Are you satisfied with the Howa mini heavy barrel?

[s3silver]

So I already own a Howa mini with a 20" sporter barrel. It's all factory right now. I haven't shot it too much (nor done load workup for it) but from what I've shot it shoots a consistent 1 to 1.5 moa which is good enough for hunting. I got to thinking about a rebarrel to a heavier barrel profile higher end barrel which would probably set me back $300-400. Then I thought why not just buy another mini with the heavy barrel then I'll have two mini's: the sporter barrel one would be more of a lightweight hunting rifle while the heavy barrel one would be used for both hunting and as a range toy. My question is, those that have the heavy barrel, how satisfied are you with it? Is it a consistent 1 moa or less shooter that you have not justified upgrading to a higher end barrel?

[garyrapp55]

I'm getting better than MOA from mine. I think about rebarreling to 22 Grendel sometimes but doubt that'll happen anytime soon, if ever. I might just build a 223AI. It may be thicker than the sporter but it is not really what I'd call a heavy barrel. Nonetheless, for what I gave for it, I'm pleased. My daughter ran it so hard one day I couldn't hold the barrel it was so hot. She was steadily making hits on 1 MOA steel.

[Paringa]

The sporter will do better than MOA consistently with the right load.

[sharp.shooter]

On my Howa Mini with 20" heavy barrel, I have been nothing but impressed with its accuracy. I bought the barreled action and installed in an MDT LSS chassis.

I've shot Hornady Custom 123 SST ammo as well as their American Gunner 123 gr. BTHP bulk ammo and both were better than 1/2" for 3 shots. I've since had the barrel shortened to 16.5" and accuracy went to pot. Had the barrel re-crowned, and accuracy improved to better than 3/4" but not to what it was before the barrel chop. It's still plenty good enough for white-tailed deer and hogs out to 250 yards, so no complaints.

Sharpshooter

[myrifle]

I loved, loved, loved my howa grendel I had. Except for one thing. The barrel wasnt long enough.

If they had a heavy barrel version with a 24 or 26 inch barrel, i would have never gotten the cz grendel.

[s3silver]

[s3silver]

On my Howa Mini with 20" heavy barrel, I have been nothing but impressed with its accuracy. I bought the barreled action and installed in an MDT LSS chassis.

I've shot Hornady Custom 123 SST ammo as well as their American Gunner 123 gr. BTHP bulk ammo and both were better than 1/2" for 3 shots. I've since had the barrel shortened to 16.5" and accuracy went to pot. Had the barrel re-crowned, and accuracy improved to better than 3/4" but not to what it was before the barrel chop. It's still plenty good enough for white-tailed deer and hogs out to 250 yards, so no complaints.

Sharpshooter

Sorry to hear the accuracy went south after the barrel chop. This is a good example of how much we know about barrel harmonics and the shorter, stouter barrel may not always have the best harmonics.

[grayfox]

Sorry to hear the accuracy went south after the barrel chop. This is a good example of how much we know about barrel harmonics and the shorter, stouter barrel may not always have the best harmonics.

Roger that, but as an alternate theory, it could be that, inch for inch, the MV loss does not equate to staying on a node in the shorter barrel via the harmonic changes...
A powder load that hits your node for a 20" barrel most likely will not be on a node for a different length (aka Chris Long, OBT theories), that powder load will show a drop in MV at the shorter length, but the actual MV needed to be on the node at 16.5" (or whatever the new length might be), won't be the MV that the original load would give you.
In handloads you would most likely need to tweak the powder to get back to an MV that is on the node for that new length... or not and watch your shots spread out on the target...

[xlcc]

My Howa 20" HB shoots easily under 1" MOA with the correct load.
I wouldn't call it a real heavy barrel compared to other factory rifles.
I shoot out to 500yards at my home range and hunt with it.It is very consistant with a variety of bullets.
You will be happy if you buy one with it's accuracy.

[s3silver]

Roger that, but as an alternate theory, it could be that, inch for inch, the MV loss does not equate to staying on a node in the shorter barrel via the harmonic changes...
A powder load that hits your node for a 20" barrel most likely will not be on a node for a different length (aka Chris Long, OBT theories), that powder load will show a drop in MV at the shorter length, but the actual MV needed to be on the node at 16.5" (or whatever the new length might be), won't be the MV that the original load would give you.
In handloads you would most likely need to tweak the powder to get back to an MV that is on the node for that new length... or not and watch your shots spread out on the target...

That's a good point and observation that may be overlooked more times than not.

[s3silver]

My Howa 20" HB shoots easily under 1" MOA with the correct load.
I wouldn't call it a real heavy barrel compared to other factory rifles.
I shoot out to 500yards at my home range and hunt with it.It is very consistant with a variety of bullets.
You will be happy if you buy one with it's accuracy.

Thanks for the feedback. I'll keep my eyes out for one. They are hard to find new here and the ffl's here charge quite a bit to have guns shipped/transferred into the state.

[Harpoon1]

Thanks for the feedback. I'll keep my eyes out for one. They are hard to find new here and the ffl's here charge quite a bit to have guns shipped/transferred into the state.

[1Merlin]

There is a nice 6.5 complete USED rifle on GB right now....