Howa Mini Action guide: calibers, models and who it suits

The Howa Mini Action is a bolt gun built around AR-sized cartridges. It’s light, short, quick to cycle and cheap to feed in calibers like 223 and 7.62×39. If you’ve wondered whether a mini action Howa is right for you, this guide covers the action, the calibers and the 39 versions we stock.

What makes the Howa Mini Action different

Howa shortened the action, bolt and chamber by about 12 percent compared to a standard short action. Shorter bolt throw means faster follow-up shots, and the smaller action saves weight. It feeds from detachable box magazines, usually 5 or 10 rounds, and keeps the 1500’s three-position safety.

Howa Mini Action calibers

• 223 Rem: varmints and coyotes, cheap practice ammo.
• 6mm ARC: long-range performance from a small case; deer and steel.
• 6.5 Grendel: efficient deer round, good in wind for its size.
• 7.62×39: inexpensive ammo, mild recoil, deer and hogs inside 200 yards.
• 22 ARC: heavy, high-BC .22 bullets for steel and varmints.
• 350 Legend: straight-wall deer round for states that require one.

Howa Mini Action 223 Rem$546Howa Mini Action 6mm ARC$537Howa Mini Action 7.62×39$530Howa Mini Hunter 6mm ARC$608

Howa Mini Action models we stock

The synthetic Mini Action starts at $546 for the Mini Action 223 Rem. Walnut versions like the Mini Hunter 6mm ARC look like a classic deer rifle at a smaller scale. The Mini Excel Lite 6.5 Grendel adds a heavy threaded barrel, a Luth-AR adjustable stock and a scope, and the Fence Line versions bring Cerakote and camo to the Mini Action in 6mm ARC, 6.5 Grendel, 7.62×39 and 350 Legend.

Setting up a Mini Action

A compact rifle balances best with a compact scope. A 3-9×40 or 4-12×40 suits most Mini Action rifles, and several of ours come with one mounted. Use low rings so your cheek sits naturally on the stock, then zero at 100 yards with the ammo you’ll actually use.

Buy an extra magazine if you hunt or shoot a lot. Running two means less time reloading at the bench and a spare if one gets lost in the field.

Bolt gun or AR for these calibers?

An AR-15 in 6.5 Grendel or 6mm ARC holds more rounds and fires faster. A bolt gun is lighter, simpler, quieter to cycle and usually more accurate for the money. It’s also legal in more places and on more hunts, since some states and some hunting areas limit semi-automatic rifles or magazine size.

Cleaning is easier too. There’s no gas system, no buffer and fewer small parts, so a quick run of the bore and a wipe of the bolt is all it needs after most range trips. If you already own an AR in one of these calibers, a bolt gun lets you share ammo and magazines in some cases, which keeps your shelf simpler.

Who should buy a mini action Howa?

Stand hunters, ranchers who want a truck gun, and anyone teaching a new shooter. It’s also a fine second rifle for AR owners who want a bolt gun that shares their ammo. If you need to reach far or hunt elk, step up to the full-size Howa 1500 Hogue instead.

Check your state’s hunting rules before you pick a caliber. Some states set minimum calibers for deer, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hunting page links to them.

Howa Mini Action FAQ