mini 14 FUN

[russ69]

...but the fact the zero wandered often from day to day. In addition a big thing that killed it for me was the first round flier problem...

The new model is MUCH better.

...I'm even going as far as Primer Pocket and Flash Hole Uniforming and Neck Turning...

You'll be wasting your time, the mini chamber and throat is pretty generous and all those tricks wont matter. If I was going to pick a bullet, the 55 grain Blitzking is a pretty good all around pill.

[ar15robert]

I have owned one since the mid 90s and i know it aint the most accurate but it will still be enough to hit a target at distance.I enjoy shooting mine as its very reliable and simple plinker.

I use my AR for the tack driver each gun has its plus and minuses.

[TMB 1]

The new model is MUCH better.



You'll be wasting your time, the mini chamber and throat is pretty generous and all those tricks wont matter. If I was going to pick a bullet, the 55 grain Blitzking is a pretty good all around pill.

On the target model too?

[russ69]

On the target model too?

The target model is a different animal and I have no experience with it. However it is said that neck turning doesn't achieve results with a standard neck dimension chamber.

[sunlupeo]

I have both the older pencil barrel and the latest tapered barrel mini. Both are accurate for a man sized torso out to 175 yards with iron sights no problem. Besides, if was good enough for the A-Team it's good enough for me. Those guys always shot from the hip anyway ��

[sholling]

It isn't accurate enough to be used on the game often found in or around a ranch.

Incorrect. The first shot out of a Mini was always plenty accurate for killing coyotes and similar sized critters. What went wrong with older Minis was barrel whip during fast follow up shots, something easily fixed with an Accu-Strut and cured by the heavier barrel found on newer Mini-14s. No, they aren't a target rifle, but then neither were most right-out-of-the-box hunting rifles from 20 years ago.

[ChuckDizzle]

Incorrect. The first shot out of a Mini was always plenty accurate for killing coyotes and similar sized critters. What went wrong with older Minis was barrel whip during fast follow up shots, something easily fixed with an Accu-Strut and cured by the heavier barrel found on newer Mini-14s. No, they aren't a target rifle, but then neither were most right-out-of-the-box hunting rifles from 20 years ago.

Another myth and legend. The problems with the Mini aren't entirely to blame on a thin barrel, but they are exposed and compunded by it. The problem lies in the heavy reciprocating mass of the op rod handle causing excessive vibration throughout the recievers and barrel. Ruger also often over gasses the rifle for greater reliability, but in doing so makes it impossible for the manual loading of the action to properly mimic the auto loading action because of how the action rebounds off the receiver. The problems of the Mini are far from "cured" by a heavier barrel. And adding a pound or so of weight out to the front of a rifle will work, but it screws up the nice balance that a OEM mini has.

A coyote is about the largest game you will likely find on a ranch, and the mini is already just accurate enough to ethically kill one. Everything else, badgers, weasels, rabbits, groundhogs, squirrels, etc, are smaller and you will probably miss if they are 100 yards away or more.

[Mitch]

[ChuckDizzle]

Owned one for almost three years, spent most of the time searching for a consistent accuracy. Spent almost a thousand bucks over my time with the rifle attempting to make the rifle more accurate. I even went so far as to analyze high speed footage of my rifle cycling to look for problems.

I'd venture to say I've fired more rounds out of a Mini 14 than any of the current owners in this thread. Unlike them, I actually shot it on a ranch regularly. So yeah, I'm kind of an expert on the issues and failings of the "ranch rifle."

[Mr. Beretta]

So Chuck......whats your opinion of Berettas?

[ChuckDizzle]

So Chuck......whats your opinion of Berettas?

The pistols or shotguns?

[TMB 1]

Owned one for almost three years, spent most of the time searching for a consistent accuracy. Spent almost a thousand bucks over my time with the rifle attempting to make the rifle more accurate. I even went so far as to analyze high speed footage of my rifle cycling to look for problems.

I'd venture to say I've fired more rounds out of a Mini 14 than any of the current owners in this thread. Unlike them, I actually shot it on a ranch regularly. So yeah, I'm kind of an expert on the issues and failings of the "ranch rifle."

Bunny Ranch or Chicken Ranch?

[Air]

Bunny Ranch or Chicken Ranch?

[ChuckDizzle]

Bunny Ranch or Chicken Ranch?

There were several rabbits yes,...

[HUTCH 7.62]

And I don't doubt some Mini 14s have been used on ranches, but the vast vast majority of them never have been and never will be.

Many a Rhodesian Farmer used one while defending his farm from Mugabe's terrorists.