582 Series Mini-14 Honest Range Report + Direct Comparison w/AR15

bcsteve said:
Took my new 583 to the range yesterday after a Brimstone trigger job. 4 rounds in 1.5" with the 5th out opening it to 2.5". That's with Federal Tactical 55gr fmj. It really didn't like the 77gr I had unfortunately. That's with a 3-9x40 scope.
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mmmmm, Brimstone trigger job, how do you like it?
i have one on my 10/22 and i really like it, i keep meaning to send my mini14 trigger group to them but have yet to find anyone whos had one done!
 
wayupnorth said:
i was bored a couple summers back and picked up a accustrut and tested it.
it closed up my groups consistently about 25%.
so the question is this - is the investment worth 25% smaller groups for you?

for me it was.
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It makes me want to try one!
Where and how much did you pay for it? The ones I saw were crazy expensive and that was in USD :(

I'm honestly more than happy with the accuracy out of the stock rifle to be honest. But I would like to try a strut if I could find one for cheap just to see if it actually makes any real difference.
 
If the mini 14 is over gassed you can buy or easily make replacement gas bushings.

Just take the gas block off the barrel and there's a bushing between the lower block and the barrel.

You can buy kits with assorted sizes so you can select the bushing to match your load.

I forget the exact size off the top of my head, but I bought a threaded bolt of the correct diameter and cut off a piece from where it was not threaded. I drilled a hole in it as I felt I needed. I made a few assorted ones... anyone could do it with a hack saw, file and a small enough drill bit. Actually drilling a hole that small is the hardest part because you need more RPMs. Maybe a Dremel would work better than a drill.
 
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wayupnorth said:
mmmmm, Brimstone trigger job, how do you like it?
i have one on my 10/22 and i really like it, i keep meaning to send my mini14 trigger group to them but have yet to find anyone whos had one done!
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Very nice. Set to 3 lbs 5 ounces. Way better than it was from the factory. I was a little nervous with what CBSA would do but no issues at all.
 
BadAsMo said:
You can even buy kits with assorted sizes so you can select the bushing to match your load.
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I got the hadaway(perfect union forums) set, I went with the lowest, I think .04 or .045
Still kicking brass 10ft, rifle seems a little softer shooting. I like it.

I do have an adjustable gas block kicking around, never bothered to try it yet.
 
Travis Bickle said:
It makes me want to try one!
Where and how much did you pay for it? The ones I saw were crazy expensive and that was in USD :(

I'm honestly more than happy with the accuracy out of the stock rifle to be honest. But I would like to try a strut if I could find one for cheap just to see if it actually makes any real difference.
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there is a locked thread in the Hunting and Sports Rifle section on the Mini 14, post #38 is the write up i did when i was playing with my accustrut.
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/850078-Improving-Mini-14-30-Accuracy

i paid $160 CAN for my accustrut.
 
City Boy said:
Can any old hunting scope go on a mini? Or is the action a little rough on scopes?
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I have a Nikon 3x on my Ranch and a Nikon 3x40 on the Target , no issues, shouldnt be any harder than an M14 is, wouldnt recommend a 100 Taco or Simmons but havent heard anything that they eat decent quality scopes.
 
Just pick up a 583 series with a hogue stock for under $800, its going to mald a nice truck/varmint rifle. Not sure what optic I'm going with yet something 2x7 most likely.
Thanks for the review looks like a good shooter. Any difference in 582 and 583 other then the year manufacturered?
 
to my knowledge, the only diff-besides the year-is the scope base option. My 582 was neither drilled nor tapped for the rail. The 583 came with a rail attached. Happy it did-I HATE that ruger proprietary intergrated base.
I promise to get out and try a deliberate 10 shot; I just don't promise when!
 
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well, until i have the rest of the funds, my mini is on the chopping block for the Tavor. I don't mind the mini 14, it does what i want it to do, its one of those guns that the feds don't want us to have, and it doesn't fail. But, it growing old on me, and i wouldn't mind something in a bullpup. The wife hates it too, but she also thinks i should get an AR15 instead, but i still need a non restricted 223.
 
City Boy said:
Can any old hunting scope go on a mini? Or is the action a little rough on scopes?
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One of the things that make it not scope friendly is the contact of the op rod against the face of the receiver when the bolt is at full rear battery during the cycle.
It literally hammers into the face of the receiver, steel on steel full retard. They are over gassed but that's what makes them so reliable and awesome.
I don't want to restrict the gas as I value reliability over all. But I wanted to soften the smashing, clanging feel of the rifle.

I made a 3/16 thick gasket out of silicone automotive high temp gasket maker. Just taped some wax paper onto one side of two pieces of cardboard, squirted a whole ball of it onto one piece and sandwiched it flat until it was at around 3/16th inch and a good size circle and let it dry overnight. Then peel the wax paper off both sides.
Then I cut it to the shape of the front of the receiver, used a fired 9mm casing to hammer/punch out the small circle so the op rod spring guide can fit through.
The stuff can take a pounding with a ball peen hammer against a concrete floor and retain its structure and shape so it should be good to go.
I also made one for to fit around the gas tube. The same thing happens there when the op rod/bolt returns to the full battery position. It smashes into the gas block metal on metal full force lol
It will not make it any more accurate (she's good enough) but will completely dampen the clanging metal vibrations during firing and makes it much more comfortable to shoot.
Will take some pics when I get a chance. If the gasket fails eventually, the next one will be made of belt leather :rockOn:

Just make sure that whatever you use is of the right material and thickness to allow for the op rod and bolt to move rearward enough to both eject casings and also lock to the rear on empty mag.

Planning on doing a light 400/600 grit polish on the hammer and sear soon to get the creep out the trigger a touch.
 
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maifire said:
View attachment 137898

Finally had time and the memory to do this! One second intervals, mag changes of course in between each 5.
Norc white box. Had a crappy headwind today but there you go.
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Sweet!

5 MOA rapid fire of 10 shots at 100 meters with a red dot using bulk Chinese ammo
Ruger surely fixed the barrel harmonics issue with the beefed up barrel and modified gas block system.
I love my mini14.
Every time I take it out I like it a little more. I just wish I hadn't wasted all the time and money chasing $3K tactical mall ninja options for all these years before finally giving it a chance.
That being said the 58X series accuracy is now on par with any rack grade AR15 I have ever shot. The older ones were very rough though. Like 8-10 MOA.
I base rifle accuracy good to go on whether I can hit a 12" plate with irons at 200 meters.
58X series Mini14 passes easily!
 
Travis Bickle said:
...I also made one for to fit around the gas tube. The same thing happens there when the op rod/bolt returns to the full battery position. It smashes into the gas block metal on metal full force lo...l
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Now that is a great idea! I've had a homemade buffer at the rear in my Mini14 for years; never thought of doing this second step, but it makes good sense. Thanks for the inspiration!
 
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