I picked up a Howa Mini Carbon Stalker in 6.5G on Monday. It is silly how light it is. I expected it to be pretty front heavy, but the balance of the rifle isn't bad at all. I got a Jefferson Outdoor blind floorplate yesterday, and should have a DNZ scope mount delivered today for the Leupold 2-7x33 I am going to mount on the rifle.
I like two stage triggers, and this one isn't bad. There is a good wall after the take up, but the break is heavier than I would like. I was under the impression these come with the HACT adjustable trigger but, when I started looking for instructions on how to lighten the trigger pull, I am finding conflicting information on this. I am not looking for match grade trigger pull, as this will be a hunting gun, but I would like to drop it down some.
Can anyone confirm if the Howa Mini Carbon Stalker does or does not come with the adjustable HACT trigger?
I pulled it out of the safe over lunch and tried a few dry fires. The trigger break didn't seem as heavy as it did when I picked it up at the store. Maybe it was extra stiff being brand new out of the box. Maybe I have been spoiled recently by the triggers on some of my fancy airguns, and needed to readjust my mind and finger to powder burner world. After that dry firing session, I could maybe see it being just a tiny bit lighter, but not much, and that may happen with some breaking in.
If the DNZ mount shows up today, maybe I'll mount the scope tonight and see how the bottom metal fits, and if I will need to do some sanding to drop it in.
08-11-2022, 12:50 AM (This post was last modified: 08-11-2022, 12:56 AM by puddleglum.)
The over all package
[ATTACH=CONFIG]19026[/ATTACH]
A closeup of the new bottom metal
[ATTACH=CONFIG]19027[/ATTACH]
I, personally, am not a fan of the carbon fiber weave pattern. So, down the road, I may give the stock a good sanding and then hit it with some Krylon fusion in a tan, gray, or green. Follow that up with some Krylon black webbing and a clear coat.
puddleglum Wrote:The over all package
[ATTACH=CONFIG]19026[/ATTACH]
A closeup of the new bottom metal
[ATTACH=CONFIG]19027[/ATTACH]
I, personally, am not a fan of the carbon fiber weave pattern. So, down the road, I may give the stock a good sanding and then hit it with some Krylon fusion in a tan, gray, or green. Follow that up with some Krylon black webbing and a clear coat.
I agree on the looks of the weave, definitely a candidate for a paint job. Did the bottom metal fit without sanding?
The metal didn't slide in easily, but with a little pressure it popped into place. I didn't need sanding, but other people's mileage may vary, of course.
I tested the function of the bottom metal as well, with the rifle in the middle safe position, pointed in a safe direction. I found that, if I pop each round into the internal magazine and slide it back until it stops, I got good chambering and extraction. There was a bit of resistance on the first round, so I was concerned it was not working at first but, with a more firm push on the bolt, the round drove in. I tend to be pretty gentle with new, unfamiliar mechanism. In this case, a good shove was required. The second and third round chamber more easily than the first. It is a little tricky to push down the three rounds so I can chamber a fourth, because the scope and mount are very close to the action, but it can be done.
With the scope and mount, I estimate the rifle is about 5.5-5.75 lbs unloaded. I still balances forward of the action, approximately under the chamber of the barrel, so just a tad front heavy, but quite good, for such a light rifle. I assume the stock is hollow, so I could stuff an old t-shirt in there if I wanted. Will have to decide if I want slightly better balance and handling, or if I want to keep it as light as possible.
The blind bottom metal was designed for three rounds in the magazine for ease of feeding that first round, if you are able to get 4 in than that's a bonus.
I load 3 in and push down the top round to slide the bolt over and drop one on top for 3 + 1 in the chamber. I have been thinking about buying one of the carbon fiber stocks for myself but I already have several aftermarket stocks floating around my office right now for testing.
HokeyPokeyKid Wrote:The blind bottom metal was designed for three rounds in the magazine for ease of feeding that first round, if you are able to get 4 in than that's a bonus.
I load 3 in and push down the top round to slide the bolt over and drop one on top for 3 + 1 in the chamber. I have been thinking about buying one of the carbon fiber stocks for myself but I already have several aftermarket stocks floating around my office right now for testing.
That is what I meant. I found it a little tricky to push down the rounds so I can slide the bolt over the top round and put the +1 in the chamber. Probably just need to change the angle which I was trying to push down the round. I didn't try loading in a fourth, I think the new blind mag from Jefferson Outdoors has a capacity of 3. If I take this thing deer hunting this fall, I probably won't bother with the +1. If I miss three times, I likely need to reconsider my hunting tactics.
I talked to a few of my cousins who have 100 yards available for shooting. I might get a chance to powder this thing's nose, get it on target, and run it over my chronograph soon, so I can work out the trajectory with Horandy SST and get a max point blank range figured out.
I used to carry a full box of ammo with me when hunting "just in case" now I only carry one complete reload. It's funny but I have never reloaded while hunting unless I'm varmint hunting.
Old Bob Wrote:That carbon fiber weave pattern of the stock begs for a paint job. I use Duracoat finishes 'cause they have a large selection of camo coatings.
I was planning on Krylon Fusion since I don't have the spray equipment. If it wears out after a couple years I can sand and re-apply. Hopefully the lower cost will offset needing to re-apply more often.
myrifle Wrote:I wanted one of these so bad. Until I seen the threaded muzzle.
It wasn't a selling point for me, but I didn't have a problem with it. It is a 1/2" threaded muzzle on the skinny barrel, so I guess it might make putting a 30 cal muzzle device on there tricky, since I think they are usually 5/8"
09-01-2022, 03:48 PM (This post was last modified: 09-01-2022, 03:52 PM by Stinky Coyote.)
is there a weight on the final build yet? Or was I speed reading again?
nice looking rig, don't paint carbon, looks great, what does that mount weigh? talley low 1" are 2.0 oz, you can get 1.5 oz out of the bolt by fluting and hollowing bolt handle, plus slab the action for another 1.5 oz...I know because I have one my machinest did. front heavy is desirable for pointing stability and shootability...read about nula's, they go extra lightweight at the backend and stock but stuff a #2 contour barrel in instead of a #1 to create a very shootable ultralight...it's a formula you should be after, balance from front action screw to sling stud, see where nula's come out, I think its front sling stud from recollection
if it shoots then worth taking it all the way like above by dropping 3 oz out of the metal, make sure that mount is 2.0 or swap to Talleys, another upgrade would be to ditch that trigger for a single stage with a better blade feel (blade feels like a gas station cap gun to me), do not like the 2 stage, at least this one comes with a decent stock to go with decent metal, sadly everything else has to go still and where zee fack is the stainless for true mountain ultralight? pretty sure howa has stainless in other markets...howa chaps my azz to no end, would be miles ahead finding a ruger m77 stainless 7.62x39 boat paddle stock and rebarrel to Grendel for true ultralight mountain Grendel imo...would like to choke the marketing geniuses at howa or legacy, whoever can't get the formula and concept
Type: Carbon Stalker Rifle
Caliber:
Long Action .270 WIN, 6.5 PRC, 300 WIN MAG, 7MM REM MAG
Short Action 6.5 Creedmoor, 7MM-08 REM, .308 WIN
Mini Action 6MM ARC < NEW, .223 REM, 6.5 Grendel, 7.62×39, 350 Legend
Starting Weight:
Long Action 6 lbs 4 oz
Short Action 6 lbs 2 oz Mini Action 4 lbs 10 oz
Colors Available: Black & Kryptek Altitude
Hand: Right
Threaded: Yes
Sounds like an ideal mountain rifle series. I wish they would have put the 6.5 PRC in a short action though, but it really doesnt matter since these are so light.
Threaded muzzle makes sense because many people will attach a brake to mitigate the recoil.
I was running a private 2-day course with a guy who had a carbon fiber 6.5 PRC with the Q Cherry Bomb brake, and that rifle didnt really move much at all. The rifle is super light, even with large optics.
4lbs 10oz for the mini is crazy light. This should make an excellent stalking, climbing, and saddle gun in any terrain.
NRA Basic, Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, RSO
CCW, CQM, DM, Long Range Rifle Instructor
6.5 Grendel Reloading Handbooks & chamber brushes can be found here:
LRRPF52 Wrote:Type: Carbon Stalker Rifle
Caliber:
Long Action .270 WIN, 6.5 PRC, 300 WIN MAG, 7MM REM MAG
Short Action 6.5 Creedmoor, 7MM-08 REM, .308 WIN
Mini Action 6MM ARC < NEW, .223 REM, 6.5 Grendel, 7.62×39, 350 Legend
Starting Weight:
Long Action 6 lbs 4 oz
Short Action 6 lbs 2 oz Mini Action 4 lbs 10 oz
Colors Available: Black & Kryptek Altitude
Hand: Right
Threaded: Yes
Sounds like an ideal mountain rifle series. I wish they would have put the 6.5 PRC in a short action though, but it really doesnt matter since these are so light.
Threaded muzzle makes sense because many people will attach a brake to mitigate the recoil.
I was running a private 2-day course with a guy who had a carbon fiber 6.5 PRC with the Q Cherry Bomb brake, and that rifle didnt really move much at all. The rifle is super light, even with large optics.
4lbs 10oz for the mini is crazy light. This should make an excellent stalking, climbing, and saddle gun in any terrain.
A tikka t3x lite stainless makes an ideal lightweight mountain rifle...where's the stainless howa/legacy?????? They only go just far enough to suck some money out of wallets but they are a long ways off from 'doing it right the first time'....that part is then up to you. Why build that without stainless? Could there be a bigger oversight? No...especially when they seem to have stainless in other markets. Apparently we here in North America are suckers.
Haven't gotten a chance to shoot it yet. I might take it to the indoor range and get it on paper at 25 yards, just to start, one of these days. But it probably will be a while before I get to stretch it's legs and see how it shoots.
I don't have a scale to give a total weight. I know the rifle's advertised weight (4lb 10oz) and the scopes advertised weight (11.1oz), but these may not be accurate, and I am not sure how the JO bottom metal affects the total. I was never able to find the DNZ game reaper's weight, but have read some people comparing it to Talley rings, so probably in the neighborhood.
