I recently have recived a mini 14 ranch rifle as a present and put on a scope i got from my frind. when I went to the range I found that at 100 yards my shots were inconstint and all over the target. One of my friends thinks its the scope and another told me that the ranch rifiles are not that acuret. I wanted to see what other people thought. Also this gun is going to be used mainly for varment hunting and I wanted sugestions on what type of scope would be good to get.
need opinion on mini 14 ranch rifle
- Thread starter g84s
- Start date
For varmint hunting it will have to do better than that. I heard mini's weren't to accurate but the ones I’ve been around did better than that 2 to 3 inches at 100 yards of course you didn’t say how big your target was . I would try a scope if you have one you know is good if it does not help peddle the mini-14 and get a A R .I’ve stayed away from them because of the accuracy problem also plus tons of after market parts to put on A R . Just my opinion /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
Dogboy
New member
g84s not meaning to upset you any. But unless you want to spend alot of additional hard earned money on that mini, I'd take it down to the gulf coast and make it a boat anchor.
Mini 14's have never been known to be very accurate, some exceptions but not enough to ever want one, accept on, or buy one for hunting.
It might be good for war where you just throw lots of led in the general direction hoping for a hit on the target. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
All Ruger has to do is put better barrels on their rifles and most of their problems would be solved, but they won't.
Mini 14's have never been known to be very accurate, some exceptions but not enough to ever want one, accept on, or buy one for hunting.
It might be good for war where you just throw lots of led in the general direction hoping for a hit on the target. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
All Ruger has to do is put better barrels on their rifles and most of their problems would be solved, but they won't.
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vahunter
Active member
They can be accurate with a little work. One thing that helps accuracy without spending money is to retorque the gas block. If you look at it more than likely the gap on each side is not anywhere near alike. Other things to do would be change the gas port bushing, recoil buffer and get a trigger job done. I have done all the above to mine and it now shoots 2" groups. But for serious hunting I'll stick to my 6MM.
The Perferator
New member
Shooting my friends mini14 I discovered the following:
-it's a blast to shoot
-accuracy is pretty good if you keep the shots under 50yds
-it's a blast to shoot
-accuracy is pretty good if you keep the shots under 50yds
Jay Johnson
New member
They can be accurate with a lot of work. You will have as much in it as if you bought an AR but it still won't shoot as well as the AR. Everyone I know that has owned one got rid of it. JUNK!
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KansasHunter
New member
Anyone want to buy a Mini-14? Since you all seem to really like them. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif I will let go of mine.
kyotekiller25
Well-known member
I bought one cuz I thought it would be ok for those running coyotes. It only took me 1 coyote to learn that I would rahter have 1 good well placed shot, then 10 or 20 spraying all over the hillside. My dad still has his and it only shoot around 2-3" groups at 100 yards with the Winchester 45g hollow point "white box". I would love to get an AR. Like everyone else has said, the mini 14 was never designed for accuracy but more for fun and plinking. I'll go so far and say the scope would be 1% problem, the rifle 99%.
Kansas Hunter How much for the Mini ? I have been thinking about getting one for a project , just to see if I could get one to shoot well . If the price is right , I would probably be interested .
My email is : bmartin60@neo.rr.com
My email is : bmartin60@neo.rr.com
Hey! mine shoot great. first, you must fine a bullet weight it like, like any other rifle. Mine is a ranch stanless with 55gr Wolf it'll stay in 3" Good enough for yotes out to 200 yds and it's stock nothing done to it yet either. Good Luck!! Hey! wazzz-up 2muchgun from Taylor too /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
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Droopyfur2
New member
g84s
Looks like you peeved some people off by mearly mentioning the name Mini 14.
Since every one else has such a negative attitude towards them , let me take the other side for this round.
Mini 14's can and have been made to shoot by doing what any handloader does for his favorite bolt gun, and that is reload a load your rifle likes. With little things you'd need done to make other guns more accurate, you also need done to the Mini, namely trigger job, bedding and a good scope.
Granted in the stock configeration it'll never be a true 1" 100 yd semi auto, but then again you can get one to 1 1/2" or there abouts fairly simple and for a lot less $ than a s black gun combat rifle with all the light attatchments and nonsense no real hunter needs for predator controll as long as he is controlling four legged predators.. Two legged--different ball game.. There I said something to peeve another group or the same group off again.
Seariously though, I'm a mini fan and mine has shot under 1" groups more than once with the right loads and has never skipped a beat doing so with the right modifications, and I have no more than $500 invested in the stainless 223.
It's all in what you want in a rifle and are willing to pay to accomplish that goal. That and how much time you want to spend cleaning or keeping the rifle clean and functioning. Drag a Mini behind your truck and it will shoot the same as before. Just try that with a black rifle..
PLEASE DON'T TAKE OFFENSE ALL YOU AR FANS. I'm just trying to make a point and give another side to overly ridiculed Mini 14.
If all you people who consider them junk and still have one, I'll gladly pay scrap metal prices for them /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif One mans' trash--another mans' treasure /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
Since the Mini was a gift, I'd also say , dont look a gift horse in the mouth, take it for what it was intended and make the best of it.
Choices--it's all about choices /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif
My mini wears a Simmons Mag 44 scope and it stay's were it's supposed to.
Would be nice though if Ruger would make a better barrel for them. The newer 580 series are a little better but still leave a lot to be desired unless you like to tinker with a potential 1" er, or can live with not the most perfect rifle in the world. After all there are some people that actually think Savage rifles are pretty /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif
Enough for now.
Later
DF2
Looks like you peeved some people off by mearly mentioning the name Mini 14.
Since every one else has such a negative attitude towards them , let me take the other side for this round.
Mini 14's can and have been made to shoot by doing what any handloader does for his favorite bolt gun, and that is reload a load your rifle likes. With little things you'd need done to make other guns more accurate, you also need done to the Mini, namely trigger job, bedding and a good scope.
Granted in the stock configeration it'll never be a true 1" 100 yd semi auto, but then again you can get one to 1 1/2" or there abouts fairly simple and for a lot less $ than a s black gun combat rifle with all the light attatchments and nonsense no real hunter needs for predator controll as long as he is controlling four legged predators.. Two legged--different ball game.. There I said something to peeve another group or the same group off again.
Seariously though, I'm a mini fan and mine has shot under 1" groups more than once with the right loads and has never skipped a beat doing so with the right modifications, and I have no more than $500 invested in the stainless 223.
It's all in what you want in a rifle and are willing to pay to accomplish that goal. That and how much time you want to spend cleaning or keeping the rifle clean and functioning. Drag a Mini behind your truck and it will shoot the same as before. Just try that with a black rifle..
PLEASE DON'T TAKE OFFENSE ALL YOU AR FANS. I'm just trying to make a point and give another side to overly ridiculed Mini 14.
If all you people who consider them junk and still have one, I'll gladly pay scrap metal prices for them /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif One mans' trash--another mans' treasure /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
Since the Mini was a gift, I'd also say , dont look a gift horse in the mouth, take it for what it was intended and make the best of it.
Choices--it's all about choices /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif
My mini wears a Simmons Mag 44 scope and it stay's were it's supposed to.
Would be nice though if Ruger would make a better barrel for them. The newer 580 series are a little better but still leave a lot to be desired unless you like to tinker with a potential 1" er, or can live with not the most perfect rifle in the world. After all there are some people that actually think Savage rifles are pretty /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif
Enough for now.
Later
DF2
IDBob
New member
Go over to the Beartooth bullet forum and look under their tech tips. The forum owner has some simple fixes that will help the accuracy from the mini-14.
That said it will never compete with the bolt actions or the tuned AR's. I see that Ruger is trying to work on the accuracy problem, though the star trek version I read about in one of the gun mags really isn't my cup of tea.
One thing going for them is their value seems to be staying up so at least it would make good trading material for something more accurate.
That said it will never compete with the bolt actions or the tuned AR's. I see that Ruger is trying to work on the accuracy problem, though the star trek version I read about in one of the gun mags really isn't my cup of tea.
One thing going for them is their value seems to be staying up so at least it would make good trading material for something more accurate.
2muchgun
New member
Doe---nice to hear from you, where are you at in Taylor? I'm off Pardee Rd.
One of the biggest problems of the mini-14 is the gas block at the end of the barrel. It is the thing that is clamped over the end of the barrel and secured with 4 screws. This is one of the main things smiths tinker with when attempting to accurize one. Ammo selection is also very important. Stay away from any steel-cased imported crap. Not only was the gun not designed for such rounds, they are less accurate generally.........
One of the biggest problems of the mini-14 is the gas block at the end of the barrel. It is the thing that is clamped over the end of the barrel and secured with 4 screws. This is one of the main things smiths tinker with when attempting to accurize one. Ammo selection is also very important. Stay away from any steel-cased imported crap. Not only was the gun not designed for such rounds, they are less accurate generally.........