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Ruger Mini 14?

Lee Whitsel

Silver $$ Contributor
Had a Mini 14 in late 80's Ranch model and loved it's being nice and handy. But had t0 sell it as it was the most inaccurate 223 gun I ever saw with my best reloads 4" groups was the norm. Why are they so inaccurate and can they ever shoot as good as an AR 15 that I use for gophers that is sub 1" all the time? Why doesn't Ruger improve their accuracy?
 
I think they are on the 3rd or 4th version now and at least the 2 oldest versions are not supported and parts are hard or impossible to find. Something I was unable to live with knowing I can get any AR parts I need in the mailbox in 3 or 4 days. I love the size, weight and how easy they are to handle. I just wish Ruger could engineer something right the first time. The 22LR pistols are on their 4th version, the little 380 pocket pistol is on the 2nd version, the mini is on 3rd or 4th version. If they would engineer everything like their double action pistols, most of us wouldn't look at anything else.
 
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4", you must have opted for the match model.
I sold a bunch of these in the 70's & 80's. I made sure the buyer knew that per Ruger, anything 6" or less @ 100 yds was acceptable. But, they were very dependable. So if you needed a semi auto to rattle around in the truck or tractor for 6 months, and then go off when mr wil-e-coyote came for lunch, it wasn't a bad choice. As long as your shot didn't exceed 100 yds.
 
stork said:
4", you must have opted for the match model.
I sold a bunch of these in the 70's & 80's. I made sure the buyer knew that per Ruger, anything 6" or less @ 100 yds was acceptable. But, they were very dependable. So if you needed a semi auto to rattle around in the truck or tractor for 6 months, and then go off when mr wil-e-coyote came for lunch, it wasn't a bad choice. As long as your shot didn't exceed 100 yds.
Click to expand...
How accurate are the new new 0nes these days?
 
You can get them to shoot. Start with ammo selection if buying or bullet selection if reloading. With a 16 or 18 inch barrel (depending on model) and a 1/9 twist, they seem to prefer lighter bullets. In the 50 to 55 range. I've tried a variety of ammo in both 5.56 NATO and 223 with bullets ranging from 50 to 77 grains. The 50's in my own load using ~24 grains of Varget shot very well. As in MOA. The heaver the bullet got the more the group spread out.

Next step is a variable gas block with a barrel stabilizer. As in this:

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 www.ruger-mini-14-firearms.com

Or if you prefer, a new heavier barrel. as in:

Ruger Mini 14 30 Rifles Barrel Conversions New Rifle Packages Accuracy Systems

Custom Ruger Mini 14 & 30 Rifles built by Accuracy Systems Inc. We build Custom Rifles and do Rebarreling on Ruger Mini 14 & Mini 30 rifles.
www.ruger-mini-14-firearms.com www.ruger-mini-14-firearms.com

I don't think that you will ever end with a one hole gun but I did the barrel stabilizer with the adjustable gas block and with the right ammo the performance was improved. It'll never run with my AR that has the 26 inch White Oak barrel but it is a lot more practical more than sufficient to fulfill its intended purpose. Plus I like the action and the fact that it does not fill with soot like a direct impingement rifle does.
 
Lee Whitsel said:
Had a Mini 14 in late 80's Ranch model and loved it's being nice and handy. But had t0 sell it as it was the most inaccurate 223 gun I ever saw with my best reloads 4" groups was the norm. Why are they so inaccurate and can they ever shoot as good as an AR 15 that I use for gophers that is sub 1" all the time? Why doesn't Ruger improve their accuracy?
Click to expand...
I would hazard a guess as to the barrel quality
I had one once and it was maybe a 1.5 MOA shooter with handloads
SS/Wood stock
It was a fun gun, but not an accurate gun
---------------------------------------------------
I went to a gun show later where a guy had what was called the "GB" model
which he stated was the "Govt. Barrel" more for swat and cops and was a 0.5 MOA gun
I also talked to a gunsmith friend who said he accurized 2 of the standard blued mini14's just
as he put it to - "Prove a Point" the point being they could become an accurate gun
with enough work.
Putting a quality barrel on would be a first good step.
However the AR15 is the easy button with tons of swappable parts and more easily customizable.
Could also be the twist rate on the Mini 14 does not work well with the heavier bullets
Catered more toward 55 FMJ's which are not inherently accurate to begin with simply due to the
"Weight Forward Design" which causes more wobble
A hollow point with weight rear is more stable
-----------------------------------------------------
The Mini 14 was an inexpensive, good reliable gun, but was not built to punch penny's
 
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I had one of the originals. They were area fire weapons. I re crowned the
barrel and went to IMR-4895 and short 50 grain bullets. It shot 2" at 100.
Mechanics on the originals were pretty loose, and the chambers themselves
were just cut for reliable feeding and extraction with sloppy necks. Real thick
neck brass helped, which usually was Lake City at the time.
 
I had two and sold them both but wish I hadn’t. They were very reliable but I wanted more accuracy and they were the 4 MOA version others here had.

My shtf rifle or “battle rifle” as I like to call it is a Stag 8L. Piston driven for reliability and left handed for me. It’s about 1.5 MOA with 55gr fmj’s.
 
mattri said:
Not to hijack but what would the advantage be over an AR?
Click to expand...
In my experience, The AR is worlds more fun, more modular, easy to tailor
But the Mini 14, has less parts, less stuff to tinker with, = more reliable
You gotta really know what youre doing to tinker with an AR
(there's Carbine, Mid Length, Rifle Length just for starters)
No need to Know much with a Mini 14, just load and shoot
 
urbanrifleman said:
The Mini 14 will still be firing long after the AR-15 has filled itself with carbon and the bolt stops moving.
Click to expand...
But on the other side of the coin, the AR will get the job done with
the first round and not impart any fouling while the older mini's
needed several magazines......Yeah it's a stretch, but ya' know. Man
I love my RRA-EOP with the Krieger barrel. 3/4" on a bad day !!
 
ELR LVR said:
In my experience, The AR is worlds more fun, more modular, easy to tailor
But the Mini 14, has less parts, less stuff to tinker with, = more reliable
You gotta really know what youre doing to tinker with an AR
(there's Carbine, Mid Length, Rifle Length just for starters)
No need to Know much with a Mini 14, just load and shoot
Click to expand...
And with that all said, I'll recommend an AK-47 of old before a Mini.
 
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