Mini 6.8

[hydnby]

I just got my first 6.8 in a ruger mini platform. Loving the rifle/cartridge so far. I mounted a Redfield 2-7 on it, and have been getting great groups. Anybody have any suggestions/comments/advice??? All your feedback is apprciated.

 

[mattsbox99]

Good choice, mine is also quite accurate and very authoritative. I had a mini 30 and it wasn't this cool.

 

[308dave]

Welcome to the Forum. I love mine, minute of deer out to 100+yds and I've taken 4 with it since 2008. Handy little rifle that suits my smaller frame nicely. Ammo is readily available and relatively cheap from Silver State Ammo. Mine is a hunter so I stick with the 5 rd mag., but 10 & 20 rd. mags are available. Hope you enjoy yours as much as I've enjoyed mine.

 

[cruzerlou]

Dumb question from me, big surprize huh? LOL. Can you get a 20/30 round mag for the 6.8 Ranch Rifle or just the 5 rounder?
Thanks,
Lou

 

[mattsbox99]

Promag makes a 20 round magazine for the 6.8 Mini.

 

[Go Navy]

How's the recoil with the 6.8 in this rifle? I have one in 5.56 and love it.

 

[308dave]

Negligible difference between the 2 calibers.

 

[sp327]

What is the accuracy of these rifles in 6.8 I've had four mini's thru the years in 223. The accuracy has always been lousy (patterns) except with the new style. Could get 2" groups with that. Still not worth keeping when you have better guns and no space. I always wished Ruger would stick some engineering into the to make them shoot better. Love their style. Don't like AR's. Bad experiences with them

 

[wunbe]

Ruger totally re-engineered and revamped the production line for the Ranch Rifle before introducing the 6.8 SPC. Those Mini-14s should be among the more accurate of the breed. If not, send them back to Ruger for a fix.

wunbe

 

[cruzerlou]

I really like the balstic performance of the 6.8 SPC and consedering that buying a 6.8 upper for my M-4 will cost about the same as buying a Ruger ,This just might be my next manjor rifle purchace. Should be great as a patrol rifle /deer getter .
Lou

 

[308dave]

sp327,
Up in my 1st reply I mentioned that I get minute of deer at 100+ yds with mine. I use those targets with a life size photo of a buck with the heart & lungs outlined (can't remember who makes them, I'll have to check). The heart is about 3" across at its widest point & I hit it consistently if I do my part. I've used other ammo but mine seems to like SSA 110 gr Sierra Pro Hunters. Hope this helps.

 

[Hunter6657]

Do they shoot better than 3" groups at 100 yards?
If the newer Mini 14 223 will do 2" groups, i figured the 6.8 should be better than that.

 

[wlhawk]

Promag makes a 20 round magazine for the 6.8 Mini.

I've used the 20 round mags from Promag from the time they began producing them. The lack of Ruger 20 round mags was my only complaint with this rifle.

 

[308dave]

Hunter,
The rifle is capable of better than 3" at 100 yds - but it's what I'm satisfied with for my hunting purposes.

 

[sp327]

Thanks everyone for the nice posts about the accurracy of the rifles. Nice to hear real world results

 

[Hunter6657]

So whats the best groups posted so far with this caliber in this rifle?
3" is not bad for a hunting rifle with iron sights. Just curious if you can realize a consistent 1.5" gun with a scope or better. My 99/44 will shoot a 1.5" group consistently with my handloads of a 240 XTP and 24grs of H110.
Actually is shoots better than that and I have shot less than 1" groups 3 shot groups with it making it the most accurate 44 mag rifle I have ever shot and that includes Marlins, Winchesters, and Ruger's leveraction and old model 44 auto rifle.
I figured the 6.8 ought to easily outdo that.

 

[308dave]

Mine is scoped (1.5-5). 3" at 100 is what I'm okay with - I know that at 100 yds the bullet is going to strike the heart, or very close to it, and the deer is dead. Maybe someday I'll sit down and play with it for better groups but for now I'm pleased with my hunting results.

 

[CoyoteDown]

Hey Troops-

I picked my 6.8 Mini awhile back and its the first and only mini I've ever owned - great cartridge and ballistics . Can't say I care for the banana style 10 and 20 rnd clips - would much prefer the M14 style one we had back in the day. It still wears the synthetic stock but when I can find a wood Mini 14 original I'll see about going to that. The 6.8 fills the gap nicely between my .222 and the 30-30.

"Lets make some music" John Wayne

 

[Buckeye Bill]

I am a big fan of the 6.8 SPC round and have been on the fence about a Mini in this caliber. I decided on a upper in 6.8 SPC for my AR rather than the Mini. I still believe that a Mini in 6.8 would be great. Here is my AR with 6.8 upper installed.

I can shoot an inch at 100 with Hornady 110 grain HP. It is great fun to shoot.

 

[kschwa]

who made your upper? Is that a houge forarm?

 

[Buckeye Bill]

The upper is a "Model 1 Sales". The lower is "Bushmaster". The hand guard is 12.5 inches long. I found it at a local gun show and picked it up. This one has a 1/9.5 barrel twist rate and is considered too fast for the 6.8 SPC. I discovered this after I got it home and started doing more research. Seems that slower barrel twist rates are preferred with 1/11 being considered optimal. I was all bothered by this for a while as I would read on forums that this twist rate was too fast for the 6.8 and that the rifle could not handle the 6.8 SPC II chambering. Well, I got over that when I was getting an inch or better at 100 with Hornady 110 grain HP ammunition. Mine has not seen a lot of use. I have been shooting paper targets and rocks.

I think that a Mini in 6.8 has a barrel twist rate of 1/10. I would not let that hold me back. Here is another picture of my set up.

 

[wunbe]

Buckeye Bill,

The twist issue mainly comes into play with higher velocity tac and handloaded ammo. Stick with standard commercial fodder and you should expect few if any problems.

The SPC II is a small chambering difference that also accomodates the hotter loads and gives longer throat life and, some say, improved accuracy.

There is no SPC II commercial ammo as such.

wunbe

 

[montegomx70]

nice,the 6.8 should be our next military cartridge.

 

[Buckeye Bill]

Wunbe,

Thanks for your comments about the 6.8 SPC round. I will continue to stick to the factory offerings with my rifle.

Silver State Armory makes factory 6.8 SPC that is labeled at "Tactical Load" that requires the 6.8 SPC II chamber and 1/10 or slower twist rate.

http://www.ssarmory.com/6.8_spc_ammo-110gr_Sierra_Pro_Hunter.aspx

Would enjoy reading a range report from a Mini owner that has one in 6.8 SPC.

 

[CoyoteDown]

wunbe -
Check out SSA for commercial rounds - lite, med and heavy (140 gr) rounds + AP - fer them really tough vermits.