Check out the Howa varmint model in 223: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/aamdhNyhsJ7JcqM.html

I have this exact rifle and it is by far my favorite firearm. I have a few more expensive guns that are more refined and pretty but none that shoot any better. I've had the gun over a year and the plastic floor plate is still together. I tightened the action screws by hand after locktiting them as I do every rifle and had no problems whatsoever. DIP makes a metal floor plate fit those who want one. I'll keep the plastic until it fails. The mag release was problematic until I cut it in half and smoothed the corners. It hasn't accidentally dropped once since. This gun shoots 40 cent Fiocchi 50gr V-max rounds sub MOA often half MOA. That's including the first cold barrel shot! Very few rifles at any price can do that. For a hunter, that's a big deal. I paid $329 for this rifle and it's as accurate as my $900 223 Tikka Varmint. This rifle flat out performs. I will say that I did take the time to do Howa's barrel break in procedure. So impressed with this rifle I bought my son a Howa 1500 sporter in 308 for deer hunting. After doing the break in procedure it too shoots sub MOA. Again fit and finish is mediocre but they function as well as rifles costing many times more. Sorry for the rant I just hate how people nit pick things that are easily corrected or complain about problems they created by heavy hands.

Thank you. It was in time for guests.

Excellent review as always Ozzie. Love your work. Regards from Wellington, NZ

Awesome review Ozzie as always. I can see two great uses for this VERY affordable rifle. Firstly, it would make a great walk about fox whistling rifle. Secondly, due to it's size and weight, it would also make a great spot lighting fox rifle out of a vehicle where room in the car is tight. Thanks for sharing!

I've had the same experience with mine, I got around .75 - 1 moa @ 100yds with 55gr bulk. I broke it in per the included recommendation. I like the light weight and compact feel. Removed some of the stock around the barrel to ensure free-float. Nice!

Wow gonna try that TAP ammo. Thanks Ozzie!

Great video as always mate!

Nailed it! My varmint mini loves the hornady TAP and I had to re train myself to hold the gun differently after dropping the my chasing pigs through the scrub a number of times. Bit of high density foam stuck to the rear of the release helps but thinking of going a new mag with lucky 13

i have a howa 1500 and put an accumag floor plate an metal magazine ,the floor plate has a rear release ,well worth the money ,great review cheers brad

That polymer mag system sucks arse. Mine cracked in half at one of the action screw holes. Torqued it to only 35 in.lbs and it split in half. And I agree Ozzie, the mag release spring is so bloody weak. For a lightweight hunter, I can't go past the factory floor plate anymore, reliable, easy, compact. Worth the trade for a few ounces of weight.

Nice vid loaded with nice info, thanks.

Nice work Ozzie.

Cracking revue ossie, as I think I may have said before, here in pom land ,I think most of us would agree there's nothing to touch these rifles for the money, and have seen on many occasions where they have embarrassed much more exspencive options!!!..and have not heard of many issues with any models. Regards pommey b.

Great review

It always amazes me that 2 rifles of the same breed can be so different in their ammo likes. My son has the same rifle and it loves the OSA BKs, hates with a passion the GKs. Scopewise, we have tried quite a few bases, rings, rails all suited for the 1500 but they are all 20MoA out on the Mini, so to zero any scope we have put on it, we are left with about 5 MoA adjustment up. When he gets home again we'll probably put a 20MoA rail on it and be done, thought about shimming the rear mount but that only misaligns the rings, as does shimming rear ring. Agree about the mag and release lever, but I taught my boys to remove mag (and clear the chamber) when on the wander and only insert and load when target acquired, so we do not have the accidental release problem. Hell, I even take the bolt out of my Tikka when walking, lol. Great review mate, thank you :)

As much as I like the Howa line of rifles, I think that they (Howa) would be wise to re-think some of the plastics used and as well that magazine release. Interesting review all the same, Ozzie,..Thanks.

Gday Ozzie, have you heard any word if the 6.5 grendel mini action model is coming to Australia? Is OSA going to bring any in?

Once again, your videos are awesome mate. BTW what did you think of the Vortex Viper PST scope?

Thanks Ozzie I'm in the market for s 223 but it won't be one of these. Keep up the great work.

The beginning of the trigger pull you showed us is the slack, and not part of any stage of trigger. Also the second position of the safety is for removing the bolt.

I'm trying to decide between one of these and the mossberg mvp. I'm fairly new to shooting though and don't really know what I should be looking at. Also what optic would you recommend for either rifle?

If I cant get a rifle to shoot better than that,I give it a new home!!!!!!!!

I have one of these in stainless, and it shoots beautifully. Newer ones have a 1-in-8 twist rate instead of the 1-in-9 twist on the rifle he reviewed, which can better use the heavier 77 grain loads.

Awesome :)

Did you follow the " shooting in " proceedures as listed in the manual? I did with my Howa 223 model 1500, without changing my point of aim, the hits walked 3/4 of a circle around my point of aim. I then zeroed the scope, and have not adjusted it since. The ammunition I use is Winchester Super X 55g SP, It is the only ammunition I have ever used in this rifle, and while I can shoot moa at 100m, I won't be changing.

I have the same one in black 223 rem with a tasco 3-9 x40 fitted bought as a package taking it with a bore sighting done at the store to the range I actually fired 7 rounds before it even got on the paper @50yards the 8th round finally got on and still way off after dialling up and across to the left I got some really nice groups overall I like it as I don't have any other bolt actions as you said as a budget rifle it is what it is but if you don't have the dollars I myself give it the thumbs up I purchased mine on your other Howa reviews keep up the great work. 👍👍👍🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🔫🔫🔫🔫

Nice one ozzie! Could you review the savage scout Thanks mate

Hi Ozzie i am looking at my first 223 now a Quick question What would be the best barrel length for varmint at say 200 yards max with a possible 55 to 60 grain poly tip round i know the longer the better over longer distance but i still want the hitting power without losing distance by going too short in barrel length i was thinking the 22 inch but then i see the Howa 1500 varmint in SS at 24 inch getting confused do i need the 24 inch or would the 22 inch be fine

I bought the mini action in a varmint barrel .223 the OSA 55 blitzking just magic = consistent and yes the magazine is the disappointment

Hello Ozzie🙂 I know you've done a couple Howa reviews already but I was wondering if you would be able to do a review on the Howa mini action in 7.62x39. Curious to know if it's any good

Just got one of these rifles and haven't used it yet lm looking forward to it tho ...the mag is a consern to me tho but any way bang bang she be right I'll just hafto deal with that 👍👍

The barrel on the Ultralight and Varmint look the same. Why's that? Only the Sporter looks slimmer.

I'm seeing these with 1 in 8 twist which is nice for shooting heavy for caliber at extended ranges. However at 1 in 9 it would seem accuracy and flatter shooting with the lighter weights are a bit better or perhaps an offering of 1 in 12 twist and 1 in 8 option for heavy weights. Folks who want a varmint rifle may not need or desire bullet weights above 60 for lots of reasons.

Great review mate Does it come in 300 black out

What is the twist of the barrel in this rifle ?

Sounds like a good option for hunting - think I'll get the 308. Cheers Ozzie!

Friday I bought one of these new in .30-06 and while she was about 1.5-2 ft below the aim point at first, she was hitting basically dead center after getting the scope that came with her adjusted. The magazine problems people seem to have with the lower caliber variants aren't present in the .30-06 model, so if you are going to get one of these I'd recommend the .30-06 version over the .223.

does the mini action only come with that plastic mag setup?

Are they medium rings for the scope?

I won this rifle in a raffle, but it's a flag chassis costume. Can't wait to try shoot it

P.o.i. 2 shots one hole(bug hole). 2 shots holes touching. 3 shots almost touching. Thanks.

Well the Japanese are superior. Superior culture. This gun is an extremely well-made gun for an affordable price.The Japanese really care about quality.

I want one.

love my howa short action sporter sub moa with the cheap osa 55gn ammo

i like my cz 7.62x39.....

I hunt with the same rifle in 7.62x39 and love it accept for that stupid mag release, I've leveled the rifle at a deer and the mag falls into the snow because of how im used to holding...not the end of the world, just need to practice holding accordingly. In commie canada its a $1000 gun though.

Hi Ozzie. I love your videos and get a lot out of them but the word is “perform”, not “preform”.

do you reckon this rifle would take down a deer at 150m

What is the barrel twist ozzie?

Took longer to get the intro and adds out of way than it’s worth

Really bad music...please drop it

Why do you need the Crappy Loud music just to review a gun ?

Nice video. Except for the cat killings with the guitar for the 1st couple of minutes. Thankyou, mute button ...