Breaking a Howa mini bolt action mag and/or bottom plastic

[Bobgab]

Has anyone actually broken the factory supplied bottom plastic and/or magazine? If so how?

[Old Bob]

Yup! Over-tightened the stock bolts & cracked the rear portion of the bottom plastic. How? The owners manual that came with my rifle had 55 inch pounds as the torque value for the stock screws. I called Legacy Sports & their agent told me their gunsmith said it should have been 35 inch pounds. The agent told me she would notify her manager of the misprint in the Howa mini owners manual. I don't know if the torque value in the manual has been corrected or not. I bought my Howa mini a year ago.

In the full-sized Howa Model 1500 rifle manual, 55 inch pounds is the correct torque value for its stock bolts with alloy bottom metal.

Even if you haven't broken the plastic bottom metal, I'd suggest you get the Jefferson Outdoor bottom metal for your mini. https://jeffersonoutdoor.com/bottom-metal/

The Jefferson Outdoor owner has new bottom metal in production now. Keep checking his website for availability.

[CJW]

[HokeyPokeyKid]

Every single Howa mini I own came with plastic trigger guard already cracked at the rear screw. That is the reason I started making my own bottom metal in the first place.

The plastic trigger guard is a total joke, not because it's plastic but because it was done so poorly and so cheaply.

[Bobgab]

OK. Got it! Thanks so much. I was just wondering how prevalent the breakage problem is. I fully intend to replace the plastic. I am looking for bottom metal with a hinged floorplate.

[Bobgab]

Thank you. The manual that came with my Howa mini doesn't even give a torque value. It just says "Tighten the two takedown screws alternately until both are snug, then tighten front screw firmly; finally tighten rear screw." page 25. I bought my rifle last month. I fully intend to replace the plastic.

[tdbru]

Bobgab,
I too cracked the bottom "plastic" when I over torqued (but was going by owners manual spec) the action screws.

I would highly recommend Jefferson Outdoor's Oberndorf style bottom metal. It is what I ended up with and I have been happy with it. Makes carrying the mini howa so much nicer. and it is classy. HokeyPokeyKid does a great job on them.

-tdbru

[CJW]

[northdude]

I put a cheap easy fix on here somewhere. Or I've got it on you tube as well. Cheap easy mods for howa mini or something like that

[northdude]

https://youtu.be/IAdR9ezUPgg

[Stinky Coyote]

[Yendor6.5]

I have an unbroken plastic bottom, and mag. If anyone can use it, email me at rlj10x@gmail.com
I'll get it to you.