Description
Our Howa Mini Excel Lite 6.5 Grendel is a Mini Excel Lite bolt gun in 6.5 Grendel. It comes with a 20-inch threaded barrel, a adjustable Luth-AR stock and 5-round capacity. A Nikko Stirling GamePro 3.5-10x44mm scope comes with it. Price is $819, and we have it in stock. It’s a solid match for deer, hogs and targets.
Inside the Howa Mini Excel Lite 6.5 Grendel
The Mini Excel Lite puts the Mini Action in a lightweight chassis-style setup with an adjustable Luth-AR stock and an American Flag Cerakote finish on the receiver.
Every Howa 1500 starts with a forged and machined receiver and a one-piece bolt with two lugs. The three-position safety has a middle setting that lets you work the bolt to unload while the rifle stays on safe.
The two-stage match trigger takes up a short, light first stage and then breaks cleanly, which helps when you’re squeezing off a careful shot. A threaded muzzle (1/2×28) means you can add a muzzle brake or a suppressor later where local law allows. The Luth-AR stock adjusts for length of pull and cheek height, so you can get a straight line of sight through the scope. The heavy barrel profile holds heat better and keeps groups steadier through longer strings than a sporter barrel.
What the 6.5 Grendel is good for
The 6.5 Grendel came out of Alexander Arms in 2003 and was standardized through SAAMI in 2017. It packs 6.5mm bullets into a case short enough for AR-15 length magazines. It’s a capable deer round at moderate ranges and a very efficient target round, with good wind resistance for its size and light recoil.
Typical bullets run from 90 to 130 grains, with 120 to 123 grain loads being the most common. A 1:8 twist handles that whole range. SAAMI sets the industry dimensions for this round; the SAAMI centerfire rifle standard lists them. There’s also a good summary of the history of the 6.5 Grendel.
The scope on the Howa Mini Excel Lite 6.5 Grendel
This rifle comes with a Nikko Stirling GamePro 3.5-10x44mm scope. 3.5 to 10 power is about right for deer hunting: wide enough at the bottom for close shots and enough magnification for longer ones. Zero it at 100 yards with your hunting load and confirm at the distance you expect to shoot.
Howa Mini Excel Lite 6.5 Grendel specifications
- Model: Howa Mini Excel Lite
- Caliber: 6.5 Grendel
- Barrel length: 20 inches
- Muzzle: threaded 1/2×28
- Twist rate: 1:8
- Stock: Adjustable Luth-AR stock
- Magazine capacity: 5 rounds
- Overall length: 40 inches
- Weight: 7.5 lb
- Trigger: two-stage match
- Safety: three-position
- Optic: Nikko Stirling GamePro 3.5-10x44mm scope included
- Scope mounted on the factory base
- Price: $819
Who should buy it
It suits shooters who want a compact precision setup for steel, varmints or a hunting rifle that fits more than one person. A 20-inch barrel keeps the rifle short and balanced without giving up much velocity.
Picking ammunition
Start with a couple of quality factory loads and see which groups tighter. Once you find it, buy enough of the same lot to get through the season. When you hunt with it, zero with the exact hunting load you’ll carry, since a different bullet can land an inch or two away at 100 yards.
Seasons, legal calibers and hunter education rules vary by state. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hunting page links to state wildlife agencies and public land where you can hunt.
Getting it zeroed
Bring a solid rest, a few targets and at least two boxes of ammo. Start at 25 yards to get on paper, then move to 100 and make your final adjustments with three-shot groups. Once you’re zeroed, shoot from sitting and kneeling too, since that’s how most field shots happen.
How the Howa Mini Excel Lite 6.5 Grendel compares
A few close relatives, in case a different finish, barrel or price fits you better:
- Howa Mini Excel Lite 223 Rem: chambered in .223 Remington, $819
- Howa Mini Excel Lite 350 Legend: chambered in .350 Legend and a 16.25-inch barrel, $819
- Howa Mini Excel Lite 7.62×39: chambered in 7.62x39mm and a plain muzzle, $819
You can also browse all Howa Mini Action Rifles, Howa Rifles With Scope and Howa 6.5 Grendel Rifles, or see every Howa bolt action rifle we stock.
Care and storage
Wipe down the Howa Mini Excel Lite 6.5 Grendel after every outing, more so after rain. A safe or cabinet with a dehumidifier keeps rust away, and a quick check of the action screws each season keeps your zero where you left it.
Ordering and FFL transfer
Federal law requires rifles bought online to go through a licensed dealer. Pick an FFL near you at checkout, and we’ll ship the Howa Mini Excel Lite 6.5 Grendel there. You’ll complete the paperwork and background check when you pick it up. The ATF explains the rules in its firearms questions and answers. State and local laws vary, so check yours before you order.
Howa Mini Excel Lite 6.5 Grendel FAQ
What caliber is the Howa Mini Excel Lite 6.5 Grendel?
It’s chambered in 6.5 Grendel with a 1:8 twist.
How many rounds does it hold?
It holds 5 rounds in the magazine, plus one in the chamber.
Does it come with a scope?
Yes. It ships with a Nikko Stirling GamePro 3.5-10x44mm scope.
Is the barrel threaded?
Yes. The thread pitch is 1/2×28.
Buy the Howa Mini Excel Lite 6.5 Grendel today
Ready to order? The Howa Mini Excel Lite 6.5 Grendel is $819 and ships to your FFL. If you’re stuck between two models, send us a message and we’ll give you a straight answer.
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