580 Series Mini 14

nelly

nelly

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Seriously:

Who has one, what do you think?

I had an earlier one, circa 1992, and it would only hit the broad side the barn... from inside. I have heard via internet chatter that the new ones really are better. If true, I have a niche in the safe that could be filled by a Mini 14.

Can anyone provide INFORMED comment?

Thanks much for your time!

Neal
 
I bought one from Frontier when they first came out with the heavier, tapered barrel. Mine is stainless and synthetic. It wears a 4x scope. With handloads, it will shoot 1.5-2" all day. Best shot was a beaver at 300 yards. Excellent rifle with much improved accuracy.
 
I have one and its great "BIG improvment over the older ones"

I am selling it to focus on my Soviet arms collection though ;)
 
Well, I bought a 580 series Mini a couple of years ago and was quite happy with it, both accuracy (easily 1/3 the group size of my old 80's model) and function wise. However it wasn't "black" enough for me, so I sold it and have bought (and sold) a Tavor, SL8, CX4, and an M4gery, and currently have an FS2000.

And another new 580 Mini-14 Ranch Rifle. :) While that may say more about my wants and needs than the performance of the rifle(s), I do believe they're a victim of much undeserved internet sensationalism, and are very good when used for their intended purposes.
 
Thanks for the info, folks.

It looks like I will be forced to move out of the BMW black rifle world (Swissarms), and into the Dodge (Mini 14), due to that silly urge to procreate, and people judging if the baby doesn't get new shoes every now and then.

;)

Neal
 
nelly said:
Thanks for the info, folks.

It looks like I will be forced to move out of the BMW black rifle world (Swissarms), and into the Dodge (Mini 14), due to that silly urge to procreate, and people judging if the baby doesn't get new shoes every now and then.
;)

Neal
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I feel your pain, but the kids are worth it!

I too am considering the mini 14/30 series again but I see that the prices have come up a fair bit in the last few years.
 
Nestor said:
Since You are on a cutting edge, maybe buy Mini 30 instead.
Practice ammo comes much, much cheaper and has more kick.
Click to expand...

If you are going to opt for a 7.62x39, you can get a nice russian SKS for MUCH cheaper than a mini-30 or even a cz-858 for around the same price or cheaper.
I have a 580 series mini-14 and I like it. I really like the ghost ring rear sight with Garand style front sight on these newer models, rather than the huge single blade front sights on the older ones. Its a nice little gun for sure.
 
cote_b said:
If you are going to opt for a 7.62x39, you can get a nice russian SKS for MUCH cheaper than a mini-30 or even a cz-858 for around the same price or cheaper.
I have a 580 series mini-14 and I like it. I really like the ghost ring rear sight with Garand style front sight on these newer models, rather than the huge single blade front sights on the older ones. Its a nice little gun for sure.
Click to expand...

Is the barrel really better on the new series?
Actually lately I'm thinking more and more about buying one instead of AR.
 
cote_b said:
If you are going to opt for a 7.62x39, you can get a nice russian SKS for MUCH cheaper than a mini-30 or even a cz-858 for around the same price or cheaper.
I have a 580 series mini-14 and I like it. I really like the ghost ring rear sight with Garand style front sight on these newer models, rather than the huge single blade front sights on the older ones. Its a nice little gun for sure.
Click to expand...

Yeah, see I bought an SKS, and have been disappointed - twice... The ammo is cheap, but my shotgun is more accurate with slugs than either SKS I have used.

And for paper or zombies, I have a significant stockpile of .223. Aren't the 858s restricted? The new rifle MUST be unrestricted.
 
Aren't the 858s restricted? The new rifle MUST be unrestricted

The 858-2's are not restricted although the 858-4's are restricted. I own the SKS, XCR, AR-15, CZ-858 and without any doubt in my mind the 858 has been my best rifle purchase.
 
Nestor said:
Is the barrel really better on the new series?
Actually lately I'm thinking more and more about buying one instead of AR.
Click to expand...

Im not sure what the barrels were like on the older ones, but the barrels on these ones are light and tend to heat up fairly quickly, which is my least favourite feature of the rifle. Also, If you plan to reaload the .223 brass, you would have to buy an aftermarket gas block for it, since, in my experience, it throws brass 30 feet at 90mph and crushes the neck on every second brass. I think this problem can be fixed by buying an aftermarket gas block, or so Ive been told.

The nice thing about a Mini-14 is you can get a very good condition used one for much cheaper than a used Norinco AR. Being non-restricted is a huge advantage of the mini aswell, so you can hunt with it, shoot it on crown land and transport it without ATT's. The advantage of the AR being that the barrel likely doesnt heat us as quick and it might not destroy the brass either. You can get 10 round LAR mags for them too.

Altogether, I am happy with my mini and I got a good deal on it too. Mine is a wood/blued version and it has the classic hunting rifle look. Its a well made, good quality rifle that is non-restricted and nice and compact.
 
nelly said:
Yeah, see I bought an SKS, and have been disappointed - twice... The ammo is cheap, but my shotgun is more accurate with slugs than either SKS I have used.

And for paper or zombies, I have a significant stockpile of .223. Aren't the 858s restricted? The new rifle MUST be unrestricted.
Click to expand...

The VZ-58L and Cz-848-2 are both non-restricted and can be had for less than a mini-30. The Cz comes with a sling, 4 mags, bayonet and mag pouch. My best friend has one and its a great rifle. I would take it over a mini-30 anyday.
 
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cote_b said:
Im not sure what the barrels were like on the older ones, but the barrels on these ones are light and tend to heat up fairly quickly, which is my least favourite feature of the rifle. Also, If you plan to reaload the .223 brass, you would have to buy an aftermarket gas block for it, since, in my experience, it throws brass 30 feet at 90mph and crushes the neck on every second brass. I think this problem can be fixed by buying an aftermarket gas block, or so Ive been told.

The nice thing about a Mini-14 is you can get a very good condition used one for much cheaper than a used Norinco AR. Being non-restricted is a huge advantage of the mini aswell, so you can hunt with it, shoot it on crown land and transport it without ATT's. The advantage of the AR being that the barrel likely doesnt heat us as quick and it might not destroy the brass either. You can get 10 round LAR mags for them too.

Altogether, I am happy with my mini and I got a good deal on it too. Mine is a wood/blued version and it has the classic hunting rifle look. Its a well made, good quality rifle that is non-restricted and nice and compact.
Click to expand...

Thank You for the answer.
 
I put a scope today on my Ruger Mini 14 Target and did some sighting in, shot my way up from 25 to 100 yards and in 5 shot groups with 55 gr. commercially loaded cheap ammo I had 1 MOA, some groups were better, so under 0.75 MOA or better at 100 yards with some experimenting with ammo and the harmonic balancer should be no problem IMHO.
 
Been playing around (read: spending money and tinkering) with my 580 Ranch the last couple of weeks, and it's both educational and a good reason to go shooting. As I have a mitt full of PMC 55gr I decided to use it exclusively, and have been working through some of the suggestions on the perfectunion forums.

To start I mounted a Nikon Prostaff 2-7x32 and sighted it in at 100yd. Groups were what I consider normal, with most under 4", a couple just under 3" and one at almost 6". Good fuel for the "can't hit the broad side of a barn from the inside" Mini hater crowd.

I then received a gas bushing kit from ASI, and after trying them all decided on the .045 bushing and stronger recoil spring. This left the brass in a nice pile about 5' to the right, but more importantly the groups shrunk down to ~3" average, with one nearing 2" and only one ~4". Whether this was due to the bushing and spring, evenly torquing the gas block or a combination of it all I'm not sure, but a 25% reduction in group size is always a good thing.

Yesterday a NcStar Muzzle brake arrived, and though it just kinda fits and hangs on (needs lots of loktite I guess) I took it for a spin and was rewarded with yet another improvement...groups were now around the 2" mark, with one at 2.5", and one just over 1.75".

So for a $30 investment and a bit of time my groups are roughly half the size of when I started. Cool. If only it was this easy with all my rifles. Never one to leave well enough alone I also ordered an AccuStrut, which I'm hoping will squeeze the groups down a bit more as 1.5" is all I really want.

And then testing will start with some different ammo. Even more reasons to shoot. :)
 
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