looking for a 6.5gr bolt gun

[FrozenMinnesotan]

im looking for a 6.5grendel bolt gun and im torn between the ruger with either mags (plan on oryx), cz 527 varmint ( dont like lack of stocks) or howa (again).
i had the howa in a b&c but wouldn't feed. how does it feed with the oryx or mdt chassis?

hows accuracy between the 3? under an inch and id be happy, i reload too.
mostly looking for a coyote/deer gun for my 9yr old son and a range toy.

im also thinking of swapping to 6arc if a manufacturer doesn't offer it.

im shooting a bighorn action in 6.5cm but plan on swapping barrels for a 223ai or 6arc/6.5gr too so im just looking for something that will feed, shoot decent and have some aftermarket support.

[riuma]

I have the Ruger and two CZs: One Varmint and one standard American. The CZ's are a pair of my most accurate rifles. Of course, if you need a chassis get a lesser rifle.~Riuma

[A5BLASTER]

My CZ 527 varmint grendel is the most accurate out of the box rifle I have ever owned. Have it in a bell and carlson stock. Feeds fine and a straight dream of a rifle to shoot with its adjustable set trigger.

[FrozenMinnesotan]

which stock? im interested in the varmint style.

[tdbru]

FM,
i prefer the howa barreled action best. but the factory stock and the bottom "metal" are poorly done in my opinion. i put my howa in a B&C sporter. i also added Jefferson Outdoors hinged bottom metal. feeds great. no magazine hanging out the bottom in front of the trigger guard anymore. light and trim. not the cheapest solution. had i known now what i didn't know then i would have just ordered a barreled action from Brownells, then the B&C stock, then the JO bottom metal rather than buying the whole rifle + magazine only to not use the factory stock, bottom "metal" or detachable magazines. but that's why it's called "live and learn"...
-tdbru

[Oso Polaris]

Howa Mini and CZ 527 both have same stock options. B&C and Boyd offer a several stocks for both rifle, MDT offer chassis that fit both, etc.

Issue with feeding from magazine with Howa Mini is the factory magazines, and not the aftermarket stocks. The chassis will be plagued with same potential feed issue... its the factory magazine, and there are no aftermarket upgrades/replacement magazines. There are two new aftermarket models of internal box magazines/hinged floor metal that resolves the crappy factory mag/feed issue for the Howa when fitted in traditional stock. See the other threads below related to bottom metal. No feeding issues with CZ's magazines.

In my opinion it is a coin toss on aftermarket support between Ruger, CZ, and Howa....

[A5BLASTER]

I did forget one item of note for the CZ grendel. There is a option to have the metal mags cut down to flush fit. Reduces mag capacity a few rounds. But would be fine for hunting needs and the action can still use the longer 5 round factory mags for bench work.

I haven't sent my bottom metal and mags off yet to be reworked, probably wait till after this deer season to do that.

[riuma]

I have hunted with the Grendel CZ for three seasons now. I never has an issue with the mag getting in the way. I have a lot of CZ's though, and use them quite a bit. I agree about the varmint model: right out of the box it was shooting so well that I was placing groups on the little tags of paper left on the target backers when people tore down their targets. Mesmerizing accuracy -and threaded for a suppressor.~Riuma

[Stinky Coyote]

I have all three, and if I could blend some qualities of each into one I’d be pretty happy. Cannot stand the magazines of the Howa, the metal is fantastic so is the accuracy. In the end I’m a detach magazine guy so the howa’s will leave my stable. That leaves the cz and ruger that will stay. I love things about both. Cz is an American which is currently being fitted with a proof carbon barrel. And the ruger is a ranch model and feeds awesome with 10 round 7.62x39 magazines. They are both very similar in accuracy. The ruger needs nothing out of the box. The cz American benefits from bedding and some action smoothing and magazine feed lips polishing. If you want the least amount of outside work or extra work...get the ruger.

[A5BLASTER]

I have all three, and if I could blend some qualities of each into one I’d be pretty happy. Cannot stand the magazines of the Howa, the metal is fantastic so is the accuracy. In the end I’m a detach magazine guy so the howa’s will leave my stable. That leaves the cz and ruger that will stay. I love things about both. Cz is an American which is currently being fitted with a proof carbon barrel. And the ruger is a ranch model and feeds awesome with 10 round 7.62x39 magazines. They are both very similar in accuracy. The ruger needs nothing out of the box. The cz American benefits from bedding and some action smoothing and magazine feed lips polishing. If you want the least amount of outside work or extra work...get the ruger.

Agreed. If I could take the barrel, trigger and mags from my CZ and install them on a howa action it would be perfect.

[wannabustbunnies]

I have two mini actions. The 6.5 Grendel is in a chassis and the 204 is in a B&C M40 varmint stock with DIP Inc bottom metal. I haven't had any feeding issues with either rifle (2x Grendel mags 1x 204)

[Stinky Coyote]

My two howas are in mdt chassis too, and they do have trouble feeding, sometimes you’ll get through a magazine, other times two or three and the rest tip downward and you have to fix. I would tolerate the magazine in the chassis if they were reliable...as chassis eliminates the cheap factory bottom plastic and magazine doesn’t look like a dogs breakfast in chassis. As a hunter this lack of confidence is a no go. So long Howa, was nice knowing ya. I will come back when you adapt to AR magazines.

The cz is a gem once polished and bedded etc. A finer rifle than the ruger.

The ruger is a gem out of the box and completely good to go. A robust tool that shoots awesome. It’s the workhorse of the choices imo.

[Oso Polaris]

I wanted a light field rifle in 6.5 Grendel, and I was interested in trying out the Howa Mini so I bought barreled action from Brownells. I was unaware of the Howa Mini's issues when I made the purchase. I prefer a removable magazine and for that matter a chassis. In my opinion the magazine is a critical failure that makes the Howa Mini unreliable for field usage... I have certain expectations of my firearms. Putting the Howa Mini into a chassis ($500-$800) doesn't resolve the issue of magazine not properly feeding or the terrible location of mag release lever. As others have mentioned, these issues have kept me on the fence for past 3 years while my Howa Mini action sat in its box in my closet. Honestly, I had all but decided that best course of action was to just build a custom Grendel upper for an AR15.

The final straw that pushed me into moving forward with the Howa Mini rifle build was my niece who needed a deer rifle for the upcoming hunting season. In late Spring 2019, B&C solved one my issue with a new composite stock. I have the same Kevlar stock on a couple of CZ527's. Then DPI designed a replacement bottom metal that is actually metal. However, the magazine remains an issue whether using a traditional stock or chassis. Close but not quite a complete solution. Finally this Spring 2020, the scale was tipped in favor of a traditional style stock when replacement bottom metal with blind box magazine was introduced by Oregunsmithing and Jefferson Outdoors. This eliminated the remaining failure points for the Howa Mini.... magazine feeding reliability and accidental magazine drops from poorly designed/positioned mag release lever at front of bottom metal.

If I hadn't already owned the Howa Mini Action then I would have either purchased a CZ527 for bolt rifle or just gone straight to AR15. What a hassle... a lot of people working hard to find solutions for a product that the manufacturer can't be bothered to fix. This will be my only Howa until something changes.

[Bottomdweller]

I wanted a light field rifle in 6.5 Grendel, and I was interested in trying out the Howa Mini so I bought barreled action from Brownells. I was unaware of the Howa Mini's issues when I made the purchase. I prefer a removable magazine and for that matter a chassis. In my opinion the magazine is a critical failure that makes the Howa Mini unreliable for field usage... I have certain expectations of my firearms. Putting the Howa Mini into a chassis ($500-$800) doesn't resolve the issue of magazine not properly feeding or the terrible location of mag release lever. As others have mentioned, these issues have kept me on the fence for past 3 years while my Howa Mini action sat in its box in my closet. Honestly, I had all but decided that best course of action was to just build a custom Grendel upper for an AR15.

The final straw that pushed me into moving forward with the Howa Mini rifle build was my niece who needed a deer rifle for the upcoming hunting season. In late Spring 2019, B&C solved one my issue with a new composite stock. I have the same Kevlar stock on a couple of CZ527's. Then DPI designed a replacement bottom metal that is actually metal. However, the magazine remains an issue whether using a traditional stock or chassis. Close but not quite a complete solution. Finally this Spring 2020, the scale was tipped in favor of a traditional style stock when replacement bottom metal with blind box magazine was introduced by Oregunsmithing and Jefferson Outdoors. This eliminated the remaining failure points for the Howa Mini.... magazine feeding reliability and accidental magazine drops from poorly designed/positioned mag release lever at front of bottom metal.

If I hadn't already owned the Howa Mini Action then I would have either purchased a CZ527 for bolt rifle or just gone straight to AR15. What a hassle... a lot of people working hard to find solutions for a product that the manufacturer can't be bothered to fix. This will be my only Howa until something changes.

Amen Brutha!

[FrozenMinnesotan]

I'm now looking into the tikka t3x in 223. If anything he can use the 223 to get comfortable shooting and for coyote and I can get a 6arc or grendel barrel for my 6.5cm. I hope tikka, ruger or howa make a 6arc bolt.

[JSH]

Interesting input.
I have three Howa Minis, 222,223 and 65G. I HAD four CZ 527’s, 17 Remington, 204,22 Hornet. I still have a 17 Hornet, why I don’t know.
The CZ’s action was like sliding two bricks across one another. Feeding from the magazine was terrible. Smoothest way to close the action was to push it with your thumb on the bolt shroud straight forward on all of them rimmed or rimless case.
Try to get these to feed single shot, hopeless.
I have a few friends that have CZ’s and they work and feed fine. I didn’t need another project. I was told to polish this and stone that, I did no luck. Had another gent fool with one, he was frazzled after a while also.
I actually bought these to try some cartridges I had not played with and the CZ’s had a good track record. I learned about the cartridges what I wanted to know and moved on.

I ran across a Howa Mini in 222. I wanted to see what the magic was about with the 222. I was so pleased I bought two more. Action smooth as glass and a pleasure to shoot. I will say the trigger leaves something but I can deal with that.
Yes the stocks fromthe factory are cheesey but for the price point I won’t complain. Most guys swap them pretty quick anyway no matter the type.
I bought a chassis. My first one and am not a fan, but it did solve the twist problem of the Tupperware factory stock and junk bottom plastic.

I have seen mention of rough bores with the Howa, all three of mine clean easy.

I picked my Howas up before many were wanting or looking for them. I could buy two for the price of one CZ. I actually got mine cheaper as a complete rifle than the actions sell for.

Maybe I had a lot of bad luck one way and good luck the other. I must have had the worst CZ’s ever sent out and the best Howas ever made.

YMMV
I wish you the best of luck no matter which way you go in your venture.
Jeff

[Oso Polaris]

My experience with several CZ527:
1) Bolt is tiny and tends to rack if closed by handle so easiest is to push closed with thumb on back of bolt and then drop the handle.
2) Trigger (single set) is best standard factory trigger.
3) Magazines are solid construction and offered in 3-round (flush fit) and 5-round versions. The feed lips are sharp and need to be rounded with either a stone/file/sand paper or simply use steel-cased cartridges... buy a box and sit on couch feeding/stripping them off the magazine. You can even shoot the steel case cartridges if you like.
4) Standard barrel profile is very light and doesn't hold up to high volume shooting, and wall thickness is insufficient to support suppressor for threading and POI shift.
5) Varmint barrel profile is only way to go. It is not quite as heavy as Remington Varmint profile, but good enough for the smaller cartridges and suppressor usage.
6) American Stock is nice and wood is acceptable. However, completely different animal when dropped into a B&C stock.
7) Bolt knob upgrade is last step ... mini-Badger is perfect fit and gives added clearance.
8) Single Shot Loading Block - James Calhoun or Bob Sled

All of this is less work then getting my Howa Mini running.

Let's talk about the Borden Rimrock action... now that's worth the effort!

[Laman]

I am very familiar with three Grendel Mini's and have seen hundreds of rounds run through them in the last two years using the factory magazine setup. Feeding problems have never been a concern, in fact I don't ever remember a failure to feed using different brass and bullets. The trigger is an easy improvement and the rough bores have never shown up in my borescope, besides its a 400 rifle what do you expect a handlapped cut rifle barrel.

[Bottomdweller]

I think about all the money I invested in the new bottom metal CDI installed. All the mags I bought, tore through, ruined, before finally building what works. And, big AND, all the bullets, powder I went though...I wish I would have started with a custom action and barrel. I like my Howa, but I wouldn't do it again. It really is a shame that the engineers took a great action and bastardized it with the mag set up. Live and learn. But if there is one caveat it's the learn. I learned how to bed a rifle, throat a chamber, weld glass filled polymer, trigger work.....Now I'm feeling like a custom project is not nearly as daunting.

[A5BLASTER]

I am very familiar with three Grendel Mini's and have seen hundreds of rounds run through them in the last two years using the factory magazine setup. Feeding problems have never been a concern, in fact I don't ever remember a failure to feed using different brass and bullets. The trigger is an easy improvement and the rough bores have never shown up in my borescope, besides its a 400 rifle what do you expect a handlapped cut rifle barrel.

I have to agree. The howa I owned that's now my best friend's son's primary deer gun has had zero mag issues.

I'm not sure what's going on with the other guys mags but mine never had a problem feeding that I can remember. Heck they ran great even when cut down to be flush fit.