howa mini 7.62x39

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adcoch1 said:
I cycled mine like 800 times to smooth out the detent... Wish I still had that rifle.
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That's my plan. It's a little disappointing on both my Tikka and this Howa, that the safety seems to be such an afterthought. I'm not sure why a Rem 700 or Savage safety is such a problem to duplicate.
 
Newtosavage said:
That's my plan. It's a little disappointing on both my Tikka and this Howa, that the safety seems to be such an afterthought. I'm not sure why a Rem 700 or Savage safety is such a problem to duplicate.
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I honestly can't remember the Tikkas saftey design, but I didn't think the howas was bad, just that (and I think this is intentional) the engagement was way to stiff.
The stamped and bent tab that serves as the.....contact point? For your thumb is kinda meh compared to how well the rest of the rifle is built tho.

I actually got both my Howa and my Bergara on the same day, so i got to play with what I consider the best production 700 around, and the cheapest Howa offered at the same time.
Honestly I still think the Howa was easily on par, besides the dinky saftey switch, and stock design I didn't like.
 
LoonWulf said:
I honestly can't remember the Tikkas saftey design, but I didn't think the howas was bad, just that (and I think this is intentional) the engagement was way to stiff.
The stamped and bent tab that serves as the.....contact point? For your thumb is kinda meh compared to how well the rest of the rifle is built tho.

I actually got both my Howa and my Bergara on the same day, so i got to play with what I consider the best production 700 around, and the cheapest Howa offered at the same time.
Honestly I still think the Howa was easily on par, besides the dinky saftey switch, and stock design I didn't like.
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the safety is just like the one they used on the FN commercial mausers. they don't work that good ether.
 
For you guys have Boyds' stocks, do you pillar bed the stock? I'm going to bed the stock but not sure if I need to pillar bed.
 
That is my feeling as well, my plan is just to bed the action to the stock. I doubt there is enough extra accuracy available from pillar bedding to make it worth while. Definitely not a benchrest rifle, especially in LW profile.
 
First of all, Good Luck with your rifle project. I love putting rifles together just the way I like. It is a fun process and allows you to gain some in depth knowledge of your rifle. Having said that, I just have to throw out the Ruger American again. My son and I both have one and they are great. They are light, accurate, and reliable with cheap ammo. I understand your issue with the magazine, but I have carried mine quite a bit now and with a 5 rounder, don't even notice it anymore. We each have two additional ten round magazines that we carry in our backpacks.

Anyways, when you get your rifle together, give us an update.
 
This was from today at the deer lease. I don't have a bench there, so I used the bed of my truck. The crosshairs of my 2-7x33 Leupold were floating at least this much! I'd say the $2 bedding job worked. ;) Super happy with this rifle. I was hoping it would be at least as accurate as my Savage 7.62x39, and it is. Maybe even a hair better.

IMG_0048.JPG
 
Newtosavage said:
This was from today at the deer lease. I don't have a bench there, so I used the bed of my truck. The crosshairs of my 2-7x33 Leupold were floating at least this much! I'd say the $2 bedding job worked. ;) Super happy with this rifle. I was hoping it would be at least as accurate as my Savage 7.62x39, and it is. Maybe even a hair better.

View attachment 803293
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the web sight keeps showing the action out of stock then back in when i get home. maybe they are back ordered ?. im thinking of selling a verona auto 12ga and my custom ruger 10/22 and just buy a cz 527 fs.
 
So I finally got tired of that magazine extending down so far and the mag latch being bumped accidentally, so I did something about it today. Fortunately, there is a small ridge all the way around the magazine at just the right point to make it a 3-round mag by cutting off the portion below it. If you try this, just don't cut right up against that line. Leave about 1/8" below it and then work that down with a wood rasp or file to get a good tight fit on the lip of the magazine bottom plate. There are a few little spots to file down on the floorplate carrier, and I took off about 1/4 of the protruding piece on the plastic follower, but it all went back together just fine and I now have a tight fitting 3-round mag that doesn't get in the way of my hand.

I also trimmed that release lever down to the point where I had to intentionally try to release the mag. No accidental bumps and dropped mags for me now. This carries in the hand so much better, and I'll never miss those 2 rounds in the mag. If I think there is a chance I'll be getting into a big pack of pigs, I'll just buy an extra 5-round mag for it. But this is my range rifle and a hunting rifle, and I wanted a little sleeker lines and better carrying. I really like it now.

I'll probably lop about 1.5" off that forend next time I get bored, but the way this baby has been shooting, I'm reluctant to pull it out of the stock again!

IMG_0075.JPG IMG_0076.JPG IMG_0078.JPG
 
LoonWulf said:
Nice work!
I'm always surprised that they don't make flush fit mags an option on guns with dms.
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The Howa Mini could really benefit from a staggered, flush fitting DBM. I mean, it's a small and light platform. Shouldn't it be easy to carry too? The first time I handled a Mini, literally the only thing I didn't like about it was how far the magazine protruded below the stock. Same reason I never bought a CZ 527. But this I can live with, and I can easily live with 4 rounds in my hunting rifle. Happy camper here!
 
I would like a classic staggered feed blind fixed mag just like the 1500. Don't even care the hinged floor plate, a blind mag is just fine. I actually try fitting a AK mag into the stock mag well and it fits. May try to make a blind fixed mag by cutting an AK mag, fit in the stock mag opening and make a cover plate to cover the opening.
 
HankC said:
I would like a classic staggered feed blind fixed mag just like the 1500. Don't even care the hinged floor plate, a blind mag is just fine. I actually try fitting a AK mag into the stock mag well and it fits. May try to make a blind fixed mag by cutting an AK mag, fit in the stock mag opening and make a cover plate to cover the opening.
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I figured if I really messed this job up, that's the direction I was going to go. LOL

I don't mind blind mags at all, but I do prefer at least a hinged floor plate to unload the rifle without having to cycle the action. In fact, if it were up to me, all of my hunting rifles would have hinged floor plates. That way you can dump the mag but never have to worry about losing it.
 
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