What's wrong with the Howa OEM stocks?

[Old Bob]

First thing I noticed when I got my mini Howa was the barrel touched the left side of the stock barrel channel. It looked like I'd have to relieve the channel to get the barrel free floating. But, with the stock bolts loosened, I could move the barrel to the right enough to center it in the channel & then re-tighten the bolts. This had to be done with wedge between the barrel & stock so the barrel wouldn't slip back to the left when the bolts were tightened. It seemed to naturally want to go left when tightened. I eventually glass bedded the action to the stock so it centered the barrel every time it was removed & re-installed without have to use the wedge.

Then I got a Pendleton stock to make the rifle lighter. Well, that required more stock work. My Howa mini has the heavy 20" barrel. The Pendleton stock barrel channel was too narrow for my barrel. Had to widen the channel to get the action & barrel fully seated in the stock. It's a nice snug, free float fit now & doesn't appear to need bedding. I replaced the bottom metal first with DIP metal bottom to use OEM Howa mags. That was OK but I sure didn't like those Howa mags. I now have both Jefferson Outdoors flat bottom & CZ magazine metal trigger guards. I'll try both & see which one I like best. I'm leaning to the CZ bottom metal 'cause loading rounds into the rifle between the scope & the top of the receiver takes some dexterity with the flat bottom metal & I have big fingers & thumbs.