After trying to get a manually operated side charging AR working acceptably for deer hunting in Pennsyslvania, I broke down and bought the Howa Mini Grendel
Youth model from Whittakers for $350.
The side charging AR could really only be a single shot and mortar the empty out, unless I loaded extremely light to enable manual ejection.
Youth model issues.
Length of pull (LOP) is 12.5 inches, idea for a cold weather hunting rifle while wearing a heavy coat. Someone posted that the A2 stock on an AR was
too long for them at LOP 13.5 inches so this would be ideal for them.
I thought the youth model may be a tiny version of the Howa 1500 but it just seems to have a shorter LOP.
Here is a photo of my A2 stocked AR with 24" Overwatch upper next to the Youth Howa Mini Grendel.
The size of this does not suggest a youth model.
IMG_20171113_114608 (Medium).jpg
The action is incredibly smooth. The Grendel rounds feed from the magazine like it was designed that way, not like any AR magazine fed Grendel
where it relies on a heavy bolt slamming the case off of tapered surfaces hoping it will end up in the chamber. I did try my reverse seated Wolf
steel loads to see if they chamber and they feed fine. Pmags will not fit in the magazine recess... but maybe...
The trigger on the Howa mini is wonderful. I don't have a trigger gauge but I would not want a hunting rifle to have a lighter trigger than this.
I can't believe people are complaining about the trigger pull. I wonder if the youth model has a lighter pull to make up for smaller fingers.
I cannot detect any creep with my finger. I can feel noticable creep on the 2 LaRue MBTs I have. If the LaRues are a very good trigger then this Howa is excellent.
I waited to buy a scope base since I kept thinking, "0 MOA or 20 MOA? " I finally ordered the Outerimpact 0 MOA scope base from Amazon. In
Pennsylvania deer hunting, shots beyond 100 yards are rare. If I ever have a chance to shoot 1000 yds I will use my Overwatch upper with SWFA
scope whch has ~120 MOA of adjustment. I don't have 20 MOA anything on the AR anyway. I could move an SWFA scope to the Howa if I needed to.
What do other Howa owners use for backup sights? Not for CQB but for DH (deer hunting).
Youth model from Whittakers for $350.
The side charging AR could really only be a single shot and mortar the empty out, unless I loaded extremely light to enable manual ejection.
Youth model issues.
Length of pull (LOP) is 12.5 inches, idea for a cold weather hunting rifle while wearing a heavy coat. Someone posted that the A2 stock on an AR was
too long for them at LOP 13.5 inches so this would be ideal for them.
I thought the youth model may be a tiny version of the Howa 1500 but it just seems to have a shorter LOP.
Here is a photo of my A2 stocked AR with 24" Overwatch upper next to the Youth Howa Mini Grendel.
The size of this does not suggest a youth model.
IMG_20171113_114608 (Medium).jpg
The action is incredibly smooth. The Grendel rounds feed from the magazine like it was designed that way, not like any AR magazine fed Grendel
where it relies on a heavy bolt slamming the case off of tapered surfaces hoping it will end up in the chamber. I did try my reverse seated Wolf
steel loads to see if they chamber and they feed fine. Pmags will not fit in the magazine recess... but maybe...
The trigger on the Howa mini is wonderful. I don't have a trigger gauge but I would not want a hunting rifle to have a lighter trigger than this.
I can't believe people are complaining about the trigger pull. I wonder if the youth model has a lighter pull to make up for smaller fingers.
I cannot detect any creep with my finger. I can feel noticable creep on the 2 LaRue MBTs I have. If the LaRues are a very good trigger then this Howa is excellent.
I waited to buy a scope base since I kept thinking, "0 MOA or 20 MOA? " I finally ordered the Outerimpact 0 MOA scope base from Amazon. In
Pennsylvania deer hunting, shots beyond 100 yards are rare. If I ever have a chance to shoot 1000 yds I will use my Overwatch upper with SWFA
scope whch has ~120 MOA of adjustment. I don't have 20 MOA anything on the AR anyway. I could move an SWFA scope to the Howa if I needed to.
What do other Howa owners use for backup sights? Not for CQB but for DH (deer hunting).
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