Mini Howa Custom Floormetal etc...
 

Hi guys
Been lurking for years. I'm an avid fan of little rifles. Many of you have probably seen pics of the custom mini MarkX Mauser I built several years ago.
http://www.saubier.com/forum/picture...eid=877http://
http://www.saubier.com/forum/picture...&pictureid=878
http://www.saubier.com/forum/picture...&pictureid=879
Later I bought a CZ in 204 thinking I would build some custom parts for it as well, but there isn't enough metal left to make it a staggered magazine.

Then along came the Howa Mini action. I had some left over parts from the mini Mauser floormetals I made 20 years ago and took a trigger guard and floorplate and drew up some "rails" to fit the mini howa with these parts. I really like the mini markX customs I've built, but they are a truck load of work to turn into something I want to sign my name to. The Howa action is a well made slick action. The floormetal and magazine. well.... I don't want to break any forum rules being brutally honest here. The price of the rifle is beyond reasonable. It just needs some chrome valve covers, chrome air cleaner and some cool braided hoses to complete the package.

I've got a prototype mag box folded up (requires minor feed rail mods), robbed the mag spring and follower from my full size 223 1500 Howa and made the floormetal to match that seen above in the custom MiniX pics. Feeds great and loads from the top like a normal rifle. Other metal parts to be made are a three position safety and custom bolt handle that can be installed with some dovetail machining and silver solder to match custom classic parts like in the pics above. For custom stock parts I make all my patterns from scratch and recently acquired a full size CNC with digitizing capability so I can offer a CNC inlet and CNC machined outside shape for those interested in doing a little finish work of their own. Back in the early 90s I built& digitized patterns for Dakota Arms. It's not the latest tech, but very effective in producing a semi inlet that requires little work to finish. I also have access to a synthetic stockmaker that will make stocks off my pattern. Just takes some startup cash to build the mold.

Hope there's a little interest in the project. I also have a thumbhole pattern I got 25 years ago from my TSJC instructor Ed Shulin that I've never used and he had no problem with me using it for profit.

Hope I'm not steppin on any toes with the shameless plug, just thought those that read this forum are as big a fan of little rifles as I am.

Regards
James Anderson
Gunmaker

Yes. A traditional floorplate for the Howa 1500 Mini would be great. Thanks for the write-up.

If it were reasonably priced, I'd love it. But remember, these are guns that can be had for around $400.

That would be a great help to that rifle, the bottom part scares me away -most of my shooting is single shot. I think Tackdriver has the point, if the price point is reasonable I believe people would gobble them up.

At this time I don't have anything for sale. Just building one for my self. Nobody is paying me to get it done, so it's only getting worked on in between full days in the shop, fixing every vehicle I own and going to my boy's Sturgis High School Basketball and Baseball games.

I know the Howa rifles are very competitively priced. The reason for that is the quality of everything except the action, barrel and bolt. Everything else is designed to be cheap. The action is a very well made rendition of a small Sako. Barrels shoot quite well out of the box.

As mentioned above, a single shot floormetal and static follower would be much less work than building custom 09 Argentine style floormetal along with a follower and spring and the limited machine work on the action required.

Machining out of aluminum would be faster/cheaper than steel. It just doesn't rust blue very well. Still an economical option though.

As far as building parts to fit existing stocks. I probably won't go there.

I tried to source the mag spring and follower from the 2 US suppliers with very little luck. I did try several different ones like Rem, Ruger, Savage, MiniX and nothing worked as smooth as the spring and follower from my 223 "full size" Howa 1500. Followers are not too difficult to make from scratch, but the spring will take some tooling for my Richards Multiform bender. As well as outsourcing the heat treating.

The prototype mag box was bent around a plug machined to the inside dimensions. Works for one or 2, but I'll probably have the blanks laser cut then bend them here on the above mentioned bender.

Here's a few pics of where it's at now. The trigger guard isn't TIG welded to the rails yet and the hinge pin isn't drilled yet. The trigger might function well, but looks like an afterthought. It's gotta go.

http://www.saubier.com/forum/picture...&pictureid=880
http://www.saubier.com/forum/picture...&pictureid=881

Mini Howa Custom Floormetal etc....
 

The rifle photo's are gorgeous and the work you are doing on the floor plate and all look very well made. Thanks for sharing that. Bill K :)

James that Mini Mauser is absolutely beautiful. When you first posted it on the other site, I kept going back studying it. I have a question on the Howa, what will you do to the upper rear tang angle to get the graceful transition into the pistol grip you have on the Mini. Thanks for posting examples of your work.

That little Mini Mauser is a bloody cracker. One question though, why the thumb cut out on the left side of the action ?
I also reckon the Howa mini floor plate and magazine are very nicely done. :)

Good question Ray.
The bolt stop return spring hole limits the amount I can flatten the angle of the tang. But a little flatter is possible. The sides of the tang have NO draft and that pesky spring hole is close to the edge. I could probably get by with running around the tang with a 1 deg taper instead of the 2 deg I usually use on MiniX tangs, and making clover leafs on a newer M70.

Here's a few Brno Mod1 pics with a fairly steep tang. I did run the 2deg around the profile as well as flattening it a little. Even though it's steeper than the MiniX, I can fake it! Can still make a graceful looking stock profile though.
http://www.saubier.com/forum/picture...&pictureid=882
http://www.saubier.com/forum/picture...&pictureid=883

The client wanted the G33/40 look. Shane Thompson whittled that part of the receiver.
If you have ever hunted with a MiniX you know how frustrating it can be to load the magazine. I cutout a loading gate thumb slot that mimics the cutout on a pre64M70 receiver for bolt guide clearance.

I would definitely do this on the Mini Howa as well.

Here's my personal MiniX with the above mentioned treatment.
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/IMG_03172.JPG

JRA: Absolutely beautiful work. Reminds me of the superlative work done by Pete Grisel when I moonlighted in his shop back in the early 80's.

Stunning attention to detail and crisp execution; mighty fine work! Thanks for posting some real drool material. :)

Very fine work. For this group, you will need a stock that fits a heavy barrel inside. I think if that was my gun, I would keep it in a glass case hanging on the wall, because I would not want to get it dirty.

Thanks for the reply James. Beautiful Brno.

Mighty fine looking rifles for sure, you done good sir.

Tom

Oh rito, I have three of these fine little actions, no where near as flash as yours, but they do the job. Dont have any trouble loading the mag, but I guess everyone is different. I do really like all those jobs you have done, would lock them up if they were mine, I wouldnt be game to use them. :)

I hung out with Pete some when he lived in Sturgis and then when he moved to Rapid City. Took a checkering class at his shop in Sturgis taught by Bill Knechtel. Always learned something from him. He did however hate my open grip stock design.
I'm a little confused why someone would want a slim lightweight mini action and then put a heavy barrel on it. There are several very good standard size actions that work well with big barrels. The CZ I bought in 204 is my least favorite rifle to shoot because it's got a heavy barrel and handles like a ladder in a 3 Stooges episode.

I guess I think others would enjoy a light quick handling Jack Whacking walk around coyote rifle.

This is why I'm asking for the opinions here though.

I appreciate all the good feedback here.

Mark x
 

Beautiful work JRA. Have you ever mounted a Mini Mark X bottom metal to a CZ 527?I have the bottom metal and CZ but haven't figured out how to matte them together. Would be nice if CZ would do it.

Now there is a thought

Johno

Sadly a few of the great gunsmiths of the American Classic era are slowly fading away..........

-BCB

I'm of the same belief. A small petite action with a log for a barrel is not my idea of fun either.

I still own some Heavy Barreled rifles for pd shooting, but I much prefer a trim light rifle for walking around, something which I seem to be enjoying more as time goes by.

JMO - BCB

I guess that depends on if you shoot in dog towns or not. I would call my L461 small but it looks fine with a varmint barrel on it🤔

Same with me Moorepower. I have small actions with heavy barrels for bench/varmint shooting and I have small action with sporter barrels on them for walk abouts. Nice to have some of each, for various styles of shooting. Bill K :)

CZ managed to machine the sides of the action under the wood line so thin that it isn't possible to open it wide enough for a standard staggered 223 magazine.

As I stated in my post, I have some of each style of rifles and I regularly do bench shoot PD's as well as walking for targets of opportunity. That doesn't mean that I have to think that both styles of rifles look equally balanced as a complete rifle. YMMV from mine, which is fine by me......

In true custom rifles like JRA builds, lighter and more petite generally wins the beauty prizes. Kinda' like trying to find a chunky lady that looks better than a slender one with great proportions........

-BCB

Fantastic work JRA.

I love the work you have done on the Mini Mauser, Hoa mini and the Brno.

All a bit high end for our Camel though......:D

Marcus

Thanks Marcus
The reason I'm building aftermarket parts for the mini Howa is to hopefully keep the spindle turning on my "new" CNC. I'm not looking at catering only to those that only want $15,000 customs commissioned. I go a little overboard nit picking at details when building a custom. When finished, I hope they all get used. I've used my personal plywood stocked MiniX extensively. It's still in the white because I keep telling myself I'm going to put it into a great piece of English Walnut and have it engraved. Problem is it's the smoothest cycling quickest handling rifle I own. Holds it's own in the "smooth as glass" department with my personal custom Mausers. Hard to believe starting with such a gritty, notchy new action. I can't stop using it!

When I got the Mini Howa, I was impressed with how smooth the bolt was and how well the action was machined. Much better than the MiniX. MUCH better than any Winchester I've worked on. Hopefully the Howa will be available for a long time. I'm hoping to build the floormetal, mag box spring and follower, 3pos safety, custom bolt handle and Wood and/or Synthetic stock for those that want to assemble their own favorite rifle they just can't leave at home.
James

Beautiful rifles your building there JRA. I thought I'd ask since it has been posted elsewhere on this forum, about a possible fix for the Howa Mini magazine release lever. It seems that guys are having issues with magazines getting released by accident even loosing them. I was wondering if you had thought about a fix for that besides the floor plate route.

cz
 

Thanks JRA , for the info on the CZ. Guess I'll have to find more Sako A1's, thought I had enough at seven.

You want to go a bit easy there long fella, I might just crack the shits and un-friend you. :eek::p You will have to imagine me flipping you a big bird here. :D

Lovely work there.

Too bad we lost Ed Shulin.
Great man, fine workmanship he did and QUICK too.
I have three of his "turned" stocks on my guns.
last one I bought the blank from his rack.

Thanks for sharing your "showmanship" with us.

Nice workmanship there James, while I did buy some bottom metal for one of my minis I doubt if I'd be buying any for a Howa, that is unless they release a left hand version.
If they did I'd be keen for some bottom metal.

Do you have any one piece bottom metals for the minis left??

Kiwi

Kiwi
I did Private message you here and on Accurate Reloading .
No response?????

more parts
 

still on the back burner, but stock is digitized & inlet programmed. Full CNC in and out! Pattern was my custom Brno Mod1.
Custom bolthandle dovetailed on and silver soldered
3 position safety
classy trigger shoe replacement for factory trigger.
http://www.saubier.com/forum/picture...pictureid=1085

http://www.saubier.com/forum/picture...pictureid=1086

absolutely beautiful work! these new mini howa's seem like a real winner. may have to pick one up for my boys!

I agree! I've built a couple rifles based on the howa mini now. You forgot to mention the price too. I think I saw barreled actions at brownells for around $250. We don't get the stainless version in the US, but they're hard to beat in my opinion.

Thanks for sharing your work with us!

Any news?
 

JRAgunmaker I wanted to bring this thread back up to see if you are any closer to offering any of these parts for sale? or if you have made any other progress on it.
Thanks,
Drew