Howa Mini Action .22 ARC Review: Small Frame, Serious Power, the bolt-action rifle world just got a serious upgrade in both form and function with the release of the Howa Mini Action chambered in the all-new .22 ARC (Advanced Rifle Cartridge). Compact, accurate, and purpose-built for modern hunters, this rifle delivers lightweight maneuverability without sacrificing downrange performance.
Designed in partnership with Hornady’s groundbreaking .22 ARC cartridge, the Howa Mini Action is ideal for predator control, varmint hunting, and even medium game like whitetail deer where legal. With a 20-inch barrel, threaded muzzle, and ergonomic stock dipped in coyote camo, it’s a gun that feels just as at home on the back of a ranch quad as it does in a treestand.
Howa Mini Action .22 ARC Review: Small Frame, Serious Power-Overview
| Feature | Details |
| Cartridge | Hornady .22 ARC (Advanced Rifle Cartridge) |
| Barrel | 20-inch, 1:7 twist, threaded ½×28 for suppressors |
| Action Type | Howa Mini bolt-action with 3-position safety |
| Weight | Approx. 6 lbs (lightweight, ideal for field use) |
| Ideal Use Case | Predator & varmint hunting, medium game (e.g., whitetail deer) |
1. Compact Power: Meet the Howa Mini Action in .22 ARC
In late June 2025, Petersen’s Hunting showcased a game-changing rifle: the Howa Mini Action chambered in Hornady’s new .22 Advanced Rifle Cartridges (ARC). Weighing around six pounds and measuring less than 40 inches, this compact bolt-action delivers surprisingly stout performance in a nimble frame—perfect for predator hunting, varmint control, or even deer in appropriate jurisdictions.
With a 20-inch, 1:7-twist barrel and molded stock draped in coyote-camouflage hydrodipped fur pattern, it blends portability and precision. The .22 ARC pushes matched long‑ogive bullets faster and flatter than traditional .223/5.56, while the mini action offers a slick, ergonomic design ideal for trail or truck carry.
2. Understanding the .22 ARC Cartridge
Hornady’s .22 ARC stems from the same development that produced the 6 ARC—a necked-down version offering a high-speed .22-caliber round with increased case capacity over .223 Remington. With a SAAMI overall length of 2.260″, it fits exactly in AR-15 magazines and bolt faces, enabling handguards and actions already in use with .223/5.56.
Key ballistic advantages:
- ~17% more powder capacity than .223 due to a wider case.
- Supports heavy-for-caliber bullets (up to 90 grains) thanks to the fast 1:7 twist—ideal for Hornady’s ELD-VT and A-Tip rounds.
- In field testing with handloads, it averaged 3,494 fps with a 62 gr bullet from a 20″ barrel—a performance edge over .223 by ~250 fps.
This translates to flatter trajectories, lower wind drift, and longer effective ranges—perfect for quick-shot coyote or hog scenarios, and even ethical deer shots inside typical ungulate limits.
3. Howa Mini Action Platform: Scale Meets Functionality
Howa’s 1500 Mini Action is a scaled-down Mauser-style receiver that feels tailored to smaller centerfire cartridges. Key features include:
- Tiny footprint: Bolt measures just six inches; the action is 1.4″ shorter than a long action and 0.9″ shorter than standard .
- Push-feed two-lug bolt with flat bottom for bedding; utilizes an M16-style extractor and plunger ejector, plus three gas ports for safety.
- Three-position safety, allowing bolt cycling on “safe” setting—a handy feature the author valued.
- Barrel: 20″ lightweight contour threaded ½-28, 1:7 twist—ready for heavy .22 bullets and suppressors via adapter.
- Stock: Thunder Mountain Camo “Yote” hydro-dipped injection-molded synthetic with molded grip and sling slots; light and terrain-appropriate.
- Trigger: Two-stage HACT trigger breaks at ~4.2 lbs—adequate, though many shooters opt for aftermarket lightening via Timney.
4. Performance on the Range
Petersen’s reviewer evaluated both factory loads and handloads using a Maven 3-12×40 scope mounted in Talley rings on a Talley base. Two Hornady rounds were tested:
- 70 gr CX Superformance load: Best choice for deer or hogs with monolithic bullet.
- 62 gr ELD-VT V-Match load: Designed for varmint/precision shooting.
Handloads with 62 gr ELD-VT and Hodgdon LEVERevolution powder produced 3,494 fps—250 fps higher than factory, pushing performance well beyond .223 norms.
Ballistic analysis:
- Out to 500 yards, the handload dropped 33″ (~6.47 MOA), compared to 50″ (~9.7 MOA) for an M855 .223 match—showcasing substantially flatter performance .
- In 10 mph crosswind, .22 ARC drifted 17″ (3.2 MOA) vs. .223 drift of 27″ (5.2 MOA).
These metrics indicate real gains for fast-moving targets or long-range shots—particularly beneficial for coyote hunting or first-light hog shots where range estimation time is minimal. Flatter cartridges make split-second opportunities more lethal.
Accuracy considerations
Test groups delivered ~1 MOA performance—impressive from a factory rifle. However, slight stringing (two tight rounds and one outlier) suggested the stock limited shot consistency. The author proposed improving rigidity with bedding compound or upgraded aftermarket stock for true sub-MOA potential.
5. Customizing the Mini: From Good to Great
Customization is both accessible and effective on the Mini platform:
- Trigger Upgrade: Many owners swap the 4.2-lb HACT trigger for a Timney single-stage adjustable unit—fine-tuning pull to ~2 lbs.
- Stock Upgrade: Lightweight aftermarket carbon composite stocks (e.g., NextGen, Stocky’s) reduce weight by a pound and improve bedding rigidity.
- Suppressor Integration: Use thread adapter and fast, lightweight cans (e.g., Thunder Beast Ultra-5, Silencer Central Banish) for hearing protection without weight compromise.
- Optics & Mounting: Drilled/tapped receiver fits Remington 700 optics; lightweight yet robust scope choices improve handling.
- Bedding & Fitment: Many shooters epoxy-bedd the action or mill minor clearances for perfect fit—especially needed for aftermarket stocks with AccuBlock pillars.
These tweaks create a rifle that’s precision-level yet nimble—a true walk-around predator killer or youth-friendly first centerfire.
6. Use-Cases: Predator to Deer
Predator/Varmint Hunting
The coyote camouflage stock and high velocity deliver fast follow-through and accurate hits—ideal for predator setups.
From Rokslide forum reports: builds using 62- or 88-grain ELD-VT bullets regularly achieve consistent hits out to 800+ yards.
Deer Hunting
In states where .22 centerfires are permitted for deer, the 70‑grain CX rounds give enough energy for ethical whitetails inside several hundred yards. The Mini’s portability excites hunters wingshooting early season whitetails or navigating thick terrain.
7. The Verdict: Strengths & Considerations
Pros
- Lightweight, compact package ideal for hiking and quick shots.
- Ballistics comparable to .22’250, with flatter trajectory and less wind drift.
- Comes standard threaded for suppressors—quieter and more socially acceptable.
- Customizable with aftermarket triggers, stocks, optics.
Cons
- Stock limits accuracy potential without bedding or replacement.
- Thread adapter needed for some suppressors.
- Two-stage trigger may deter precision shooters.
- .22 ARC ammo still emerging—factory options limited compared to .223.
8. Final Thoughts & Field Takeaway
The Howa Mini Action in .22 ARC delivers unprecedented capability in a compact, affordable, and accurate package. Its intent is clear—purpose-built for fast, flat shooting in predator scenarios, yet suitable for small deer in legal zones.
For users:
- Start stock: try factory CX and ELD‑VT ammo to assess.
- For precision: replace the trigger and upgrade the stock.
- Use handloads to maximize velocity benefits.
- Add suppressor to soften recoil and extend hunting hours without disturbing game.
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This rifle is best seen not as a novelty, but as a focused tool—a deliberate step forward for hunters wanting AR-style ballistics in a bolt‑gun form.
9. Tech Specs at a Glance
| Spec | Detail |
| Weight | ~6 lb (barrel rifle) |
| Barrel | 20″, 1:7 twist, ½-28 threaded |
| Bolt Action | Mini Action, two-lug, push-feed, 3-pos safety |
| Trigger | Two-stage HACT (~4.2 lb) |
| Capacity | 4-round detachable box mag |
| Stock | Synthetic fur camo, injection molded |
| Price | ~$539 MSRP |