Accuracy of Mini-14 Ranch Rifle

define accurate....rule of thumb for the new ones is 1.5-3"s at 100 (generally closer the the 1.5 from my experience and what ive been told). My own mini holds everything, except MFS steel case, inside 2"s at 100 yds. Handloads loaded out to touch the rifling went into a bit under 1". I only made 5 rounds, so i didnt bother to measure the group.

Generally newer models shoot quite well. I have gotten to shoot an older one that would do a bit over 3 inches at 100 with average ammunition. Better rounds would have made a difference I am sure. For what they are designed for they shoot plenty well. Fwiw the one I shot ate over 100 rounds of so so ammo without a hiccup. It is pretty handy too.

Not an expert/owner/user with that platform but....was told the older ones had very lose chambers which affected their accuracy; maybe the newer ones are tighter? THR has an older thread about the mini 14 where some of our owner operators discussed the weapon in some detail.

My latest mini is a 581 tac model with the 16" barrel it shoot's about 1 1/2 MOA with decent factory ammo and will shoot MOA with some good handloads. I don't shoot any Steel case stuff in it or in my AR for that fact. It's a good platform in the newer versions, Prices are all over the map though. I paid $587.00 for mine but I've seen them priced over $800.00 so shop around there are some deals if you hunt.

I had one in the mid-80's and it was minute of pie plate at 100 yards. I tried glass bedding it and after that had the worst vertical stringing ever. You could shoot a 20 round mag at a target and get a group 2" wide and a foot tall. I looked into getting a new barrel and tuning but it was really expensive, so I traded it for an AR15. The new ones may shoot better due to higher quality barrels.

Here is some good information.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=608917

They will shoot well but it's all in the ammo

BigWoolyBanjo said:

So, are these accurate, say at 150 yards?

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What year was it nade? Do you know the twist? This would help.

Look at the serial number. If it is 580-xxxxx or higher, it should be OK (not as accurate as an AR, but 2" to 3" groups at 100 yards and 3" to 4.5" groups at 150 should be achievable, and perhaps better than that.

If it is an older mini, though (pre-580-series) then accuracy was really inconsistent; some rifles shot well, most shot rather poorly, and some were simply awful. Mine (188-xxxxx Ranch Rifle) shot a best-ever group of 5.5 inches at 100 yards from a rest and rear bag; my Century AK can do better than that.

Years ago I bought a ranch rifle that shot like crap. A smith from the local club cut about an inch off the muzzle and crowned it. A 4 inch group turned into a 1.5" group in an instant with cheap Rem 55gr ammo. The gun kinda became optics only at that point but what the heck.

I had 2 ranch rifles that would not keep bullets on pie plates at 75 yds, scoped or open sights with different ammo. I would hope by now that the new ones shoot better, but I'm not taking the chance.

I have a 580 Series Mini and it's the most frustrating rifle I've ever owned. I started out with some Prvi 55 gr. ball ammo and some PMC X-Tac 62 gr., both horrible, as in 6"-8" groups at 50 yds. I bedded it but this helped not at all. I tried some handloads and things got a little better with groups closer to 2.5" @ 50 yds. (BTW I shoot at 50 yds. with open sights)
I tried and AccuStrut (which by the way are supposed to REALLY help the older Mini's) but it didn't help much. I had about decided to sell it, when on a whim I made a sort of barrel dampener on my lathe. It slips over the muzzle and is retained with set screws. I only got a chance to fire a few shots right at dark, but things look promising.
I read on a different forum that the 580 Series rifles do better when handloaded wih faster burning powder. I have some 4895 and 3031, so I plan to try them tomorrow.

35W

I seen some place that it give the twiat of all mini. Can any one help me?

I am going with "twiat" as twist rate, so http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-67087.html

I'm no expert marksman. I have one of the old "skinny-minis" (1995 mfg) and two of the new ones, all still with factory irons only. I can get baseball and sometimes golfball sized groups shooting at 50 yards, and can hit a five-gallon bucket pretty reliably at 200, using 55gr Federal, propping against any solid surface of my pasture-truck as a rest, even with my 54 year old bifocal bespeckled eyes. That makes it a more-than-adequate pasture-rifle for me. I honestly experience no difference between the accuracy of the old one and the new two that I own.

I ignored the internet slagging they get about accuracy, tried for myself, and became a fan of Mini-14s. I like 'em. They're light, simple, durable, effective enough for my purposes, and, IMO, relatively fair-priced for what they can do.

That's something I forgot to mention, as frustrating as my Mini has been, it's been very difficult for me to part with it because it's such a practical utility rifle. I own an AR that is WAY more accurate than my Mini, but with the pistil grip and carry handle, dragging it out of the front seat of the pickup is like is like dragging a wad of barbed wire through a briar patch.
35W

I seen some where wher the mini had a 1-14

depends on which series you got, the new series 581 are real accurate.

I really wish Ruger had kept the M14 piston setup and gas cylinder/ etc, instead of the large gas block, and op rod on the mini. You have really messed up if you start with a Garand action and end up with an inaccurate rifle.

At 150 yards with a new Mini and good ammo, I think an expectation of about 2 1/2 - 3 inches for a 5 shot group is realistic.

Mine could hit a pie plate at 50 yards, Never , Never buy a Ruger

I had a ranch rifle early 90s I think. I didn't keep it too long because it was woefully inaccurate. About the same as other people I guess, no better than pie plate @100yds.

Never , Never buy a Ruger

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But if you happen to make that terrible mistake, please give me first dibs on getting those dreadful pieces of dung away from your really high-quality firearms.

Big day in the Mini world for me. A few months ago I bought a 580 Series Mini off an on-line auction. Got it for a good price and it came with a 30 and two 40 rd. mags, as well as a Butler Creek folding stock. That's about the end of the good news.
The very best groups I could get at 50 yds, sights or scope, was about 2.5" with handloads, most were much worse with 6" groups not at all uncommon. I bedded it, installed an AccuStrut, cleaned the bore thoroughly, try several weights of bullets and three or four different powders. The best it would do was an occassional 2.5" group at 50 yds. Scope or sights, didn't matter.
Then last night while checking the muzzle for copper, I noticed something didn't look right. Closer inspection revealed what appeared to be pitting 1/2" or so in the muzzle.
So today I took it to a nearby pawn shop where I knew two or three Mini's to reside. Long story short, I swapped it, two 40 rd. mags and $50 for a 581 Series Mini that appeared to have been fired very little .(Checked Rugers site and the rifle was made last year!!!) Ran home with it and things are MUCH better. With PPU (Prvi) 55 gr. FMJ and the factory sights, it shot under 2" @ 50. Likewise with an arbitrary handload and PMC X-Tac 62 gr. Tried one quick group at 100 with the Prvi and it was right at 3" CTC. Plenty good for coyotes and stray dogs out to a couple hundred yards. What a relief.
I'll very likely bed the rifle which should help groups even more. Maybe this means Ruger has been improving the rifle.

35W