Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Ruger American VS Howa 1500

Alan,

I haven't played with the Sako Vixen, only shooting a friend's a couple of times, and then he passed away suddenly... his wife tried to give it to me, but I passed on it, just not feeling right about it...it was a Mannlicher 222 model...

If you have any desire to fondle the Howa Mini Action 223, send me a PM and we can line up a time to do so, either over in Medford ( White City) or if you make it up to the Josephine County Range...

would be good to see you... its been a while...

The Howa Mini Action does come in stainless, just seems Legacy Sports isn't importing them. Seen some on the web from New Zealand.

Must be another EPA reg against them....
they don't seem to like things the American consumer would like to have from other countries

How do you guys like the little Ruger? I am considering a ranch rifle in 300 Black out as a first deer gun for my grandson. Its light, inexpensive, recoil is moderate, muzzle blast low, compared to a cheaper to shoot Marlin in 30-30 with more recoil than the little BO.

Howa Mini on the left, Vixen on the right.




The Howa Mini is pretty slick, but it is no Vixen. They got the action right, but the rest of the rifle doesn't match with the miniaturized action. When you handle a Vixen, everything is svelte. The stock, the barrel contour, the bottom metal. They're truly slick.

That said, I am really loving the Howa Mini so far. For $329.00 I don't see how you can go wrong.



Travis

My understanding of the stock on the Mini is that it is a Hogue, with the rubber exterior removed.

It is nothing special but it is serviceable.






I had to float and bed mine, but I don't think I was adequately drunk the first time I bedded it. It had some stringing and other signs of not UBERness.






So I got re-drunker the next day and bedded it again. When it plopped four this close together in a full value, 15-20mph wind, I went home and loaded up 50 more.




These are the 60gr. V-Max and 27.5gr's of CFE 223. Why this bullet and powder? No idea. Drunk 'flave was running this project so I just stayed out of his way.



Dave

For those that are curious about such things, you can seat bullets to a COL of about 2.300. I think I settled on 2.280 as it was just off the lands. I was able to square the 50gr and 60gr. V-Max into the lands and still use the mag.

This is where the magic happens....

I think I'll just take over this thread completely now.

I had some aluminum Weaver bases and some UBER Weaver 4X4 rings and a 10X Bushnell tactical. I can't remember what rifle I took the scope off of, but I don't recall it ever causing any problems in the past so it was a relatively safe bet.

Weighed 7lbs with all this schit on it. I see a Super Sniper 1-4X in it's immediate future but I will leave it sit for right now as I want to use it on dogs this week.

Bare rifle:

Comes with both hinged floorplate and DBM or not?

I'd reconsider that...



Travis

DBM only.

This is the one I got from SAS for $329.00. I have seen Howa's in the past that came with both. Not sure if the Mini's are the same or not.




Travis

How much sticks out da bottom (rifle)

No kidding, I'd take the rifle and do the widow.

Only thing I can add is that I went to the range yesterday and set out jugs @ the 2 and the 3. Nothing was surviving as I worked the bolt as fast as I could and let fly.

Painted steel at the same distances and everything was well under MOA and that was for 6-7 shots. Not three. All shot prone from a bipod. Got the barrel pretty damn hot and it just kept laying them in there. I wanted to run down and get pics but the public range is border line dangerous this time of year so I didn't bother.

The trigger is a two-stage and I didn't have to touch it. It is a great trigger. Breaks as clean as any Timney or Shilen or Sako I have. I don't really like two-stage triggers but they beat the fugk out of the Savage/RAR/Glock fugking things IMO.

McMillan is not inletting for the Mini. If you want them to make a mold you have to order 50. If you want exclusive rights to the Mini inlet and pattern you choose, you need to order 100.



Dave

Dave,

Do you have the 20" No. 1 contour or the 22" barrel? Thanks.

I will get the model number today.




Travis

Will measure and get a better pic.



Travis

What the [bleep] are you waiting for? Don't need a measurement, a pic would be cool.