Best Howa mini action barrel - Blue/HB/Stainless?

With a return to NZ on the cards in the new year, I've been looking at what is available in NZ as a good value rifle.
As I would be located in Taranaki, it would be a goat/ scrub gun.
I've been looking at the Howa mini options in 7.62x39 as I think it would suit my needs, while been cheap to feed.

Looking around it seems that they are available in 3 basic options

Blued standard barrel (threaded/16.5") $900
Blued heavy barrel 16.5" (threaded) - $1000
Stainless standard barrel 20" -(plus chop & threading) $1050

So given the above....- is the stainless really worth the extra 15% over the standard blued barrel?

Any advantage to the HB for a short range rifle that only has a 5 shot mag?

Advice (helpful or unhelpful) appreciated...

There were rumours going round at one point that the stainless actions were prone to galling, but they may have fixed this problem.

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Originally Posted by caberslash

There were rumours going round at one point that the stainless actions were prone to galling, but they may have fixed this problem.

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We have the 7.62 x 39 stainless and had no issues with the action so far , even playing at the range. I do like to wipe the bolt and action with an oily rag just to leave a very thin oily film ( not wet to touch ) though as I do with all my rifles. Going to send it off to dpt soon to shorten barrel so overbarrel suppressor meets the stock so a easier in bush. From my research 16-18 in barrel length has little or no effect on performance with factory ammo.
I have always been a fan of stainless simply because of extra corrosion resistance and easier maintenance.

Hmmm - I've had 3 of the mini's now and they all functioned OK. The stainless one I had didn't fare well on a rough Stewart Is trip (rained the while time and the hut leaked, luckily not at the end I slept in haha), bloody thing went rusty overnight and the staining from the rust never really came out. The blued ones have quite a rough finish (I wouldn't call it a polish at all) and they'll also rust quickly but at least they don't stain once you clean them up.

Crap.... stainless going bad overnight? I know " stainless" doesn't mean what it used to but would have expected a few days before corrosion set in....
Makes me feel better about always giving all my stainless rifles a wipe with oily rag inside and out at every use.
Have you tried hitting it with metal polish to remove the stains ?

The stainless steel used in guns is shite as far as corrosion resistant steel goes. It's softer and machines better.

Mine has a few external brown spots that would take very little to get rid of(3m scotch pad ect)
It's not as resistant to corrosion as my tikka and my Kimber's are in between the two
It depends how hard they polish it as the finer finish resists better but is also more glare on a hunting rifle
With the differences in the steel on top of that
I like to think that at least with stainless it's not a thin coating like blued so any corrosion externally that's minor will rub away even tho it is annoying on extended hunting trips

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Originally Posted by Beavis

The stainless steel used in guns is shite as far as corrosion resistant steel goes. It's softer and machines better.

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Yep, it's 416, not one of the 300 series. Sweat and blood love 416.

The original Ruger m77 mk2 was proper stainless. Don't think I have ever seen and corrosion whatsoever on one of those. Don't make em like they used to that's for sure.

Some of these replies are making me rethink what maybe best for my application!

Basically what I wanted was not to worry about it rusting up if I'm caught out in the rain for a day.
But it's sounding like developing rust is a likelyhood for all options if they where in those conditions.

I thought Howa Mini's come with a 10 round mag. The stainless looks prettier :ORLY:

Mine rusts pretty easy. Nothing like my tikka which is good in the wet.

Still shoots good though.

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Originally Posted by Kopua Cowboy

I thought Howa Mini's come with a 10 round mag. The stainless looks prettier :ORLY:

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223/300 BO are 10 round
7.62x39 are only 5.

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Originally Posted by MrMatu

Some of these replies are making me rethink what maybe best for my application!

Basically what I wanted was not to worry about it rusting up if I'm caught out in the rain for a day.
But it's sounding like developing rust is a likelyhood for all options if they where in those conditions.

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I still think stainless would be a better option as you can give it a go over with a nylon pad or metal polish if required. I think if you did that to a blued barrel you would stuff the blueing. I have seen the odd ceracoated one on TM if don't mind paying a little more.

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Originally Posted by Ftx325

The original Ruger m77 mk2 was proper stainless. Don't think I have ever seen and corrosion whatsoever on one of those. Don't make em like they used to that's for sure.

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They are like stainless benches, had an dip. Ag mat that had one that laughed when I offered to clean it for him
Lived in a gun bag and was still fine after years of neglect

Nothing wrong with either Howa option provided you look after them. Have had my Blued in the wet plenty. I just make sure I towel it down at the end of the day and give it the oil rag treatment. No different with any of my other rifles. Why risk not giving it a wipe down?

I have a S/s and cant say I have had any problems with it rusting.
Gets blood mud and rain on it and I just give it a wipe before I put it away.

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Originally Posted by Tentman

Hmmm - I've had 3 of the mini's now and they all functioned OK. The stainless one I had didn't fare well on a rough Stewart Is trip (rained the while time and the hut leaked, luckily not at the end I slept in haha), bloody thing went rusty overnight and the staining from the rust never really came out. The blued ones have quite a rough finish (I wouldn't call it a polish at all) and they'll also rust quickly but at least they don't stain once you clean them up.

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This happens with lots of modern rifles. I had it happen to a remington 700, browning x, bolt, Tikka and a kimber. It's due to the finish they now do to save money of just sandblasting to get the matter look. I took the same kimber polished it then had it lightly sanded to matte it out again haven't had the issue since and have done a few 8 day soaking wet trips.

I heard from a very reputable gunsmith that he does this to all barrels as the factory just go straight to sandblasting leaving bigger microscopic pits that hold the water making it far more prone to rust. Having done this it seems there's something to it.

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Originally Posted by Ftx325

The original Ruger m77 mk2 was proper stainless. Don't think I have ever seen and corrosion whatsoever on one of those. Don't make em like they used to that's for sure.

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I have a few this is where the gunsmith got the idea of polishing the barrels first. I pulled my old man's 223 out of the gun case while home it had blood on it. I asked when he last shot it and said he shot a pig with it about 3 years ago before he brought his AR. The blood wiped off and it wasnt even discolored underneath.

Wet rifles need care and attention, period.

Use a decent protective coating for starters. I use Eezox, works very well. A fresh application once every month or so, allow to dry overnight. On wet days back at the hut / cabin / fly camp whatever, pop the barrelled action out of the stock at give it a wipe down with a small towel, then a wipe with a small cloth that’s been used routinely with your protective coating of choice (one up on the old oily rag, but an oily rag will do). I carry one in a small ziplock bag. Then use a pull through to ensure the barrel is dry. I stand my rifles back from the fireplace and allow them to dry overnight.

I’ve got stainless and blued Howa, Browning, Sako and Tikka here, all will spot rust quickly if you don’t care for them. Very noticeable improvement when using a quality protective product.

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Originally Posted by Stocky

This happens with lots of modern rifles. I had it happen to a remington 700, browning x, bolt, Tikka and a kimber. It's due to the finish they now do to save money of just sandblasting to get the matter look. I took the same kimber polished it then had it lightly sanded to matte it out again haven't had the issue since and have done a few 8 day soaking wet trips.

I heard from a very reputable gunsmith that he does this to all barrels as the factory just go straight to sandblasting leaving bigger microscopic pits that hold the water making it far more prone to rust. Having done this it seems there's something to it.

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How do you go about doing it?

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Originally Posted by Bill999

How do you go about doing it?

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I just polished everything with Sandpaper not sure what grit just what I had till it was pretty shiny (kept clear of the muzzle) .

Then hit it with metal polish (plugged the action and muzzle with playdough to stop it getting into the barrel) and polished everything to a mirror finish. Used a rag then finished it with a polish pad on a dremel.

Then washed it all done with brake cleaner to get rid of all the polish etc. (used a whole can as was pretty paranoid about the polish.).

Then have a mate at a engineering shop just give it a light sand blast (I don't know shit about what's involved in terms of material grot etc was used.) and that was it. Hasn't rusted since.

I still oil it in the safe but I did 9 days up Lewis of which I was rained at some point each day for 8 of the days and never had any issues.

I do need to do my bolt handle though as I didn't do it and it has a slight shadow from that trip.

Get the blued one and spend the $80 odd on Duracoat from Findlay's. Beg, borrow or steal spray equipment and it's a piss easy process. Might even find some GC that will lash it on for you for box of beers.

I still give them a light wipe with oil over the coat but never seen even a speck of rust after loads of water, definitely holds up better than my last stainless Howa 1500.

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Originally Posted by Preacher

Get the blued one and spend the $80 odd on Duracoat from Findlay's. Beg, borrow or steal spray equipment and it's a piss easy process. Might even find some GC that will lash it on for you for box of beers.

I still give them a light wipe with oil over the coat but never seen even a speck of rust after loads of water, definitely holds up better than my last stainless Howa 1500.

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Doesn't protect the bore though and it's not overly durable I rubbed though mine having it strapped to my pack luckily stainless rifle so a non issue but I won't cerakote another.

Not Cerakoted, Duracoat. Easy to touch up and applied correctly is pretty freaking solid after the month or so to fully cure. Still just like "stainless" it ain't a magic bullet.

Never had anything Cerakoted but haven't been that impressed with my mates rifle for exactly the reason you mentioned.

Although not all application is equal for both products, have seen two factory Cerakoted rifles exactly the same and treated similarly in use, one looks like new the other is patchy and gross. The Friday 3pm special I reckon.

Supposed to be more durable than Duracoat but can't be easily touched up.

Bore is easy. Use electrical tape over muzzle and run an oiled patch end of day and dry one before days hunt.

Personally have never seen any difference between stainless or blued regarding the propensity to rust the bore. It the external stuff that I have found most glaring.

I almost forgot I have found scope ring screws are always a c@nt. Even borderline soaked in oil I am constantly fighting rust in the allen sockets.

The bore is not an issue, just run a bore snake at the start and end of each day. Couple of drops of oil on the snake at the end of the day always helps, again, this is not specific to Howa, I do this with any rifle.