Advice for a stock for a Howa mini action rifle

**Fish Hunter** · 12-05-2026, 16:40

Greetings. I am looking for some guidance on a hunting style stock for a Howa mini action rifle in 22ARC with a 20" varmint profile barrel.

My choice of the Howa mini 22 ARC is to put together a light weight hunting rifle (springbuck, mountain reedbuck, impala and maybe blesbok size animals if I use 80gr bullets, and to shoot out to a maximum distance of 300m - walk and stalk hunting). This rifle is replacing a Howa 223 with 24" bull barrel. Everything about the rifle, with the exception of the 20" varmint profile barrel, is compact and light. I have changed the scope from a 850gr scope to a 600gr scope, the steel Warne Maxima rings weighing 168gr are being replaced with Warne's Magnafusion Hyperlite rings at 73gr and the 450gr Sus-Tac Hunter suppressor is making way for a 231gr Freyr & Devik. My idea is to have the whole package weigh a maximum of 4.0kg. Currently sitting at 3,9kg if I take Howa's plastic HTI stock (approximately 0.9kg).

The problem is there are very few locally available light weight, mini action stock options available, or I'm not doing a very good job of finding them.

I am considering HF Stocks varminter stock in carbon fibre which weighs approximately 1.4kg, probably slightly lighter in mini action but that still leaves me with a total package weight of about 4.4kg. Yes, that is not that heavy, however I compare this to my 3 other hunting rifles, with suppressors weighing 4.3kg (30.06), 3.9kg (7x64) and 3.7kg (6.5x55).

I like the fact the HF Stocks have an aluminium bedding blocked fitted in the stock, which obviously adds a bit more weight, and they have an adjustable cheek piece, although this is not a necessity.

Of the locally manufactured fibreglass / carbon fibre stocks I have looked at I am leaning towards HF Stocks.

Bell and Carlson make a nice looking stock for Howa mini actions with an advertised weigh of 0.9kg. H-S Precision have something similar and there are a few Boyds options, but I am not sold on the Boyds stocks as I am leaning towards a synthetic stock. Stocky's have a really nice looking carbon fibre stock with an advertised weight of around 0.6kg. The problem is finding any of these in South Africa and trying to buy one in the USA and bring it to SA can be a problem (I think).

Is there anybody out there who has a Howa mini action that is fitted with a light weight, hunting style aftermarket stock who can offer advice or do you know if anyone in SA brings in stocks from the companies mentioned above.

Alternatively direct me towards other SA based stock manufacturers that can build a stock with a Howa mini action inlay.

Thank you and regards

**MohamedD** · 12-05-2026, 19:34

Hi, try Jean-luc from precision RifleStox in Randfontein. https://www.facebook.com/PrecisionRiflestoxSouthAfrica/

**Fish Hunter** · 12-05-2026, 20:02

Originally Posted by MohamedD

Hi, try Jean-luc from precision RifleStox in Randfontein. https://www.facebook.com/PrecisionRiflestoxSouthAfrica/

Thank you

**DaavG** · 13-05-2026, 10:20

Originally Posted by Fish Hunter

Of the locally manufactured fibreglass / carbon fibre stocks I have looked at I am leaning towards HF Stocks.

Any reason not to go with these? Asked out of curiosity as never heard of them nor Precision Rifle Stox.

**shooty** · 13-05-2026, 11:45

Just curious. Will farmers allow you to hunt with the 22ARC. As several will allow you to go down to a 243 on Springbuck and nothing bigger with the 243.

Its not a question if the caliber is capable. Its more if they will allow such a small caliber.

**TStone** · 13-05-2026, 12:23

Originally Posted by shooty

Just curious. Will farmers allow you to hunt with the 22ARC. As several will allow you to go down to a 243 on Springbuck and nothing bigger with the 243.

Its not a question if the caliber is capable. Its more if they will allow such a small caliber.

That will depend on the farmer/manager. We allow .22 centrefires for springbok and mountain reedbuck, provided the hunter use a bullet suited for this job.
For many years the .222 Remington was the go-to springbok caliber on many Karoo farms.

**TStone** · 13-05-2026, 12:45

Armtec build custom fibreglass stocks.

Armtec – Synthetic Stocks

**Fish Hunter** · 13-05-2026, 15:20

Originally Posted by DaavG

Any reason not to go with these? Asked out of curiosity as never heard of them nor Precision Rifle Stox.

I really like the HF Stocks stock, it is just the weight that is putting me off as things stand

**Fish Hunter** · 13-05-2026, 15:23

Originally Posted by shooty

Just curious. Will farmers allow you to hunt with the 22ARC. As several will allow you to go down to a 243 on Springbuck and nothing bigger with the 243.

Its not a question if the caliber is capable. Its more if they will allow such a small caliber.

I have access to four farms where they allowed me to hunt springbok, mountain reedbuck and impala with my 223. No problems with the upgrade to 22 ARC.