Mini 14 Accuracy

[mini14jac]

I just traded a SAR1 for a Mini 14. (OOOOOHHHHH! )
I like the looks of the Ruger.
I had one years ago.
I want a plinking gun, that can double for home defense if needed. I don't want to keep $800 tied up in this gun.
I traded a SAR1 with 2 - 30rd mags, for a Mini14 with 2- 30rd PMI mags. I'm happy with that.

I never bench fired my first rifle, so I don't know how accurate it was.
I have a glass bedding kit on the way from Brownell's.
I plan to bench it, record the results, bed it , then bench it again.

I'll let everyone know how it turns out.

 

[Bottom Gun]

El Capitan,

I'd put off installing a muzzle brake for a while.
It has been my experience that they aren't necessary for a .223 since the recoil is minimal. They will, however, raise the noise level to an unacceptable level and should you ever have to use it without hearing protection you will almost certainly damage your hearing.
A muzzle brake won't make you too many friends at the range either.

My two cents.

 

[Gearhead Jim]

Well, I'm glad that some of you guys are shooting accurate Mini-14's, because I've had three of them and they were all awful. The first two were the standard model, the best I could reliably do with the irons, from a bench at 100 yds, was to stay on a piece of 8 1/2 x 11 paper. That barely beats what I can do with a good pistol.

The current one is a Ranch. This time I got serious, cleaning the barrel every 5 shots for the first 50, bringing several brands and weights of ammo, etc. With a good 6x scope and the best (for it) ammo, groups run 4"- 6" at 100yds. Same day, same ammo; my standard Colt AR-15 with the tiny Colt scope will usually stay inside an inch, never more than 1.5" for 5 shots.

 

[benEzra]

I recently ditched the (cheap) Simmons 3-9x scope on my mini-14 Ranch (with Choate pistol grip stock) and went back to using the iron sights--the accuracy improved nearly 100% (went from >12" groups at 100 yd with constantly shifting zero to about 6.5" at 100 (off a sandbag), but centered on point of aim. Still not stellar, but good enough for a 200-meter defensive rifle.

One thing that surprised me after I ditched the scope was how FAST the Ranch Rifle can be on close-range targets with the rear sight folded down. Inside 50 yards or so, I can get a cheek weld, throw that huge front sight up onto the target and roll the trigger, and get A-zone hits, every time. You lose a little in long-range accuracy, but the speed is amazing and the accuracy is excellent at closer ranges.

bE

 

[benEzra]

duplicate

 

[El Capitan]

I'd put off installing a muzzle brake for a while.
It has been my experience that they aren't necessary for a .223 since the recoil is minimal. They will, however, raise the noise level to an unacceptable level and should you ever have to use it without hearing protection you will almost certainly damage your hearing.
A muzzle brake won't make you too many friends at the range either.

That all sounds like good advice, thx.

 

[BamBam-31]

El Capitan,

If you visit www.perfectunion.com, there's a Mini-14 forum where posters almost unanimously agree that installing a particular muzzle brake (the Black Warrior or John Masen double muzzle brake, you can find it at CheaperThanDirt.com) will shrink groups of 6" to about 3". Something to do with barrel harmonics. The brake is not really for recoil.

I installed one on mine, and 3" groups are about right (and I'm no marksman). Best $20 you'll ever spend on the Mini-14. Also recommended: glass bedding, re-torque gas block screws, trigger job. If you visit the site, look up a guy named Mike Knifong. If you want aftermarket mags, PMI is the way to go.

Like I said, I'm happy with mine. As mentioned, the Mini is very handy, and accurate enough. Most of the people that thumb their noses at the Mini can legally purchase AR's. Like you, I'm in Kali, so a Mini is infinitely better than nothing.

Or get a Garand! I love mine.