ruger mini-14
05-03-2006 | 02:33 AM
#32
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,171
Likes: 0
From: A flat lander lost in the mountains of Northern,AZ
RE: ruger mini-14
ORIGINAL: Porter Rockwell
Gents,
Believe it or not, I already had a fairly decent out of the box Mini whenI bought it 2-3'' at 100 yards with WWB 55 grain.
If you want some real cheap fixes that will help, try these:
1) Put a Masen slip-on Muzzle break. This took it to 1.5 to 2'' at 100 yards.
2) Slip on a Sims barrel deresonator. Yeah, I know, not made for this type of gun---But it works!
3) If you want really good groups use premium ammo. Yep, Winchester and Nosler have some pretty good stuff. You can read a review on the mini14 ranch rifle and winchester ammo that was used. I produced 3/4 inch groups. Go to gunblast.com The 55 grain yielded great results!
4) Use the Ruger 5 round mag. I did fairly well with a Masen 10 round mag, however, even with the Ruger factory 20 rounders I have, the groups were much larger.
5) If you are shooting for groups, give your barrel time to cool down. If you are just shooting for fun, dont worry about it.
6) I have not done it, but I hear that putting a Hogue stock is almost as good as putting a glass bedding ot the gun. It fits real tight!
I have done 5 out of the 6 things here and I can shoot 3/4 to 1.5 at 200 yards (Not more than 10 shots though, the barrel gets too hot). I have shot 2"-2.5" at 300 yards.
All in all, the cost for the brake and deresonator is $45.00.
I think the hogue stock is about $40-70 on line depending on where you look.
I have out shot my buddy who has a RR Arms that he paid at least $200 more than I did even with my slight modifications.
The ammo will cost you more, but I have been amazed at how well WWB 62 grain had done for just plinking. Just use the other good stuff when you want good groups, it works. Hornady's 55 grain BT was not bad either.
Porter.
Gents,
Believe it or not, I already had a fairly decent out of the box Mini whenI bought it 2-3'' at 100 yards with WWB 55 grain.
If you want some real cheap fixes that will help, try these:
1) Put a Masen slip-on Muzzle break. This took it to 1.5 to 2'' at 100 yards.
2) Slip on a Sims barrel deresonator. Yeah, I know, not made for this type of gun---But it works!
3) If you want really good groups use premium ammo. Yep, Winchester and Nosler have some pretty good stuff. You can read a review on the mini14 ranch rifle and winchester ammo that was used. I produced 3/4 inch groups. Go to gunblast.com The 55 grain yielded great results!
4) Use the Ruger 5 round mag. I did fairly well with a Masen 10 round mag, however, even with the Ruger factory 20 rounders I have, the groups were much larger.
5) If you are shooting for groups, give your barrel time to cool down. If you are just shooting for fun, dont worry about it.
6) I have not done it, but I hear that putting a Hogue stock is almost as good as putting a glass bedding ot the gun. It fits real tight!
I have done 5 out of the 6 things here and I can shoot 3/4 to 1.5 at 200 yards (Not more than 10 shots though, the barrel gets too hot). I have shot 2"-2.5" at 300 yards.
All in all, the cost for the brake and deresonator is $45.00.
I think the hogue stock is about $40-70 on line depending on where you look.
I have out shot my buddy who has a RR Arms that he paid at least $200 more than I did even with my slight modifications.
The ammo will cost you more, but I have been amazed at how well WWB 62 grain had done for just plinking. Just use the other good stuff when you want good groups, it works. Hornady's 55 grain BT was not bad either.
Porter.
yep sounds about right for the folks at gun blast everything I've ever read at gunblast is either pure luck or a load of bull.
05-24-2006 | 04:16 PM
#33
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
From: Pleasant Grove, Utah
RE: ruger mini-14
Maybe the ammo recommendations at gunblast can be a load, but my own modifications to the mini are legit. Any time you want to drive up from AZ and try it, let me know. I think my next move is the Hogue stock for it. I have been pleased with everything else.
Shooting clays at 200-250 yards is a snap.
God Bless,
Porter.
Shooting clays at 200-250 yards is a snap.
God Bless,
Porter.
05-25-2006 | 05:58 AM
#34
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,171
Likes: 0
From: A flat lander lost in the mountains of Northern,AZ
RE: ruger mini-14
ORIGINAL: Porter Rockwell
Maybe the ammo recommendations at gunblast can be a load, but my own modifications to the mini are legit. Any time you want to drive up from AZ and try it, let me know. I think my next move is the Hogue stock for it. I have been pleased with everything else.
Shooting clays at 200-250 yards is a snap.
God Bless,
Porter.
Maybe the ammo recommendations at gunblast can be a load, but my own modifications to the mini are legit. Any time you want to drive up from AZ and try it, let me know. I think my next move is the Hogue stock for it. I have been pleased with everything else.
Shooting clays at 200-250 yards is a snap.
God Bless,
Porter.
Id love to take you up on your offer howfar is pleasant grove, utah form say pheonix, AZ?? might have to take a few days off.
05-27-2006 | 11:00 AM
#36
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,781
Likes: 0
From: Body in SE WI, mind in U.P.
RE: ruger mini-14
The mini is way over priced to be a plinker and not accurate enough to be a serious rifle.
The Saiga .223s are more accurate and cost $100-150 or more less than the mini and are a better rifle IMO.
For a serious semiauto rifle, there is no substitute for the AR.
The Saiga .223s are more accurate and cost $100-150 or more less than the mini and are a better rifle IMO.
For a serious semiauto rifle, there is no substitute for the AR.
06-05-2006 | 01:01 PM
#37
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
From: Pleasant Grove, Utah
RE: ruger mini-14
HD Wolf,
I would say you are at least 12 hours from me by car. I'm about 40 minutes south of Salt Lake. I know a few years ago it took me aboutsix hours to get to Jacobs Lake, AZ. We were sown by Lake Poweel and doing somecliff diving etc. I remember driving to Flagstaff several years ago I think that was 8-9 hours?
The 62 grain match from Federal has done reasonably well. Other have told me it really likes the heavy stuff. I have shot some 68 grainers through it, but not for accuracy yet.
God Bless,
Porter.
I would say you are at least 12 hours from me by car. I'm about 40 minutes south of Salt Lake. I know a few years ago it took me aboutsix hours to get to Jacobs Lake, AZ. We were sown by Lake Poweel and doing somecliff diving etc. I remember driving to Flagstaff several years ago I think that was 8-9 hours?
The 62 grain match from Federal has done reasonably well. Other have told me it really likes the heavy stuff. I have shot some 68 grainers through it, but not for accuracy yet.
God Bless,
Porter.
06-05-2006 | 01:11 PM
#38
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
From: Pleasant Grove, Utah
RE: ruger mini-14
HD Wolfe,
Seriously. Try fitting on of these on the barrel. It might take a bit to slip on on, but it works! You can by a deresonator for $12-20 depending on where you look.
Here are the Masen Muzzle breaks. They make a difference as well. Put the Simms on before or you will be stretching that baby to get itover the muzzle break I know, I had to do it!
I got mine from Midway.
God Bless,
Porter.
Seriously. Try fitting on of these on the barrel. It might take a bit to slip on on, but it works! You can by a deresonator for $12-20 depending on where you look.
Here are the Masen Muzzle breaks. They make a difference as well. Put the Simms on before or you will be stretching that baby to get itover the muzzle break I know, I had to do it!
I got mine from Midway.
God Bless,
Porter.
06-05-2006 | 04:51 PM
#39
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,171
Likes: 0
From: A flat lander lost in the mountains of Northern,AZ
RE: ruger mini-14
asfar as factory ammo I found my mini-14 to like the white box winchester bulk ammo in 55 grain fmj the best. second best would be wolf 62 grain hollow points.
I also reload for it I achieved my best groups using federal match brass, cci small rifle primers, 25 grains H4895 powder, and Hornady 55 grain SXSP's. I noticed the mini-14 to favor lighter charge weights that push a 55 grainer around 3,000 fps pushing it any faster I began to see the accuracy start to go down hill quick.
I might try that barrel deresonator, im also lookin into having a better trigger put in too I like a 2 stage trigger so i will look for a softer one, the factory 2 stage is just a little hard for my liking. I have a muzzle break for it its the choate m-14 style one. heres a pic. if you go back to page 1 of this thread you can see a picture of my complete setup plus a 150 yard target.
I also reload for it I achieved my best groups using federal match brass, cci small rifle primers, 25 grains H4895 powder, and Hornady 55 grain SXSP's. I noticed the mini-14 to favor lighter charge weights that push a 55 grainer around 3,000 fps pushing it any faster I began to see the accuracy start to go down hill quick.
I might try that barrel deresonator, im also lookin into having a better trigger put in too I like a 2 stage trigger so i will look for a softer one, the factory 2 stage is just a little hard for my liking. I have a muzzle break for it its the choate m-14 style one. heres a pic. if you go back to page 1 of this thread you can see a picture of my complete setup plus a 150 yard target.
06-07-2006 | 11:50 AM
#40
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
From: Pleasant Grove, Utah
RE: ruger mini-14
HD Wolfe,
That is a real nice setup. I'll see if I can get a pic on here of mine.
Is your mini one of the older versions? Mine is a newer Ranch rifle. I have noticed about a 1/2 inch difference between my pops older mini and my newer ranch. He has the same modifications that I have, but my gun will outshoot his.
The newer ranch rifles are still not what they should be for accuracy, but the barrels are a tad bit stiffer with better steel in my opinion. in addition, they did change the twist rate in the new mini's. My dad does not do as well in shooting the heavier stuff. The max he can get a decent group is with your same 62 grain.
I can really say by experience that the premium stuff by Winchester andNosler (55 Grain)does make a difference in my gun. Federal 55 grain and 68 grain match was good, but not as good. Hornady 55 grain was fair.I do get much tighter groups (As good asor even better than my dad's handloads) with Nosler and Winnie.You can't go plinking with that stuff though unless you have a few mil in the bank! I have not had very good success with the real light 40 grain varmint loads from Hornady or Winchester.
One other thing I noticed as well. I really liked the convenience and quick aquisition with a red dot on my mini, but I did shoot better with my Leupold 3x9on top.
God Bless,
Porter.
That is a real nice setup. I'll see if I can get a pic on here of mine.
Is your mini one of the older versions? Mine is a newer Ranch rifle. I have noticed about a 1/2 inch difference between my pops older mini and my newer ranch. He has the same modifications that I have, but my gun will outshoot his.
The newer ranch rifles are still not what they should be for accuracy, but the barrels are a tad bit stiffer with better steel in my opinion. in addition, they did change the twist rate in the new mini's. My dad does not do as well in shooting the heavier stuff. The max he can get a decent group is with your same 62 grain.
I can really say by experience that the premium stuff by Winchester andNosler (55 Grain)does make a difference in my gun. Federal 55 grain and 68 grain match was good, but not as good. Hornady 55 grain was fair.I do get much tighter groups (As good asor even better than my dad's handloads) with Nosler and Winnie.You can't go plinking with that stuff though unless you have a few mil in the bank! I have not had very good success with the real light 40 grain varmint loads from Hornady or Winchester.
One other thing I noticed as well. I really liked the convenience and quick aquisition with a red dot on my mini, but I did shoot better with my Leupold 3x9on top.
God Bless,
Porter.