How's the new Ruger Mini14 Varmint hvy barrl?

terez

terez

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How's the new Ruger Mini14 varmint gun working out?

I was handling one at the gunshop the other day.

Really like the design and balance of the gun.
My previous attempts to get a Mini14 to shoot were in vain!
Do these things shoot decently?
Is the adjustable barrel weight effective?
I'm not expexting sub moa bolt gun performance but need/expect right on moa or so? Would be for varminting and other precision plinking duty shooting inexpensive factory ammo.


Thanks in advance
 
I ve heard very good things sofar. I have a Mini 14 standard 580 model on the way and will see if the new ones are truly better.
 
Mini14 Varmint

In handling it @ the shop it is heavy, not overly muzzle haevy either but centrally heavy. Wouldn't want to carry it in the field a lot for sure.

The stock is odd. Ned to shoot it to really get a feel for it.
Not many gripping options if it doesn't suit, you seem locked into the one position it offers unlike a conventional stock that you can move around on a bit.

I love the idea of a decent shooting hvy barrel Mini14 though.
Especially off the shelf setup too.

I like the barrel length/weight/adjustable comp and stainless finish.

Interested to see some field/range experience with it.
 
The Giant said:
I've heard that it is an assault rifle!!!!! :ar15:
Sorry that's all I know about it.
Click to expand...

I take it this is a joke? If not you are a fine candidate for the liberal party of canada. As for the mini -14 target I have heard that MOA is possible but it is very picky about what ammo it will do this with.
 
The Giant said:
I've heard that it is an assault rifle!!!!! :ar15:
Sorry that's all I know about it.
Click to expand...

Well the little you know about it is far from the truth. It is NOT an assault rifle! Why not you ask? Well for one it is NOT capable of fully automatic fire, which is the defining characteristic of an assault rifle ( selective fire) and we can only use 5 round mags for them ( no standard capacity magaizines for us canadians)

The mini-14 is just another semi-automatic hunting and sporting rifle
 
It's great...

It is a great rifle...once you've figured out where the weight on the barrel needs to sit. I was reloading for it (55gr & 68gr varmint and target bullets) and had a ##### of time with the combination of powder charges and weight placement on the barrel. I finally settled on a load 68gr match bullets, and the shots are all humping each other at 100yds. I also found that the rifle needs to be pulled in really tight to your shoulder.
 
I had a fairly brief encounter with mine!
Sold it someone who had more patience than I. Sub MOA with three shots fairly regular but don't expect it for five rounds. This is not a varmit rifle unless your shooting coyotes at less than 200 yards. Grass rats stand a good chance of survival beyond 100 yards as this gun is not consistant enough to do head shots beyond 100 yards.
Good news is that they definately shoot way better than the original Mini14. I'll take my AR anyday of the week over the Mini. Too bad the AR is restricted.
 
Originally Posted by The Giant
I've heard that it is an assault rifle!!!!! :ar15:
Sorry that's all I know about it.
Click to expand...



Doods, you need to adjust your sarcasm/humour detection units.
 
Target 14

I have one and love it. Mine has a 14 power VXL and no gopher or magpie within 250 yards ever got to say hi to your loved ones again. The gun is a laser beem at those ranges. 52 grain hollow point hand loads and I have never moved the weight, if it works why mess with it. 45 grain winchester 40 packs shoot extremly well if you dont reload. If you are a good shot the gun will do whatever you want it to do. Patience, Leupolds,and good bullets make a good gun great.
 
My buddy has one that groups an honest 1MOA at 200 yards using the cheapo Winchester white box stuff (but not with anything else that we've tried). My Swiss Arms will only equal that if I use the expensive RUAG ammo. The only reason that I haven't gotten one is that I have assumed that his is just a lucky fluke one-off example.

By the way, he has the laminated stock, and it is one of the most uncomfortable gunstocks that I have ever handled. I would definitely go with the Hogue-stock version.

After experience with several minis over the years, I never would have believed that we'd be discussing one on the "Precision Rifles" forum!
 
I like mine. The newer front sights, which resemble those on m1's and m14's are real nice compared to the old inch thick single blade front sight. It's fairly accurate. Throws brass 90 mph and 30ft. Reloaders nighmare though. Crushes and dents the neck of the brass.

Edit*** Opps, I forgot this was in reference to the mini-14 target. My review is based on the regular ranch rifle.
 
I like mine too. It does take some patience (and a lot of ammo) to adjust a load and find the proper position for the barrel dampener but once you figure it out, it's pretty good. Mine will shoot 65 grains Sierra Gamekings sub-MOA. I installed an Accuracy Systems Inc tunable gas block on mine to take care of the supersonic case ejection problem...

The only thing that somewhat bugs me is that the point of impact will sometimes change by several inches after you totally stripped the gun for a good cleaning. Any variation of stress or pressure around the gas block area seems to influence the POI.

The PE90 or any good AR would do better I am sure but then, the mini-14 isn't $3k+ or restricted.
 
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