Wasn't Sure, But Now, Maybe??
Picked up the laminated stock version about a month ago. Unfortunately, the only gr. of bullets I could get were cheapo 55 gr. A.E. Also have some white box 45 gr. Winchester that my CZ Bolt just loves. Anyway, I've got a 3200 Bushnell 3-9x50 mounted on it. So....off to the range to see how this puppy shot.
First time out did the barrel break-in routine, shot 10 rounds, solvent, brush, cleaner, oil and repeat nine more times. So wasn't looking to get much accuracy out of it at the time. Next week end was more serious and started to play with the compensator. From having the compensator flush with the barrel and @ 100 yds getting 2" +/- I started to play with compensator. From all the previous articles I had read, everyone seemed to get the best results with 55 gr. setting compensator back approx. 3/4". So I did the immediately and got an excellent 3 shot group of 3/4", but, that group was now 3" low and 2" left of the bullseye. So...the compensator changed up P.O.I. significantly. So I dialed the scope back up and got back on bullseye, but group not as tight. Threw about 50 rounds down range to set if I could get any tighter, but to no avail. I'm sure that I was responsible for 50% of the equation of not getting tight groups. Anyway, that was it for shooting that day.
Next weekend, went up to a buddy's cabin with attached gravel pit/shooting range. Unfortunately, we had some pretty high winds for the entire weekend plus I came down with a bad flu bug; so I didn't get very tight groups. Put about 200 rds. down range over 2 days. I was disappointed, because I had read about this new, re-tooled Mini over a year ago, kept bugging the dealer as to when they'd get in, finally picked one up and after shooting it, I didn't think it was that accurate....until I saw some of the targets you guys have been posting. Well, that's about the same type of grouping that I've been getting, so maybe now I'll keep it. I am probably unfairly comparing to my CZ527 Varmint bolt with shoots tiny little groups that touch each other at 100 yds.
Anyway, I'm back out to the bud's cabin end of this month so hopefully I can fine tune it even more. A friend of mine is getting so 65/66/70 gr. stuff to try out also to see if it likes the heavier stuff.
Regards cleaning, impressive in that you unhinge the trigger guard, pull out the trigger system and the whole rifle comes apart (never owned a Mini before so not familiar with how easy to disassemble). Only ##### is getting the bolt out with scope on, but as Camp Cook figured out, you have to take apart the bolt hold open system. The stop piece projects into the chamber to hold (of course) the bolt open, but at the same time prevents you from removing and re-installing the bolt for cleaning.
Anyway, when I get to cabin/gravel pit/shooting range April 26-29, I'm taking the camera and will post some pics.
As another note, if you stay with the laminated stock and want to use a bipod, Ruger doesn't ship with a swivel ring. You need to get an adapter from Harris (pod I'm using) for about $30.00. Now came the challenge of fitting it together, so you either have to bend the crap out of the ring and twist it back it (messy) or I took a nail that fit the hole, cut of the head, figured out the width, filed down both ends so not sharp and then took a pce. of heat shrink tubing, slid over the nail, applied some Bic heat and voilà, it slide on perfectly, tight enough to not slide out, and the adapter and bipod fit like a glove.
