Description
The Howa Mini Excel Lite 7.62×39 is Howa’s Mini Excel Lite rifle chambered in 7.62x39mm, built with a 20-inch barrel, a adjustable stock with black polymer grip and 5-round capacity. A Nikko Stirling GamePro 3.5-10x44mm scope comes with it. Price is $819, and we have it in stock. If you want one rifle for deer, hogs and targets, this is a good place to start.
What you get with the Howa Mini Excel Lite 7.62×39
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.
The 1500 action is made by Howa Machinery in Japan. It’s a two-lug, push-feed action with a one-piece bolt, and the three-position safety lets you run the bolt on safe so you can unload without firing.
What the 7.62x39mm is good for
The 7.62x39mm is a Soviet cartridge from 1943 and the round the AK family made famous. Surplus and imported ammo kept it cheap for decades. Inside 200 yards it’s a good deer and hog round, and recoil is mild. It’s also inexpensive to practice with, which is a big reason people want it in a bolt gun.
Most loads use 120 to 125 grain bullets. Expect most ammo to use .311 diameter bullets, and pick soft points or expanding bullets for hunting. 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 7.62x39mm.
Howa Mini Excel Lite 7.62×39 optic
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. Plan on a box of ammo to zero it and confirm your holds before the season.
Howa Mini Excel Lite 7.62×39 specifications
- Model: Howa Mini Excel Lite
- Caliber: 7.62x39mm
- Barrel length: 20 inches
- Twist rate: 1:9.5
- Stock: Adjustable stock with black polymer grip
- Magazine capacity: 5 rounds
- Overall length: 40 inches
- 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. For game, choose a bonded or controlled-expansion bullet. Practice ammo is fine for paper but not for animals.
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.
At the range
Plan a full session for the first trip. Get on paper at 25 yards, then zero at 100 and shoot a few groups so you know what the rifle and load can do. Most 7.62x39mm shooting happens inside 200 yards, so confirm your zero at 50 and 100 and learn where it hits at 150.
How the Howa Mini Excel Lite 7.62×39 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 and a threaded muzzle, $819
- Howa Mini Excel Lite 350 Legend: chambered in .350 Legend, a 16.25-inch barrel and a threaded muzzle, $819
- Howa Mini Excel Lite 6.5 Grendel: chambered in 6.5 Grendel and a threaded muzzle, $819
You can also browse all Howa Mini Action Rifles, Howa Rifles With Scope and Howa 7.62×39 Rifles, or see every Howa bolt action rifle we stock.
Care and storage
Keep the Howa Mini Excel Lite 7.62×39 unloaded and stored somewhere dry. Don’t leave it in a soft case after a wet hunt; let it dry out, oil the metal lightly and check the action screws now and then.
Shipping to your FFL dealer
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 7.62×39 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.
Questions about the Howa Mini Excel Lite 7.62×39
What caliber is the Howa Mini Excel Lite 7.62×39?
It’s chambered in 7.62x39mm with a 1:9.5 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?
No, this version has a plain muzzle. Look at our threaded options if you plan to run a suppressor.
Order your Howa Mini Excel Lite 7.62×39
Add the Howa Mini Excel Lite 7.62×39 to your cart now for $819. If you’d like a second opinion first, get in touch.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.