Mini-14 Tactical on order...now ammo, etc?

[jwkhead]

Well, I decided to get the Mini-14 over the various ARs and AKs for my first rifle (their time will come). Just something about that Garand-style look.
Now, since I'm just a plinking-type shooter, I'm looking for the best ammo for that. (Of course, I also want to get some good defense ammo, but 100 percent of my planned shooting will be paper.)
Also, I want to spend a lot of time with the iron sights, but will eventually want a scope for distance.
Any and all ideas will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
jh

 

[Rumrunner]

Midway sells 50rnd boxes of Fioccchi loaded with 40 gr Hornady V-Max bullets for around 22 bucks. Shoots good out of my NRA Mini. If you have a C&R license, its a buck or two cheaper.

I have a 30mm UltraDot red dot on the NRA Mini, and I have a Bushnell Trophy 3x9 Circle-X scope on my All WX Mini. Very happy with both. If you are near Galesburg, you can check mine out to see if it's something you might want for yours.

 

[blume357]

Go to a gun show (I think they still have those in IL) and look for either NATO 200 round battle packs or such.... often there will be several vendors with bulk packs of 500 or more.... if you can afford it this is the way to go... personally I don't like the really cheap steel cased stuff.

 

[sargents1]

I know Blume and a lot of others dont like the Steel- cased russian ammo, but if you are not a reloader, its hard to beat the Tula/Wolf ammo.

There are some folks that say it can damage the firing pin on your Mini. This may be true or it may be a case of simple wear and tear (the fellow that I am thinking of had put 2500+ rounds of steel case thru his mini). I have not shot enough of it to say with authority one way or the other.

If you want to shoot cheap (and in volume) your choices are this:
- Get a Dillon progressive reloader and roll your own brass ammo.
- take your chances with steel case ammo.
- take out a second mortgage and buy a pallet of good brass ammo.

I figure that if I break a firing pin shooting Steel-case ammo i can always ship the gun back to Ruger and have them fix it on their nickel. Maybe if enough folks complain they will upgrade the Firing pins on new mini's.

 

[blume357]

in contrast... about all I've shot in my mini-30 is the cheap commie steel cased stuff... so, you know it ain't going to break the gun... probably.... and the problem is not the steel case but the hard primers... and I can't figure out how in the world you can tell this... then again... worse thing that happens is you have to put a new firing pin in your mini.. any gun smith can do this for little money and when you or he orders a replacement, order two or more so you have a back up. I've got a spare for mine...

 

[superd66]

If you don't mine asking, what is a tactical going for. I have my new in box tactical listed on here for $600 with no interest.

 

[jwkhead]

I really appreciate all the advice and information. I've been doing a lot of reading because of it. One solid conclusion so far, there's a lot of differing opinion. On those issues (all ammo related) I've decided to buy the ammo and rent the rifle, understanding that 100 or so rounds may not tell me much. But the positive side is that I enjoy shooting. Rumrunner, I might take you up on your offer when the time comes for the scope - thanks.

I've checked around for gun shows a couple times, but they seem to be everywhere but near Belleville, IL. But I'll keep looking.

I like the ideas of buying in bulk...now I have to get the wife to like it. (Hell, she just came around to a gun in the house!)

I'm getting the rifle for 604 (plus taxes). I get near dealer prices from the Rod & Gun Club on the AF base near me (I'm retired AF). They get it from http://www.gzanders.com/. I just pick from the dealer catalog.

Again, thanks to all. I'm sure I'll have more questions as I learn.

jh