Ruger Mini Update

[sobo4303]

Well folks, remember the rifle?

Since putting that funky hand guard on, I have been busy working up loads for this little beauty (223, of course).

I found a winner. Consistent 3/4" groups at 100 yards, a solid rest, reasonable barrel cool down between groups. Shocked the hell out of a T3 223 user shooting beside me.

The recipe?....50 gr nosler partition, CCI 450 primers, case trim to minimum spec, 26.6 gr Win 748, seat bullet to spec OAL.

What a cool little rifle!

 

[7.62Nato]

Still trying to find the right load for my little mini. I dont reload and have been trying various factory loads. Best I got was from Winchester Ballistic Silvertips 55gr 3" groups at 100yrds with a scope. I'm not the best of shooters but I can do better than that with iron sights on two of my sks-d's. Still gots to do a little more tinkering as some guys have claimed to get 1" or better grouping at 100yrds. Hopefully I find the right load!

 

[sobo4303]

One of the "tinkering" things I did was to ease pressure off the clasp holding the handguard in place above the gas block. I had to dremmel the plastic piece. The original handguard fit tight and so did the replacement.

Once that was accomplished, in my rifle, the groups really tightened up.

I shot Win white box, 45 gr HP and 55 gr HP with dismal results. PMC was not bad and Remington 55 gr HP are so-so. My Rifle is really responding well to the reloads though. Particularly the Win 748. It was not too fond of the Reloader 10x or H335. Will be trying some IMR 4895. It also did not like the "bulk pack" 55 gr either, but still working to find a load, because I have so much of them.

I will admit that the groups will open up and widen with rapid succession shots as the barrel heats up.

 

[Tumbleweed]

I have another Mini-14 load you might want to try. This one uses 55 gr. jsp; ideally Nosler Solid Base, but in their absence Win. bulk 55 gr. jsp work pretty well too.

The load is 26.1 gr. of IMR 4064, seated to the cannelure and crimped. I use CCI primers as well. My dwindling supply of Noslers give me right around 1 moa, while the WW 55 gr. do about 1.5 moa.

I believe the Mini-14 has acquired its reputation for poor accuracy through dummies who basically just want to 'play soldier' and (a) can't shoot to begin with, or (b) have already ruined their barrels with rapid fire and/or (c) use the cheapest ammunition they can get their hands on. Buying a used Mini is kind of like buying a used dirt bike - the chances of it having been used with care and consideration by the previous owner(s) is pretty slim.

Treated properly and fed ammo as carefully prepared as one would for a bolt rifle, there is no reason that a Mini-14 can't provide very respectable accuracy. I've had both bolt rifles and Minis that wouldn't do better than 3", and both bolt rifles and Minis that would do an inch all day long.