Mini 14 Accuracy?

[blume357]

You need to buy a new one or at least one with the 580 or greater serial number (I think that number is right).... this is when they changed the barrel out....about 3 years ago. Any thing before that you will not be happy with. The mini-14 and 30 have a well deserved reputation for being very inaccurate.... Ruger made these rifles with too thin of a barrel for years and as the barrel heated up after just a few rounds the point of impact would string out. From all accounts the newer ones are just as accurate as the standard AR.

 

[Skalkaho Slim]

.....the newer ones are just as accurate as the standard AR.

Yep.

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

My brother in law has one of the "newer" ones which responds reasonably well to heavier bullets (62 gr?) and careful load development. W/ bulk factory ammo, it "patterns" better than the older ones, but it would be generous to call the results a "group." Don't think he's used any "better grade" factory ammo, as he just shot up the bulk stuff to get the brass.

Dunno how this compares w/ an off the shelf AR, but his Mini CAN group 2" w/ his handloads (5 shots, 100 yds), some patience and maybe just a spot of luck?

Rick C

 

[lipofsky]

Got to disagree here a bit, I have a 181 series mini 14 with a hogue stock on it no idea how many rounds thru it, it is supposedly for LEO use according to the seller, (a LEO), and I can hit clay pigeons positioned on the 100 yard berm 15+ times from a 20 round mag. with open iron sights. Not bad for someone who has completed 58 laps around the sun (stole that from a forum member) I do believe the stock has a huge part in this as well as the fact I do not pull the trigger as fast as humanly possible, I go about 2-5 seconds between shots. Since the tree line in my yards is about 50 yards from the back door, coyotes and other predators don't have much of a chance.
Just my 2.27 cents worth.

 

[6mm]

I have an older Mini14 with a hogue stock. With the factory stock it was minute of coffee can. With the new stock with Zombie ammo, no problem staying just over 2" at 100m. I know I can get way better with an AR, but I love the Mini.

 

[mattsbox99]

It depends on the AR too. The $600 walmart specials are going to be in the same category as the newer Mini. An upper level AR will shoot better.

I've personally never cared for the ergonomics of the AR, so I'm having a Mini built to my liking. In the end it'll cost about the same as a decent AR.

 

[Biggfoot44]

Had an older Mini (pre Ranch) n but never had oppertunity to work it out before a multipart trade.

Just aquired a new Wally World wood 580 n yet to test.

I have a high bar for my self , as my stock Colt Sporster does 1.5 moa w/ milsurp , and 1.0 moa w/ handloads , with stock irons.

With Mini I will be happy with *plenty accurate enough* .

 

[hawk_driver]

I have a 580 series Ranch Rifle and it is pretty accurate. I cant shoot peep sights for crap, but I can bust a clay pigeon at 100 yards on almost every shot. This is with reloads, my gun really likes Speer 52 HP's and Speer 50 grain spitzers. Reloads with 55 FMJ stuff is OK, more like 2-3 hits out of 4 shots at 100 yards.

 

[Bob G]

You can get these skinny Mini barrels plenty hot and they're still me to bad guy accurate. They are a well balanced, fast handling, well designed carbine. Bill Ruger got it right the first time around.

Semper fi, bruthas

 

[MikeChandler]

I found a mini 14 on gunbroker, a series 580, and when I received it discovered that although it's a 580, it has the thin pencil barrel. It's a very nice rifle, and does indeed appear to be NOS. However, I didn't realize the barrels were a crapshoot in the 580 series - had I known I would have looked for a 581 or newer.

Is there any improvement in this version of the rifle, or is it just the same as a 18X?

How would it compare to a new one, if I put an accu-strut or similar stabilizer on the barrel?

 

[mattsbox99]

Shoot it first, then make changes. If its not to your liking I would have ASI bed the action before adding gimicky products.

 

[Mus408]

Picked up my new Mini 14 yesterday and it is the Mod.5816...wood stock with 20 rd. mag.
Hopefully,I will get it out on Sat. or Sunday and see how it shoots.
Bought some PMC .223 Bronze to try along with some Fed. XM193F.