hunting with a mini 14

[6.5x55swm]

I may have a chance to get a mini 14 in 223, does anyone here hunt coyotes with one? how do you like it? any issues I should look for?

 

[dand883]

I may have a chance to get a mini 14 in 223, does anyone here hunt coyotes with one? how do you like it? any issues I should look for?

Just a few things that i would note,
Accuracy won't be as good as a bolt gun and seems to vary from gun to gun, but anything newer (post 580 series) should be good enough., so make sure you know how yours shoots before you go out, but in general it will work fine for coyotes.
If you reload and plan to save your brass, the mini will lauch it away where you may not find it.
If you're going to scope it you may need to put a cheek rest on the buttstock to raise your head up, those rings can be fairly high.

 

[doublelung]

I had one and used it in the past for coyote hunting... I enjoyed it and but it was no where near as accurate as my bolt .223 .. It did make for some nice quick follow up shots on running yotes..

 

[Ranger Dave]

I do. Mine is reasonably accurate. MOA 2". I've hammered a few coyotes with it. Close in the bush its awesome. I bought mine less than 2 years ago. My rifle is brutal on brass. Beats the #### out of it and throws its 30 yards.

 

[bcdon]

If you reload and plan to save your brass, the mini will lauch it away where you may not find it.

Is there any way to tame the way the mini launches the brass, mine spits them out about 20 feet away.

 

[dand883]

Is there any way to tame the way the mini launches the brass, mine spits them out about 20 feet away.

There may be, but i've never tried. I tend to stick to cheap MFS ammo at the range for plinking and cheap soft points when actually hunting, that way if i don't find the brass i'm not too worried about it.

 

[MattLS]

I shoot Hornady ammo and it is very reasonable out to 150yds. They are really good if you are dogging for yotes, small and light and 5 quick shots.

 

[SuperCub]

That would be a perfect "dogging for yotes" gun.

 

[6.5x55swm]

thanks for the info, I was thinking it would be a good coyote rifle

 

[TonyMo]

Is there any way to tame the way the mini launches the brass, mine spits them out about 20 feet away.

Yes. You need to change the gas port bushing. Google is your friend for more info.

 

[saskcop]

Mini 14 was my coyote gun for years. Great rig for the task.

 

[bunny]

I have owned four mini 14 rifles in all serial number ranges and one Mini 30, with irons or scoped I could never get under four inch groups.
Its a real shame because I love the rifles and they are super reliable.

 

[6.5x55swm]

you say the best group you could get was 4 inches, at what distance?

 

[ivor]

Go to a large public range, and pick up a few guys AR brass, that should last you a while. Just think of it as throw away after the first shot.
Ivor

 

[NB_GSXR]

$20 will get you a set of gas bushings from Accuracy Inc. You can change them in 5 min with one allen key until you get the right one that doesn't throw brass too far but still operates the action reliably. Mine doesn't seem very accurate but I'm going to try a few more kinds of ammo and maybe try to develop an accurate load. Should be accurate enough for coyotes out to 200 anyway...

If you order the bushing kit order a bolt buffer at the same time, both of them will reduce the battering on your scope from the action.

 

[tbrwlf]

Both my mini 14 and mini 30 use the same brass catcher. It is not too big to leave on when hunting. You can find the online for under 50.00