward to seeing/hearing about how your winter project comes together.

Newtosavage, what are you going to put your action in if you are getting rid of the boyds? Someone locally is looking to sell a mini in 6.5 grendel, I really don't need another one of these, but I am very tempted because that seems like a very interesting cartridge, and I am quite happy with the quality of these rifles at the price point. Sounds like you have had a good experience with your 6.5 grendel.

On my boyds stock, I was having trouble with the round jamming into the feed ramp when cycling the bolt, and realized that there was a pretty good gap between the magazine well and the bottom of the action. I cut the inletting for the bottom metal about 0.05" deeper, and that seems to have gotten the magazine high enough that the round isn't able to catch on the edge of the feed ramp any more. I made up dummy rounds with flat nose and spire point bullets and they seem to feed nicely now. Glad that got sorted out. Hoping to get to the range this weekend to confirm that it is running right now.
 
Newtosavage, what are you going to put your action in if you are getting rid of the boyds? Someone locally is looking to sell a mini in 6.5 grendel, I really don't need another one of these, but I am very tempted because that seems like a very interesting cartridge, and I am quite happy with the quality of these rifles at the price point. Sounds like you have had a good experience with your 6.5 grendel.
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I already have a buyer for my 7.62x39 barreled action. They want to drop it in the walnut stock that Brownell's is now offering.

And yes, I'm sold on the 6.5 Grendel in a bolt action now that I've had some time to load for, and hunt with mine. I dropped a whitetail spike yesterday with a textbook double-lung shot at 132 yards. I couldn't have walked up there and placed the bullet in a better spot. That kind of hunting accuracy is worth a lot to me. Not that my 7.62x39 wasn't accurate in the field. It certainly was. The Grendel just gives me another 100 yards.
 
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Savage, I am very tempted by the 6.5 Grendel. Addresses the low energy of 223 and the limited range of 7.62x39 but with the recoil and action size of an intermediate cartridge.

What barrel profile is your 6.5?
 
Went to Brownell's website and looked at the walnut stock for the mini. $214 for a great looking monte carlo with checkering and sling studs. Not too shabby if you ask me...
 
high country said:
Savage, I am very tempted by the 6.5 Grendel. Addresses the low energy of 223 and the limited range of 7.62x39 but with the recoil and action size of an intermediate cartridge.

What barrel profile is your 6.5?
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It's the sporter profile, 22"
 
high country said:
Savage, I am very tempted by the 6.5 Grendel. Addresses the low energy of 223 and the limited range of 7.62x39 but with the recoil and action size of an intermediate cartridge.
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I hit 2700fps in my x39, with a Barnes 120g TAC-TX on top of CFE BLK on Sunday. That gives it 1000ft/lbs out beyond 300 yards, and enough speed to expand that copper bullet out to 450yards. Mind you that 2700fps happened indoors in a warm range, but there were no signs of pressure whatsoever. There's room to go faster.
 
Wow that is screaming fast, I need to order up dies and some components, some of the handload performance numbers I have seen are pretty impressive. I would like to give some cast bullet loads a try too.

Being able to pick up boxes of ammo off the shelf that shoots around 1moa for $5 sure takes the pressure off reloading though.

Newtosavage, thanks for sharing all your reloading experience while you were messing with the 7.62x39.
 
It sure does. I had my hands on a couple of those $5 boxes of ammo just today, and had to tell myself to "just stop" LOL They are addicting!

HC you're welcome. It's been a fun journey. I'm off to the 6.5 Grendel now - the closest thing I could find to my "7x39" idea without selling a kidney to get it. ;)
 
Newtosavage said:
It sure does. I had my hands on a couple of those $5 boxes of ammo just today, and had to tell myself to "just stop" LOL They are addicting!

HC you're welcome. It's been a fun journey. I'm off to the 6.5 Grendel now - the closest thing I could find to my "7x39" idea without selling a kidney to get it. ;)
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there is steel case rendel ammo now, i have seen it for 19 cents. i would like the 6.5 to go with my cz 7.62x39.
 
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