Why are Mini 14's so inaccurate?

[Lovesbeer99]

Please don't beat on me right away as I have no experiance with a Mini 14, but all i seam to read about is...

Very reliable, good cheap gun, but very inaccurate.

Acutally, I've mostly heard alot worse, but I'm perplexed. If these are such bad guns, why has Ruger been making them since 1976, and continue to make improvements? In Cabela's and other sources there are plenty of accessories and parts so I have to imagine that there is a following. Looking over the specs, it seams like a very versatile arm with lots of options.

So... why hasn't anyone figured a way to make this gun shoot like an AR? Maybe a new barrel, or truing the action, or trigger upgrades?

I'm very interested in this gun, but I'd like to get some real feedback, and not just AR loving, Ruger Hating feedback.

Thanks in advance and shoot safe.

Lovesbeer99 (but shoots safe)

 

[JWarren]

I am by FAR no expert regarding Mini-14/30's. One factor I have heard is the fact that Mini's use a Cast as opposed to Forged Barrel.

I am sure people with more knowledge will have better answers to this.


Editorial Side Note: I don't ever anticipate ever purchasing another Ruger after the stunts they pulled regarding the last AWB. My dollars are my votes and I don't vote for enemies to my rights.


All the best!

John

 

[Danny Creasy]

Bart Skelton (the late Skeeter's son) had an article in last month's issue of "RifleShooter" magazine about the Mini 14. He claims that Ruger set out to improve the rifles accuracy last year and they have succeeded.

Pretty good read. But, its hard to know what to believe in most of the gun comics these days.

 

[Still 2 Many Choices!?]

Mini 14 seem to be inaccurate because...

Lots of people like to compare them to AR-15's which are simply uncanny accurate . I think it's the thin barrel( a rumor I heard) and the piston design(just my opinion).

 

[_N4Z_]

I too have heard a million +1 stories of the inaccuracies of the Mini14/30.

The thin barrel, the this, the that, blah blah blah.

Now I've never voiced an opinion on this as I don't own one, had never seen one in use, had never fired one..... Up until two weeks ago.

My son inlaw, back from Iraq in Nov., has been spending quite a bit of time out at the local range with me. He has several rifles he is keeping in my safe for our fun trips, including a stainless steel Mini30. As I said, a couple weeks back we were out there and shooting golfballs with the Mini and my AK.

We moved to the 300 yard lane as I was running some "new" surplus thru my Finn M39 still in search of the golden bullet. Well, Preston decided he was going to have a try at that gong with his Mini. Let me first say that his Mini30 does have a scope on it. It's barrel also was quite warm at this point.

Folks, I sat back and watched him get dialed in on that 20" gong, and then proceed to ring it with his remaining rounds, 8 fairly hasty times in a row.

Gotta say it was a bit of an eye opener. Highly doubt I could replicate that feat with my AK, though it doesn't sport a scope.

Also gotta say that after seeing such a display, those badmouthing the Mini's just lost a little ground in my book.

 

[Rugerdaddy]

The older series mini 14s (180-190's) are notoriously inaccurate, but owners love to shoot them nonetheless. Something about them just makes them fun to shoot. Probably the Garand style action. I own a 197 series. There is much that can be done to accurrize a mini 14. Generally, the most important improvement that one can make is to bed the rifle. Apparently, the rifle kinda slops around in the stock, so bedding it helps. Second, I believe, would be to do something to reduce barrel whip. The barrel can be shortened, or weight can be added, i.e., tuner or muzzle brake, etc. Ultimately, one will spend as much money improving the accuracy of the older series as if they bought an AR in the first place, but we do it because we like shooting the mini. Mine is at the gunsmith as I write this getting these mods and others done.

However, it is widely reported that the new 580 series is much more accurate. I read one article that confirmed that, but the jury is still out.

Hope this helps you.

 

[rangerruck]

dont know how the receiver and barrel were previously made, but it is common knowledge that the bbl harmonics of those things were absolutely terrible, and they changed quite a bit, as it warmed up. They were never meant to be any more accurate than what the military origionally called for , for accuracy, which was something like 4 moa at 100 yds.

 

[Mumbles_45]

20" gong, 300 M, thats a little under 7 MOA. While pinging it with 8 hasty shots is good shooting, I wouldn't really consider it proof of the mini's accuracy.

 

[Mumbles_45]

Something about them just makes them fun to shoot. Probably the Garand style action.

I think it's how hard they fling brass. I saw one break a lightbulb at the range once.

 

[Dr.Rob]

You know... they never were 'target' rifles. Ruger made them to BE a plinker (albeit an expensive one.) They were not designed to deliver withering sustained fire like a military arm, nor were they envisioned for use as a 400 yard varmint gun. The Ruger was designed as a 100 yard coyote rifle and tin can shooter with a 5 shot magazine.

The mini had faults, namely it heats up quickly (esp. the stainless ones) and when it does it strings shots vertically. They pretty much did this no matter what model you had. The 'new' model might fix this 'problem' and if it does, great.

Even so... 2-3 inch groups (3-5 shots) at 100 yards is possible, even with the 180 series I've been shooting for 10+ years.

 

[3rdpig]

Barrel, bedding, trigger and sights. Fix those things and you'll have a pretty accurate Mini. You could also have a $1000 Mini if you're not careful.

You can make some pretty good improvements by having the barrel shortened to 16" and doing a do-it-yourself bed job on the stock. I also heard there was a guy doing trigger jobs for about $60.00. For a couple of hundred you can take make your Mini go from 5 or 6 inch groups at 100 to 3 inch groups.

I took a different route, I sold my Mini (the second one I had owned) for $350, added the $200 I would have spent trying to make it a 3 MOA rifle, added another $100, bought an AR and had a 1.5 MOA rifle. And one that quality 30 round magazines can be had for $10 a pop.

 

[Sunray]

"...Very reliable, good cheap gun, but very inaccurate..." Yes, NO!, yes.
The triggers are poor(so are most factory triggers from any maker), the sights are poor, the barrels are poor, the basic design isn't for accuracy. Plus they're way over priced. MSRP is $835. And Ruger sells every one they make. However, if you can't find or don't want(?) an M-1 carbine(mine will shoot circles around any Mini-14), they're still fun to shoot and the ammo is easy to come by at reasonable prices. Just like any carbine.
Ruger has recently redesigned it for better accuracy. The 'new' heavier barreled Target Mini-14 hasn't been around long enough for any 'real world' testing by real shooters who don't write for the gun rags.
"...how hard they fling brass..." That has nothing to do with accuracy.

 

[Mumbles_45]

MSRP is $835

Seriously? ***. It was like 5 and change last time I looked. Whats the world coming to and why are people still buying these things? I know guns don't actually sell for MSRP, but it's a starting point, and if the starting point is that high, what's the actual selling price? I havn't even looked in a while. I lost all interest in Minis after the first time I fired one.

I wasn't talking about accuracy with the brass comment. Rugerdaddy said:

Something about them just makes them fun to shoot. Probably the Garand style action.

and I (jokingly) said it was the brass whipping. Seems like an awful lot of the arguments on this board are due to people not reading carefully.

 

[bill larry]

Hmm...hitting a 20" gong at 300 yards is a GREAT level of accuracy in a battle style carbine. That's a man sized target.

The Mini-Series, IMHO, was designed in .223 and 7.62x39 for a reason.

They are meant to drop people, pure and simple.

300 yards is a lot more distance than any of us will ever be legally able to pop someone at. Quit reading too many internet forums about Mini innaccuracy. If you want one, buy one. Don't sweat the small stuff.

 

[Savageshooter]

It's the only rifle in my collection I wish I didn't buy

 

[Mumbles_45]

No, hitting a 20" gong at 300 yards should not the limit of the rifle's capability. A 7 minute gun is...well, I don't want one. Not saying the mini is a 7 minute gun, it could have been shooting a 3 MOA group inside that gong for all I know.

 

[mustanger98]

I'm a Mini-14 owner too. I think the Mini-14 haters just like to have something to cuss, so they'll pick on a weapon other than their preference. I personally don't care for AR's, but it's personal preference along with knowing what happened in 'Nam. If my life ever depends on a weapon, I'll pick a Garand-type system.

Quit reading too many internet forums about Mini innaccuracy. If you want one, buy one.

Yeah. And enjoy it. I like mine. Listening to too much griping, especially about your choice, ain't healthy.

 

[Leanwolf]

I have long had a Ruger Mini-14 GB, 182 series, and with Win. ball ammo, PMC ball ammo, and Win. PSP ammo, it consistently shoots 1 1/2" @ 100 yards.

I'll keep mine.

L.W.

 

[Jackal]

Plain and simple, the Mini's were made as a "fun" gun. People don't complain about thier Saigas being innaccurate. The only reason for the high price tag is the high standard of living we americans like. The factories actually have to pay their employees competetive wages here in the USA. Would I buy one? No, not unless I got it really cheap and could re-sell it for more. Then again, I own a Bushmaster. People are gonna complain if Ruger stops selling it and people are gonna complain about the price. Welcome to the USA, you don't want it, don't buy it.

 

[Sunray]

"...Seriously?..." That's what it says on Ruger's site. $775 for the Mini-14/5. $885 for the KMini-14. Blued or SS, apparently. Too much either way.
"...I (jokingly)..." DOH! No offense intended.

 

[mustanger98]

I bought mine before Bush got elected the first time... back when we didn't know for sure Al Gore wasn't getting elected. And even thought I bought it new, I don't have half that in mine. I did bump the cost up with some extra mags.

 

[asknight]

One factor I have heard is the fact that Mini's use a Cast as opposed to Forged Barrel.

You say, the fact that the Mini uses a cast barrel? Oh my! HAHAHAH

Yea, and the plastic bolt and firing pin wont last more than 100 rounds!

Caveat Emptor! Mini-14 is rated as junk! Don't buy! Maybe the resale will go down so I can afford more on my meager budget. Heh heh!

Man, seriously, Ruger isn't even stupid enough to use a cast barrel in a rimfire.

I'll continue to happily keep my 196 series as long as it continues to shoot into ~1-1.5 inches with good ammo @ 50 yards, factory sights and all.

 

[Sunray]

"...knowing what happened in 'Nam..." T'ain't the same rifle or ammo. Forty years of developement has made a difference. Current versions have battle proven reliablity and accuracy. However, a Mini-14 isn't a battle rifle. Nor is it a 'Garand-type system'. It just looks like one.
The bottom line is that they're fun to shoot and don't cost a bunch to do so. They are, however, far more expensive than the accuracy warrants.

 

[Glockfan.45]

I had an older Mini 14 I bought at a pawn shop and loved/hated it. Its a nice design and fun to shoot (if you dont mind 5 shot mags or clearing jams out of aftermarket hi-caps Bill Ruger) but a tack driver it is not. IMO the big problem is the thin barrel. This becomes evident once the gun warms up, after a few rounds and your groups slowly start to spread. I always wondered what a new aftermarket heavy barrel would do for it but never found out because I sold it and bought an AR. If I ever want another gun in that style again I will get an M1A.

 

[berettashotgun]

Great gun for $350. POS for $500.
I like mine and love the lack of extra parts. Handy and small. Perfect for a truck gun in 223 or 7.62x39. Wish they made one in 243 or 308.
I prefer the AR over the mini for any actual hunting type shots, but I'd prefer a mini over a SKS any day and I have both. Just wish the mini cost more like $300. AND had available 20 round mags from the factory, or at least reliable and decent priced aftermarket mags.