mokin
Member
The difference between the way these two rifles shoot different bullets has interested me for a while. I've mostly been shooting 62 grain bullets. I was curious how each of these would handle 55 grain bullets.
I started with Hornady data, 22.8, 23.7, and 24.6 grains of Varget. Then I used Sierra data, 25.7 and 26.4 grains of Varget.
I began by shooting five rounds from each load in each rifle over my chronograph. I then intended to shoot five rounds at a target 100 yards away. I'll come back to that....
So, I'm using two different sets of data with test results using rifles with different rifling twist rates. Hornady used a 1/12 twist, and Sierra used a 1/7 twist. My AR-15 has a 1/8 twist rate and the Mini-14 has a 1/11 twist rate.
Chrono results are:
22.8 grains of Varget AR-15 2512.6 fps, Mini-14 2654 fps. Published 2800 fps.
23.7 grains of Varget AR-15 2625 fps, Mini-14 2794.4 fps. Published 2900 fps.
24.6 grains of Varget AR-15 2774.4 fps, Mini-14 2910.4 fps. Published 3000 fps.
25.7 grains of Varget AR-15 2860.8 fps, Mini-14 2930 fps. Published 2800 fps.
26.4 grains of Varget AR-15 2969.6 fps, Mini-14 3082.8 fps. Published 2900 fps.
I could have done more, but my intention was to check the overlap between the published data and compare that with the real world.
With the idea of the real world in mind, and the acknowledgment that neither of these rifles are serious target guns, I used mixed brass and 55 grain "Blems" I got on sale. I loaded the rounds on a Dillon 650, in mass production mode. I was making/ checking blasting/plinking ammo.
Take aways are that Hornady loads produce loads that are slower than published. Sierra data produces loads that are faster than published.
About that accuracy. This part was an eye opener. I set the target up at 100 yards and took five shots with the AR-15. All of them missed. I was a little discouraged but thought I'd try the Mini-14. After shooting, I walked to the target and noticed it was hanging crooked. I had hit one of the clips holding the target. Evidently all the rounds went high and to the left. I had no idea that changing the loads would change the POI so much. I moved the target in to 50 yards and tried again. I began with the AR-15. This time I noticed a very tight group low and a little to the left. The Mini-14 printed a group high-eight inches or so. At least I hit the paper!
At this point I decided to scrap the idea of really checking "accuracy", and just see where the bullets hit. Results were consistent with what I described, with the groups tightening up as the velocities increased.
It's too bad that components are hard to come by these days. I'd like to continue this experiment, keep working up with Varget and maybe BL(C)-2.
I started with Hornady data, 22.8, 23.7, and 24.6 grains of Varget. Then I used Sierra data, 25.7 and 26.4 grains of Varget.
I began by shooting five rounds from each load in each rifle over my chronograph. I then intended to shoot five rounds at a target 100 yards away. I'll come back to that....
So, I'm using two different sets of data with test results using rifles with different rifling twist rates. Hornady used a 1/12 twist, and Sierra used a 1/7 twist. My AR-15 has a 1/8 twist rate and the Mini-14 has a 1/11 twist rate.
Chrono results are:
22.8 grains of Varget AR-15 2512.6 fps, Mini-14 2654 fps. Published 2800 fps.
23.7 grains of Varget AR-15 2625 fps, Mini-14 2794.4 fps. Published 2900 fps.
24.6 grains of Varget AR-15 2774.4 fps, Mini-14 2910.4 fps. Published 3000 fps.
25.7 grains of Varget AR-15 2860.8 fps, Mini-14 2930 fps. Published 2800 fps.
26.4 grains of Varget AR-15 2969.6 fps, Mini-14 3082.8 fps. Published 2900 fps.
I could have done more, but my intention was to check the overlap between the published data and compare that with the real world.
With the idea of the real world in mind, and the acknowledgment that neither of these rifles are serious target guns, I used mixed brass and 55 grain "Blems" I got on sale. I loaded the rounds on a Dillon 650, in mass production mode. I was making/ checking blasting/plinking ammo.
Take aways are that Hornady loads produce loads that are slower than published. Sierra data produces loads that are faster than published.
About that accuracy. This part was an eye opener. I set the target up at 100 yards and took five shots with the AR-15. All of them missed. I was a little discouraged but thought I'd try the Mini-14. After shooting, I walked to the target and noticed it was hanging crooked. I had hit one of the clips holding the target. Evidently all the rounds went high and to the left. I had no idea that changing the loads would change the POI so much. I moved the target in to 50 yards and tried again. I began with the AR-15. This time I noticed a very tight group low and a little to the left. The Mini-14 printed a group high-eight inches or so. At least I hit the paper!
At this point I decided to scrap the idea of really checking "accuracy", and just see where the bullets hit. Results were consistent with what I described, with the groups tightening up as the velocities increased.
It's too bad that components are hard to come by these days. I'd like to continue this experiment, keep working up with Varget and maybe BL(C)-2.
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