Howa Mini Action, slabbed/fluted, the Ultralight Project resumes

[Stinky Coyote]

As you know I've had this action in my safe for awhile, wasn't sure when I'd finish it but seeing the access to the cz bottom end coming around and getting that process on the way spurred me into action on the rest.

The stocky's carbon is on the way, and everything else except the cz bottom is here. May as well start with some action pics while awaiting the final pieces. Details, machinest took 1.5 oz out of action by slabbing it, the 1.5 oz came out of bolt and bolt handle as well. Tungsten cerekote on action/bolt shroud, color goes good with carbon, it's what I matched up to the proof carbon barrel I first had on this action for the howa chassis project I did previously.

The unfired 22" barrel has been cut back to 18.5" and has it's first 5 break-in rounds down the pipe now. Rings are talley 1" low and the scope is a Leupold fx2 6x36 with custom cds-zl turret added.

Currently the barrelled action/action screws/scope/rings are 4 lb 1 oz, the CZ magazine is 3.5 oz. If stock is 17 oz as advertised and bottom metal is 3.5 oz will land 5 lb 9 oz scoped and 37.5" long. Could perhaps get closer to 5 1/4 lb scoped with hinged floor plate but I prefer detach mags and happy to eat a few ounces to have a quality set up underneath. The factory bottom plastic is 1/2 oz and magazine 2.5 oz fyi...but I will not field that playtel nonsense. Factory trigger at 2 lbs will do for now.

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Updates and pics will come as parts roll in. These money pits.

[HokeyPokeyKid]

The CZ magazine conversion bottom metal is a little chunky in places, you could shave some of the extra weight off pretty easily.

[LRRPF52]

[Stinky Coyote]

The CZ magazine conversion bottom metal is a little chunky in places, you could shave some of the extra weight off pretty easily.

the thought is in my mind, I will gauge it and the stock, either may end up with a visit to my smith, if the stock doesn't fit/lock up how I like it will go and a Swiss cheesing of the bottom metal may occur also, a theme only works if it's all the way through

[Stinky Coyote]

that's a good one, it's on my phone too lol

[tdbru]

SC,
my setup with full 22" tube and the hinged Oberndorf bottom metal from Jefferson Outdoors with the talley rings, leupold AR-patrol 3x9 and a sling was, if I recall 6 lbs 1 oz. So with the extensive machining and barrel chopping your estimated weight could easily be what you expect. well done!!! Yep, getting the little howa to just how I wanted it is a pretty big money pit, but I sure like the results when it's all said and done. I expect you will too.
-tdbru

[tdbru]

SC,
I didn't remember correctly. mine is was 6lbs 5oz. so you'll be even 1 lb lighter, almost. very well done!!
-tdbru

[Stinky Coyote]

SC,
I didn't remember correctly. mine is was 6lbs 5oz. so you'll be even 1 lb lighter, almost. very well done!!
-tdbru

right on and the lightest slings I have are 2oz but most normal slings are 4-ish...so you're scoped rifle without sling likely 6 lb 1 oz, and yes, it will almost be like a Kimber lol, those you can get in stainless already skeletonize etc. but accuracy lottery and no grendels, also no detach mag, will see how much the stock actually weighs and then I imagine I can at any point get an ounce or two of fat out of the cz bottom metal if I wanna make 5 lb 8 oz on the nose or a slightly under, math says it will be 5 lbs 9 oz with those two parts on the way as is

[Stinky Coyote]

update, the stock, showed up, 18.0 oz, some surface imperfections in coating (like pitting here and there...maybe the clear just absorbed a little further after spray and maybe just needed another spray or two after some curing? but they turn them out pretty quick) seems to be a carbon thing, my barrel, scope, rings etc. is already matching with imperfections so all good, don't like the super sticky limb saver recoil pad though, thin hard rubber would be better, the barrel channel was clearing a 3" square post it note all the way so that was a bonus, don't need to send to my smith, and just barely clearing that paper...super thin gap, almost looks like it's touching all the way down

I'm at 5 lb 6 oz with the factory bottom plastic/magazine (scope, rings installed already). Should be 5 lb 10 oz with the cz bottom metal/magazine and maybe 5 lb 7-8 oz with flat bottom metal kit. Just under 37.5" oal, just under 13.5" lop, and balance point just a smidge ahead of the front action screw, 22" barrel cut down to 18.5" and 3.0 oz removed from action/bolt.

[Stinky Coyote]

Ok here's the finale

Bare rifle is 4 lb 15 oz (79 oz) - which is a 22" cut to 18.5", and -3.0 oz missing from slabbed fluted action, stocky's carbon gen2 stock (18 oz actual) and hokey's cz bottom 4.0 oz, and cz 5 round mag at 3.5 oz.

Add 2.0 for talley 1" low rings, and 9.5 oz (actual) for my leupold 6x36 with cds-zl turret and grand total is 90.5 oz or 5 lb 10.5 oz. Oal is just under 37.5" and lop just under 13.5". Here's some pics...I couldn't bear to take pics while it still had the abortion plastic bottom end.

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[HokeyPokeyKid]

That looks pretty good.

[LRRPF52]

[Stinky Coyote]

Thanks guys. The drop is actually in the speed dial turret which I have data set to middle my elevation/temp ranges for hunting so I'm only out maximum 1-2 clicks at the furthest I'd consider a shot at hung up coyote or what not, give or take 600 yards. The decal shows my 10 km/h wind holds for 300, 400, 500 and 600 yards. The bonus about adding that cds-zl turret to that scope through leupold custom shop near me (Korth) is that it turned my elevation clicks into .3 moa, so I get more distance in a single rotation of turret, even with the short barrelled ruger that I first had this scope on took me to over 600 yards. this 18.5" barrel should be a bit faster so might get me to 650 yards in a single rotation from 200 yard zero. It's just a very fast 'hunt' set up. Example, rangefinder says 450, dial quickly to the 4.5 on the turret, then consult your wind quick and make your wind call, lay down and shoot. I tend to apply maximum sheep hunter minimalist mentality to things and boil it down simple as possible as hunting seems to want k.i.s.s. principle set up and gear. No fat, no target stuff needed, no computer needed or ballistic solvers, that can be done ahead of season with proper set up, it's all on the rifle, just a basic rangefinder will do and ones ability to pay attention to the wind.

[Stinky Coyote]

That looks pretty good.

Nice bit of kit you make Sir, thanks for getting it out as quick as you could. I have two brand new magazines, one is cycling all 5, the other isn't grabbing the last round, sits a touch low, feel like just need to suck that bottom metal up into the stock a little more, worst case will have to have machinest skim something, either your kit or the inlet. Will play with it soon enough, some break in rounds happen this weekend then after ice season (after march) will have a range day to zero and collect drop data.

[Stinky Coyote]

And Howa (Legacy Sports), take note. This is almost what you should be offering for sale, IN STAINLESS! Get rid of the plastic (stock and bottom abortion), all aluminum please, and bring in the stainless the other markets get. And while you're at it, fix the stamped safety abortion to a proper knurled hump or something (look at timney for example, can't believe that has to be said) and single stage would be preferred also and since I'm nitpicking that trigger, take a look at the cz 527 trigger blade itself, make your's feel like that one instead of the cheap gas station cap gun feel your blade has.