Last year I posted about a Mini in 6.8 SPC that I bought. I have upgraded it since then and thought I would post the results.
Research showed that a muzzle brake was one of the most effective ways to improve accuracy. I ordered a muzzle brake from Ellwood Epps as they had the one I was looking for and they were on sale-bonus. Not the most expensive upgrade out there but it was recommended over at Perfect Union so I figured I had nothing to lose if it didn't work out. At the very least it has a certain "cool factor" but I was hoping for more than that. As with many upgrades there was an install issue. You have to replace the roll pin that holds the front sight in place with a longer one that holds the muzzle brake on as well. The pin that came with the kit wasn't a roll pin and it was only .117" in diameter. The shorter factory roll pin is .125". I got a proper sized one at the hardware store, cut it to length with a dremel tool and it fits perfectly (although not blued- small point but annoying to me.)
Secondly I installed a Mo Rod, again after some research. Most reviews of "barrel stiffeners" are pretty subjective. They don't really show you practical results- just testimonies which are usually meaningless. At least his website has some before and after pictures. I don't understand why most guys shoot groups with minis at 50 yds. Shoot them at 100 like any other rifle. It too had it's install issues. It comes with no instructions. I know it should be a straightforward install but wasn't. I used blue loc-tite on the two hex screws that hold it in place on the gas block. They kept backing out and the Mo Rod would move forward about half an inch and change the POI. In the photographs on their website the Mo Rod is installed right up close to the gas block but I couldn't get mine to fit there. The inside of the clamps are tapered to fit various series. Mine was the right series for the kit but doesn't fit exactly where they put theirs. The taper wouldn't allow it to go any further up the barrel. Don't know if that is important or not.
Finally the third, and what I believe was the most important mod was a trigger job. I came into contact with a guy on this forum, JP Poulin. He is otherwise known as Le Jarret Noir here. He, too, loves the mini and has the templates for doing trigger jobs and the skills to use them. I was a bit leery about sending my trigger group to an unknown person but in our conversations he seemed like a very knowledgeable and sensible person so I took a chance. I am glad I did. The factory trigger was, well- like a Ruger mini trigger. Long, gritty and about 6.75 lbs. It is now smoothed, polished, and down to 3.5 lbs. It is a very smooth, comfortable pull. How much better is it? I was firing a Mini 30 the same day and I forgot about the factory trigger on the 30. I switched guns and started to pull the trigger and stopped because I thought I still had the safety on. No I just forgot it was the factory trigger. Needless to say I sent the Mini 30 trigger to JP as well. It's on it's way back now. Very fast turnaround time I must say.
OK, so how did this all work out? Was it worth it? Well the muzzle brake definitely makes a difference. Louder of course but that's ok. More importantly it does work. I was shooting at some clay birds at 100 m and could see my hits. Does the Mo Rod work? Well the groups are better. Not as much as they claim but better. I don't get these weird flyers anymore that always popped up. I can shoot longer and still maintain accuracy without waiting for the barrel to cool down. You can feel the heat in the Mo Rod after ten shots and it definitely dissipates better (faster). It was annoying having the stabilizer move around but I think that problem is fixed.
The trigger job makes you forget you are shooting a Mini. It gives you a lot more confidence when shooting. It's like shooting a totally different rifle. I can't say enough about what JP did for this rifle.
Is it more accurate? Here are some pics I took of a full sized deer target. I used Hornady 110 grain OT's. It is shooting a bit high as you can see but that is about right for a 200 yd zero. I was shooting from a rest at 100 m. The other target was shot using 110 gr. Vmax bullets. 5 shots at 100 m. Kind of mad at myself for the one shot that was lower than the rest but still acceptable to me for a Mini with a stock barrel and gas block.
Muzzle brake installed
Mo Rod close up
5 Shot group at 100m with Vmax bullets. 1.563 inches
12 shots with Hornady 110 gr. OT 2.173 inches @100m
Not the greatest bench rest group but it isn't a bench rest rifle. The thing that pleased me was that these 12 rounds were fired without having to wait for the barrel to cool down after five shots. They were done in a measured but continuous sequence. Sorry about the rip in the target. It did that as I pulled it off the board. There are 5 holes under the cross hairs.
Research showed that a muzzle brake was one of the most effective ways to improve accuracy. I ordered a muzzle brake from Ellwood Epps as they had the one I was looking for and they were on sale-bonus. Not the most expensive upgrade out there but it was recommended over at Perfect Union so I figured I had nothing to lose if it didn't work out. At the very least it has a certain "cool factor" but I was hoping for more than that. As with many upgrades there was an install issue. You have to replace the roll pin that holds the front sight in place with a longer one that holds the muzzle brake on as well. The pin that came with the kit wasn't a roll pin and it was only .117" in diameter. The shorter factory roll pin is .125". I got a proper sized one at the hardware store, cut it to length with a dremel tool and it fits perfectly (although not blued- small point but annoying to me.)
Secondly I installed a Mo Rod, again after some research. Most reviews of "barrel stiffeners" are pretty subjective. They don't really show you practical results- just testimonies which are usually meaningless. At least his website has some before and after pictures. I don't understand why most guys shoot groups with minis at 50 yds. Shoot them at 100 like any other rifle. It too had it's install issues. It comes with no instructions. I know it should be a straightforward install but wasn't. I used blue loc-tite on the two hex screws that hold it in place on the gas block. They kept backing out and the Mo Rod would move forward about half an inch and change the POI. In the photographs on their website the Mo Rod is installed right up close to the gas block but I couldn't get mine to fit there. The inside of the clamps are tapered to fit various series. Mine was the right series for the kit but doesn't fit exactly where they put theirs. The taper wouldn't allow it to go any further up the barrel. Don't know if that is important or not.
Finally the third, and what I believe was the most important mod was a trigger job. I came into contact with a guy on this forum, JP Poulin. He is otherwise known as Le Jarret Noir here. He, too, loves the mini and has the templates for doing trigger jobs and the skills to use them. I was a bit leery about sending my trigger group to an unknown person but in our conversations he seemed like a very knowledgeable and sensible person so I took a chance. I am glad I did. The factory trigger was, well- like a Ruger mini trigger. Long, gritty and about 6.75 lbs. It is now smoothed, polished, and down to 3.5 lbs. It is a very smooth, comfortable pull. How much better is it? I was firing a Mini 30 the same day and I forgot about the factory trigger on the 30. I switched guns and started to pull the trigger and stopped because I thought I still had the safety on. No I just forgot it was the factory trigger. Needless to say I sent the Mini 30 trigger to JP as well. It's on it's way back now. Very fast turnaround time I must say.
OK, so how did this all work out? Was it worth it? Well the muzzle brake definitely makes a difference. Louder of course but that's ok. More importantly it does work. I was shooting at some clay birds at 100 m and could see my hits. Does the Mo Rod work? Well the groups are better. Not as much as they claim but better. I don't get these weird flyers anymore that always popped up. I can shoot longer and still maintain accuracy without waiting for the barrel to cool down. You can feel the heat in the Mo Rod after ten shots and it definitely dissipates better (faster). It was annoying having the stabilizer move around but I think that problem is fixed.
The trigger job makes you forget you are shooting a Mini. It gives you a lot more confidence when shooting. It's like shooting a totally different rifle. I can't say enough about what JP did for this rifle.
Is it more accurate? Here are some pics I took of a full sized deer target. I used Hornady 110 grain OT's. It is shooting a bit high as you can see but that is about right for a 200 yd zero. I was shooting from a rest at 100 m. The other target was shot using 110 gr. Vmax bullets. 5 shots at 100 m. Kind of mad at myself for the one shot that was lower than the rest but still acceptable to me for a Mini with a stock barrel and gas block.
Muzzle brake installed
Mo Rod close up
5 Shot group at 100m with Vmax bullets. 1.563 inches
12 shots with Hornady 110 gr. OT 2.173 inches @100m
Not the greatest bench rest group but it isn't a bench rest rifle. The thing that pleased me was that these 12 rounds were fired without having to wait for the barrel to cool down after five shots. They were done in a measured but continuous sequence. Sorry about the rip in the target. It did that as I pulled it off the board. There are 5 holes under the cross hairs.
