Ruger Mini-14

IchBinEinSniper

IchBinEinSniper

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I was wondering if there was anyone out there that owns a Ruger Mini-14? I was hoping to get some information on these rifles. I do not want a mud slinging match to ensue. Just any personal (not second hand or read on a blog etc) experiences with this rifle.

There have been so many sold over the years it seems to be one of the most popular rifles out there. Canada doesn't seem to have many sites or parts available, but once you get to the US there are many sites and products available.

I have owned a Ruger Mini-14 Target in the past, and as far as accuracy was concerned, it was alright, at 2 ish inches at 100 yards. I sold it for other purchases, and I think I would like to build one up, but using a new barrel (the 0.75 to 0.875" barrels that are available in the US - with a corresponding gas block). That seemed to be its biggest flaw, the fact that it still squeezed down to 0.625" at the gas block, and with a quality barrel, I suspect it would work great as a precision semi...
 
My experience with the rifle has been limited, but with an early model 4 MOA seemed to be about the limit with factory ammo, which might of been American Eagle. I don't know if the rifle will shoot better with match ammo because I didn't have the opportunity to try any.

I think that the basic design is sound, and as you point out, with the appropriate modifications a Mini-14 should be a shooter. Custom built Mini-14's seem to be capable of sub MOA performance, but I don't know how much the trigger can be improved. That will be the weak link. Without a good trigger it's possible you will never realize the rifle's potential.
 
those heavy barrels/gas blocks for the minis are a waste of $$.
for you to truly enjoy a Mini you need to realize that the gun was designed as a simple, reliable, and compact carbine. it was never intended as a benchrest rifle or 500 yard varminter despite what the legions of internet sub-MOAtards seem to think it should be.

out of the box my old Mini (before they redid the tooling) got 4-5" groups offhand @100yds with cheap white box ammo. i added a recoil buffer (homemade) and pinned on a $15 steel flash hider and groups shrank by half - which is all i will ever expect from a <$1000 compact semi carbine. the flash hider helps tremendously because the main issue with accuracy with these rifles is the very thin, whippy barrel - adding weight up front helps shrink groups. it doesnt have to be a flash hider, hell you could clamp a pair of vise-grips to the end of the barrel and group size should improve.

IMO enjoy the Mini for what it is you need to relax and stop obsessing over getting 1/2" groups with it, since it is unrealistic given the design. your money would be far better spent accurizing a quality bolt action rifle and using the Mini for what it was designed for: a quick little carbine to reliably churn out thousands of rounds of the cheapest ammo you can find, and ping the guy 5 benches over on the range in the head with ejected cases.
with a few cheap mods you can make the stock Minis into quite decent 200 yard coyote killers and a great (albeit expensive) plinking rifle. asking for more is just asking for frustration.

if you are totally bent on accurizing a Mini, i would try the $75 barrel struts before i shelled out $800+ on an aftermarket heavy barrel and gas block and installation on an already pricy plinker.
 
"...4-5" groups offhand @100yds..." They don't get any better off a bench with better ammo either. The Standard Mini-14 is an over priced($792 at Epps), inaccurate, piece of junk. Ruger did nothing about them because they sold every one they made.
Internet forum reports have it that the new Target model shoots well though. $918.20 from Epp's.
 
read my post. they do get better with some cheap tweaking.

im saying spend the ~$30 for a recoil buffer and flash hider first, before you drop another grand on an aftermarket heavy barrel, aftermarket gas block, etc. and dont lose sight of the fact that not every gun was designed to be a varmint/benchrest rifle.
 
Its not that I want to make some perfect sniper rifle, not at all, I just want a consistant carbine, that will allow me to varmint, plink, target, all reasonably.

Now I think (if I can get the barrel and block for reasonably similar price to that the US guys pay) for about $450. That plus the initial cost would hopefully put me in the $1300 dollar range and no more...

What other semi's would there be that would fit that role at that price? At that caliber (.223)?
 
I owned a mini 14 in ss. It was so light in the front end, that it would only kill half the coyotes I was shooting at past 100 yards.
The reloads I made for it were 5\8" in to 1-3\16" 3 of 5 shots and 5 of 5 shots respectively @ 100 yds. I had to start recording loads that way to make sense of the holes printed all over the target. :kickInTheNuts:
The rifle drove me nuts,even after a trigger job, so I sold it for $400.00 and bought a 243, 7600 rem.
As mentioned in above post,I wouldn't waste my time or further cash on a rifle that wouldnt do much good past 100 yds even though the cartridge is fine out to 300 yds.
If anyone wants my reloading info for the 223 mini, send me a pm. It'll save you some cash and time at the bench, and they are inside the safe load guidelines.
 
Well, I haven't heard much good about Mini 14's and I've never owned one but I think I soon will. I've been offered one for $600 including 31 boxes of ammo and a 5/20 and 5/30 mag. I can't say no to that! (I know, I'm weak!)

So, I'll soon have a better idea what to make of them.
 
There is no middle ground... it seems either people think they are one of the best ever, or they hate it completely. I was somewhat indifferent, I didn't like it (the new Target model) more or less than the Remington 700 SPS TActical I had. I know I wasn't too fond of the stock and the ugly weight on the end. Again, I was thinking if I got one with a stock I liked, swapped the barrel and block for the 0.75 to 0.875 versions and a barrel break, I could expect similar or better performance than the Target version and the looks I was after...
 
I've had a Ranch Rifle for a few years now, and like most rifles it took a little work to get it to shoot well. I added a Choate flash suppressor to help with barrel harmonics, had the horrible trigger cleaned up so it now breaks cleanly at 2 3/4lbs, re-tourqued the gasblock screws so that it was even, installed a smaller gas port bushing, installed a Bushnell 3200 2-7x32mm scope in low rings, and worked up a load it likes. It now shoots 1.15'' 3 round groups consistently.
 
My feelings on the mini-14 are similar to ManBearPig's you can't expect too much from them and take them for what they are. I love the concept of a super reliable semi for under $1000. Mine was not very accurat sometimes I could hit what I was shooting at others I couldn't, one day I couldn't hit a steel gong I welded up at about 150yrds, I used a whole box of ammo. I got so made I drove straight to the gunshop and traded for a Puma '92 in 44mag. I still think of buying another mini-14 but will probably get a stevens 200 or some other knockabout varminter.
 
If you want to spend around a $1000, you can get a gas block and send it to Ted Galliard to be done. It does improve the groups to 1" size. He will redo the barrel and it is a true 3/4 thick barrel all the way through even at the gas block. Camera broke so I would not be able to give pictures.

Keith
 
I have a Mini 14 Target that I purchased as a fast handling 223 for coyote/wolf/gopher etc hunting.

I have been able to consistantly with 60gr Sierra Varminter HP's gotten 2" X 3" 300 yards 5 shot groups with it.

Guys remember the Target model has a 1-9" twist so performs better with the slightly heavier bullets like the 60gr ones I'm using.

Here is a picture of it ready to go...

I taped it up with removeable camo tape last night getting it ready it will be with me on my next trip north in about 2 weeks.

Mini_14_Target_with_Camo_Wrap_002.jpg
 
I have a couple. Both will shoot inside MOA at 100 yards. One is older and quite heavily modified. The other is a new 2008 model with the slightly heavier barrel. It will shoot into an inch with the right loads all day (69 grain BTHP)
 
I've got one that has a gaillard barrel and the adjustable gas block. Haven't shot it much but was getting two inch groups at 100 yards with irons. I'm sure this one is capable of breaking moa with optics...
 
Hey, Manbearpig,

What type of flashhider did you put on yours?

I totally agree that you can't expect too much from these rifles, they are not designed as benchrest guns and they are reliable. When I was with OPP, we had Mini 14's that had over 100 000 rounds through them and the accuracy and reliability was fine (4 MOA is average, we had a couple that would do 2 MOA).

They are fun to shoot, you can do a ton to them and they are light. There are better rifles, obviously, they were once cheap and they aren't restricted.
 
tritium said:
Hey, Manbearpig,

What type of flashhider did you put on yours?
Click to expand...

M-14 style, i believe they are made by Choate:
Mini14FlashHider.jpg

you drive out the front sight roll pin, slide the flash suppressor on and then install a longer roll pin. i was worried it would be wiggly when installed but it is machined nice and tight: i had to use a rubber mallet to whack it on, i think it would have stayed on securely even if i hadnt used the roll pin.
if you have one of the newer style minis youll have to look around for a different style brake/flash suppressor or get it threaded.

i dont believe the specific style is important as long as it is steel (for weight).
 
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