Ruger American G2 or Howa Mini for 223?

[HandgunHTR]

Either of your choices are going to require work to the trigger, unless you actually like a two-stage trigger, then the edge goes to the Howa.

As for the magazine, both are going to have mags that are not flush. The Howa can be "fixed" with the Jefferson Outdoors bottom metal, so that is another vote for it.

Either way, for me, in order to get the Howa mini to be "ready to hunt", I am going to be spending around $969 ($569 plus tax for the rifle, $169 plus shipping for a Jard single-stage trigger, and $175 plus shipping for the Jefferson Outdoors bottom metal, whenever they actually have them again).
I can get a blued Tikka for $749 plus tax and spend another $125 having the barrel chopped and threaded, so $923. I know which one I am picking.

 

[DDB TX]

I have a Ruger Gen 2 American Ranch in 300 BO and a Howa Mini in 6.5 Grendel. The Howa is in a Boyd's stock and the Ruger is in a Sharp's Brothers Heatseeker chassis. https://sharpsbros.com/sbc05-heatseeker-chassis-ruger-american-ranch-ar-magazine-fed/ The chassis makes it very hard to get to the Ruger's tang safety, but otherwise it is very nice. Fit and feel is great. With optic and suppressor (CGS Hyperion, 15 ounces) it weighs over 9 lbs. Shooting subsonics it is ridiculously (pellet gun) quiet. The safety is only 2-position but is on the tang.

The Howa is a sweet rifle all around. Lighter than the American Ranch with chassis. But supersonic only in Grendel. So even suppressed it makes a decent crack.

I also have a Tikka T3 Lite in 300 WSM, that rifle without optic weighs about 6.5 lbs, with about 7.5; the Tikka someone referred to in .223 weighs 9 lbs bare. That seems pretty heavy for a .223.

For hunting at the ranges you will be using a .223 / 5.56 anything, I just don't think the trigger, probable accuracy and such are that different between the Ruger and the Howa, for relatively close-in work. Go for the one whose ergonomics - fit, feel, ease of target acquisition, weight - feel best to you, they will all work just fine.

 

[TC338]

I would do the Howa. I have the ultra light 6.5 grendel and love it. The first three shot group out of it with my new suppressor. It's extremely light and very, very accurate.