Mini-14 Project suggestions

tiriaq

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I have the remains of a salvaged 187 series Ranch Rifle in .222 (yes, two twenty two). Barrel is bulged near the muzzle, obviously shortening is not much of an option, the bulge is far enough in that freeboring isn't an option, and the balance of the bore is not particularly good.
Needs a new barrel. There are folks in the US who rebuild Minis for serious accuracy, installing new, meatier barrels. Has anyone here done that? Source for parts? I have an extra slide to experiment with, if one needs to be altered for a larger barrel. Suggestions?
 
We had a Doctor that was a club member back in the early 90's that tried to dress up a Mini 14 into a target rifle. He sent it to the US, had a stainless barrel fitted. Put it into a synthetic prone style stock and had Central sights and Anchutz front sight installed. I know he spent a ####load of money on it looking for something that would just shoot 300 yards well. In the end he had a rifle that would shoot about 2 1/2 MOA with issued IVI 5.56mm.
He was an average shooter and was shooting issued ammo. It may have shot better with handloaded ammo and a better pilot.
 
Yes. I am not interested in spending a lot of money on this project - I have next to nothing invested in what I have, and reworking a Mini is a bit of a silk purse from a sow's ear situation.
I do my own 'smithing, so the labour cost is not a factor. The barrel isn't the main issue; given the breech diameter of a Mini barrel, any number of other barrels could be retro fitted. Come to think of it, I have an excellent .223Winchester FWT takeoff on hand.
My biggest concerns are alterations of the gas block - or replacement thereof - and of the slide - to clear a larger barrel. I would rather not reinvent the wheel. And importation from the US can be problematic.
Given that I have next to nothing in the project now, spending a few hundred on it would not be unreasonable. The receiver is a Ranch Rifle, so there are numerous sighting options.
 
I have a rebarreled my mini to a true 3/4 barrel right through to the front. I had Ted Gallaired complete mine and I had ordered a gas block from the states for the larger gas port barrel size to have the larger barrel. It shoots good as I can.
 
I went with a made for Brownells by Shilen heavy barrel and an aftermarket trigger. I think the adjustable gas block would be a better choice than the trigger. I haven't done much load development yet (waiting for summer) but my minute of barn rifle is now minute of coyote. I am still hoping for minute of gopher
 
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