Advise needed for Mini 14 optics

[gamabry]

I could use a little advice on fitting out a Mini 14 with some type of optic. I’ve never scoped out any of my rifles but I’m 65 yoa and needing a little help in sighting. All I intend to do with this rifle is punch paper and bang gongs out to about 150 yards.

I’ve been looking at the Cabela’s website and checking out their optics in the $90.00 to $160.00 range. I haven’t quite decided whether to go with the red dot or riflescope but just by looking at some reviews, I thought the Truglo 2X30 and Bushnell Trophy red dot both looked good and I liked the Nikon P223 riflescope.

I’d appreciate any advise anyone has to offer or hear what you might have mounted on your Mini.

Thanks, George

 

[Hawk-in-Wi]

punching paper out to 150 yards go with a scope , closer ranges the reddot woud do fine
also look at the Bushnell Holosight if you decide on a red dot

Vortex brand rifle scope are pretty darn good for the money

 

[m657]

The red dot for me isn't capable of providing enough 'precision' at 100+ yards that traditional glass scopes provide. I can see much better with the cross hair than the dot. I like the dots for certain purposes, but the glass has it's own advantages.

I'm awaiting delivery of a Nikon P223 3-30 for duty on both my TD 10/22 and AR platform, as it is very clear, very compact, and a very decent price.

 

[OysterMan]

Like the previous posters I'd say go with a scope for banging gongs and punching paper 100yds and out.

I originally put a Burris Fullfield II 3X9X40 on my Mini 14 and it was a good scope for that type shooting. However my Mini's primary role for me is HD/SHTF and for that intended purpose it felt "unwieldy" with the scope on it, so I replaced it with a Millett Red Dot.

 

[gamabry]

Thanks guys for the information. I hadn't run across that Millett red dot before but I looked it up and it looked good. I'm still undecided as to scope vs red dot so I'll probably just resort to the old inney-meeny-moe method and buy both. I'll post up what I get.

George

 

[427mach1]

I've got a Nikon P223 3-9x40 on my AR-15 and love it. Great optics, great price; I would highly recommend it if you decide to go with a traditional scope.

 

[Major T]

I have had a Mini 14 since late 70s early 80s. The first one was a GB so the optics had to be mounted with a "contraption." I could never get that thing to shoot to the same spot. While targer shooting, for several rounds, one could see two distinct groups (in order of 1 1/4 to 1 1/2" each) forming - but at a couple of inches from one another. I finally got rid of the GB (mistake for other reasons) and replaced it with a latest issue SS Ranch rifle. On the GB, i had everything from red dots, to 4X, to 3.5-10 AO at different times. My new model Ranch wears a 3-9 Redfield Revolution. I have not put this one on a good bench and bags yet, but off the hood with one bag accuracy shows promise. It worked over a 6 oz. foam cup pretty good at about 110 yards. Minute of jack rabbit or coyote for sure. jack

 

[heymatthew]

I just purchased a Redfield Revenge 2-7x34 . All Redfield optics currently have a $30 mail in rebate until the end of the year, which is a pretty significant discount. After the discount, I've got $109 in the optic, which is an amazing price for the scope. So far, I'm really pleased with it. I have a pretty comprehensive review of it here: http://www.firearmstalk.com/reviews/revenge-2-7x34-4-plex-rifle-scope.html

I do love red dots, but as others have said, they're a bit tough to shoot with at long distances.

I've tried the Bushnell and didn't care for it. My current red dots are a Burris FastFire III (3moa) on my Ruger 22/45 Pistol and an UltraDot 30mm Red Dot (4moa) on my Ruger 10/22. I think the UltraDot lineup is a really great bang for your buck (pun intended) and they'll easily handle the recoil of the Mini and stay zeroed.

Here's a photo of my Mini 14 Tactical with the Redfield Revenge mounted. It fits nicely and doesn't overpower the gun like some of the larger optics.

I've tried probably 4 or 5 red dots from various manufacturers and the UltraDot and Burris FastFire are the only ones I've found that meet all of my needs.

 

[gamabry]

thanks again everyone for all the tips. I'd planned on going to Cabela's last Friday but then I remembered that was Black Friday so I thought I'd wait until one day this week.

Major T, congratulations on the big win down in Austin on Thanksgiving day.

George

 

[9x19]

I run a Bushnell 1x-4x on my Mini 30. It has both a cross-hair and illuminated center dot. Plenty of magnification for 150 yards, and still very friendly at 1x for close work.

It has a 30mm tube so you'll need to change your rings with Ruger.

 

[gamabry]

I finally made it to Cabela’s and checked out their scopes. I had pretty much made my mind up that I was going to get the Nikon P223 3x. They had one there but the tube is too short to fit the mini factory scope mount. The P223 with variable power had a long enough tube but I was looking for something around 3-4 power. I checked out some other fixed power scopes and didn’t see anything I liked.

I’ve got a ATI folding stock so I took a look at their red dots and ended up getting the Bushnell Trophy TRS -25. I would have liked to use it with the factory mount but I don’t think it will that way. I mounted on the ATI stock and it looks like it is going to do a good job. I hope to get it sighted in this coming week.

Thanks again to all for their help. I still want a scope to use with the factory stock. I might have to get a variable power but we’ll just have to see what “deals” come up over the holidays.

George

 

[single action]

just put a leupold vx1 in 3-9 with the long range reticle on mine and it fits nice and gives some options on longer range shots, need to go to the range and dial it in. SA

 

[dfletcher]

I finally made it to Cabela’s and checked out their scopes. I had pretty much made my mind up that I was going to get the Nikon P223 3x. They had one there but the tube is too short to fit the mini factory scope mount. The P223 with variable power had a long enough tube but I was looking for something around 3-4 power. I checked out some other fixed power scopes and didn’t see anything I liked.

I’ve got a ATI folding stock so I took a look at their red dots and ended up getting the Bushnell Trophy TRS -25. I would have liked to use it with the factory mount but I don’t think it will that way. I mounted on the ATI stock and it looks like it is going to do a good job. I hope to get it sighted in this coming week.

Thanks again to all for their help. I still want a scope to use with the factory stock. I might have to get a variable power but we’ll just have to see what “deals” come up over the holidays.

George

I put a Nikon African on my CZ 550 in 416 Rigby, that should be long enough for the Mini. Swift makes a fine but inexpensive 1 to 4X straight tube too.

 

[gamabry]

Thanks guys for the input. Although I bought a red dot for the Mini, I'm still looking around for a scope. By the way, I sighted in that red dot and it does very well. I was only shooting at 50 yds. but I was real happy with it's performance.

I just purchased a Redfield Revenge 2-7x34...

Matthew, are you still happy with your Redfield? I enjoyed the lengthy review you wrote on it.

George

 

[heymatthew]

Thanks guys for the input. Although I bought a red dot for the Mini, I'm still looking around for a scope. By the way, I sighted in that red dot and it does very well. I was only shooting at 50 yds. but I was real happy with it's performance.

I just purchased a Redfield Revenge 2-7x34...

Matthew, are you still happy with your Redfield? I enjoyed the lengthy review you wrote on it.

George

George,
I'm VERY happy with the Redfield. I do have a couple of small quibbles with it (mostly the vignetting and touchy eye relief), but overall I'm about 97% on it. Right now with the $30 mail-in-rebate, it brings that scope down to around $109 which is peanuts compared to the quality of the scope as compared with others in its price class.

Let me know if I can help you out at all.

Best,
Matthew

 

[Major T]

gambry, I lived in Austin for several years. could never warm up to UT. I did have several PhD friends that taught there. (Must have been misfits, they liked guns.) Coach Gary Patterson is a pretty nice guy. He is a frequent guest at Daughter's and S-I-L's home. Great grandson thinks he hung the moon.

Bushnell red dot. Have a model about 10 years old. Basically, I like it. The small dot, large dot, and circle dot all shoot to the same spot. The cross hair shoots somewhere else. Try them all before you go out for serious work. Enjoy, jack.

 

[sargents1]

I could use a little advice on fitting out a Mini 14 with some type of optic. I’ve never scoped out any of my rifles but I’m 65 yoa and needing a little help in sighting. All I intend to do with this rifle is punch paper and bang gongs out to about 150 yards.

I’ve been looking at the Cabela’s website and checking out their optics in the $90.00 to $160.00 range. I haven’t quite decided whether to go with the red dot or riflescope but just by looking at some reviews, I thought the Truglo 2X30 and Bushnell Trophy red dot both looked good and I liked the Nikon P223 riflescope.

I’d appreciate any advise anyone has to offer or hear what you might have mounted on your Mini.

Thanks, George

Ha! I just got done mounting up a Bushnell TRS-25 Red dot and taking photos of it. My experience has been that my older Mini 14 is a pain to put magnified optics on. The side-saddle mount that I tried was not ideal. I have found that a red-dot mounted on a Scout rail is the way to go for me. Its simple and solid, but definitely not cheap. Scout rails run about 150$! If you have a newer Mini you have better options because they have the integrated mounting points.

For work out to 150yds, a decent Red Dot should do the trick on all but the smallest targets. I was running a Truglo 5MOA 30mm red dot (the un-magnified one, not the 2X), and for 69.99$ at Cabelas, it's surprisingly good... the dot is nice and round (when the brightness is adjusted correctly), there are distinct clicks on the adjustments, metal adjustment screws, captured turret caps etc. But, that 5MOA dot looks closer to 6 or 7MOA (on mine) so it tends to blot out the target at longer ranges...which is why I bought the Bushnell micro red dot. The Bushy has a 2MOA dot that is much finer and should make it easier to hit smaller stuff.

I have not had much experience with the Truglo 2X 30mm Red dot, but on other Red Dots (Vortex) that have a screw-on 2x magnifier, using the magnifier tends to make the field of view quite small...kind of like looking thru a fishbowl. Unless you have an AR and can run a proper 3X Flip-to side magnifier and an EoTech or Aimpoint (which is a Nice setup BTW) I would skip the magnified Red dot.

Anyway, here she is in all her glory.

 

[heymatthew]

Ha! I just got done mounting up a Bushnell TRS-25 Red dot and taking photos of it. My experience has been that my older Mini 14 is a pain to put magnified optics on. The side-saddle mount that I tried was not ideal. I have found that a red-dot mounted on a Scout rail is the way to go for me. Its simple and solid, but definitely not cheap. Scout rails run about 150$! If you have a newer Mini you have better options because they have the integrated mounting points.

For work out to 150yds, a decent Red Dot should do the trick on all but the smallest targets. I was running a Truglo 5MOA 30mm red dot (the un-magnified one, not the 2X), and for 69.99$ at Cabelas, it's surprisingly good... the dot is nice and round (when the brightness is adjusted correctly), there are distinct clicks on the adjustments, metal adjustment screws, captured turret caps etc. But, that 5MOA dot looks closer to 6 or 7MOA (on mine) so it tends to blot out the target at longer ranges...which is why I bought the Bushnell micro red dot. The Bushy has a 2MOA dot that is much finer and should make it easier to hit smaller stuff.

I have not had much experience with the Truglo 2X 30mm Red dot, but on other Red Dots (Vortex) that have a screw-on 2x magnifier, using the magnifier tends to make the field of view quite small...kind of like looking thru a fishbowl. Unless you have an AR and can run a proper 3X Flip-to side magnifier and an EoTech or Aimpoint (which is a Nice setup BTW) I would skip the magnified Red dot.

Anyway, here she is in all her glory.

Great setup! I think you should send it to me immediately for proper testing. I wouldn't want you handling an unsafe firearm. I promise to return it in 50 or 60 years... :D

Let us know how that Bushnell works out for you!!! I considered getting the scout rail for mine and getting a micro red dot to throw on there for shorter range stuff, but ended up starting an AR build instead. I still haven't convinced myself that I don't need that Amega rail. They look so good on those rifles!

But seriously, send me that Mini. It needs a proper once over. LOL!

 

[sargents1]

Ha! I just got done mounting up a Bushnell TRS-25 Red dot and taking photos of it. My experience has been that my older Mini 14 is a pain to put magnified optics on. The side-saddle mount that I tried was not ideal. I have found that a red-dot mounted on a Scout rail is the way to go for me. Its simple and solid, but definitely not cheap. Scout rails run about 150$! If you have a newer Mini you have better options because they have the integrated mounting points.

For work out to 150yds, a decent Red Dot should do the trick on all but the smallest targets. I was running a Truglo 5MOA 30mm red dot (the un-magnified one, not the 2X), and for 69.99$ at Cabelas, it's surprisingly good... the dot is nice and round (when the brightness is adjusted correctly), there are distinct clicks on the adjustments, metal adjustment screws, captured turret caps etc. But, that 5MOA dot looks closer to 6 or 7MOA (on mine) so it tends to blot out the target at longer ranges...which is why I bought the Bushnell micro red dot. The Bushy has a 2MOA dot that is much finer and should make it easier to hit smaller stuff.

I have not had much experience with the Truglo 2X 30mm Red dot, but on other Red Dots (Vortex) that have a screw-on 2x magnifier, using the magnifier tends to make the field of view quite small...kind of like looking thru a fishbowl. Unless you have an AR and can run a proper 3X Flip-to side magnifier and an EoTech or Aimpoint (which is a Nice setup BTW) I would skip the magnified Red dot.

Anyway, here she is in all her glory.

Great setup! I think you should send it to me immediately for proper testing. I wouldn't want you handling an unsafe firearm. I promise to return it in 50 or 60 years... :D

Let us know how that Bushnell works out for you!!! I considered getting the scout rail for mine and getting a micro red dot to throw on there for shorter range stuff, but ended up starting an AR build instead. I still haven't convinced myself that I don't need that Amega rail. They look so good on those rifles!

But seriously, send me that Mini. It needs a proper once over. LOL!

Thanks, I like it pretty well.

Believe me, I will give it all the "once-overs" it needs. :D

I think if you already have an AR and a Mini you could probably skip the Scout Rail. Especially if you have a newer Mini with proper scope mounts. But...The scout rail is Nice.

You should also look into the Ultimak scout rail. It is a very similar design to the Amega but it sits a tad lower, which is nice if you run a three-point sling like the ones from Specter (http://www.spectergear.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=010). I found that when using the Amega combined with one of those slings that have the strap that goes around the forearm, the strap obscures the front sight. Its not a problem when using the Red dot, but if you needed to use the Irons, you would have to take the strap off. I think the Ultimak might be low enough to prevent that from happening.