Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Howa M1500 SA/mini 223 reviews

I decided to develop a separate post in lieu of adding to my Ruger Predator 223 post because a separate post is likely generate a bit more focused response. I'm in the market for a economical bullet flinger and grandkid deer rifle.

I've handled/shot a few Howa LA and always thought they were smooth actions. I'm not aware of feeding issues, likely due to their PF design.

I found a pretty good deal on a Howa M1500 SA in 223 - at least thats how the ad/post appears. I'll call today for a few more details (SA/mini, twist, etc).

What are thoughts on the Howa 1500 SA/mini in 223? Any weirdness/nuances to be aware of in the SA or mini? How would does the Howa 1500 SA/mini compare to the Ruger American Predator gen II, or even gen I?

Thanks.

I had a mini, 20" heavy barrel in .223. It shot a bit better than the Predator I talked about in your other post. I tried three different stocks, factory, Bell and Carlson, and a chassis. It was about a 1" gun with most everything for 5 shots, regardless of the stock. I don't like two stage triggers, even though the factory one can be very good, so I put a rifle basix in it. The weak spot on the mini is the bottom unit. Watch your torque and you won't split it. There are various aftermarket bottom units available, Jefferson outdoors is probably the best, but they're always out of stock.

I had the same gun in 6.5 Grendel with basically the same results.

Funny enough, I also had the mini Sporter 22" in 7.62x39 and it shot rings around both of those with Hornady black 123 grain.

I’ve owned a number of SA and Mini Howas/Vanguards (Weatherby Vanguards are Howas with minor, mostly cosmetic differences). Have two Minis now and will pick up my third tomorrow, another SS one in .223. Bought a Mini 7.62x39 for my grandson when he started hunting. Never had a single issue with any of them; any that have gone down the road were for the usual Loony reasons, never accuracy or functional problems. The new one in SS will replace a blued one and I’ll switch the optics, carbon stock, and Jefferson Outdoor magazine setup over just as I did when I replaced my blued 6.5 to an SS one. I think the SAs are kinda large for small cartridges, but the Minis are just right and maybe the only or nearly so properly scaled ones available now except maybe Zastavas, if you can find one.

The Howa actions are built traditionally from steel forgings. They have true one-piece bolts that can be taken apart without any tools. All now AFIK have two-stage triggers which is fine with me, but can be easily replaced if desired. The Minis have plastic trigger guards that have been known to crack when tightened with “enthusiasm”, but that never happened to me, possibly because I’ve replaced them all with metal ones. If they switched to metal or even to a better synthetic like the stuff Ruger makes their pistol frames with, that wouldn’t be a problem, but they persist. Replacements with hinged floorplates, ones that use the factory magazines, and ones that accept CZ 527 mags are available from at least three sources. Jefferson Outdoor stuff is the best IMO and IME.

Never owned a CF Ruger American, but they have a good reputation for accuracy, along with some feeding issues with the original magazines. I like the looks of the Gen 2, even though it’s a bit extreme, oogly even. I’d like them better with some sort of flush magazine.

I have a mini 1500 in 6.5 grendel thats shoots right around 1/2" with AA2520 loads and a 120gr. BT. Great rifle for the young and older hunters. Veryblightweight using the Stocky's carbon stock

I have a pair of minis, 6mm ARC and 6.5 Gren. I put a new in a Boyd thumbhole but went back to the factory stock with the barrel channel opened up more. The two stage trigger works well, no clue implants. I did put a DIP bottom metal in one, the newer Howa bottom metal has a better release so I haven't changed it out. I did bob one of the mags for hunting and left the back up long.

I wish they sold the action only, I'd love to build a slow.rwist 22 ARC for predator hunting

Check out Brownells - they have the barreled action.

Took my blued/carbon apart today in preparation for doing the swap-over to the SS one. Hope to get it out maybe Monday and dial it in. Carbon stock, JO CZ 527 magazine unit, Tract Toric 3-15; and I’m changing the Talleys to a rail and Burris Signature Extremes. Old one will get the plastic stock and magazine.

Come down and shoot a mini .223. I'm swapping it over to a different stock and will need to verify this weekend. You're welcome to come burn some powder with me...though it may be a bit stormy.

Where is everyone finding these stainless 223? Brownells isn’t listing them yet.

The seller, barm here, is a friend and member of my IWLA chapter. He says he can get more if you’re interested. Brownells is the exclusive source for barreled actions, but not finished rifles.

Thanks Jay - I'm in Pittsburgh until late next week. I'll shoot you a text in a bit.

Considering this route: Brownells Howa mini (they have a deal going on now) mated with a Stockys carbon fiber (blems on sale). I think between the straight Howa mini OEM and the various Ruger American versions, the Brownell/Stocky combo is likely better quality. Anyone tried either the Brownell Howa actions or the Stocky carbon fiber stocks?

The one I took apart yesterday is a factory carbon-stocked version with aftermarket magazine setup. My 6.5 Grendel began life as a blued standard model with both adult and youth stocks included, purchased for $359 from Whittakers. I sent the adult stock to a guy here who trimmed it up and painted it, then I gave that stock to my grandson for his 7.62. I bought a Pendelton stock for my rifle and aftermarket hinged floorplate from JO, after trying another version. When Brownells obtained some SS barreled actions in 6.5, I got one and dropped it into the custom parts, then obtained a standard stock from barm, dropped the blued one into that and sold that combo locally. That SS Grendel has also been through a couple scopes, now wears a Accupoint 3-9x40. Once I get the new .223 settled, I’ll put the blued action in the factory plastic parts and either sell it locally or give it to one of my descendants. Somewhere in all that I also sold the youth stock that came with the 6.5 to someone here.

The Stocky’s carbon stocks are the same ones Legacy puts on the rifles they sell; at least the one that show the fabric are. Your notion will work; whether it’s financially feasible depends on the shipping and transfer costs for all that stuff. It won’t be SS either, unless you wait until Brownells gets some, and who knows when or even if they’ll do that again. When dealing with stuff from Legacy, one should strike while the iron’s hot; things come and go at a dizzying rate…..

I saw one,once. Hint.








MUCH fhuqking better with a 6x MQ,but what the fhuqk isn't?!? Hint.









Just sayin'................

I could like that ALOT.

I would have already bought the SS version if they were available and reasonably priced.....

The big dollop of SS barreled actions came from Brownell's last year. I got one and built my 22 ARC on it, with the CF Stocky's and JO metal. Very happy, although the stock fit can't compare with a Kimber Montana. But not much does for a carrying/hunting rifle.

I was wondering when you’d show up with one……

I’m debating getting in line for a JO BDL. The rail is going to make top-loading a bit tight, but I can load my 6.5 from the bottom like a Krag. The 527 mags are hindered, but function well, as you already know….

So far I've used Burris 2 piece or 2 piece direct mounts. I'm considering a scope swap and the new scope would require some inclination. Anyone have insight on which of the available 20 MOA rails is lowest?

I don’t. The rail was chosen partly for its flexibility, partly for strength, and also because it was on hand, as were the rings. Total weight is 8oz, maybe 5oz over the Tallleys. Worth it I think. Should still come in under 7lbs. I’ll know by morning….

If I need some tilt the rings will provide it.

Thanks.