School me on Mini-14s

[ArmedinAZ]

Trying to learn the variants, looking to buy one to shoot a bunch.

thanks
Jeff

 

[gunman42782]

http://www.ruger.com/products/mini14/index.html

and

http://www.perfectunion.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=86

 

[ArmedinAZ]

Thanks for the links. I should have said what are the differences in older vs newer production. I understand Ruger made some changes in the platform along the way. Worth considering? I'm not afraid to buy older and usually prefer them to latest & greatest.

 

[gunman42782]

Well, the newer 580 series are more accurate, in my experience. I have owned 5 of them over the years, and my 580 gun will run rings out of the other 4 I have owned. My older Minis would string shots like crazy as the barrel warmed up. New one I have keeps it's zero. Now, it still aint no target rifle, but it will do just fine if you don't require super tiny groups.

 

[blume357]

I'd buy a new tactical one with the shorter barrel.

 

[ArmedinAZ]

Can you explain the "580" series? Is this the serial number? Are the guns with the large sight housing cast into the receiver the original series?

 

[blume357]

580 is the first part of the serial number... and this is when they fully switched over to the new improved barrels which is the inherent problem with previous mini's. the barrel was kind of thin on the second half and even though this is hard to picture when a round flys down it would cause the barrel to actually whip a little... only takes a fraction of an inch to throw the round off a good bit.

The reason I suggested the shorter barrel is because of your saying you wanted to shoot it a good bit and 16" barrels are just easier, at least to me.... on top of this, a shorter barrel even in the new models should in theory still have less whip.

I'm not a long range shooter... 100 yards is the max for me and usually this is from a rest and I usually shoot 50 yards for most things.

 

[chet15]

580 is the first part of the serial number... and this is when they fully switched over to the new improved barrels which is the inherent problem with previous mini's. the barrel was kind of thin on the second half and even though this is hard to picture when a round flys down it would cause the barrel to actually whip a little... only takes a fraction of an inch to throw the round off a good bit.

The difference between the last of the old style Mini's (they ended in the 197- prefix) and the 580- and 581- mini's were the sights. Ruger also dropped the regular mini without the integral scope mounting system...those models just weren't selling anymore.
Ruger's barrel change did not occur until about 47,000 guns into production of the 580- prefix guns and 6000 or so guns into the 581- Mini-30 production.
Chet15

 

[ArmedinAZ]

580 is the first part of the serial number... and this is when they fully switched over to the new improved barrels which is the inherent problem with previous mini's. the barrel was kind of thin on the second half and even though this is hard to picture when a round flys down it would cause the barrel to actually whip a little... only takes a fraction of an inch to throw the round off a good bit.

The difference between the last of the old style Mini's (they ended in the 197- prefix) and the 580- and 581- mini's were the sights. Ruger also dropped the regular mini without the integral scope mounting system...those models just weren't selling anymore.
Ruger's barrel change did not occur until about 47,000 guns into production of the 580- prefix guns and 6000 or so guns into the 581- Mini-30 production.
Chet15

OK, now we're getting somewhere. The change in sights and the integral scope mounts are obvious. So 580 & 581 guns are the new receiver and one should look for the short barrel to get the most consistent accuracy..is that right? If I find a nice old series is there anything to look for good or bad? Kinda leaning to wood/blued or wood/ss..old school look.

 

[chet15]

If I find a nice old series is there anything to look for good or bad? Kinda leaning to wood/blued or wood/ss..old school look.

Yeah...again, most folks think the heavier barreled New Mini's are the best for the money. Short barrel/long barrel...I don't think it matters too much. They've all got Ruger's integral scope mounting system on them anyway, but a longer barrel should have the advantange of more velocity on the .223.
It's too bad Ruger didn't start making a heavier barreled mini a lot sooner.
Chet15

 

[mattsbox99]

I've got a 197- .223 gun and a 581- 6.8 gun that both shoot pretty darn well.

If you buy an older gun, I would stick to at least a Ranch Rifle, since they have the scope mounts in the receiver.

Minis are excellent coyote guns.

 

[ArmedinAZ]

I borrowed a co-worker's 184xxx stainless that he has tac'd out to try. Bought a 100 rd box of federal FMJs and hit the shooting wash this morning. Not the best first impression. Obviously the mag is defective, was only able to get 2 consecutive shots before it tried to double feed, stovepipe (in a rifle??) or spit a live round out with the empty. When loading the mag it would sometimes pop the last round back out. The gun could use a good cleaning so I'll field strip it and clean & lube it up and see if he has any known good mags. Definitely fun to shoot. With the stock sights @ 100 feet kneeling I was putting them all in 2.5", after I adjusted 4" up for elevation. He runs a scope but it wasn't one it.

A nice blued/wood 580 came on Phoenix Backpage at $425, it was sold in minutes...

 

[mattsbox99]

Any 580 under 500 is a steal, others under 450 are a good buy.

As you've noticed, the only mags that work are Factory mags and I've had good luck with Triple K, but the Factory ones are the best by far.

 

[ArmedinAZ]

Any 580 under 500 is a steal, others under 450 are a good buy.

As you've noticed, the only mags that work are Factory mags and I've had good luck with Triple K, but the Factory ones are the best by far.

Don't know what this mag is, no markings and it just feels cheap. I'd fix it with a hammer if it were mine. :evil:

 

[sargents1]

Any 580 under 500 is a steal, others under 450 are a good buy.

As you've noticed, the only mags that work are Factory mags and I've had good luck with Triple K, but the Factory ones are the best by far.

Don't know what this mag is, no markings and it just feels cheap. I'd fix it with a hammer if it were mine. :evil:

I can second the vote for TripleK. I bought three of their 20rd rectangular mags (the ones that Look like M14 mags) and all three are perfect. In fact they fit better and seem to be of higher quality than the Ruger brand mag I have. Go figure. $14.99 plus shipping from CDNN.

If you get a new Mini and have problems with magazines, the Worst case is you have to buy the Ruger brand mags for 25-35$ each. Definitely not the end of the world.


I sure like my Mini 14...

 

[CarbineKid]

CDNN has some great prices on minis, are these the newer ones???

 

[sp]

About 2 years ago I picked up a stainless Mini 14 -- a 580 s/n type.

I had little expectations of getting reasonably good accuracy. I expected about 4-6 inch groups at 100 yards. I scrounged up about 500 cases of various types mostly Lake City and bought some cheapo bullets -- I think they were Malay and cost about $8/100. The were 55 grain bullets. I used up what ever primers and powder that I had on hand. I used a Lee factory crimp die for the bullets w/c's. I got 5-7 inch groups but it was fun to shoot.

When I ran out of bullets I found some .224 Nostler 60 BT's w/c's and almost a pound of Alliant 10x. It shot about 2 inches. I was able to hit a 4 inch steel disk at 200 yards almost all the time.

So use care when assembling ammo and use good bullets. My rifle has a 1-9 twist.

I don't know much about factory ammo but I expect a lot of it would perform like my hand loads.

 

[blume357]

Yep, ammo is a big thing and for those that load their own they seem to know this better or at least accept it better than the rest of us.....

I was trying to figure out what factory loads would shoot best in my first AR.... whet through about 10 or 15 different types and was getting around 3-5" groups on most of the 'good' stuff... I finally was left with some ammo I had bought from the Sportsmans guide a few years back... did not have any grain size list for the rounds.... I figured it had to be real cheap stuff, or why would I have but it way... right. So I fired off 10 quick shots just to say I'd tried all the ammo I had... all 10 went in a group less than 2"... I could not believe it.

Ultra Max 55gr... was the ammo for that rifle. I'v heard the same can be said for the mini-14.... you've got to find the right ammo for a specific rifle. then hope the factory doesn't change .... or at least buy up as much of that batch as possible...