Any ideas on a load for Mini-14 with 1 in 7 twist?

[one-mad-dog]

I've been experimenting on a .223 Remington load for my Mini-14. I tried 55gn psp's with several different charges of H335 and H4198 and even the load with the most consistant velocities was not very accurate. I associated this with the general lacluster accuracy of the Mini-14. In reading about these rifles I found that they were made with barrels with 3 different twist rates over the years (1 in 9, 1 in 7 and 1 in 10). I checked mine and it has a 1 in 7 twist rate.

Further reading showed that with the 1 in 7 twist rate, improved accuracy could be obtained by using heavier bullets. I would like to use bullets with cannelures so I can crimp them for use in the Mini-14 but I'm not sure which weight of bullet would work best. Any one have any ideas on this?

 

[tiriaq]

Probably the heaviest bullet you could use, which would fit the magazine, is the Sierra 77gr Match King. Try some 68gr Hornadys or 69gr Sierras or Noslers. They will probably shoot as well as any bullet will in your rifle. Incidentally, I have never bothered with cannelures when loading for my ARs, and have never had a problem.
A 1:7 barrel will stabilize heavier bullets, but they would have to be single loaded.
It is not that a quick twist barrel is more accurate than a slower twist one - the quick twist barrels can handle heavier bullets.

 

[rnbra-shooter]

Ditto here - the cannelure-less Sierra 77HPBT would be a good choice. It's designed to be seated to magazine length. If you like stick powders, use a shorter-grained one (e.g. H4895), and pay close attention to any powder bridging in the small case neck. If you like ball powders, H335 BL(C)-2 and W748 are good choices.

Mini-14s are noted to give very variable accuracy, it's very much the luck of the draw. They're a really fun little rifle, they sure throw the brass a long (!) ways though...

Make sure you have realistically achievable accuracy goals for your rifle. For example, my off-the-shelf Colt AR-15 shoots 2.75 MOA groups with every good quality bullet I've tried, with IVI military ammo, etc; that's simply the limit of what it is capable of.

 

[Ganderite]

The best my Mini 14 would do was about 6". I gave up tryign to do better and sold it. My AR-15 would easily shoot under 2" with good ammo and a target scope off bags.