The Ruger Mini 14 - What is wrong with it?

scott_r said:
I had a newer 580 series a while back and it was an awsome little rifle that shot better then my XCR. The open sights were good and I took many coyotes on the run with this gun. If I missed my first shot, 4 were quick to follow. I wish I never sold it and am going to get another on here soon.
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I have seen the XCR outshoot almost ALL other semi autos.
 
I shot a new mini 14 and it shot well enough for coyotes. The owner put a 2-7 Nikon on it and it did the job well. He has smoked lots of coyotes with it.
 
The new target one is good. I believe 3rd place at the WSS precision shoot was taken by a team in which one member was shooting a mini-14 target in 223. I've shot one at the range, and it shot decently.
 
I can't take anything said by Until the Chickens Fall seriously as long as he has that avatar. I just can't help laughing everytime I see it, people really set up cameras on timers and pose for this crap? Is it supposed to be cool or is it a joke or something? From some weird game? Sorry for the aside, just bizarre sh1t.
 
coyoteking said:
And are the factory 'target' models any more accurate than the standard model? I have always wanted one but the accuracy rumours always scared me off.
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I had a few Mini 14's and here is my experience.

1. Mini 14 Target - super accurate, I shot MOA without any problems. Con: Too heavy

2. Mini 14 new series, cool gun and light. Con: shoots 2 to 3" groups at 100 yards

3. Still have one Mini 14 left, older version (184) with underfolder, looks super cool, I don't care how good it shoots - LOL

You can improve all Mini 14 by doing 2 things

Exchange the spring and put a different plug into the gas hole (set comes with 3 I think) - very cheap modification, like $25. I haven't done that modification but I read that it's very effective, makes the gun more accurate and it won't throw the brass 50 feet anymore.
 
Ardent said:
I can't take anything said by Until the Chickens Fall seriously as long as he has that avatar. I just can't help laughing everytime I see it, people really set up cameras on timers and pose for this crap? Is it supposed to be cool or is it a joke or something? From some weird game? Sorry for the aside, just bizarre sh1t.
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I had a very similar reply before I decided just to keep quiet. For someone who has s**t all for real world firearms experience he sure is opinionated... I wonder how many times he has seen an XCR outshoot a Mini in reality. After all he has seen the gun "outshoot nearly ALL other semi autos"... I doubt that.
 
B said:
I had a very similar reply before I decided just to keep quiet. For someone who has s**t all for real world firearms experience he sure is opinionated... I wonder how many times he has seen an XCR outshoot a Mini in reality. After all he has seen the gun "outshoot nearly ALL other semi autos"... I doubt that.
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I hear you B... There are some colourful characters on the internet. Whoever's in that avatar just looks like a complete f#$%ing tool, and I suspect they think it looks cool. Even content aside... hard to take seriously.
 
AWOL said:
Yes they are. The target model has a harmonic stablizer which dampens the vibrations caused by the bullet traveling through the bore. The scientific details are over my head. They are much better but there are still better target guns out there. Bolt guns are typically superior for targets over semi-auto's.
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No they are not! I got rid of mine because the accuracy was too unpredictable. The barrel is standard (same dimensions as the ranch rifles) up to the gas port, then they have this goofy thick barrel with a dampener on it.

the accuracy was wildly diverse between brands of rounds. By wild, I mean a 45 gr white box would be on target at 200 yards, then with 50 gr noslers, be 8" to the upper right. Switch that to 50 gr v-max and the groups would be wider and 10" to the left and down from the original grouping. I got rid of it in favour of a mini-14 ranch rifle. Y'know what, regardless of ammo, the placement of shots is relatively the same. The groupings tend to vary a bit, depending on the ammo. But at 200 yards, it does not matter what ammo I am using, what I see in my crosshairs, I can hit that target without having to sight in the rifle every time I change up ammo.
 
FWIW.

The Ruger Mini-14 was never intended as a target rifle.
The stated purpose was to give Farmers/Ranchers a reliable, useful tool.
Coyotes at 100 yards are dead 'yotes. even with the thin barreled models.

In my experience, When I get a chance at a coyote on my farm.
I seldom need more than one or two shots to do the job.
The barrel never gets hot enough to change POI.;)

I bought my Mini-14 more than thirty years ago, I still have it and shoot it.
I did install an adjustable gas-block, in order to tame the ejection of the brass. As a side benefit, doing that had a positive effect on overall accuracy. Perhaps because of the less violent ejection.

For target shooting, I have other rifles better suited.:yingyang:

For plinking off-hand at tin cans at a hundred yards, it's a ton of fun.:)
 
I just went out to the range with my (188) min14 for the first time. It is the thin barreled older model. I was extremely happy with it. Myself and another shooter both shot groups well under 2 inches off of a bipod/bag. After all of the internet rumours and hearsay I have read, I was quite surprised and happy with the accuracy.

It isn't as accurate as a bolt gun, but for what it is, it is more than accurate enough for its' intended purpose.
 
it won't throw the brass 50 feet anymore.
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That has become a gripe for me actually. I have to use the stall at the very right end of the range against the wall or I have to search like a squirrel for my brass.
Also pisses others off when the brass goes flying CLEAR across the range.

I can honestly comment that there are NO ejection issues :rolleyes:

For plinking off-hand at tin cans at a hundred yards, it's a ton of fun.
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Precisely. And it is a ton of fun. It has character, which is probably why many buy them over the AR platform. At least that's why I did.
 
scianna54 said:
Exchange the spring and put a different plug into the gas hole (set comes with 3 I think) - very cheap modification, like $25. I haven't done that modification but I read that it's very effective, makes the gun more accurate and it won't throw the brass 50 feet anymore.
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Good info guys. Makes me feel a little better about picking up a late model Mini. This is the first time I've heard changing out the spring & gas plug to improve accuracy.
 
The only real downside to the Ruger Mini-14 rifle is that it's a respin of the very good M-14 rifle which is a respin of the excellent M1 Garand rifle!
You get 1930s ergonomics :(

Very good rifle but I resold it after 2 weeks!

Alex
 
StoneHorse said:
This is the first time I've heard changing out the spring & gas plug to improve accuracy.
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Could someone please post a site or link to this?:redface: I googled these terms and got nothing relevant?
I've got sites bookmarked on shimming (didn't work),
torquing the gas block screws to 16 in/lbs (helped, recommend),
and filing off a thou here there and everywhere (no thanks).

I would LOVE to change a spring and gas plug for $25.
 
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