Have the accuracy issues with the Ruger mini 14 been addressed with the new model?

[animalmother]

I still have the Mini-14 I bought in 1982. It is plenty accurate for the sub-100 yard shooting I do with it. I do like the newer ones, though. Thinking about adding a second Mini to the collection.

 

[RonJ]

My 580 series would group into about 4" at 100 yards, slow fire.
I was pretty happy with that. Then one day I shot a full 20 rd mag over a course of 2 minutes. With a hot barrel it wouldn't even stay on the paper. I decided that was not acceptable for a SHTF gun and sold it. Now I'm thinking it was a heck of a lot better than not having anything to replace it.

 

[Homie]

Originally posted by CAJUNLAWYER:
It's a hundred yard gun. and with a Williams peep sight offhand I can do 5" groups all day long. That's what I bought it for. I've always viewed the Mini 14 as a stepped up 30 cal carbine-much better than a handgun ,223 is cheaper than 30 cal carbine and easier to get (and more powerful to boot), but never meant for serious long distance work.

Interesting accuracy test! I would guess that 99.9% of shooters cannot shoot 5" groups at 100 offhand with a 1/2 minute gun much less a "clunker" Mini-14. It would be interesting to see how well it does from the bench.

FWIW- I have an early one that has been bedded and the trigger done that shoots very well, but most "current" gunsmiths are afraid of them.

Good shooting- and 5" offhand at 100 is good shooting!

 

[crofoot629]

I got a Mini-14 Tactical model, M-14/20GBCPC, about three weeks ago. It has a synthetic stock and a flash suppressor. It is shooting 3-4" groups at 100 yards with stock iron sights. I have only shot about 50 rounds so far, so the grouping might improve more when I have a few more rounds through it. Love it so far!

Nice looking rifle!
http://www.ruger-firearms.com/...?model=5847&return=Y
Ruger indicates it's chambered in 223, not 5.56. Is that true?

Emory

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

Ruger indicates it's chambered in 223, not 5.56. Is that true?

The Owners Manual states that it will shoot both without a problem. More info can be found on the Ruger Forum:
http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/index.php

 

[RonJ]

All previous mini's have been rated for 5.56. I wonder if they changed to a .223 chamber in the interest of accuracy?

 

[GatorFarmer]

All Rugers are stamped .223. So were Colts for years - both my circa '75 SP1 and my circa 85ish SP2 are so stamped, yet Colt has always used 5.56mm chamber dimensions. The Ruger, if I remember right, is using a Wylde chamber.

The shorter barrel "NRA" edition was also turning in better accuracy according to some users, but a standard fix for Minis for years was to chop the barrels down to "stiffen" them. Beats me what works and what doesn't since reports are all over the place.

They're sort of neat little guns which is I suppose why I kept getting them and still keep one. They weren't exactly intended for fending off the PLA, Martian hordes, or a sky full of Canadian paratroopers though.

Cajun - there were several threads about the 30rd mags on Perfect Union. Long story short - some are already turning up on Gunbroker, but some are also turning up at retail establisments. A guy in AZ bought some retail from the Tempe Cabelas for 45 dollars each. At this time Ruger is only selling them to distributors, however they will be on the web page as soon as production ramps up. They are not marked LEO only and will be available to anyone.

Thermold is also back in business and making working polymer Mini 14 mags, and apparently soon will also have Mini 30 mags as well. The mag issue for Mini 14s anyway is solved.

 

[Bullman]

Mine was never that accurate and I ended up selling it, I am more of a shotgun person anyway when it comes to long guns. One thing I do prefer the mini to over the AR is the ease of care and cleaning. To me it is much easier to strip a mini down and detail clean it compared to an AR.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Originally posted by GatorFarmer:
All Rugers are stamped .223. So were Colts for years - both my circa '75 SP1 and my circa 85ish SP2 are so stamped, yet Colt has always used 5.56mm chamber dimensions. The Ruger, if I remember right, is using a Wylde chamber.

The shorter barrel "NRA" edition was also turning in better accuracy according to some users, but a standard fix for Minis for years was to chop the barrels down to "stiffen" them. Beats me what works and what doesn't since reports are all over the place.

They're sort of neat little guns which is I suppose why I kept getting them and still keep one. They weren't exactly intended for fending off the PLA, Martian hordes, or a sky full of Canadian paratroopers though.

Cajun - there were several threads about the 30rd mags on Perfect Union. Long story short - some are already turning up on Gunbroker, but some are also turning up at retail establisments. A guy in AZ bought some retail from the Tempe Cabelas for 45 dollars each. At this time Ruger is only selling them to distributors, however they will be on the web page as soon as production ramps up. They are not marked LEO only and will be available to anyone.

Thermold is also back in business and making working polymer Mini 14 mags, and apparently soon will also have Mini 30 mags as well. The mag issue for Mini 14s anyway is solved.

Hell, I just bought 5 20 rounders from them

I'm gonna see if they will exchange them for the 30's and bill me for the difference.

 

[crofoot629]

Hell, I just bought 5 20 rounders from them I'm gonna see if they will exchange them for the 30's and bill me for the difference.

Don't do it. You'll make the rest of us look bad for having too much stuff. Keep the 20's and buy more 30's.

Emory

 

[Guest]

They have but it is no longer the handy little carbine that it once was.