I wasw just stating that they work fine. If you use it for a calling rifle and most shots are under 100 yards. It is not a long range shooter by no means. You being an ethical hunter probably never shoots past 150 with a 223.So then agian it would be fine. I just know from several people in the area that shoot them and they do the job just fine.
who uses mini 14 for calling rifles?
- Thread starter mkeller72
- Start date
Orneryolfart357
New member
Well according to your post... you were talking.. "250 yds" Now a .223 is and can be accurate to that yardage, however a 5" group from the Mini is what I was referring to. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-006.gif
Quote:
I have a dad that has shot probably 500 or more coyotes with a stock minni. If you are only shooting out to 250- they will take them down no prob. All these guys with the black rifles for some reason want to knock it. It dose not shoot 1/2 inch but a majority of them are around 1.5 2 inches. they will and have worked. i dont think 10% of the people on here could shoot 2 inch group of hand with no rest.
There is no question the Mini will kill a coyote, it is after all, a 223 round and I don't care what you shoot a 223 round out of, it is certainly capable of killing a coyote. But that is not the question here.
I have owned several Mini 14's over the years and before the Sheriff's dept. I worked for started carrying AR's, we carried.....you guessed it, Mini 14's. We had all versions of Mini's, it seemed none of them ever shot worth a crap. Ruger changed the barrel twist rates to improve the accuracy, that failed. We tried several different factory loads and those failed to keep any one of the Ruger Mini 14's shooting consistantly.
Anytime someone brings up the same old "My box stock Mini 14 shoots as good as any AR" BS has no friggen clue. Yes, some Mini's do shoot well for the first few rounds, then the groups start to fall off very quickly. Let it cool down for an hour or two and it might come back on target but none the less it'll fall of again.
Today I loaded up some 50 grain V-Max loads using 25 grains of Varget and Remington 7-1/2 primers. I took my Mini 14, YES, I still have one, which has a 10 twist and 3 of my AR's, which include a 9 twist, and 2 with 8 twists, out to my range. All were fired in succession so the temps were the same as the 3 mph wind.
My first five rounds from the Mini were scattered in a 4 inch pattern, First one went low, second one went low left, third one went high and left, the 4th and 5th rounds went higher left and right. These were fired slow fire with about 15 seconds between rounds.
So then I setup using my upper with a 20" Oly Arms fluted 9 twist. Hmmmm 5 rounds in a 1-1/4 group rapid fire. Second AR with a 20" Oly Arms 8 twist....hmmmmm 5 rounds in an 1" group rapid fire. Third AR with a 20" Wilson 8 twist fluted barrel5 rounds in 1" group rapid fire. Rapid fire meaning as fast as I could possibly get back on target and squeeze off a round.
Then I fired 4 each 55 grain V-Max rounds I had loaded, which are my current hunting load, and fired only one round from each AR at only one 1" orange target dot. The three AR's all hit the orange dot while the Mini, using the same 55 grain load, hit somewhere in the upper pattern of the original target dot I shot at. Nowhere near the bullseye and again very high.
Now keep in mind my AR's are not built by anyone other than myself, they are not competition guns nor super accurate custom builds some of the members have here. These guns are simply equipped with any barrel anyone here can purchase at any time from any vendor. I have not worked up any particular load for anyone of them, just simply pulled a load from a manual and put the stuff together and fired it.
No one here can tell me that the guys using black rifles put down Mini 14's just because we have nothing better to say about them. Most of us here actually like the feel and fit of the Mini, but most all of us concur, they simply will not stand up to any off the rack AR15 for more than 10 rounds on any given day with any given load. For the most part, most of the box stock Mini 14's suck in the accuracy department, that is simple fact. If you have one that truely shoots well consistantly, then you should treasure that thing like no other and put it up in a shrine, because you truely have a one in a thousand, or more, special Mini 14.
There are numerous things one can do to get a Mini to shoot well and if that is what you are looking to do great, have fun. The Mini still is very limiting in what you can do with it. To purchase a custom barrel and pay to have someone with the equipment and knowledge to set it up correctly for you things tend to get real spendy real fast. If that is your cup of juice then go for it, spend thousands of your hard earned dollars to make it the best semi out there, no one here cares. Unfortunately there may be a few of you that are stuck with that design and I feel for you, the Mini is a neat little gun, and if you reload, you might just be able to get it to shoot very well without spending a ton of cash, but good luck.
I have a dad that has shot probably 500 or more coyotes with a stock minni. If you are only shooting out to 250- they will take them down no prob. All these guys with the black rifles for some reason want to knock it. It dose not shoot 1/2 inch but a majority of them are around 1.5 2 inches. they will and have worked. i dont think 10% of the people on here could shoot 2 inch group of hand with no rest.
There is no question the Mini will kill a coyote, it is after all, a 223 round and I don't care what you shoot a 223 round out of, it is certainly capable of killing a coyote. But that is not the question here.
I have owned several Mini 14's over the years and before the Sheriff's dept. I worked for started carrying AR's, we carried.....you guessed it, Mini 14's. We had all versions of Mini's, it seemed none of them ever shot worth a crap. Ruger changed the barrel twist rates to improve the accuracy, that failed. We tried several different factory loads and those failed to keep any one of the Ruger Mini 14's shooting consistantly.
Anytime someone brings up the same old "My box stock Mini 14 shoots as good as any AR" BS has no friggen clue. Yes, some Mini's do shoot well for the first few rounds, then the groups start to fall off very quickly. Let it cool down for an hour or two and it might come back on target but none the less it'll fall of again.
Today I loaded up some 50 grain V-Max loads using 25 grains of Varget and Remington 7-1/2 primers. I took my Mini 14, YES, I still have one, which has a 10 twist and 3 of my AR's, which include a 9 twist, and 2 with 8 twists, out to my range. All were fired in succession so the temps were the same as the 3 mph wind.
My first five rounds from the Mini were scattered in a 4 inch pattern, First one went low, second one went low left, third one went high and left, the 4th and 5th rounds went higher left and right. These were fired slow fire with about 15 seconds between rounds.
So then I setup using my upper with a 20" Oly Arms fluted 9 twist. Hmmmm 5 rounds in a 1-1/4 group rapid fire. Second AR with a 20" Oly Arms 8 twist....hmmmmm 5 rounds in an 1" group rapid fire. Third AR with a 20" Wilson 8 twist fluted barrel5 rounds in 1" group rapid fire. Rapid fire meaning as fast as I could possibly get back on target and squeeze off a round.
Then I fired 4 each 55 grain V-Max rounds I had loaded, which are my current hunting load, and fired only one round from each AR at only one 1" orange target dot. The three AR's all hit the orange dot while the Mini, using the same 55 grain load, hit somewhere in the upper pattern of the original target dot I shot at. Nowhere near the bullseye and again very high.
Now keep in mind my AR's are not built by anyone other than myself, they are not competition guns nor super accurate custom builds some of the members have here. These guns are simply equipped with any barrel anyone here can purchase at any time from any vendor. I have not worked up any particular load for anyone of them, just simply pulled a load from a manual and put the stuff together and fired it.
No one here can tell me that the guys using black rifles put down Mini 14's just because we have nothing better to say about them. Most of us here actually like the feel and fit of the Mini, but most all of us concur, they simply will not stand up to any off the rack AR15 for more than 10 rounds on any given day with any given load. For the most part, most of the box stock Mini 14's suck in the accuracy department, that is simple fact. If you have one that truely shoots well consistantly, then you should treasure that thing like no other and put it up in a shrine, because you truely have a one in a thousand, or more, special Mini 14.
There are numerous things one can do to get a Mini to shoot well and if that is what you are looking to do great, have fun. The Mini still is very limiting in what you can do with it. To purchase a custom barrel and pay to have someone with the equipment and knowledge to set it up correctly for you things tend to get real spendy real fast. If that is your cup of juice then go for it, spend thousands of your hard earned dollars to make it the best semi out there, no one here cares. Unfortunately there may be a few of you that are stuck with that design and I feel for you, the Mini is a neat little gun, and if you reload, you might just be able to get it to shoot very well without spending a ton of cash, but good luck.
Quote:
Just curious how many use them and how accurate they are out to 100-150 yards. A ar platform rifle just doesnt feel good to me but the mini 14 does. I saw a used one at my local gunshop and was giving it a once over, have never shot one and no nothing about them. Any info would be appreciated.
My problem is that the question asked was never answered, some just went on the same rave as always about ar15..We all know ar15 are more accurate. To 100-150 do minni's work YES they do. I stated before There are several people that shoot them around here and do fine with them to 250 yrds.
Just curious how many use them and how accurate they are out to 100-150 yards. A ar platform rifle just doesnt feel good to me but the mini 14 does. I saw a used one at my local gunshop and was giving it a once over, have never shot one and no nothing about them. Any info would be appreciated.
My problem is that the question asked was never answered, some just went on the same rave as always about ar15..We all know ar15 are more accurate. To 100-150 do minni's work YES they do. I stated before There are several people that shoot them around here and do fine with them to 250 yrds.
Well then, to answer the question, I have one. Today is the first day it's seen sunlight in several years, as a matter of fact I can't really recall the last time it was fired.
No, I don't hunt with one, used to though, when it was all I had. But I would rather take my 10-22 and hit what I'm shooting at rather than waste a bunch of ammo poking holes in the air and educating a coyote. If it's within 75 yards, I can probably hit it but that is where I would set my limitations on my Mini.
No, I don't hunt with one, used to though, when it was all I had. But I would rather take my 10-22 and hit what I'm shooting at rather than waste a bunch of ammo poking holes in the air and educating a coyote. If it's within 75 yards, I can probably hit it but that is where I would set my limitations on my Mini.
I love the looks and function of the Mini but I bought 3 different ones hoping to get one that would shoot.I was dissapointed.I had the opportunity to shoot an AR and loved it after the first shoot.I would not even pick one up in a gun store because of the look.I have since been converted.Do like MIKEE,try it you"ll like it.There's nothing more dissapointing than spending your hard earned money on a rifle that is not accurate.I"ve seen several coyote vidios where the shooter had a mini and missed.
Squeeze
New member
Quote:
Quote:
Just curious how many use them and how accurate they are out to 100-150 yards. A ar platform rifle just doesnt feel good to me but the mini 14 does. I saw a used one at my local gunshop and was giving it a once over, have never shot one and no nothing about them. Any info would be appreciated.
My problem is that the question asked was never answered, some just went on the same rave as always about ar15..We all know ar15 are more accurate. To 100-150 do minni's work YES they do. I stated before There are several people that shoot them around here and do fine with them to 250 yrds.
Minnesota,
Original question:
Just curious how many use them and how accurate they are out
to 100-150 yards. A ar platform rifle just doesnt feel good
to me but the mini 14 does. I saw a used one at my local
gunshop and was giving it a once over, have never shot one
and no nothing about them. Any info would be appreciated.
The original poster asked for "any info". He got that,
and he actually injected the AR rifles in the discussion,
in his original post. Many of us here have the experience
of owning a Mini-14, so those same posters are probably
qualified to provide their experiences as "any info".
And your judgment about 90% posters not being able to
shoot 2" groups, off hand, is based on what? I don't
think I would want to take that bet. I am guessing
at least 11% of us could hold a 2" group with an AR-15
at 100 yards /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif Putting aside the dime sized
group all day crowd, I am going to guess more than
10% of the guys on this sight can shoot nice groups
off hand. A number have considerable time behind rifles
provided by Federal, State, and local governments, and
have spent some time shooting off hand. And a number
have taken up the goal to be a practiced shooter.
I see your comment are irrelevant to the discussion,
and a bit out of line. I am happy that you are fond of
the Mini-14. I liked mine, too. It just sucked at
accurate fire. I am kind of fussy about having that in
a rifle /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif And no amount of loyalty to it, can
make it a better shooter. I really wished Ruger had done
the right thing with the Minis. I would still have mine,
if they did. But they did not, and a number of folks
here feel it was their responsibility to provide that
experience under the request for "any info".
Squeeze
Quote:
Just curious how many use them and how accurate they are out to 100-150 yards. A ar platform rifle just doesnt feel good to me but the mini 14 does. I saw a used one at my local gunshop and was giving it a once over, have never shot one and no nothing about them. Any info would be appreciated.
My problem is that the question asked was never answered, some just went on the same rave as always about ar15..We all know ar15 are more accurate. To 100-150 do minni's work YES they do. I stated before There are several people that shoot them around here and do fine with them to 250 yrds.
Minnesota,
Original question:
Just curious how many use them and how accurate they are out
to 100-150 yards. A ar platform rifle just doesnt feel good
to me but the mini 14 does. I saw a used one at my local
gunshop and was giving it a once over, have never shot one
and no nothing about them. Any info would be appreciated.
The original poster asked for "any info". He got that,
and he actually injected the AR rifles in the discussion,
in his original post. Many of us here have the experience
of owning a Mini-14, so those same posters are probably
qualified to provide their experiences as "any info".
And your judgment about 90% posters not being able to
shoot 2" groups, off hand, is based on what? I don't
think I would want to take that bet. I am guessing
at least 11% of us could hold a 2" group with an AR-15
at 100 yards /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif Putting aside the dime sized
group all day crowd, I am going to guess more than
10% of the guys on this sight can shoot nice groups
off hand. A number have considerable time behind rifles
provided by Federal, State, and local governments, and
have spent some time shooting off hand. And a number
have taken up the goal to be a practiced shooter.
I see your comment are irrelevant to the discussion,
and a bit out of line. I am happy that you are fond of
the Mini-14. I liked mine, too. It just sucked at
accurate fire. I am kind of fussy about having that in
a rifle /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif And no amount of loyalty to it, can
make it a better shooter. I really wished Ruger had done
the right thing with the Minis. I would still have mine,
if they did. But they did not, and a number of folks
here feel it was their responsibility to provide that
experience under the request for "any info".
Squeeze
In answer to the OP
Quote:
Just curious how many use them and how accurate they are out to 100-150 yards.
It is illegal to use the term accurate when referring to a Ruger Mini 14. I owned one for a couple of years, it was without a doubt the least accurate rifle I've ever purchased.
Quote:
A ar platform rifle just doesnt feel good to me but the mini 14 does.
I understand this at first the AR seems a little strange to handle its something I've gotten used to.
The last new Mini I saw was almost the price of an low end AR and so I think that makes them a very poor value when compared to the AR platform.
Maybe you need to take a look at the Browning BAR in 243 if you're looking for a more traditional feel in an auto loader. Just a thought.
Quote:
Just curious how many use them and how accurate they are out to 100-150 yards.
It is illegal to use the term accurate when referring to a Ruger Mini 14. I owned one for a couple of years, it was without a doubt the least accurate rifle I've ever purchased.
Quote:
A ar platform rifle just doesnt feel good to me but the mini 14 does.
I understand this at first the AR seems a little strange to handle its something I've gotten used to.
The last new Mini I saw was almost the price of an low end AR and so I think that makes them a very poor value when compared to the AR platform.
Maybe you need to take a look at the Browning BAR in 243 if you're looking for a more traditional feel in an auto loader. Just a thought.
Welcome to the board Browningman.
I just finished shooting a new Mini in 6.8. Most groups were around 5-6" with all 6 available loads. First shot out of the mag was 5-7"s low left from the target. The next 4 were around the target. This was off a bench using a 20X optic. I changed out the stock to one that cost more than the rifle and it reduced groups to around 3 inches. I am sure that used rifle is there for a reason.
I just finished shooting a new Mini in 6.8. Most groups were around 5-6" with all 6 available loads. First shot out of the mag was 5-7"s low left from the target. The next 4 were around the target. This was off a bench using a 20X optic. I changed out the stock to one that cost more than the rifle and it reduced groups to around 3 inches. I am sure that used rifle is there for a reason.
CastleRocker
Member
I have used mine alot. It has the factory peep sight on it, which keeps my shots well under 100 yards. (Hard to get much over that anyway where I hunt). I've missed a few head shots over the years, but that's about it.
264WSM
New member
I've shot lots of coyotes in the past with a Mini-14 Ranch before the AR went flat top, because it was optic friendly. I haven't used the Mini lately because I have been playing with other guns and caliber. Recently it's been a Sig 556. I have no qualms about taking the Mini-14 hunting again if I ever get bored with the new toys. Like many on here have stated, accuracy leaves something to be desired. But if your calling scenarios are 150 yds or less like mine and you are a good shot, there will be some dead coyotes. So for those of you that wants us to hunt where you hunt with the Mini-14, please post your areas.