I swapped the barrel on my 20" Howa Mini

I swapped the barrel on my 20" Howa Mini - Printable Version

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I swapped the barrel on my 20" Howa Mini - m796rider - 10-30-2021

After having less than stellar results with the factory 20" threaded barrel, I decided I would try a custom replacement barrel from Crown Ridge Barrel Works.

I asked them to take a standard Sendero profile they had in stock (1:8 twist 5R) and custom profile the front for a Surefire MB68AR muzzle brake/suppressor mount. They provide a barrel nut that works with a Savage small shank barrel nut wrench, so you can thread the tenon to correct headspace and lock the barrel in with the nut. Total barrel length ended up about 19.5" from bolt face to muzzle.

So, to get the factory barrel off...

I used the tools I had on hand, which included an open ended wrench that fit the recoil lug, a cheater bar, padded barrel vise jaws, and lots of rosin.

[Image: howamini_bblswap01.jpg]

The barrel was on there tight, so I ended up creating a relief cut using a small hacksaw. Took all of 10 minutes, after that the action spun right off the barrel.

[Image: howamini_bblswap02.jpg]

Mounting up the new Crown Ridge barrel was a breeze. Now I have to see if it was actually worth it... :p

[Image: howamini65g_crownridgeangled.jpg]

I swapped the barrel on my 20" Howa Mini - grayfox - 10-30-2021

Relief cut is an interesting "twist(-off)"
Hope it shoots well for you.

I swapped the barrel on my 20" Howa Mini - biodsl - 10-30-2021

Looks great, m. Looking forward to hearing the range results.

I swapped the barrel on my 20" Howa Mini - m796rider - 10-30-2021

grayfox Wrote:Relief cut is an interesting "twist(-off)"
Hope it shoots well for you.

As far as I can tell its a standard technique for getting a stubborn barrel off. No big deal to me that the factory barrel has a cut. If I really wanted to re-use it I would just get it turned down and use a shim.

I dont plan on doing barrel swaps like this often so I dont want to buy a bunch of tools I use once or twice. Also dont have the patience to wait for a gunsmith to schedule a procedure that is a pain in the ass but doesnt generate a ton of income

I swapped the barrel on my 20" Howa Mini - riuma - 10-31-2021

Some barrels refuse to budge. I pulled the barrels off of a dozen P-14 Enfields back in the mid eighties using this technique, but a quality barrel wrench and a good grade of barrel vise usually does the trick. Cinch everything up and smack the wrench with a 5 pound hammer. ~Riuma

I swapped the barrel on my 20" Howa Mini - m796rider - 11-03-2021

I was able to get to the range to zero my new Crown Ridge barrel. I'll cut to the chase and say I am VERY happy.

Shooting my 130gr Berger Hybrid/CFE223 handloads -- which were a problem child in my factory Howa barrel -- I was able to do this with 5 rounds at 100 yards:

[Image: crownridge_target.jpg]

That is very cool. These rounds are going about 2470fps, 4.95 mils up at 600 yards. I will be cranking out a bunch of them shortly.

No POI shift with my suppressor mounted. Nice.

I also did a quick experiment with a Strike Industries +5 .223 mag extension for PMAGs. I did a bit of shaping of the area of the extension that interfaces with the bottom lip of the Howa factory mag, cut down the follower and baseplate a bit, and was able to get a reliable 8 round mag out of it.

[Image: mag+3_1200.jpg]

I swapped the barrel on my 20" Howa Mini - biodsl - 11-03-2021

Very cool. Good thinking on the mag. Glad it worked for you.

I swapped the barrel on my 20" Howa Mini - BluntForceTrauma - 11-08-2021

Love it! Very cool look with that chassis. I'm glad the B130H/CFE223 load worked; seems like a great combo.

I swapped the barrel on my 20" Howa Mini - Nodak - 11-10-2021

Seems as though others have made 7-8 round mags without the extension. Was hoping the extension would get 9-10. Possible maybe

I swapped the barrel on my 20" Howa Mini - m796rider - 11-10-2021

I think physically getting 10 rounds to fit would be possible, but I'm wary of low spring tension causing the follower to nose-dive or get stuck. I may try it anyway...,

I swapped the barrel on my 20" Howa Mini - Nodak - 11-10-2021

I ordered 3 of the extenders to try myself. Did you trim up the follower like others or can I get a pic of your internals and what you trimmed on the extenders. Much appreciate it. Did you add the pins to lock it on?

I swapped the barrel on my 20" Howa Mini - m796rider - 11-11-2021

Nodak Wrote:I ordered 3 of the extenders to try myself. Did you trim up the follower like others or can I get a pic of your internals and what you trimmed on the extenders. Much appreciate it. Did you add the pins to lock it on?

I had not shaved the follower and baseplate down all the way earlier... Doing so now allows 9 rounds. That 10th round fits, but it is very tight and doesn't always feed reliably.

I did not use the pins, but I may if I plan to treat the mag roughly.

For mods, here is what I did to the extension:

[Image: minimagmodbase.jpg]

I made a little relief cut at the back of the mag body's lower shelf, and I basically followed the flush-fit 4 round mag instructions for the follower and baseplate. I also stretched the spring a bit to alleviate the follower nose-diving.

[Image: minimagmodbody.jpg]

And here is a short, shaky video showing 9 round cycling through the rifle with no problems:

https://youtu.be/n52sSeKJIFc

I swapped the barrel on my 20" Howa Mini - Nodak - 11-12-2021

Thank you. That helps a ton.

I swapped the barrel on my 20" Howa Mini - m796rider - 11-12-2021

Nodak Wrote:Thank you. That helps a ton.

Let us know if you find a way to get that 10th round to work!

I swapped the barrel on my 20" Howa Mini - Nodak - 11-12-2021

Well my 1st thought is to leave the bottom plate out completely and melt the spring a spot for it to rest into the bottom extender without it. I'll have to see what I get and I'll report back in.

I swapped the barrel on my 20" Howa Mini - achristian8 - 12-01-2021

M796rider,
Thats an awesome looking rig. Can you tell me what that barrel measures at the muzzle just before you had it profiled? Im looking at getting a heavier barrel and as far as I can tell a sendero profile is .810~.820 at the muzzle. Also what was the lead time from Crown Ridge?

Thanks
AChristian8

I swapped the barrel on my 20" Howa Mini - m796rider - 12-02-2021

achristian8 Wrote:M796rider,
Thats an awesome looking rig. Can you tell me what that barrel measures at the muzzle just before you had it profiled? Im looking at getting a heavier barrel and as far as I can tell a sendero profile is .810~.820 at the muzzle. Also what was the lead time from Crown Ridge?

Thanks
AChristian8

Yeah my barrel is an interpretation of Sendero... I measure 0.900" just aft of my profiled straight barrel section. I'm not sure what it was at the muzzle before profiling. The profiled section + threads is about 2.7" if that helps.

The lead time at Crown Ridge for me was literally a day + shipping time because I used a barrel profile they had in stock. And I had some very specific requirements.

I swapped the barrel on my 20" Howa Mini - achristian8 - 12-02-2021

Thanks for the info. Did it require any work on the chassis to get the barrel nut to fit?

I swapped the barrel on my 20" Howa Mini - m796rider - 12-03-2021

achristian8 Wrote:Thanks for the info. Did it require any work on the chassis to get the barrel nut to fit?

Nope, plenty of clearance. I did have to take a bit off the bottom of the overhang on the front of my picatinny mount, but that was not a big deal.

I swapped the barrel on my 20" Howa Mini - Longbow - 12-03-2021

You got your barrel off...I've heated the barrels with a heat gun ,and they would spin right off.The Brownings are epoxied,so the heat loosened everything right up.You'd never get it off without heating The hacksaw approach ,good idea if the barrel is toast and not to be reused. I learn alot on these forums.....