itgoesboom
member
Mini-14 = great concept but horrible execution.
I can't believe after all these years they still haven't made it into what it could be.
I can't believe after all these years they still haven't made it into what it could be.
Im in the process of purchasing a mini 14 wondering what i should know.
- Thread starter SturmMackRuger
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Mini-14... for deer?
:banghead:
No, please don't...
If you HAVE to go the Ruger ranch rifle route, get the Mini-30. The Russian SKS would be a much better value, but if you are set on the Rugers, get the 30 for deer hunting. You will be much better off, and will take deer much more humanely. I don't care whose cousin killed a deer with a .223 or which state's laws allow it, .223 is a poor choice for deer. Yes, you can get heavier loadings, yes it's about shot selection, etc., etc., but if you haven't put the money down for it, then get something better suited for the task. The Mini-30 is the same price as the Mini-14 and is much better suited with the larger chambering. 7.62x39 is cheap, too. You will be able to do alot of cheap plinking with the rifle. The ballistics for 7.62x39 are only slightly less impressive than .30-30, which is a proven deer killer. It also has light recoil. Get what you want, but I am standing firm that .223 is not the wisest choice of caliber for deer, and I am begging you to reconsider the situation before you spend your money.
Jason
:banghead:
No, please don't...
If you HAVE to go the Ruger ranch rifle route, get the Mini-30. The Russian SKS would be a much better value, but if you are set on the Rugers, get the 30 for deer hunting. You will be much better off, and will take deer much more humanely. I don't care whose cousin killed a deer with a .223 or which state's laws allow it, .223 is a poor choice for deer. Yes, you can get heavier loadings, yes it's about shot selection, etc., etc., but if you haven't put the money down for it, then get something better suited for the task. The Mini-30 is the same price as the Mini-14 and is much better suited with the larger chambering. 7.62x39 is cheap, too. You will be able to do alot of cheap plinking with the rifle. The ballistics for 7.62x39 are only slightly less impressive than .30-30, which is a proven deer killer. It also has light recoil. Get what you want, but I am standing firm that .223 is not the wisest choice of caliber for deer, and I am begging you to reconsider the situation before you spend your money.
Jason
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kcmarine
Member
Yeah... uh... 7.62 Soviet is FAR superior to .223 in the deer category... remember, you want a quick kill here. The goal is for the animal to suffer as little as possible.
It might be illegal to hunt deer with a .223 in your state, too. You might want to check.
It might be illegal to hunt deer with a .223 in your state, too. You might want to check.
Crimper-D
Member
Got 2!
These little guns are not Deerrifles! nor are they machineguns! They ARE very reliable little 'jumprifles' for yotes, feril critters and other running varmints. Mine have replacement Millette peepsights and replacement front sights to match... don't bother with scopes under 100yds and running is what Bill Ruger built them for = 5 fast rounds out of a cold barrel.
(IMHO), others HO's may vary
These little guns are not Deerrifles! nor are they machineguns! They ARE very reliable little 'jumprifles' for yotes, feril critters and other running varmints. Mine have replacement Millette peepsights and replacement front sights to match... don't bother with scopes under 100yds and running is what Bill Ruger built them for = 5 fast rounds out of a cold barrel.
(IMHO), others HO's may vary
nitesite
Member
I've got to chime in here, but not to comment on the Mini-14 (I've owned one and enjoyed it for what it is).
From an ethical hunting standpoint, the .223 Remington is just a poor choice. Even if you're using the best heavy hunting bullets available in .224", there is far too much chance of crippling or horribly wounding a deer. There are few things sadder than knowing there is a scared wounded animal suffering in agony as the day ends and its life is slowly ebbing away.
Buy the rifle if you want it, it makes a decent plinker and a better-than-average self defense gun. But please purchase a hunting rifle that allow your quarry some dignity and as painless a death as humanly (humanely) possible.
From an ethical hunting standpoint, the .223 Remington is just a poor choice. Even if you're using the best heavy hunting bullets available in .224", there is far too much chance of crippling or horribly wounding a deer. There are few things sadder than knowing there is a scared wounded animal suffering in agony as the day ends and its life is slowly ebbing away.
Buy the rifle if you want it, it makes a decent plinker and a better-than-average self defense gun. But please purchase a hunting rifle that allow your quarry some dignity and as painless a death as humanly (humanely) possible.
Plain Old Bill
Member
Unless you're a member of the A-team, forget the Mini-14.
Know why they have a curved buttplate? That's to make sure your hand doesn't slip when you fling it downrange in frustration....on the other hand, it might be wise to buy one. Think of the money you'll save on targets...you will be able to take them down and use them again and again!!
Have owned three now. Guess I don't learn very quickly. My opinions are all based upon my direct personal experience. Your mileage may differ, etc.....
Know why they have a curved buttplate? That's to make sure your hand doesn't slip when you fling it downrange in frustration....on the other hand, it might be wise to buy one. Think of the money you'll save on targets...you will be able to take them down and use them again and again!!
Have owned three now. Guess I don't learn very quickly. My opinions are all based upon my direct personal experience. Your mileage may differ, etc.....
Check out a Saiga 308
http://www.raacfirearms.com/Saiga_308.htm
You'd save a few hundred and have a better hunting round and in many peoples onions a better gun. Saigas are extremely reliable and quite handsome.
http://www.raacfirearms.com/Saiga_308.htm
You'd save a few hundred and have a better hunting round and in many peoples onions a better gun. Saigas are extremely reliable and quite handsome.
Gearhead Jim
Member
Over the years, I owned 4 of the older ones as squad car "patrol rifles" - two "standard" (iron sights), two "Ranch" (scope rings). I sold all of them because of appallingly bad accuracy. None of them, with any ammo, would keep a 20 rd magazine on an 8 x 10 target at 100 yds from the bench. One of them couldn't even keep a 5 rd mag on the paper. Sold them all, of course, and swore I'd never own another.
More recently, the 580 series have had a better reputation. I bought a 580- stainless Ranch version with the plastic stock, mounted a 1.5 x 5 Leupold. At 100 yds, cheap 55 gr ball puts 5 rds into about 5". Winchester 64 gr softpoints will keep 5 rds in 3". Groups don't seem to enlarge or migrate as the barrrel warms up. That would allow me to do head shots at 100 yards, body shots at 300 yds. Good enough for my purposes.
The only 20 rd mags that work well are the Ruger factory version, which can be hard to find and are getting expensive. The stock needs something to raise the comb so your eye is behind the scope, I used slip-on pipe insulation from the hardware store, cut to length and held in place with color-matching duct tape.
More recently, the 580 series have had a better reputation. I bought a 580- stainless Ranch version with the plastic stock, mounted a 1.5 x 5 Leupold. At 100 yds, cheap 55 gr ball puts 5 rds into about 5". Winchester 64 gr softpoints will keep 5 rds in 3". Groups don't seem to enlarge or migrate as the barrrel warms up. That would allow me to do head shots at 100 yards, body shots at 300 yds. Good enough for my purposes.
The only 20 rd mags that work well are the Ruger factory version, which can be hard to find and are getting expensive. The stock needs something to raise the comb so your eye is behind the scope, I used slip-on pipe insulation from the hardware store, cut to length and held in place with color-matching duct tape.
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
If the intended use is hunting, any thing beyond a three-shot group is irrelevant. Even more important is whether or not the first shot from a cold barrel goes to the same point of impact, today, as it did yesterday.
Each of my four Minis gave me around two MOA with a Weaver K4 on top. Worked just fine. POI for the first shot didn't vary. Killed several coyotes and a bunch of jackrabbits.
If you're gonna hunt Bambi with a .223, there are now loads with much better bullets than just a few years ago. We're no longer stuck with bullets that are mostly "varmints only". Do some looking at the loads with bullets in the 60- to 75-grain range...
Art
Each of my four Minis gave me around two MOA with a Weaver K4 on top. Worked just fine. POI for the first shot didn't vary. Killed several coyotes and a bunch of jackrabbits.
If you're gonna hunt Bambi with a .223, there are now loads with much better bullets than just a few years ago. We're no longer stuck with bullets that are mostly "varmints only". Do some looking at the loads with bullets in the 60- to 75-grain range...
Art
The best thing I did to mine was to chop the barrel to 16" and add a flash hider. It cut my groups from 6" at 100 yds to 3" and that is with cheap ammo. The best part is that the POI does not drift near as much when the barrel gets hot.
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