Mini 14

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joeschmuck

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Anyone have any experiance with Ruger's Mini 14? looks like a fun gun to shoot. I have heard good and bad about it. I am thinking about purchasing a Mini 14, target model with the dampner on it. Anyone have one already?

What your feedback?
 
"Target" and Mini-14 should never be used in the same sentence. (Yes, I speak an owner's perspective).

the mini 30 will use commie surplus ammo and for 4 times the price of an SKS you can have exactly the same results.
 
I have had several Minis - both 14 and 30. I prefer the 14, mine is accurate enough for my purposes. Stainless is better, and I like the Ranch Rifle set up.
 
The mini 14 Target model has had some pretty favorable reviews. You can find a few threads on here about it. The biggest flaw is the trigger. I sent mine in to get the trigger done while I wait for the Falcon scope. I'm looking forward to trying out this rifle.

Right now I'd have to say the Mini 14 target is often overlooked. Whenever someone says mini14 they think of the past performance with the ranch rifles.
Some guys on this board have had very good results with reloads and messing around with the tuner.

A Semi auto, quasi military/police style rifle in stainless steel that's non-restricted for under $1K. That's pretty tough to beat. Could be one of the few really good deals out there.
 
I have an older model Stainless and for a semi I feel it groups Exc. With the cheap Winchester white box the first two are allways where you put them the third tends to wander. Buddy's is a year older than mine and groups 2.5in. consistantly. I am working on a bunch of different loads and weights over the winter to see what I can make this thing do. I would be quite happy to be able to put 3 shots in 1.5-2in. from a 20Year old crappy trigger, semi auto .223. I will post my results.:)
Pete....
 
Someday when I have a little more disposable cash I might try a custom Mini-14. If a National Match M-14 can shoot I don't see why you couldn't refine the Mini in a similar fashion. The question is whether or not you want to invest $3K into such project, but there are folks who seem ready to dump great heaps of cash into AR-15's. I don't think you can put enough cash into an SKS to get it to shoot, but I guess they are good at what they were designed to do.
 
I have read a lot of favourable reviews about the target model and have seen the youtube clip. It looks pretty good. I am also considering a .204, but i think it might be costly to shoot. That is why I am leaning towards the .223.
 
The target model is a new beast and shouldn't be considered in the same lack of accuracy category as the regular models.

A mini 14 target (go with the laminate stock) with a falcon scope and you have one heck of a fun target/varmint rifle at a reasonable price.
 
KungFooBob said:
mysticpalyer has recently become a dealer for Shilen barrels. I noticed he's got prices for mini-14 barrels:

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=277408&highlight=shilen

I wonder how well a mini would shoot with one of these barrels....

KFB
Click to expand...

Tweaking a martial gas gun for maximum accuracy requires more attention than spinning on a new barrel, even if it is an excellent barrel. Any of the accuracy enhancing techniques that apply to the M-14 family also apply to the Mini with a few additional considerations. The stock needs to be heavier for additional stiffness and of course proper bedding is essential. A good trigger does not make the rifle any more accurate, but you won't be able to shoot the rifle accurately without a decent trigger. The double pull should be maintained, and the trigger pull weight should probably not be reduced below 4 pounds.

I would like to see a rear sight similar to the M-14 National Match with a hooded aperture with a half minute adjustment in the hood, but I don't know if the Mini's design is compatible with the M-14 sight. I suspect most folks would just scope their rifles anyway.

I see no reason why a tricked out Mini-14 loaded with match ammo could not shoot .75 MOA or slightly under. Of course the same expenditure in a bolt gun will completely outclass this performance from the bench, but the Mini is not a bench gun and it could show well against a bolt gun in the game fields or in a practical course of fire.
 
Mini

Boomer said:
Tweaking a martial gas gun for maximum accuracy requires more attention than spinning on a new barrel, even if it is an excellent barrel. Any of the accuracy enhancing techniques that apply to the M-14 family also apply to the Mini with a few additional considerations. The stock needs to be heavier for additional stiffness and of course proper bedding is essential. A good trigger does not make the rifle any more accurate, but you won't be able to shoot the rifle accurately without a decent trigger. The double pull should be maintained, and the trigger pull weight should probably not be reduced below 4 pounds.

I would like to see a rear sight similar to the M-14 National Match with a hooded aperture with a half minute adjustment in the hood, but I don't know if the Mini's design is compatible with the M-14 sight. I suspect most folks would just scope their rifles anyway.

I see no reason why a tricked out Mini-14 loaded with match ammo could not shoot .75 MOA or slightly under. Of course the same expenditure in a bolt gun will completely outclass this performance from the bench, but the Mini is not a bench gun and it could show well against a bolt gun in the game fields or in a practical course of fire.
Click to expand...

It is also important to tame the spaghetti barrel. The clamp on devices work very well - My mini 14 in .223 shoots under half inch at a hundred - cold barrel. Inch and a half - hot barrel - (lower P.O.I.)
With Remington U.M.C. junk ammo !
 
You guys should read up on some of the past mini 14 target model threads that were posted on here. .5 moa has been achievable with the $900 target model and the right ammo.

Even if you did decide to spin on a new barrel this would be the model to do it with. Not the range model.
 
Take it from someone who took the time to get a ranch rifle to shoot almost moa guys. The first thing that needs to be adressed is the gas system get an adjustible gas block and turn down thehe gas pressure until it will just feed the ammo that you are shooting. This will increase the lock time of the bolt which greatly improves your accuracy. Note it is best to find ammo that the gun likes to shoot to begin with that way you only have to do the adjustments once
 
mark martin said:
Take it from someone who took the time to get a ranch rifle to shoot almost moa guys. The first thing that needs to be adressed is the gas system get an adjustible gas block and turn down thehe gas pressure until it will just feed the ammo that you are shooting. This will increase the lock time of the bolt which greatly improves your accuracy. Note it is best to find ammo that the gun likes to shoot to begin with that way you only have to do the adjustments once
Click to expand...

Where can you get the adjustible gas block in Canada?
 
af_newbie said:
Where can you get the adjustible gas block in Canada?
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Well that's the million dollar question, isn't it? All the goodies that will make a stock ranch rifle shoot well are just not available up here. Parts such as adj. gas blocks, Accu-struts, HAR-BARS, recoil buffers, and good aftermarket stocks such as Hogue Overmolds are not being carried by any Canadian retailers/distributors(could probably find someone to order a Hogue). I find it annoying that online sites such as www.perfectunion.com can provide such a wealth of knowledge on the Mini-14 but yet I'm powerless to put it to use as the accessories are not available to me. :mad:
 
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