Daddy's Little Thumper...300 BLK Mini

[imarangemaster]

I've been a fan of 300 BLK carbines with supersonic ammo (Barnes Vor-TX 110 grain at 2400 fps) for some time. I have a 16" AR build, but wanted something different. Since I have a 1982 Mini-14 GB LEO Model with lots of factory mags from when I was a Deputy, I decided on a new Mini-14 in 300 BLK, which will use the same mags. Its a 584 series made in 2023. Blued steel, and wwas in a poly stock. It was 6.5 lbs in the poly, but I put it in a wood 181 series carbine style stock. In the wood stock, its a tad under 7 pounds.

Presenting "Thumper!"









181 Series "carbine" stock

1" Tech Sight M1 sling

Vintage Fed Ord hand guard

Vintage 1.5x4 Bushnell Banner (Japan) scope

Vintage Fed Ord serrated blue steel butt pad

Black Jack recoil buffer

Lots Ruger factory 20 and 30s

2x Ruger factory "300 Blackout" marked 10s

Ruger embossed Mini-14 case

[imarangemaster]

The 300 BLK is what the 30 Carbine could have been; 110 grain bullet at almost 2400 fps / 1400 ft lbs ME vs 1970 fps / 900 ft lbs ME, over 50% more!

[PoorRichRichard]

Neat. Do your rings have holes so that you can still use the irons with the scope mounted?

[imarangemaster]

No. The are Ruger factory rings. Nice thing about the 1.5x4, is that with the wide angle, on 1.5 target acquisition is almost as fast as with iron sights. For a Home Defensive Carbine, I leave the scope off. With the Ruger factory rings, It returns within 1 MOA when the scope is remounted.

[imarangemaster]

I have extensively researched various 300 BVLK rounds. One of the best (from a 16-18" barrel) is the Barnes 110 grain, solid copper, poly tipped VOR-TX. It is just under 2400 FPS from a 16" and right at 2400 from an 18" barrel. At the muzzle, it has 1400 ft lbs ME, at 100 it has 1163 ft lbs ME, at 200 yards, it has 950+ ft lbs ME, and it still has 750 ft lbs ME at 300 yards. The pre-fail cuts inside the jacket cause dramatic expansion down to 1200 fps.

[imarangemaster]

Interesting. In researching various 300 BLK ammunition, PPU 125 grain. (either fmj or jhp) give 2320 to 2350 fps from a 16" barrel. One test there were some that broke 2350 fps! Thats equal to the average 7.62x39 loading. PPU loads it to it full potential. Lil gun allows you to load a 125 grain up to 2400, but most factory 125s for the 300 BLK cap at 2200 fps.

I'm likely going to stick with the 110s for the lower recoil impulse becaused of my eye issues, but I may get a couple hundred just to have the hotter loads on hand for TEOTWAWKI or WTSHTF.

[imarangemaster]

Update: Ordered 300 rounds of the hot PPU 125 grain OTM (2350 fps/1500 ft lbs ME). I have 300 of the 110 Barnes VOR-TX all copper (2375 fps / 1400 ft lbs ME), and 100 rounds of assorted factory 110s. Also have 300 rounds of my 110 grain , 2400 FPS reloads. Should be enough to fed both of my 300 BLKs: Mini-14 and AR15 16" carbine build (AR pistols being a No-No in Commiefornia!)

[splithoof]

With good Barnes hunting bullets, it would work well for deer and hogs at closer ranges. With Barnes hunting bullets it would also make a dandy tool for dealing with uninvited party guests.

[imarangemaster]

With good Barnes hunting bullets, it would work well for deer and hogs at closer ranges. With Barnes hunting bullets it would also make a dandy tool for dealing with uninvited party guests.

Yep.. The expansion on the Barnes 110 VOR-TX is amazing, even out of AR pistol platforms.

[splithoof]

Even better yet for non-suppressed rifles would be the .300 HAM’R, which should be readily adaptable in the Mini-30 family platform.

[imarangemaster]

I agree! I've been interested in that round since it was started the 7.62x40 Wilson Tactical. It surpasses the 7.62x39. The PPU 125 grain 300 BLK load, however, at 2350 fps, is dead on with typical 7.62x39 ammo. Everyone else's 125s top at 2200 fps, about 150 fps sy of the Russian round. As much as I like my 300 BLK AR build, I really love the Mini-14 300 BLK. Its like a .30 carbine with a Viagra hard on!