sebtool
Blackhawk
Was going to post this in response to another post, decided to throw it out on it's own.
I looked at basically the same questions before I bought my Mini 14 6.8 SPC a little while back. I already have a 180 series Mini 14 in .223/5.56 that is pretty doggone accurate, especially considering the sights on it, and my aging eyes. So the only advantage to another Mini in .223 would be the ease of adding a scope.
When I looked at the ballistics as a possible deer round, the 6.8 won hands down. It edges out the 30-30 by a bit, which tops the 7.62x39. I've never been a 'fan' of the 7.62, but can see the attraction in a SKS for a cheap shooter. I can appreciate the cheap part, but really don't care for the guns themselves.
The only downside to the 6.8 is ammo cost, which ain't cheap. I do reload, so am starting out buying a few boxes of factory ammo and saving the brass. The best pricing I found after a good bit of research was on gunbroker at $14.94/box.
I won't shoot the chrap import ammo in my guns. When I got my Mini 14 20 yrs ago or so, I was told it wouldn't shoot, had a bad case of 'Mini-14-itis', which so many people like to talk about. The only ammo the previous owner shot out of it was Norinco junk, and wasn't fond of cleaning it. After a 3-4 day process of cleaning, soaking, swabbing, and a complete disassembly, the gun is pretty close to a MOA shooter unless you're just pulling the trigger to hear it go boom, as fast as you can. Great gun, and I like it!
Just this past week I took the 6.8 to the range for the 1st time to see where it's shooting. Got there late, so after the pistols were put up, only had time to run 1 mag thru it. Basically point of aim at 50 yards, about 1" right. The sun was setting, so I didn't get to shoot it at 100 yds. 2" group on a silhouette target right at dark, not great, not bad. A better target/aiming point would have helped. Accuracy will come later.
2 things I noticed, which tells me it needs some attention. The trigger sucked. Long, creepy, stout, and a little gritty.... :? I bought it used, was told there was only about 80 rounds thru it, and the condition bears that out.
The other thing which needs attention is the ejection of the spent cases. This gun will throw some brass! I'll have to do a bit of research on it, but I'd imagine a little attention to spring selection, maybe some selective deburring and polishing would have the potential to help in this area.
Any advice?
I'm not a gunsmith, but am an experienced machinist and do my own gun work. I did take a gunsmithing course at the local jr. college many years ago, which taught me that I could handle the job, once I thought it thru. The instructor, a practicing gunsmith was pretty much of an idiot when it came to metalworking, but showed us a few things as far as function and repair.
Bottom line, the 6.8 will work for me, but it needs a little help. Like all manufactured items, some come thru the line better than others. I'd imagine this 1 is somewhere in the middle, quality wise. But I have no doubt that I'll be able to get it to shoot well, and will do what I ask of it. It could definitely be better, but is probably representative of Ruger's quality in these guns.
I might buy a Mini 30 beater down the road as a project, got a few ideas of my own as far as it's capability, just not with the current chambering. :wink:
I looked at basically the same questions before I bought my Mini 14 6.8 SPC a little while back. I already have a 180 series Mini 14 in .223/5.56 that is pretty doggone accurate, especially considering the sights on it, and my aging eyes. So the only advantage to another Mini in .223 would be the ease of adding a scope.
When I looked at the ballistics as a possible deer round, the 6.8 won hands down. It edges out the 30-30 by a bit, which tops the 7.62x39. I've never been a 'fan' of the 7.62, but can see the attraction in a SKS for a cheap shooter. I can appreciate the cheap part, but really don't care for the guns themselves.
The only downside to the 6.8 is ammo cost, which ain't cheap. I do reload, so am starting out buying a few boxes of factory ammo and saving the brass. The best pricing I found after a good bit of research was on gunbroker at $14.94/box.
I won't shoot the chrap import ammo in my guns. When I got my Mini 14 20 yrs ago or so, I was told it wouldn't shoot, had a bad case of 'Mini-14-itis', which so many people like to talk about. The only ammo the previous owner shot out of it was Norinco junk, and wasn't fond of cleaning it. After a 3-4 day process of cleaning, soaking, swabbing, and a complete disassembly, the gun is pretty close to a MOA shooter unless you're just pulling the trigger to hear it go boom, as fast as you can. Great gun, and I like it!
Just this past week I took the 6.8 to the range for the 1st time to see where it's shooting. Got there late, so after the pistols were put up, only had time to run 1 mag thru it. Basically point of aim at 50 yards, about 1" right. The sun was setting, so I didn't get to shoot it at 100 yds. 2" group on a silhouette target right at dark, not great, not bad. A better target/aiming point would have helped. Accuracy will come later.
2 things I noticed, which tells me it needs some attention. The trigger sucked. Long, creepy, stout, and a little gritty.... :? I bought it used, was told there was only about 80 rounds thru it, and the condition bears that out.
The other thing which needs attention is the ejection of the spent cases. This gun will throw some brass! I'll have to do a bit of research on it, but I'd imagine a little attention to spring selection, maybe some selective deburring and polishing would have the potential to help in this area.
Any advice?
I'm not a gunsmith, but am an experienced machinist and do my own gun work. I did take a gunsmithing course at the local jr. college many years ago, which taught me that I could handle the job, once I thought it thru. The instructor, a practicing gunsmith was pretty much of an idiot when it came to metalworking, but showed us a few things as far as function and repair.
Bottom line, the 6.8 will work for me, but it needs a little help. Like all manufactured items, some come thru the line better than others. I'd imagine this 1 is somewhere in the middle, quality wise. But I have no doubt that I'll be able to get it to shoot well, and will do what I ask of it. It could definitely be better, but is probably representative of Ruger's quality in these guns.
I might buy a Mini 30 beater down the road as a project, got a few ideas of my own as far as it's capability, just not with the current chambering. :wink:
