Howa mini BDL floorplate? Update?

[rookie7]

Good evening,

Does anyone have any news on anyone looking to produce this? I would even be happy with an ADL fixed floorplate.

Was hunting this past weekend moving the rifle in position to shoot a coyote. Slid the rifle onto the shooting rail quickly and bumped the mag release lever. Mag dropped 15' to the ground = no ammo. Watched the yote trot off.

The most disappointing part of this is: I have the DIP bottom metal and mag release on this rifle.

The mag release problem isn't something a person should have to worry about when hunting.

I'm going to cut their mag release shorter until it is back behind the front surface of the bottom metal. If it happens again, I'll retire the rifle to the safe until a good solution is found.

Legacy has their head somewhere that doesn't involve taking care of their customer base. The mini is an almost perfect hunting rifle, and they can't even produce a BDL floorplate for it.

If all else fails, I'm willing to bet Chad Dixon and Long Rifles, Inc. could manufacture something for mini owners. I bet he would do a group buy, but we would probably need 50 people.

If you are interested in a BDL floorplate what is your price point?

Thanks

[A5BLASTER]

I think your the first person that could accendental make their mag come out of the dip bottom metal.

Not trying to be rude but could something be wrong with your mag release spring? Mine is super stiff and there's no way I could get it to drop the mag, like what happened with yours.

I'm sure a bunch of guys would like anouther option for bottom metal setups. Get the ball moving on it.

Ohh and you can forget legacy ever doing anything for the howa mini action. Their happy to leave it just like it is. They were told from word go we wanted more bottom metal options and it never happened.

[daved20319]

Nope, he's not, I have it happen at least once in every range trip . As my rifle is strictly a range toy, and gets shot pretty much exclusively from a bench, one of my winter projects will be to turn it into a single shot, which will include machining smooth bottom metal with NO mag well or extension. That said, if something else was available that didn't stick out of the bottom of the rifle, I'd be interested. Later.

[1075 tech]

I was wondering if there were some way to use the mag release pin as a hinge and make a release near the trigger guard. Incorporate both into the mag bottom metal and make it a hinged magazine (with the shortened mag)

[ricsmall]

Rookie

I’m sure if you came up with someone to make these price point wouldn’t matter, within reason. I’ve wanted one from day one. Should have already designed and made something myself, but keep neglecting to do so. The action has no feed rails, so that would have to be taken into account. Maybe I’ll look again after season goes out.

[flyrod]

Slid the rifle onto the shooting rail quickly and bumped the mag release lever. Mag dropped 15' to the ground...

I did this in a match a week ago! What we really need is for MDT to make the magazine they were talking about, with longer internal length and the release it the correct spot (at the back). I think this would make an aftermarket bottom metal even more appealing. I for one would buy those magazines and parts.

If you're at all mechanically inclined, I bet you could make a blind internal magazine. I did one that uses 30 carbine magazines, so a blind mag should be relatively simple. I think I saw someone made a 458 socom magazine for the howa mini too.




It's not ideal for sure, but you could also just tape in the mag with duct tape. You can get the camo pattern tape and I've seen guys wrap up a whole rifle with it for hunting. Functional at least.

[rookie7]

I'm pretty careful with the mag and release on the Howa mini. Again, I have the DIP bottom metal AND their mag release. I feel like I must be careful - always watching the mag and the release.

While the DIP release is many times better than the crap LSI sold us, it isn't without fault.

One shouldn't have to be concerned with this type of issue in a hunting rifle. Where I hunt - Georgia - there is never a need for a detachable box magazine for deer hunting. A hinged floorplate will be all I ever need.

I really like the Howa, and am hoping someone will come up with a remedy. Maybe Jefferson Outdoors? The guy that made the aluminum dbm.

This past weekend was eventful. My daughter killed a 9 point buck with the Howa. I saw multiple deer later on, and killed one coyote. The second coyote didn't turn out so well with the mag dump. However, that's hunting.

I'll try to get a pic up of the buck and the first yote.

[rookie7]

Also, thanks to everyone for their input.

A5Blaster - I didn't take your question about the mag spring as rude at all - valid question.

I don't think there is anything wrong with it though.

[A5BLASTER]

Also, thanks to everyone for their input.

A5Blaster - I didn't take your question about the mag spring as rude at all - valid question.

I don't think there is anything wrong with it though.

Was just wondering. Mine is super stiff. Like I have too really pull on it to get it to release the mag.

Maybe it's because my bottom metal was made by a member here and not DIP's bottom metal. Could be mine has a diffrent angle on the release spring causing it to have more tention.

I wonder if a second spring could fit in it to increase your release spring tension?

[ckp]

I did this in a match a week ago! What we really need is for MDT to make the magazine they were talking about, with longer internal length and the release it the correct spot (at the back). I think this would make an aftermarket bottom metal even more appealing. I for one would buy those magazines and parts.

If you're at all mechanically inclined, I bet you could make a blind internal magazine. I did one that uses 30 carbine magazines, so a blind mag should be relatively simple. I think I saw someone made a 458 socom magazine for the howa mini too.




It's not ideal for sure, but you could also just tape in the mag with duct tape. You can get the camo pattern tape and I've seen guys wrap up a whole rifle with it for hunting. Functional at least.

Is there any chance of a few details, and maybe some photos of the magazine release etc.
I am building a 17 Garin on the Mini Howa action using M1 carbine mags, and it looks like
you solved the mag fitting question.

Also has anyone tried a remington bottom metal as a quick eyeball at the LGS looked like
action screw spacing is pretty close.

Thanks

[flyrod]

http://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/9411043/m/5231055652

[ricsmall]

Interesting to say the least. He says on the other forum that a group buy would get some made up. Maybe we’ll start a thread ona group buy if this catches enough interest. Or maybe a phone call with pricing and a new thread would pique interest. I’m definitely in for two pending price. Bottom metal Is only reason I haven’t bought another mini Grendel

[tdbru]

Here's part of the issue. the mini howa has no feed rails milled into the action. it was designed up front as DBM feed. also an AR mag is too wide to fit up inside the action. it was designed up front as a single stack DBM. so, unfortunately, to get it with a floorplate, or an AR mag feed, the action would need some milling. and that if it's even feasible. i'm not sure how to calculate the geometry on what would be required for internal feed rails and even if there is enough material for such milling. i don't know if there's even enough material to widen out the mag well to fit an AR mag safely. perhaps someone with enough courage to consider the action expendable if milling it ruins it, could pick up this project. even if it turns out well, that's a lot of extra cost and effort. so i am not sure it's worth the continued effort. Howa would have to make some modifications to the action i think. doubt they will. but who knows....
-tdbru

[A5BLASTER]

Here's part of the issue. the mini howa has no feed rails milled into the action. it was designed up front as DBM feed. also an AR mag is too wide to fit up inside the action. it was designed up front as a single stack DBM. so, unfortunately, to get it with a floorplate, or an AR mag feed, the action would need some milling. and that if it's even feasible. i'm not sure how to calculate the geometry on what would be required for internal feed rails and even if there is enough material for such milling. i don't know if there's even enough material to widen out the mag well to fit an AR mag safely. perhaps someone with enough courage to consider the action expendable if milling it ruins it, could pick up this project. even if it turns out well, that's a lot of extra cost and effort. so i am not sure it's worth the continued effort. Howa would have to make some modifications to the action i think. doubt they will. but who knows....
-tdbru

No no no no no no. The last thing a nice smooth action like the howa mini needs is a stupid ar mag hanging out the bottom of it.

Leave the ar15 mags where they go, in a ar15.

The pic posted a few post above shows a hinged floor plate can work. Jyst need a company to invest the time and effort into bring it to market.

[Dinny]

I'll call Wayne York this next week and ask him about the bottom metal. He has done some work for me in the past and I have been more than satisfied with it all.

Thanks, Dinny