Is a Ruger Mini-14 a good rifle?

S

skunkhunter

New member
I've been looking for a good economical semiauto .223 for target shooting and varmit hunting. I looked at the AR-15's and model 1's, but they're just a little more than i'm willing to pay. I saw a stainless/synthetic mini-14 at the local wal-mart and was wondering if its anything accurate,fast, and worth spending $400+ on? Are there any other semi .223s? Thanks for any help.
 
If by "varmints" you're talking prairie dogs at 100 plus yards, etc., no, the mini isn't accurate enough for that.

Coyotes to 200, sure.

If you don't like to work on your rifle, pass it up I think. Mini needs a little work to shoot good.

I just picked mine up (SS RR 14) and put 300 rounds through it Sunday. With the lighter bullets, it's shooting 2.25 moa average with a horrendous trigger. That was the average of 5 - 4 shot groups for each brand of ammo tested.

Trigger was sent out yesterday for a 3.5 lb job, and I will glass bed the action, and redo the gas block and bushing this weekend.

If I can get it to shoot 1.5 moa or less with just a few cheap mods, I'll be pleased, and will have a great calling rifle. But, I'm under no illusions of picking of prairie dogs at 100 plus either......But it sure is a handy rifle for my type of calling with normal shots from 10 feet to 150 yards.

If you want some good info on the mini, what can be done to it to make it shoot decent, try this page .

The mini is a good gun, as long as you know what to expect and can accept that.
 
Skunk,

Try a search for "mini-14" in the Firearms and Reloading forum. You'll find more than enough information to help you with your decision.
 
Skunkhunter......I bought two such rifles over 2 years ago, knowing I would have to tinker with them some to shoot 2 inch groups at 100 yards OK. They shot 4 inch groups at first with factory ammo from the bench. I got it down to 3 inches by handloading them both.

One was stainless and the other a blue barrel.
It made no difference at the bench between the two rifles. I loaded single shot ammo wise and still could NOT get the desired 2 inch groups from the bench with either of them. Now I am talking using a 3x9 Leupold scope on both of them.

I went to a noted gunsmith and he stated that yes, he could make them shoot below 1 inch groups. However it would cost me an additional $900 dollars a piece to do so. I got rid of both those rifles very quick! I believe it is around $1200 to $1500 dollars to get the M-16 type that will shoot 1-MOA from the bench.
 
Frustrating isn't it? I think it's frutstrating because we want accuracy regardless of the rifle's suited purpose.

I agree that in any event however, no way in heck should any rifle leave any factory shooting 4 moa or worse! I really like minis, but damn that's just not right, and ticks me off. It wouldn't take too much to get that down to a respectable 2 moa (for a semi-auto) from the factory. Mine is doing 2.25, and I realize I may be lucky.

On the other hand, no way am I spending over $1200 to $1500 to buy a rifle that will shoot 1MOA. My little .270 bolt gun for $500 does less than that all day long if I need to really reach out and touch something.

Everything has it's price, and an accurate out of the box semi-auto is no exception, as evidenced by the AR.
 
The one I've got up for sale in the classifides shoots 1.5" as does my other Mini, a 188 series and neither needed "$900" worth of work. I got it shooting like this simply by following the tips over at perfect union.

Jake
 
Sure is nice isn't it Willy? Handloads alone won't do the trick, but 2 or three low cost modifications should be enough to make any Mini owner smile.

By low cost I mean under $75 total.

Jake
 
I've owned alot of "mini's" in the last 20 years. The most accurate one was the '76 mini that had the wooden hand-guard. It shot around an inch with certain handloads. A mini-14 will never be a tack driver from the factory, but they are a very reliable rifle, and if the price was right, I wouldn't be afraid of owning another.
 
I had a Mini 14 SS Ranch Rifle in the early '90s. It was the most inaccurate rifle that I've ever seen, even to this day. Everything available at the time was tried, including changing shooters, scopes, ammo, etc. The much vaunted slip on muzzle brake did nothing either. I bought an AR-15 and never looked back. A friend bought a new SS RR last year against my advice. It too, was inaccurate and couldn't be "fixed" to shoot decent groups. His lasted about a month before he traded it in on a bolt gun. If you want a semi-auto, there's a much better option out there. MI VHNTR
 
Either save your money, and get a good AR-15, or get a good bolt rifle in .223. You'll be happier in the long run. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
Wish I could buy some of these poor shootin junk Minis off you disatisfied guys.But the best I ever see is 450 -550 old new whatever.Some junk just holds its value.As far as accuracy I got one here that will shoot 1/2MOA yes I do have some money in this one but it handles and feels like a real rifle and I like it and have spent money in a lot worse places.Never could figure out as short as life is why some worry about a couple hundred dollars one way or the other. Go with your AR Im a Mini Fan and you cant change that.I will bet my Mini has killed more coyotes than your AR
 
And I wish I had a dollar for every unhappy mini owner!

Man I could build one heck of an AR with that money,

Or we could have an essay contest and in 250 words or less explain "why I should accurize my mini" and the winner would receive let's say an AR! for their efforts.
 
What you got you want to lose? Alls I want is proof If you got em you got proof I do! Ill bet whatever you want.My last three years against yours.With multiple proofs! Ill also not post on this site again if you can prove more coyote kills than me.Hows that for an offering. I know a few guys here that arent overly fond of there ARs and dont hunt with em any more so not every one wantsa 2fingered bolt that you cant reach because the scope is in the way or get a bullet in cockeyed and cant get it out unless you got a bent needle nose Been there done that. Send your e-mail and well privatly exchange some #s no B.S
 
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