Learned a few things at the old rifle range tonight!!!!

[WonderNine]

I learned that the new Mini-14 is a P.O.S. as far as reliability and accuracy. At least one jam per magazine (using the best, new preban PMI 30 rounders and new 10 round Pro-mags with FMJ ammo, don't even ask about the Black Hills hollowpoints) and sprayed Rem Oil (has teflon in it) on the rails twice during the session, the second time more heavily. Light primer strikes occasionaly. I think I had at least ten rounds that didn't go off the first time out of the 100-150 rounds fired through it. Doesn't group worth crap, about 6-8 inches at 100 yards, if you can call that a group.

I learned that my father's unissued Yugo SKS now has over 500 rounds through it without a single jam (I think it was only lubed once with Rem Oil or Break Free CLP, when he first got it) and groups about 3-4 inches at 100 yards. It hasn't been cleaned yet other than the original cosmo clean off.

I learned that My 82' Belgian Browning Hi-Power DOESN'T shoot high, I've been aiming it wrong since I got it. It aims differently than my previous MKIII. I was leveling the sights with my 82' HP and most of the shots were going over the targets. This is how it has been since I got it. I had a moment of clarity and starting aiming at the target with the front sight at the bottom of the rear sight. Guess what? Bullseye shooting at 30 yards

I learned that my Browning Hi-Power really likes the new 17lb. Wolf recoil spring I put into it.

I met my first gun snob/military style gun hater today. Guy comes up behind me while I'm shooting the Mini-14, "Can you do 1 inch groups at 100 yards?", Me: "No, I'm still sighting it in. " /Me: goes back to shooting and ignores bucktoothed gun snob.

I learned that my Marlin Model 60 can hit a dragonfly at 30 yards.

I learned that Bushnell Sportview 12X40 scopes for $39.99 are an excellent value, are very clear, have sharp sights, (UPS dropped it off tonight and I installed it before my trip to the range) and anybody who claims I need a Leupold owns a gunstore or has more money than me or both. (sorry Wild Alaska )


I learned that I'm running low on ammo.

I learned that my Model 60 Marlin really loves 40gr. Winchester Dynapoint, just as much as Remington Golden Bullets, only the Winchester DP are copper jacketed, where as the Remingtons are lead. I realized that henceforth the only maker I buy ammo from is Winchester because they make the best of EVERYTHING in almost every caliber!

I learned that some people arrive at gun ranges 10 minutes after sunset and setup to shoot targets when it's too dark to see what you're shooting at anymore. Maybe they had ubercool nightvision/high visibility scopes, but it sure didn't look like it.

 

[J Miller]

WOW!!! Learning that much in one day would give me a headache.

 

[iamhistory]

I just learned that a trip to the range with you might take 2 or 3 days from the sounds of it!

 

[benEzra]

Wondernine,

Get on the phone with Ruger about the reliability problem. Mini's are ordinarily even more reliable than AR's (flame suit on) since they are more tolerant of crud in the action, and the action doesn't deliver aforementioned crud straight to the bolt carrier.

My mini has NEVER, EVER jammed, in several thousand rounds, except (1) I had some misfeeds with a couple of sorry magazines ("Precision Mag," I think) that either didn't allow the bolt to close properly or shot rounds straight out the ejection port, and (2) I shot some ultra-hot ("5 grains over") reloads a friend accidentally gave me, which locked up the action so tight (case head expansion?) that the gas system couldn't cycle the bolt. Banged the bolt open and switched ammo, and kept shooting. I have never had a failure to fire of any sort.

I have never had a jam with Ram-Line or Triple K magazines, or even with an old USA brand 20-rounder.

 

[Byron Quick]

Wondernine,

I hope you never find out the reason for Leupold because it can be a heartbreaker. I own Tasco scopes and Bushnell. I also own Redfield, Burris, Leupold, Nikon, and Nightforce.

When you go on a long awaited hunt and drop your gun...you'll wish it had been a scope of a quality that can take some abuse. And that's really where the difference is in modern scopes.

 

[4v50 Gary]

That's far too much learning for one day. My rule of thumb is to clean no more than two guns a day. Therefore, shoot no more than two guns on any given day.

The news about the Mini-14 is not surprising, but it may improve if you slow down and allow the barrel to cool between shots. Stick with the factory 5 rounder for test purposes. Extra pressue from the 30 rounders have been found by the engineers to affect the bolt.

 

[JShirley]

Aren't ProMag mags suspect?

 

[mummac]

My Mini-14 has NEVER jammed. After installing a $20 muzzle brake I can hit clay pigeons every time from 100 yards. You should get a muzzle brake. It really helps.

 

[WonderNine]

I have a muzzle break.

The accuracy was not nearly as disheartening as the reliability problems even though this is not a SHTF rifle. I was firing the gun fairly fast and I'm sure that was part of the problem, but even when the SKS is fired fast and is hot enough to fry and egg on it still groups better with Silver Bear than my Mini with Black Hills.

No JShirly, new Promags are awesome, nothing like the old prebans. They even use the latest technology which is chrome silicon magazine springs and the magazine latch is welded on and sticks out far enough to make them secure unlike USA/American/Eagle/Triple K/Western Metal junkmags. In fact they are almost identical to factory Ruger 5 rounders only they're 10 rounders of course.

My Mini had already jammed on the third shot. Using the factory 5 rounder that came with the gun!

Byron Quick, this Mini-14 is not a hunting gun, or even a SHTF gun. My Winchester model 94 30-30 serves dual purpose at SHTF and hunting. Even if the Mini was totally reliable I'd still go for the 94. This is purely a plinker/prairie dog gun. But at this point it's not accurate enough for prairie dogs or reliable enough for SHTF either. I would like it to be reliable enough to be a SHTF gun, but even at that, I'm not going to worry about the scope breaking if I drop it. Yes, IMO the $39 Bushnell Sportview 4X12X40 scope is a deal that can't be beat with a stick. Very clear and sharp crosshairs that are 5 times sharper than the $35 3X9 short scope that is on the SKS. No $350 Leupold for me. Or even $200 used Redfield.

 

[mummac]

Yeah, I bought a couple of boxes of Black Hills for my mini but now think "what's the point".

 

[WonderNine]

Hehe, I hear ya. What kind of twist does the Mini have? Is it better for lighter or heavier bullets? And why doesn't Ruger make a 20" Mini

 

[Keith]

For a general beer can shooter, that Bushnell is just the thing. You wouldn't want to drop a lot of money on a hunt and have it ruined when that Bushnell fails - and it will fail!

Keith

 

[WonderNine]

I'm sure it's not the ideal choice for a .300WMR on a big game hunt.