New Howa Mini-Action Mag Release

[Frontier Gear]

Besides the plastic "bottom metal", the mag release has got to be the biggest complaint about the Howa mini-action. DIPinc has came out with a solution for this as well. These are machined out of aluminum and anodized. They should be on the DIPinc web site shortly. Availability is for-casted to be in the next few weeks and pricing is still to be determined. I'll do a review on them as soon as I get one in my hands. I'd like to thank Bob at DIPinc for going through all the time and expense to develop these for us. Cutting down the plastic mag release lever does help, but it still bothered me that it was such soft plastic. This will be a nice addition to a wood stocked barreled action.

[A5BLASTER]

I like that, think I will have to order one myself, when they get them up for sale.

[roor]

This Jay free a stupid question but will this work on a chassis that uses the same magazine?

[HokeyPokeyKid]

I like it, nice low profile.

[Frontier Gear]

roor,
Not a stupid question at all. Unfortunately, I don't have a chassis to try it on. Also, there are three chassis that I can think of for the mini-action; MTD LSS, MDT BRN-1 and the LSI mini-action chassis. So it may potentially work on some but not all chassis.

[Dinny]

We're getting closer! Now if DiP could make a floor plate and internal magazine.

Thanks, Dinny

[Jamesgang41]

I’m down for one. Hate the stock one being at the balance point. Dropped many mags.

[Sticks]

I see that one getting the same "Accidental release" that the OEM Howa bottom plate and mag release got. The might want to consider making an aluminum copy of the Howa lever since they already set the shelf for the spring to preload, and maybe bevel out the bottom metal to allow for a shorter lever and get a gloved finger in to hit it....I'd simply just go for an aluminum copy.

[Frontier Gear]

I got two "pre-production" samples to review.

Overall look and feel is great. They are anodized aluminum and feel like actual gun parts, not like a piece of my kids broken toys.


They are very low profile. This modified mag has already had the bottom plate thinned down and it is still about half as thick as that.


From top to bottom below:
A completly stock factory plastic LSI mag well and mag release lever.
A pre-production DIPinc aluminum mag well with a cut down LSI plastic mag release.
A current production DIPinc aluminum mag well with the new mag release.



I don't think that this will introduce "accidental mag drops". They change the direction of the mag release motion. With the factory lever, you pull it back towards the mag/trigger guard. With the new release lever, you hook your finger under it and pull down, away from the stock. It feels more natural for me at least.

[Frontier Gear]

Got an update from DIPinc. They have rounded the corners a bit and drilled a small hole in them to access the set screw that holds the pin in place. With these small changes, I think that we will have the "cat's meow" for a detachable mag bottom metal.

[A5BLASTER]

Thanks for the update FG.

I will be getting one soon as they are for sale.

[Frontier Gear]

Stay tuned for a group buy. BFT has approved one, but I don't have the details from DIPinc yet.

[6mmTCU]

thanks Frontier Gear ! I'm in! I had cut my original down to not have accidental mag drops . When installed in my new DIP bottom metal is about impossible to release mag with gloves hands. This will be a great upgrade to go with the bottom metal .

[bowhunter]

count me in on the group buy!

[drewsbow]

Ohh yeah can't wait