Mini-14 580-Series Accuracy and Barrel Heating Questions

[Savage92]

I would like to know the normal accuracy that can be expected from a 580 series Ruger Mini-14. How many rounds does it take for the barrel to heat up and if it does get hot, will the accuracy be bad.


Thanks

 

[Pecos21]

I believe the norm with the new mini's is 1-2.5 MOA on a cold barrel with the heavier bullet weights yielding the best results.

With a hot barrel after firing a few rounds you can probably expect 3-4 moa.

There is a definate improvement over the older models.

I have never shot one of the new 580s on paper so I cant comment with certainty.

There are cheap solutions to bring the group sizes down though...bedding, gas bushings, barrel stabilizers, trigger work, quality ammo, etc. etc.

 

[armoredman]

I am handloading for a new 580, and I can get 1 inch groups at 50 yards, but after as few as 60 rounds the barrel is hot, and stays that way, and the famous Mini-14 stringing comes into play. That's shooting groups of 3, pause, shoot 3, pause, shoot 4, resent target, scavage brass, etc. I like the rifle, but I am wondering if it's worth trying to get to shoot straight. I would love to try the gas block, and the AccuStrut, but that puts me in the same money bracket as buying a lower end AR-15.

 

[AgentOrange]

its not just the mini 14 that stings rounds, most rifles, especially semi-automatic with sting rounds when the barrel gets hot. heck, ive seen match grade ARs sting rounds after 60-80 continuous shots. its a normal thing


i have a 580 series mini 14 that will shoot handloads into a 5 shot 1 hole group at 150 yards all day, and i havent ever done anything to it except take it out of the box and feed it right.

 

[glockman19]

My 580 shoots >1" MOA most of the time. Largest groups are 2" @ 100 yards. It will hold 2.3-3" moa @ 200 yards. Completely acceptible to me.

The heavier barrel is much more accurate than the prior series and takes longer to heat up and cool down.

 

[walkenbear]

Best and most cost effective way to eliminate/minimize stringing in a mini is to get the barrel cryoed.

 

[FlyinBryan]

i have a 580 series mini 14 that will shoot handloads into a 5 shot 1 hole group at 150 yards all day

lol

wow,,,,,,,,,,,,,just,,,,,,,,,,,,,wow

 

[Art Eatman]

And another "Wow!" vote, from an old Mini owner who likes Minis.

 

[helz_mcfugly]

Quote:
i have a 580 series mini 14 that will shoot handloads into a 5 shot 1 hole group at 150 yards all day

lol

wow,,,,,,,,,,,,,just,,,,,,,,,,,,,wow

that a sarcastic WOW if Ive ever seen one. I second that notion. lol

 

[Auburn1992]

It doesn't count when one of your shots hits paper and the rest miss.

 

[krs]

"i have a 580 series mini 14 that will shoot handloads into a 5 shot 1 hole group at 150 yards all day, and i havent ever done anything to it except take it out of the box and feed it right"

Sure glad you added "feed it right". It saves your credibility, for sure.

 

[Candiru]

I voted in the 2-3 MOA category just to be on the conservative side, although that was with bulk XM193. I'm interested to see what more precision ammo or handloads yields.

 

[Coal Dragger]

All the ones I have ever shot were pretty much a 3"-4" rifle at the 100yd line.

 

[AgentOrange]

FUNNY eh? laugh and disbelieve all you like, doesnt phase me a bit cause if you knew anything about the NEW mini 14s ( not the target rifle but the out of the box 580 series) YOUD KNOW THATS NO BULL****, and im not the only one that gets that kind of accuracy out of it,check around. alot of people are getting 1" 100 yard accuracy out of the box with el-cheapo factory ammunition without even using reloads. also, alot of people are liking the new minis accuracy to be right up there with the best AR's..most arent aware that the mini 14 was completely revamped to the point riger shut down production and retooled everything. the barrel is 100 times better quality, thicker, the front sight is no longer pressed on,and tollerances are WAY better, the gas block setup was revamped and shaved,etc.. its a completely different gun. on top of that, rugers also taking alot of feedback on it since the retooling and tightening it up even more where it needs to be tightened.

BUT im sure all of you "experts" know all of this already.in all of the years i owned my gunshop and gunsmithed, ive probably owned 400 mini 14s, and all i can say is ruger has a definate winer with this setup

only thing i can see that it needs now is an adjustable gas block as it throws brass 20ft.

 

[Auburn1992]

It may be more accurate, but there's no way in hell you're getting one hole 5 SHOT groups!

 

[R.W.Dale]

It may be more accurate, but there's no way in hell you're getting one hole 5 SHOT groups!

what's funny is with all theses super accurate 580 series mini's I still have yet to see even ONE 5 shot 100yd group posted on the web

Not one single solitary example of their unprecedented accuracy

ive probably owned 400 mini 14s, and all i can say is ruger has a definate winer with this setup

took ya that long to find a good one huh!

 

[black_powder_Rob]

to the OP, the new minis are very accurate rifles now, maybe not a competition rifle, but then you are not spending that much on it. and yes the barrels do heat up, I didn't notice it changing the pattern too much. It is a definite improvement over the older minis.

 

[HarleyFixer]

Best and most cost effective way to eliminate/minimize stringing in a mini is to get the barrel cryoed

Not really, check out this thread.

http://www.perfectunion.com/vb/showthread.php?t=67948

 

[rbernie]

General consensus in my circle of friends is that the -580s are 2-3MOA rifles. That's a lot better than the previous generation; I have several -18x Mini's that are 4-5MOA rifles.

 

[helz_mcfugly]

a review for ya from Rifle shooter magazine on the Ruger mini 14 580
I wouldnt mind having one as a ranch rifle.
http://www.rifleshootermag.com/featured_rifles/rugranch_071807/index.html
They are way more accurate then the old ones but come on.
"a 580 series mini 14 that will shoot handloads into a 5 shot 1 hole group at 150 yards all day"? youll need two video cams running at the same time to convince anyone besides youself of that.

 

[R.W.Dale]

a review for ya from Rifle shooter magazine on the Ruger mini 14 580

.
http://www.rifleshootermag.com/featured_rifles/rugranch_071807/index.html

2 to 4 MOA yep a real tackrdriver

 

[rbernie]

Is this what passes for gun journalism these days?

Yes.

 

[FlyinBryan]

alot of people are getting 1" 100 yard accuracy out of the box with el-cheapo factory ammunition without even using reloads.

nothing could be more rediculous.

also, alot of people are liking the new minis accuracy to be right up there with the best AR's..

ok, i was wrong in my statement before this one because this is definitly more rediculous.

also, alot of people are liking the new minis accuracy to be right up there with the best AR's..most arent aware that the mini 14 was completely revamped

actually, i think just about everyone here knows that its coming from new tooling, and the accuracy HAS IMPROVED, but its still nowhere close to the more accurate ar rifles.

BUT im sure all of you "experts" know all of this already.in all of the years i owned my gunshop and gunsmithed, ive probably owned 400 mini 14s, and all i can say is ruger has a definate winer with this setup

they have definitly gotten better.


i think the o.p. should have a realistic idea of what to expect if he goes and picks up one of the new mini's.

i think if he takes your advice and goes and lays down his hard earned $$$,,,,,,and because of your post expects it to shoot 1" groups, or even 2" consistently,,,,,,,he is going to be in for a let-down.

then he's gonna kick himself all the way home when some dude with a dpms or delton schools his mini at the 100 yard line.

to the o.p.

its gonna be about twice as good as the mini's that came before it, but the truth is, thats still about half as good as a decent ar.

if your looking for long range accuracy from a .223 auto loader, your 1st choices shouldn't get any parts from a tree.

 

[1KPerDay]

Here's what my 195-series stainless ranch rifle did the last time I was out. top target. 50 yards. prone from a rest, scoped.



Bottom target



A tackdriver it is not. At least with me behind it.

I haven't shot one of the new-designed ones.

 

[FlyinBryan]

thats pretty close to what mine have shot. maybe a little better. that lower target on the 1st pic looks like it could be 2", which is darn good for 10 shots. keeping 10 together is tough. being its a older mini id have to say your better with it than i was mine.

your 1022 on the other hand looks quite a bit better than my standard barreled 10/22.

i bought it used though. maybe it was not cared for well before i got it. i ended up putting a gm barrel on it