Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles How Mini 6.5 Grendel w/stock mod by MtnBoomer

There has been some talk the last year or so on the Howa Mini actions, especially in 6.5 Grendel. I didn't really pay attention to them because really the only time I had messed with 6.5G was nearly a decade ago when it was brand new. Fast forward to a month ago and finding out that Factory loaded Hornady Match ammo is readily available for $20-25 a box, and Whittaker's have a sale on the Howa Mini I ordered one in a sleep deprived stupor.

Anyways, it arrived.

SWFA SS 3-9x42mm
Burris XTR Pic bases
Seekins Low 30mm rings

After I did the usual setup- 7lbs 4.9oz.




Two stage trigger is pretty good, Houge style stock is out of control for the little gun, and while the mag system is kind of chintzy it worked. Went to the range to make sure it shot and even with the stock touching the barrel on the left hand side, it still shot solid with 10 rounds of Hornady Black 123gr ELD-M-






Two things were immeadiay apparent... the stock needed som serious work and the mag latch needed shortening. Remembered that Mtnboomer on here did some stock work before, so contacted him and got it sent off.

Took a knife to the mag release lever as just holding the gun would drop the mag.







A couple of cuts later and we're golden-


Now it takes a positive effort to release the mag.

Con't.......






After a week or so the stock showed up from Mtnboomer.






Compared to a Howa Alpine-



No comparison to the fat POS that came on it- he did a great job and it lost some weight-





Con't.....

Nice. I like Howa rifles, but hate the stocks. The Alpine is the only factory stock I've ever liked on a Howa. I would be a bigger fan of theirs if they'd only do something about the stocks.

After the stock mod, hit the range to check zero and velocity.


Still shoots fine- 1.2-1.3moa for 10 rounds...



Made a down .1, and right .1mil adjustment, and slipped turrets.



No chrono, the box said 2,590fps. If you are trueing velocity, you want to do it just before transonic range- right at 1,340fps or so. Put it into Shooter, and 1,340fps was right at 860yds. Hanging the target at 860 wasn't going to work as there is a ditch. 820 yards would, and that put it at 1,384fps or so.


Had a 2-4mph, 4-8 o'clock switching tail wind, predominantly from left to right however. Dialed left .3 and held on the water line. First shot was just off the right edge, read it in the reticle as .5, dialed it for a total of left .8 and five more rounds-


1.5moa. Mostly horizontal, with 8.75" vertical. Split the waterline, velocity was right on.






Final result- it's a fun gun. Right at 7lbs with a bombproof mounting system and scope, $20 box ammo, light recoil and compact. We'll see if an elk will hold a bullet for me.

Very interesting, how do you chrono at that distance?
Also is that a plastic stock sanded back and painted

He cut a bunch off of the stock- feels about like a Kimber Montana Stock now.





You don't chrono at that distance. The BC of that bullet is well established, the scope adjusts perfectly .1mil per click, and the range is known. Set up in a good Ballistic app or program- in this case Shooter- the rifle particulars and environmental conditions. Swag the muzzle velocity. Using a waterline (horizontal line across the target) you group the gun at cas close to 1,340fps as you can, and adjust the turret until the group is splitting the water line. At that point all you have to do is go into the correctly set up Ballistic app/program and adjust velocity until the drops on the program match the actual drop shot. In this case I needed 8mils of elevation to split the waterline at 820 yards under the present conditions. 8 mils at 820 yards is 2,590fps.

Doing this you've used the bullet and scope to backwards chrono, and all the dope for the gun will be correct from 0-820+ yards (transonic range).

I been considering one of these

Form,

How do you like that Alpine?

That makes a lot of sense, real world data.

On a side note is the 2-10x32 NXS that good a scope in comparison to the 3-9 SWFA to be worth about double the money even when second hand ?

Nice write up Form. I really like the mini's in 6.5 Grendel. Neat little package -- especially with the work done!

It's good. It was a bit finicky until I bedded the lug though. Stock and trigger is good, but it should be stainless.







Eww. That's hard.... The 2.5-10x32mm Nightforce NXS is probably the most durable scope ever made... but for a hunting gun, no the NXS isn't twice as good. Truthfully they are about even, with an edge going to the SWFA mil-Quad reticle and FFP.

The 3-9x SS is an excellent scope and it with the 6x42mm MQ is most often what I put on the hunting rifles.

Thanks once again

It's good. It was a bit finicky until I bedded the lug though. Stock and trigger is good, but it should be stainless.

Yup, should be SS, but don't hold your breath. Legacy has apparently abandoned that. Only Weatherby Vanguards come in SS now, and nothing they sell is as handy.

Nice rifle(s).

Hey - look at that! Skinny Mini #6.

Good luck on your hunt Form! Get a big'un!

Thanks brother.

Texture on the stock came out great. You did a real good job!

The Boom does great work per always.

Formidilio,

What's the 6.5 do that the .223 don't?





Dave

Boomer, what are you doing with the stocks please if you don't mind posting.

It's proprietary.





Clark

1200 ft lbs of energy at 300 yards w/123-129gr slugs; same as standard .243 100gr loads.

Elk in Colorado....

Well that doesn't tell me schit.

I mean better in the wind? If so at what distance do you start seeing it? Does it break bone up more better?

Stuff like that.




Clark

Roger.

Good luck.



Clark

Thanks brother- probably won't see crap.




On the Grendel, probably the best thing about it is that it's bigger than a 223 for those who don't think a 223 will kill deer or those who have a minimum required caliber, with recoil just a bit more than a heavy bullet 223. Wind drift with the 123gr ELD-M is just a bit better than the 77grTMK/75gr ELD-M in the 223.

It's just an upsized 223 with 77's.

Interesting. Thanks.






Travis

Ain't killed anything with it yet, or anything larger than a woodchuck with a .223 yet. .22s aren't legal for deer in VA, so that's not an option for me.

According to the Nosler app, the 129gr LRAB at 2500 sighted for 200 yards, drops 9.4" at 300, drifts 6.34" in a 10mph wind, and is cranking 2067fps, with 1227 fpe. That bullet supposedly expands down to 1300 fps, which the Grendel load is still doing at 950 yards.

The legality issue makes sense. I just have a hard time beating the .223 so that is why I ask.




Dave

Also, the stubby little cartridges look uber.

Very nice! I kind of have a reoccurring itch for one of the .223 versions that always seems to fade when I hold one in the store.... Those stocks... The Howas in general have a lot going for them, 3 position safety, Sako extractor, one piece forged bolt/bolt handle, etc, but the chunky stocks really bring them down. With the slimmed stock and trimmed mag release, that thing looks great, mind me asking how much the stock work ran you?

If you PM the Boom he'll give you a price.

He said he'd do mine for free if I promised to stop posting. Forever.

I reneged.

I wouldn't have one without the modded stock.

I won't speak out of turn, but I'd PM Mtnboomer and he'll let you know.

Rick's image thingy works!
#4 Test

Without question the 6.5 Grendel is a much better round for night hog hunting. I also think the Grendel's niche is as a more powerful round than the 223 in an AR platform. That said I have both cartridges in Howa Mini's and AR 15 rifles. I like all four rifles and am not planning to sell any of them soon.

Like this basically....


#1 THEE Truck Gun

#3 Which was prepped for the owner to get dipped.

Mine looks the best.



Dave

Mine already looks the most used.... 😁

Been mulling one of these over and nearly jumped on the Whittaker sale....the stock was the only thing holding me back. Looks about like my Vixen repeater sporter in 6ppc....minus dealing with sako scope mounting.

Do these have the milk jug hogue or rubbery hogue stocks?

Milk jugs. It didn't seem to lose any stiffness after the whittling. It's no McMillian/Manners in stiffness, but it's not garbage either.

If those came inLH, my kids would probably each have one. It'd be great for what/how we hunt and meet the stupid rifle law we have here. .