Howa Mini

[Con]

The HB 222Rem I pawed last week was sold. Under a week later, returned for refund. Magazine box kept falling out. Possibly it was that unit (dropped out on me in the shop) but customer complained it was too easily knocked (the latch) leading to 'bombs away'.
Cheers...
Con

[Stevil]

must be ur short arms Con...., actually hasnt been an issue with mine but Ive only done range work and its not in a factory stock.

[Tony Z]

My mini is about to have the mag release lever replaced. L shape instead of the straight one in there now, then mill a finger slot in the floor plate for access. Should have been done from factory and will make it by far the most secure release of any of the large capacity mags i have played with.

[jacksaligari]

Make sure u take a photo tony and show us how it looks

[Tony Z]

I will send you one Jack then your mate can mill the slot.

[Tony Z]

Will be load testing the 7.62x39/6PPC switch Mini this weekend now that cases are fire formed properly. Pulled the factory 7.62x39 barrel and fitted a 24 inch fluted maddco varmint barrel in both calibres. For those that want to know, the PPC case, both 6 and 22, cycles flawlessly as does a 22 BR, 6 BR and 30BR from the magazine but would obviously need the bolt face opened to 0.470". The magazine allows for a 2.340" OAL which is way beyond jam in my 6BR and 70BT load at 2.190". For a 107 SMK 6BR load jammed 20 thou into the lands i am forty thou short in magazine length. But who shoots this in a varmint rifle anyway? Jammed 95 SMKs and Copperheads will fit though.

While at first glance it may appear that the Howa Mini action was made for a PPC, i feel it actually may be better in the BR family simply because the rounds stack better in the magazine and have less free space ahead of the projectile. I can see another action on the horizon, my fourth, for a 6BR 30 BR switch rifle. Actually the one cartridge i could see an occasional nose up miss feed happen with is the cartridge that this rifle started life as. The 7.62 x39 has just enough body taper to look iffy. Not happened and may never happen. Just saying.

[Camel]

My how time flies, wondering how things are working out with these rifles, the hype seems to have died down a bit.

[Tony Z]

Mark i have 3 Howa minis. Two stainless 223s and a blued 7.62x39 with a stainless 24 inch fluted heavy barrel. All three shoot very well. One of the 223s is about to become 222/223. 223 case run through a die to form the 222 shoulder and neck. A bit retrograde i know but i like the longer neck case and i really detest 223s probably because i like many have had a great appreciation for the 222. Just one of my quirks. The other 223 will become another 17/222 with a stainless Shilen heavy barrel i have laying about.
The only reason i have dragged my feet is both the 223s do shoot very well and work flawlessly in the field. The heavy barrel 223 shoots 55 roo loads and 27 grains of 2208 into sub inch at 200 yards. Accuracy from the box usually reserved for Tikkas. I have a couple of 1500s that are so heavy when compared to the minis and as such rarely see use.

[Camel]

Well thats good to hear Tony, any word on fixing the floorplate/magazine with replacements ? I.E. steel and flush mag.

Hey Con, did you get the 204, and if not, why not ??

[juzz338]

Accuracy from the box usually reserved for Tikkas.

Sorry to hear about the dementia

[Ol 55]

Has anyone modified a 10 shot 223 mag to feed 7.62 x 39.
Cheers
Gary

[Tony Z]

Yes it can be done and it will hold 7 rounds if the feed ramp base is cut down a few mm. The top feed lips need to be cut back about 6 mm with an endmill so the fat little 7.62x39 cartridges pop out otherwise they hang in the magazine too long and lead up into the chamber on too steep an angle and jam.
The exact same modification was done a few years back when i converted a Weatherby Vanguard to 7.62x39 using the Legacy magazine, then later a cut down Steyr Aug mag. The pick is the Aug magazine, they were made to be converted to 7.62x39 having that slight curve that allows for the rounds taper.
Actually of all the 7.62x39 conversions i have done over the years, probably a dozen or more, the hands down single best rifle to use is the T3 in either 222 or 223. The mags need zero modification and if you have a 308 bolt face bolt off another T3 you can use that. In most cases it cylcles perfectly with maybe just a slight tweek on the extractor to get perfect extraction and ejection. Otherwise the 223 bolt is an easy job to open up. The T3 conversion was my first choice go to rifle for hogs until i got a Mini in 7.62x39.
If you do convert yours, don't fuck around with any other powder except for CFE BLK. That powder will transform any Ruskie where with 125 grain pills it is over 150 fps faster than any other powder and does it with less pressure.

[Ol 55]

Yes it can be done and it will hold 7 rounds if the feed ramp base is cut down a few mm. The top feed lips need to be cut back about 6 mm with an endmill so the fat little 7.62x39 cartridges pop out otherwise they hang in the magazine too long and lead up into the chamber on too steep an angle and jam.
The exact same modification was done a few years back when i converted a Weatherby Vanguard to 7.62x39 using the Legacy magazine, then later a cut down Steyr Aug mag. The pick is the Aug magazine, they were made to be converted to 7.62x39 having that slight curve that allows for the rounds taper.
Actually of all the 7.62x39 conversions i have done over the years, probably a dozen or more, the hands down single best rifle to use is the T3 in either 222 or 223. The mags need zero modification and if you have a 308 bolt face bolt off another T3 you can use that. In most cases it cylcles perfectly with maybe just a slight tweek on the extractor to get perfect extraction and ejection. Otherwise the 223 bolt is an easy job to open up. The T3 conversion was my first choice go to rifle for hogs until i got a Mini in 7.62x39.
If you do convert yours, don't fuck around with any other powder except for CFE BLK. That powder will transform any Ruskie where with 125 grain pills it is over 150 fps faster than any other powder and does it with less pressure.

Thanks for that I was hoping this was the case just waiting on a PTA is that powder readily available?
Cheers
Gary

[Camel]

Gary I believe that CFE BLK is a Winchester Aust powder, think it was Johno1 who pressured his gunshop to get it in.

[Ol 55]

Gary I believe that CFE BLK is a Winchester Aust powder, think it was Johno1 who pressured his gunshop to get it in.

Thanks Mark
Gary