Question regarding Mini Ranch versus Tactical

[Heisenberg]

Does the current Ranch series (5805,5817,5855,5816) use the same heavier couture barrel as the current Tactical series (5819,5847,5848)?

Ive found a ton of references to the 'heavy' barrel of the Tactical series but nothing that confirms if the Ranch series is the same.

Im currently considering a new pair of Mini's and don't have any need/want for the flash hider, and given the nearly same OAL and weight, I would rather have the extra 100-150fps the extra 2" of barrel provides.

Has anyone found an accuracy difference between the two?

Thanks

 

[Captain America]

Yup, all the 58** series minis have the same "heavy" barrel, just shorter on the tactical, I only have the tactical version so I can't compare the accuracy for ya.

 

[9x19]

The last time I looked at them, the 5.56 Ranch barrel tapers from gas-block to front sight. The Tactical models have no taper. I imagine both are the same diameter from receiver to gas block.

The taper is noticeable in Ruger's website photos.

http://www.ruger.com/products/mini14RanchRifle/models.html

 

[DGW1949]

Does the current Ranch series (5805,5817,5855,5816) use the same heavier couture barrel as the current Tactical series (5819,5847,5848)?

Ive found a ton of references to the 'heavy' barrel of the Tactical series but nothing that confirms if the Ranch series is the same.

Im currently considering a new pair of Mini's and don't have any need/want for the flash hider, and given the nearly same OAL and weight, I would rather have the extra 100-150fps the extra 2" of barrel provides.

Has anyone found an accuracy difference between the two?

Thanks

To answer your specific questions:

My 582-series Mini-14 RR has the new-type "tapered" (18-1/2") barrel.
I've handled newer 583-series Ranch Rifles which had an identical barrel to mine.
You may also note that even the "skinny" portion of the "tapered barrel" Mini-14's is thicker than the old "pencil barreled" Mini-14's from days gone by, and is in fact the same (.625) diameter as found on older Mini-30's.
I'm perty-sure that the newest versions are now in the 584-serial range but even so, the photos posted on Ruger's web site indicate that the newest 18-1/2" Mini-14 RR's still use the same barrel as mine.
As CA has pointed out, the barrel found on the .223/5.56 Tactical Model is configured in a similar manner.

Accuracy is a subjective term, and depends on many other factors besides barrel length. That said though, my plain-Jane, blued 'n wood, 582-Series Ranch Rifle was the most accurate "right out of the box" Mini-14 which I've ever used, and after a few tweaks, is now shooting to the accuracy potential of the ammo I feed it.
To my way of thinking, that's about all I could ask from any gun.

Hope this helped somewhat.

DGW

 

[Chief_10Beers]

The last time I looked at them, the 5.56 Ranch barrel tapers from gas-block to front sight. The Tactical models have no taper. I imagine both are the same diameter from receiver to gas block.

The taper is noticeable in Ruger's website photos.

http://www.ruger.com/products/mini14RanchRifle/models.html

The 300 BO does not taper, the 223/5.56/ Mini-30 tapers just like the ranch.................

 

[Heisenberg]

The last time I looked at them, the 5.56 Ranch barrel tapers from gas-block to front sight. The Tactical models have no taper. I imagine both are the same diameter from receiver to gas block.

The taper is noticeable in Ruger's website photos.

http://www.ruger.com/products/mini14RanchRifle/models.html

The 300 BO does not taper, the 223/5.56/ Mini-30 tapers just like the ranch.................

That is how it looked to me when looking at their site photos, of course that can be deceiving so I wanted to check.

 

[Heisenberg]

To answer your specific questions:

My 582-series Mini-14 RR has the new-type "tapered" (18-1/2") barrel.
I've handled newer 583-series Ranch Rifles which had an identical barrel to mine.
You may also note that even the "skinny" portion of the "tapered barrel" Mini-14's is thicker than the old "pencil barreled" Mini-14's from days gone by, and is in fact the same (.625) diameter as found on older Mini-30's.
I'm perty-sure that the newest versions are now in the 584-serial range but even so, the photos posted on Ruger's web site indicate that the newest 18-1/2" Mini-14 RR's still use the same barrel as mine.
As CA has pointed out, the barrel found on the .223/5.56 Tactical Model is configured in a similar manner.

Accuracy is a subjective term, and depends on many other factors besides barrel length. That said though, my plain-Jane, blued 'n wood, 582-Series Ranch Rifle was the most accurate "right out of the box" Mini-14 which I've ever used, and after a few tweaks, is now shooting to the accuracy potential of the ammo I feed it.
To my way of thinking, that's about all I could ask from any gun.

Hope this helped somewhat.

DGW

Thanks that what I was hoping that they were the same modern thickness.

As for accuracy, I wasn't suggesting that longer = more accurate, just wondering if there were known differences.
As I said I would rather have the bit extra velocity so long as they were both equal in all other aspects.
Although I will note that the longer sight radius of the Ranch would make it easier for the shooter to be more accurate.
I would also be curious if the flash-hider has any effect on accuracy compared to the Ranch.