Ammo for 10 twist ruger mini 14?

[ebb]

I need to make ammo for a mini 14, 10 twist home defense load. I understand the 69 grain I usually use is too heavy for a 10 twist, and think maybe a 60-62 grain may be best. Any ideas? Never loaded any 22 caliber but 52s and 69s, not sure what's ideal.

 

[Tacoma]

I havn't had a mini in years but 53 gr is reported to be the sweet spot in the 1;10 twist barrels. If I recall correctly, the 53 gr V max was particularly favored. That said, I would think than any decent bullet in the 50 to 62 gr range might have potential with the right load.

 

[SeabeeKen]

I had one decades ago. Most inaccurate rifle i ever fired. Here, id be worried about over penetrating and hitting neighbors houses.

 

[mace2364]

Hmm, seems like Hornady recommended that 62gr BTHP they make for midsouth as a defense bullet. I’ve heard that it’s a really accurate bullet as well. But obviously what your specific idea and needs for home defense will dictate your best choices.

I also seem to remember that 1/10 twist barrels were used in the early minis and not for all that long. Must be a pretty early rifle, which is pretty neat.

 

[Paul's Black Rifles]

I need to make ammo for a mini 14, 10 twist home defense load. I understand the 69 grain I usually use is too heavy for a 10 twist, and think maybe a 60-62 grain may be best. Any ideas? Never loaded any 22 caliber but 52s and 69s, not sure what's ideal.

I'm under the impression that the early Mini 14 did not like to have the ammo pushed hard. By early I mean serial numbers with 180 for a prefix. If I recall correctly that would mean use the lowest reloading data. It was a velocity thing, I can't recommend going below normal published load data but if you can't get a satisfactory group working up consider working down.
The only other thing I know of is a smith that reworked the Mini 14 with a heavy barrel. I never contacted him but I remember his name.
Paul

 

[jds holler]

Maybe a lightweight hollow point to prevent over penetration. Close range so accuracy isn’t a big concern.
I’d keep it simple, cheap, and fun for a short range practice. jd

 

[ronsatspokane]

Short barreled tight twist guns can reportedly handle heavier bullets. 10 is not a tight twist and the Mini is not a precision accuracy rifle. The newer ones will shoot 1.5 MOA with the right ammo. I added a barrel stabilizer with a variable gas block so it doesn't throw brass into the next county. With bulk 223 or 5.56 55 grain ammo I'm getting 1.5 to 2 MOA accuracy. Not going to shoot F Class with it or spend a lot of time and money on load development for it given what it is. I'll save the Lapua brass and Berger bullets for other rifles. As far as the stabilizer and variable gas block, here is where you'll find them:

Sturm Ruger Company® Certified Mini Harmonic Barrel Stabilizer Integrated Adjustable Gas Block

Accuracy Systems Inc. is Sturm, Ruger & Company® Certified o work on your Ruger Mini 14® & 30® Rifle's. You will no longer need to send your rifle to Ruger for restricted factory work. We can handle any factory replacement part work you are needing from firing pins to trigger components and...

www.ruger-mini-14-firearms.com

 

[ebb]

It's my brothers rifle that he carried on his boat when he was a commercial fisherman. He bought it a longgg time ago. I looked on the Ruger chart and found his serial number and almost all of the early SS minis had the one in ten twist. He has some guns but is not too much of a real gun guy. He has almost no ammo for it. In 1985 I bought a Remington 742 in 06 from him and I used it for 4 or 5 years. I bought it for $175 and sold it for $350 to fund a Ruger 25-06 to hunt lopes with. He is still pissed about it, he thinks he is the only one in the world allowed to make money on a trade, and absolutely if money is to be made on one of his deals no one but him.

 

[searcher]

I think you might want to look at the Barnes MPG bullet, a sintered metal bullet designed to not over penetrate, as I recall. Might check it out and look at the description on Barnes site.

 

[ronsatspokane]

I had one decades ago. Most inaccurate rifle i ever fired. Here, id be worried about over penetrating and hitting neighbors houses.

Same here. They had a reputation for what I'd call barn door level of accuracy. Some days you could hit the barn door, some days you couldn't. I sent that one down the road years ago. They have since beefed up the barrels and refined the actions such that you can do a lot better. As I said above, I'm getting 1.5 to 2 MOA with bulk ammo with the newer one. That's OK for what they are. Meanwhile I have an AR with a 26 inch White Oak barrel and a Giessele trigger that will do 1/4 MOA with 73 grain Bergers and the appropriate charge of Varget. I've shot it in F Class at 600 yards and it did well (as long as my wind calls were good). The mini will never get there but I love the action (like an M1 and an M1A) and the fact that you don't get an action filled with carbon deposits like you do with a direct impingement action.

 

[SeabeeKen]

Same here. They had a reputation for what I'd call barn door level of accuracy. Some days you could hit the barn door, some days you couldn't. I sent that one down the road years ago. They have since beefed up the barrels and refined the actions such that you can do a lot better. As I said above, I'm getting 1.5 to 2 MOA with bulk ammo with the newer one. That's OK for what they are. Meanwhile I have an AR with a 26 inch White Oak barrel and a Giessele trigger that will do 1/4 MOA with 73 grain Bergers and the appropriate charge of Varget. I've shot it in F Class at 600 yards and it did well (as long as my wind calls were good). The mini will never get there but I love the action (like an M1 and an M1A) and the fact that you don't get an action filled with carbon deposits like you do with a direct impingement action.

Sounds like they are much better. I recall the A-team on tv never aiming one. Yeah, i know it hollywood. Might have to revisit the rifle. The 73 berger shot well in my bolt rifle.

 

[Steel Mover]

This is my Mini 14 with 1-10 twist. I shoot 53 SMKs in it. Has a list of mods to get to .354inch groups. Stared as a 6" shooter. The critical is the Witchita center bore scope base, trigger job, ASI gas block, 8" barrel shroud, cut and crowned barrel, fitted bushing, glass bedded action, 1" recoil pad to lengthen the line of pull. I just took an old beat up, 30 year charter boat shark gun in trade and turned it into a shooter, just because I could. That load is 3,200.

 

[ronsatspokane]

This is my Mini 14 with 1-10 twist. I shoot 53 SMKs in it. Has a list of mods to get to .354inch groups. Stared as a 6" shooter. The critical is the Witchita center bore scope base, trigger job, ASI gas block, 8" barrel shroud, cut and crowned barrel, fitted bushing, glass bedded action, 1" recoil pad to lengthen the line of pull. I just took an old beat up, 30 year charter boat shark gun in trade and turned it into a shooter, just because I could. That load is 3,200.

View attachment 1736897

Well done. You should look into adding a barrel stabilizer as well. Not only do they look cool (M14ish) but they may do some good.

 

[misser]

many years ago a guy came to the range with a mini 14 that shot rather well . it had a bi pod fastened to the barrel . thinking that had to be why it shot so well