New Mini 14 580 series accuracy question

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yoteblaster

Active member
Has the accuracy improved much after Ruger shut the factory down and retooled. What can be expected with hand loads from these new guns?
 
They have a 9 twist and will tend to do much better with heavier bullets... about 69 grains.

Most folks shoot blastin' fodder through these things and are lucky to get 6 inch groups at 100 yards.

If groups are larger than 6 inches, you're either dealing with crummy ammo, crummy handloading, crummy shooting... or any combination of the above.

Many will shoot under 2 MOA with the right ammo.

That slammin' bolt is not your scope's friend... it's rough on 'em, and most people put cheap-o scopes on these mini 14's, and the zero tends to jump around from the rock-hammer effect of the bolt. I actually think my mini's shoot better with the ghost-ring iron sights.

AR's have a cushier recoil, and aren't nearly as rough on scopes as the mini's are.

But all that said, no mini 14 is going to out-shoot a half decent AR. They will, however, be more reliable than the average AR, and will take a heck-of-a-lot more abuse and continue to work... and at least they actually do look like a rifle... I'll stop here.
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Dan
 
115-YARD BENCHREST RESULTS
LOAD INCHES
Hornady 75-gr. BTHP (four shot sub-minute of angle, one flyer 1 7/8
Hornady 53-gr. HP W/C 3 1/4
Black Hills 52-gr. Match Hollow Point 2 1/8
Black Hills 55-gr. Soft Point 3 7/8
Black Hills 68-gr. Heavy Match HP 2 1/8
Black Hills 60-gr. V-Max 2 1/4
Winchester 51-gr. Ballistic Silvertip 3 1/2
Winchester 55-gr. FMJ 4
Winchester 62-gr. FMJ 1 7/8
Federal 69-gr. Sierra MatchKing BTHP 3 7/8
Federal 77-gr. Sierra Matchking BTHP 3

http://www.rifleshootermag.com/featured_rifles/rugranch_071807/index2.html
 
Any one do any handloading and have better luck. I want one of these but am a bit picky when it come to accuracy. If I could get it to a MOA I would be happy for this gun.
 
I have a handload using the Sierra 55 grain HPBT, the first three shots can be covered with a dime, any attempt at five shot groups with my rifle are pointless, my theory is the groups are opening up as the barrel gets hot. Really not a bad rifle if you understand its limitations and aren't expecting to win any matches with the thing. Squirrels and other varmints at around 100 yards, a truck gun or home defense, its not a bad choice.
 
Originally Posted By: yoteblasterAny one do any handloading and have better luck. I want one of these but am a bit picky when it come to accuracy. If I could get it to a MOA I would be happy for this gun.

That's a tall order for the mini. Like said above, you can get the first two or three shots to group well, but those barrel have too many pressure points to really do well after they heat up.

Dan
 
If you are looking for consistant MOA you will not get it. The heavier barrel Mini's shoot much better than the previous versions but MOA is rare other than the first few rounds. Go to perfectunion.com to get more information. On the whole, they are great shooters and are more accurate than the past but they will never replace a bolt gun or even and AR. The new Target version may get you there but it costs the same as an AR. kwg
 
Quote:The new Target version may get you there but it costs the same as an AR.

That's the major problem. You can drop a lot of cash into a Mini and it still won't outshoot a n $800 AR. If you really have your heart set on an accurate Mini, go with the Accuracy Systems rifles. They make them shoot sub-MOA (for a hefty price).
First thing I'd do with a factory one, if it didn't shoot well, is have the barrel recrowned. That's fairly cheap and improves them in about 90% of the cases. Remove and retorque the gas block to 30-35 in/lbs. usually gets you an improvement, also.

You're taking a risk buying a Mini, it may or may not shoot. An AR with a good barrel and free-float tube and a decent trigger will pretty much get you MOA every time.
 
Originally Posted By: erickgI have a handload using the Sierra 55 grain HPBT, the first three shots can be covered with a dime, any attempt at five shot groups with my rifle are pointless, my theory is the groups are opening up as the barrel gets hot. Really not a bad rifle if you understand its limitations and aren't expecting to win any matches with the thing. Squirrels and other varmints at around 100 yards, a truck gun or home defense, its not a bad choice.

I'm with you and mine shoots the same way.
I got mine shortly after Ruger retooled and I'm pleased as can be.

Randy
 
Quote:my theory is the groups are opening up as the barrel gets hot.

Try retorqueing the gas block. If that doesn't fix it, have the barrel Cryo treated. It's about $35 and usually cures that problem.

Of course, hunting, how many times do you shoot over 3 shots in a string? That wouldn't concern me a whole bunch, really.
 
I have had a number of AR's and they all shot well but I have just never warmed up to them. If I could get one to shoot three consistent shots I would be happy enough. I am wanting to use it for coyotes at a max of 300 yards but that may be a long stretch for this gun. I just don't get it, if some one made an auto in a standard gun configuration I bet they would cash in big. Binelli is making one but it is along the AR line. I am not interested in a 10 pound Accuracy systems gun or taking a $600.00 roll of the dice hoping I get a good Mini.
 
Quote:I am not interested in a 10 pound Accuracy systems gun or taking a $600.00 roll of the dice hoping I get a good Mini.

Yeah, I know exactly what you mean.

Volquartsen

That's pretty nice, but it costs twice what a good AR runs.
 
I have considered one of the Volquartsen rifles but once again they are to heavy to carry all day long humping it through the snow after coyotes.
 
I have shot some AR's. They shot pretty good, but I don't like the feel or the looks of them. I got my Target Mini for $650 through gunbroker.com. It happen to be a local seller, so I didn't have to pay any shipping. I paid less then I would have buying an AR. I am able to shoot under inch group with 40 gr. slugs. I havn't even tried any heavier slugs, it may shoot better. I have done little things like buffers, torqued the gas block, changed the bushing in the gas block, adjust the dampener and some trigger work. I know I wouldn't trade it for an AR.

I have had regular barrel mini's and usually got them to group around 1 1/4 inch group after finding a load for it. To sum it up, they have a whimpy barrel. Just adding a flash arrester made a big difference on the group. A lot of people are shorting the barrel so there is less of it to flex and getting good results. I do wish the standard mini was better out of the box. They could really have something then.

Around here the calling contests are getting started and I am getting excited. Time to put it to a real test.
 
Quote:They shot pretty good, but I don't like the feel or the looks of them.

I can understand that. A lot of people don't like that "straight pipe" design.

Quote: I am able to shoot under inch group with 40 gr. slugs.

Well, you're good to go, then. There's not a lot of Mini's that will shoot MOA, as I'm sure you know. I've got 2 older Minis, a 184 series and a stainless Ranch rifle, both with light barrels, that I bought new, and neither one of them will shoot under about 3 inches at 100 yards.
That's great for clearing the front yard, but not so much for predator hunting.
I will say that neither one of them ever has had a malfunction and I've shot them quite a bit. The owners manual on the 184 lists a replacement barrel for $39, and there's the major accuracy problem, in my opinion. If I bought a good bull barrel and installed it, I'd probably get some good groups.

That's my only complaint with them.

Quote: Time to put it to a real test.

Good luck, and post some pics.
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