Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Howa mini upgrades

I’m looking at purchasing a Howa mini. I plan to swap out the bottom metal and I’m looking for opinions on the Jefferson outdoors and the oregun. I’m also going to replace the stock with either one from oregun or b&c. The oregun one seems much lighter, any feedback? Thank you all in advance

I have the Jefferson hinged bottom metal , it is superb. Have factory stock, though the carbon fiber "seconds" from Stockys Stocks looked good , they don't have a "second" listed that I can see at this time... Joe

Can’t comment on the stock but the JO is the way to go for the bm.

I have the Oregon bottom metal and had one helluva time getting it to feed correctly. With that being said, it works fine now. If I ever purchase another one, it will be the JO. I put a Stocky's corbon fiber seconds stock on my Mini and I like it. The thing that I think about it that after you buy a $175 bottom metal and a $300 or more stock, you have an awful lot in a rifle that is never going to sell for what you have in it. But, they do look and shoot good.

Yes. Very nice unit.

Having done it both ways, I think the easy way is to just buy a Carbon Stalker, then pick a BM solution and you’re done, unless you want to paint that slippery stock. Not cheap, but it gets you a very nice rig. If and when the SS versions appear, I’ll get one and swap over my goodies to it: Pendleton stock and J.O. floorplate.

Pappy, new to mini's, what is a BM solution ?

Bottom metal solution. Jefferson outdoors is the answer.

I agree on the Jefferson. Have had the Oregun Hinged, JO Hinged and JO CZ conversion. I really like the CZ the best of any of them.



Hangs down like any CZ 527 with a 5-round.



With a three round mag it is nearly flush.







With the "Bob Sled" it will feed Fireball cases really well. A major consideration since I plan to convert a .223 over to something on the Fireball case for a dedicated colony varmint gun.


I have the carbon fiber second on my current mini which I like for a general purpose carrying rifle. It is so light it kinda has a "toy" feel to it. I think the Oregun stock looks like a winner also. My heavy barrel(s) rigs will wear B&C or Boyds laminates.

A BM solution sounds like something you ingest prior to a colonoscopy.

You nailed it. Barreled action $400, second stock $300, JO bottom metal $200, barrel chop to 17 inches and rethread $150...I am over $1100 w/o scope and rings. I haven't even got it completely together yet and hope it shoots well. If I didn't want a 6ARC so bad, I'd have just got another Tikka and know it would shoot. Howa money pit is more like it.

Sorry. Bottom metal.

I started with a OG hinged unit on my Grendel, then replaced it with a JO. When I bought a Carbon Stalker .223, I bought a JO CZ mag unit like MedRiver shows above. It limits the OAL to standard, but as you can see in the pics, looks really nice and works perfectly. I need to get another mag or two for that while the gettin’s good.

Glad to hear everyone saying they are pits. I picked up a 7.62x39 barreled action off classifieds a few weeks back, then a stock and scope. Trying to find bottom metal in stock. Then want to rebarrel to a 6 arc. For a “cheap” option sure spend alot. Lol

Anyone have the timney trigger?

Is something wrong with the minis that all these modifications are necessary?

I use the JO bdl on a Grendel and an ARC. It's a great improvement to the rifle.

Recently picked up a Legend to play with. Was originally considering JO's aluminum bm that uses the Howa mags. After seeing MedRiver's, I think JO's CZ conversion with the 3 round mag would be pretty nice...if they work.

Will CZ 527 223 mags work with the .350 Legend?

No they work well without modifications. The only real big deal is the detachable mag and mag release. It is really easy to hit the mag release and drop the mag by accident. Need to make some mods to prevent this or be real careful... Joe

Since folks have to piece together parts to get them right, it's also possible to part a rifle out and get most of your money back due to the demand for parts.

Looks like 300 BO mags are needed due to the scalloped sides on the .223 mags. Feel free to add to or clarify...I've not touched a 527 so I'm ignorant.

https://www.rimfirecentral.com/threads/cz-527-300-blackout-magazine-length.1273999/

Beware, the CZ 527 mags are already scarce as hens teeth and very expensive.

Yep. The 3 round mag was my main interest due to it be closer to flush, but I think it may only come in .223. 300 BO mags are likely much more scarce. Oh well.

You can buy all the 5 round mags you want right now on eBay (probably GunBroker too) but you are very right about the cost. Most are $50+ by the time they get to you.

The 223 are available and around $50, but the 7.62x39/ 6.5 Grendel/ 6mm ARC are over $100 apiece and hard to find.

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Brownells barreled action 6mmARC 22"
B&C stock
JO hinged bottom metal

Very happy with how it turned out.
Oregunsmithing (Pendleton) stock may be the best stock for the mini but there's wait time and more money.
Seconds may be available.

Since I've drifted the topic a bit, I'll go full drift with it..... If anyone has factory .223 or 350 Legend mags they don't mind getting rid of, please pm me. I'd like to purchase a couple. Thanks.

Are Howas a money pit? Well, show me a mini action build that isn’t. They can be finished and done, ready to be scoped for around 500, but I rarely leave a rifle stock, and I wanted a light weight option with a hinged bottom metal as a light woods walking rifle in 6mm ARC, so once again, is it a money pit if you want something specific that’s not on the market? These aftermarket components are actually pretty cheap compared to regular actions, for example carbon stocks for 300-600? Not bad, a mcmillan is 750. So, as far as useful info, I used the oregunsmith bottom metal and it works, but I’m not pleased with how smooth it is, so will be trying the JO next, and will use whichever one turns out best.

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The hinged Jefferson Outdoor bottom metal is perfection.
The shape of the trigger guard, fit/function and finish...all of it.

I wasn't clear on this, my apologies. I'm looking for HOWA factory mags in .223 or 350 Legend. It seems the HOWA mags with JO's aluminum factory detachable bm is the best route for a 350 Legend. If anyone has left over .223/350 HOWA factory mags please pm me.

Bingo. Getting what you want ain’t a money pit. So you spend a grand or a bit more. What else can you get for that in that category? I don’t regret a penny of what I spent on my Minis.

Same here Pappy!

Waiting on the 22 ARC...

Anybody have have a factory stock for a 22” sporter barrel for sale.I’d like to shorten one for my grandson.I know this isn’t the classifieds but might have a better chance here.

Just post asking for a youth version. They’re out there. My son will have one for sale in a few years.

Meanwhile, Brownells has new full-size ones for $100. Doubt you’ll do too much better here.

Then, there’s ebay and GB.

I bought a pile of the kits with Vortex scopes that were available a little bit back for like $450. Sell the scope for $100 after shipping, $50 for stock and $50 for magazine/bottom metal and you’re in the barreled action $250. $150 for fixed JO bottom metal and 300 for Stockys second…$700 for a rifle that can easily go under 6 lbs scoped and you can buy parts as your budget allows. If there is another deer capable rifle out there that is that light for $700 I’m not aware of it.

Or it’s right at $500 for a stainless mini barreled action. Trip the BM/magazine for $50 and your still under a grand…