Mini 14 guys! I need your advice/assistance

M0FuK1Dy

M0FuK1Dy

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Hey all,

Just picked up a Mini 14 from the Outdoorsman show, and I'm looking to reload.

I picked up a box of ammo, just to go out and play and picked up all the brass so I could use it to reload. When I got home I noticed a little ding on every shell. It would look as though they are hitting something on ejection. Would this be something common on the mini 14, or could it be the fact that it was cheap ammo with just barely enough power to eject the spent case or....?

I hope this isn't a common problem, because that would make it expensive to load.

shellding.jpg



And now, with that all aside. What would be your best recommendation for reloading. I want to load 2 types of rounds.

Lots of cheap plinking rounds, and a small stock of hunting rounds for coyotes and such.

Thanks
 
Mine doe it. Doesn't seem to cause any issues when loading.

I use 50gr Nosler BT for hunting rounds pushed by 25.5gr of Benchmark.

For plinking I use whatever is cheapest (right now that would be 50gr PRVI bullets from mystic precision) happily enough they like the same load as the noslers.

Cheers!
 
Mini 14's are notoriously hard on brass. Mine always puts some kind of ding in the brass. I reload them as usual and have never had an issue in thousands of rounds.
 
Excellent, thanks for the info

One more question then. How many times do you resuse the case. I can't imagine it being the same as any other load with a new dent everytime it ejects
 
Good question. You have to inspect and measure the cases each time you reload them no matter how many times you use them. I have .223 cases that I have fired at least 5 or 6 times that have absolutely no issues. I have also had cases that don't look or measure so good after two go arounds. That is the best I can give ya right now.
 
Mine does it too. I load them, it likely blows out smooth, then puts a new one in another part of the case.
 
I have a bunch of minis and none of them do that. However, as other people have mentioned, it won't matter and the ding will blow out on firing. Just double check there are no cracks in any of the cases.
I would get a hold of someone like Henry Nierychlo on this website and order some 55 gr. fmj's for plinking. If you buy an 8 lb keg of WW748 powder and 1, 000 fmj's you will get it for a reasonable price and be able to load up a big pile of .223's. WW 748 gives good economy and good accuracy in any of my .223's. I can get just over 2100 .223 rounds out of an 8 pounder.

It might be a bit of an expense at first to buy the bullets, powder and primers all at once in quantity but you will save hugely in the long run. Who knows, you might have a nice friend who will lend you the money to get you started.:D
 
Gas pressure and ejection

You can get a new gas port end band piece in the aftermarket now that has an ajustable gas port to slow the cartridge ejection and case damage and also keeps your cartridges with in arms length instead of 20 t0 30 ft away to the right over your right shoulder.I,ve seen them advertised in the back of the preadator/varmit magazines.Hope this helps--Check Accuracy Systems on the net--Dieseldog!:cool:
 
Rugerman said:
I have a bunch of minis and none of them do that. However, as other people have mentioned, it won't matter and the ding will blow out on firing. Just double check there are no cracks in any of the cases.
I would get a hold of someone like Henry Nierychlo on this website and order some 55 gr. fmj's for plinking. If you buy an 8 lb keg of WW748 powder and 1, 000 fmj's you will get it for a reasonable price and be able to load up a big pile of .223's. WW 748 gives good economy and good accuracy in any of my .223's. I can get just over 2100 .223 rounds out of an 8 pounder.

It might be a bit of an expense at first to buy the bullets, powder and primers all at once in quantity but you will save hugely in the long run. Who knows, you might have a nice friend who will lend you the money to get you started.:D
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip to get a hold of Henry, coincidentally, I'm already a return customer for him and will keep going back. I get most of the goods for my 30-06 from him and have already been in contact with him for .223. Great guy, and doesn't live far from me :D Already have a small order to keep my trigger finger happy.

Was mainly wanting advice on whats good. I have all my own reloading gear, but I'm still fairly new to the game. My 30-06 load came at a recommendation from another friend that got me into doing hand loads (I borrowed his gear till I got my own) and find it works well, so I never got into experimenting. I think the main thing I'd like to know is grains of powder and brand. I use IMR4350 for the 30-06, can I use the same for the .223?

Stuff like that.

Thanks again!
M0-
 
M0FuK1Dy said:
Was mainly wanting advice on whats good. I have all my own reloading gear, but I'm still fairly new to the game. My 30-06 load came at a recommendation from another friend that got me into doing hand loads (I borrowed his gear till I got my own) and find it works well, so I never got into experimenting. I think the main thing I'd like to know is grains of powder and brand. I use IMR4350 for the 30-06, can I use the same for the .223?

Stuff like that.

Thanks again!
M0-
Click to expand...
My standard load with WW 748 and a 55 gr. bullet is one I have used for a number of years. I got the data from the Hogdon manual however the more recent manual lists this as a max load. (No pressure signs in my rifles.) I am reluctant to post it for that reason. BLC=2 is another nice ball powder to use- easy to meter out. Accuracy loads I use H4895 (or IMR 4895). Also, I have been using IMR 8208 for accuracy loads lately with good results. I'm mainly mentioning ball powders if you want to crank out a lot of rounds quickly. You need to find what works for you in terms of bullet weight and powders. As you may be aware the mini14 needs a bit more work in terms of accurate load development. It also requires some modifications unique to the rifle to get good accuracy. You can learn about that here on this forum or google some Ruger forums to find out what you need to do. Newer minis with the tapered barrel are definitely more accurate. :)
 
The 4350 powders are too slow. W748, H335, BLC2 and WC735 are tops for the .223. They are all ball powders that flow like poop through a goose and give great velocities and accuracy with 55 grain bullets. H4895 is also an excellent powder, but is harder to measure and can be a pain if you are loading large quantities.
 
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