Ruger Mini-14 ranch for a varmint gun

Canadiankeeper

Canadiankeeper

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Ok so whats the real deal here, I see the ruger mini-14 target is the first "moa" mini-14... Damn does it look stupid in my books... Is the ranch really that bad for accuracy?

Im looking to pick one up, put a 1-6 power optic on it and use it for 300 yard and under yote hunting and some target/plinking fun.

Are they really THAT un accurate ? I don't plan on reloading for this rifle, can I just grab some V max and go expect 2 MOA at 100 ? Will I have to dump a bunch of money into this ?

Im basically looking for a cheap fun semi auto that I can do a little bit of it all with.
 
only shot this thing once. Let me say this: there is not a single highlight that his gun had and overall it did not meet my expectations on a rifle at that price point.
 
I like the Mini-14 a good deal, but a 300 yard hitter in a 6" circle at 300 is asking a lot of it. It carries beautifully, the detachable mags are handy, the scope mounts are great, and a quick follow up can be handy on varmint. I'd say absolutely as a varmint gun, but not as a precision varmint rifle. Everything's a compromise.
 
I am a huge ruger guy, but I greatly dislike the minis.... as Ardent said, great carry and great follow up....

But the scout is way more accurate.... I can do MOA with mine in .308, and they are available in .223 .... if you know how to rack a bolt, a follow up shot really isn't that hard......
 
Canadiankeeper said:
Ok so whats the real deal here, I see the ruger mini-14 target is the first "moa" mini-14... Damn does it look stupid in my books... Is the ranch really that bad for accuracy?

Im looking to pick one up, put a 1-6 power optic on it and use it for 300 yard and under yote hunting and some target/plinking fun.

Are they really THAT un accurate ? I don't plan on reloading for this rifle, can I just grab some V max and go expect 2 MOA at 100 ? Will I have to dump a bunch of money into this ?

Im basically looking for a cheap fun semi auto that I can do a little bit of it all with.
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I keep talking myself into, then "out-of" this rifle. Love the look, the price seems OK...reliable guns, etc. However, for $1000...you can buy an awfully accurate, bolt-action .223. I'm sure you know that. I also think that .223 is definitely 300 yard-capable, but I'd rather be doing that with a scoped bolt gun. In fact, I do...but for groundhogs. I ran a RA XCR-L for a season, and with hand loads...got that gun shooting about 1-1/4" @ 100 yards very reliably...some groups sub-MOA. However, it was a heavy beast of a rifle, and about 2-1/2x the cost of a mini-14.
 
.22LRGUY said:
I keep talking myself into, then "out-of" this rifle. Love the look, the price seems OK...reliable guns, etc. However, for $1000...you can buy an awfully accurate, bolt-action .223. I'm sure you know that. I also think that .223 is definitely 300 yard-capable, but I'd rather be doing that with a scoped bolt gun. In fact, I do...but for groundhogs. I ran a RA XCR-L for a season, and with hand loads...got that gun shooting about 1-1/4" @ 100 yards very reliably...some groups sub-MOA. However, it was a heavy beast of a rifle, and about 2-1/2x the cost of a mini-14.
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If the ruger gun site scout was a little more budget friendly. Id be in... 223 bolt guns are all more the capable of pop can shooting at 300 yards. From savage to tikka they all are roughly 1 moa if you find some decent ammo.

I have always looked for a reason for the gun site... How easy is it to mount optics ?
 
Canadiankeeper said:
If the ruger gun site scout was a little more budget friendly. Id be in... 223 bolt guns are all more the capable of pop can shooting at 300 yards. From savage to tikka they all are roughly 1 moa if you find some decent ammo.

I have always looked for a reason for the gun site... How easy is it to mount optics ?
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You are on the right track..... check the EE.... Ardent has one for sale.... buy it before I do after my other pursuits.... mounting optics is likely as easy as it gets... you can do a forward mount scout mount on the provided rail, you can mount traditionally with the rings that come with it or you can get an XS sight rail that will allow anything in between....
 
Just for perspective, here is mine with XS sight rail...... I didn't traditionally mount mine as I was looking to balance the weight but didn't like the scout mount.....

You could very easily use the stock rings that come with the rifle and mount an optic of your choice..... very accurate little rifle.... It outshoots many of my longer barreled factory options.... you could ask these guys this year if they were still around to ask....

scoutwithscope_zps1bd8e72b.jpg


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Yea, Brad said it right, Ruger has one of the best scope mount arrangements out there period. The Scout is a slick little carry rifle, and built like a Ruger. The 16 1/2 model like mine with synthetic stock barely peaks 6lbs, carries like a Mini, shoots like a bolt gun. One of the other fellows on here, a mod but I forget who, posted his results from his and it was shooting an inch or better if memory serves.
 
ive never understood the hate some people have for the mini14.
its just as accurate as any of my ARs and i can actually take it anywhere i want to go other then the range.

its a semi auto its not a bench gun.
its the same as buying a 10/22 and complaining that it wont put 10 in a clover leaf at 100 yards.
semi autos are not gonna shoot as tight as a bolt gun.

that said i have a mini and i love it.
i also have a ruger scout and i love it.
but my mini ruger is my varmint gun.

but im in a different boat that anyone looking to get into one.
i picked mine up a couple years ago when they where still to be had for $700 CAN.
picked up 10 mags for it and a nice vortex and use those stock ruger rings that are great and the gun is hella nice.

i did put a accustrut on mine to test out if there was a difference and there was a little bit of a improvement.

people need to decide if they want a light fast gun with follow up shots or if they want one hit kills with a bolt.
or if your like me get both, take the gun your in the mood for when you leave the house.
problem solved!

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this was 20 rounds as fast as i could send them at 168ft

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knock off that flyer and the group is nice for a semi auto, definitely minute of coyote.

normal%203a_zpsi8n0y1ad.jpg
 
The "Ranch" is the newest version of the Mini 14 made with better tooling and it is not bad for accuracy. Most people are only familiar with the 180 series mini 14 and never miss a chance to disrespect it in threads like this. It's getting to the point of real stupidity. The only resemblance between a 180 series mini and the new 581+ series is the basic shape.

Dake21 said:
Well a mini14 isn't cheap for starters.
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Name one non-restricted semi-auto in .223/5.56 that is cheaper, as reliable and isn't a plastic POS
 
wayupnorth said:
ive never understood the hate some people have for the mini14.
its just as accurate as any of my ARs and i can actually take it anywhere i want to go other then the range.

its a semi auto its not a bench gun.
its the same as buying a 10/22 and complaining that it wont put 10 in a clover leaf at 100 yards.
semi autos are not gonna shoot as tight as a bolt gun.

that said i have a mini and i love it.
i also have a ruger scout and i love it.
but my mini ruger is my varmint gun.

but im in a different boat that anyone looking to get into one.
i picked mine up a couple years ago when they where still to be had for $700 CAN.
picked up 10 mags for it and a nice vortex and use those stock ruger rings that are great and the gun is hella nice.

i did put a accustrut on mine to test out if there was a difference and there was a little bit of a improvement.

people need to decide if they want a light fast gun with follow up shots or if they want one hit kills with a bolt.
or if your like me get both, take the gun your in the mood for when you leave the house.
problem solved!

041_zpsdumzezea.jpg


this was 20 rounds as fast as i could send them at 168ft

accustrut%205a_zpsydmizggl.jpg


knock off that flyer and the group is nice for a semi auto, definitely minute of coyote.

normal%203a_zpsi8n0y1ad.jpg
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not criticizing your post, and your AR experience , but at 168 feet that is a 3 plus moa group even when ignoring your flier.... it may be minute of coyote at 168 feet.... but highly unacceptable in a hunting rifle IMOP
 
Superbrad said:
not criticizing your post, and your AR experience , but at 168 feet that is a 3 plus moa group even when ignoring your flier.... it may be minute of coyote at 168 feet.... but highly unacceptable in a hunting rifle IMOP
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20 rnds as fast as he could send them was the quote. Doesn't look bad to me.
 
emerson said:
20 rnds as fast as he could send them was the quote. Doesn't look bad to me.
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Maybe.... depends how fast he can send them.... and what happens between shots... "how fast I can send them" is relative term......

Since this is the hunting and sporting forum, I can land the first shot at moa plus at 100.... and the second close enough to that if needed......

I will leave the 300 yard translation up to the experts...
 
If you want a highly accurate rifle, you want a bolt gun...but if you are looking at the mini then I must assume that the semi-auto action type is appealing to you. Mini14's are fun, they are non-restricted, and the new generation tapered-barrel version is more than accurate enough for a coyote rifle. I have a Target version that is sub-MOA with handloads, and more importantly it is about 1.25 MOA with cheap factory stuff. Mine is not an anomaly; plenty of owners report similar results. The Ranch version is lighter and handier, has iron sights, now comes with a pic rail in addition to the Ruger rings...and the few that I have played with have been very close to the Target model in accuracy. Easily a 250-yard coyote gun, and quite likely further than that if you don't mind reloading and therefore chasing brass around in the weeds and snow.

The constant bellyaching stems from people who are familiar only with the old model, made for decades on old tooling and "pre-worn-out" straight from the box. Usually they tried these rattly guns out with surplus 5.56 ammo, and then whined that they didn't hold groups as tight as their bolt-actions shooting quality reloads or quality factory stuff. Duh! Get a newer gun, give it a fair chance with good ammo, and be ready to smile.
 
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