Mini-14 - Practical Accuracy?

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wlewisiii

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Ok, I'm considering a Mini-14. I've read all kinds of things about how it's so inaccurate. How accurate is accurate?

Can it shoot a minute of paper plate? As in, can you keep all the shots in a mag on a paper plate at 100 yards? That's my real world test as a white tail deer's kill zone can be visualized quite well that way.

Thanks,

William
 
I have 2, and a paper plate is no problem. If you buy a mini with the understanding it will shoot just fine for hunting, but not so good as showing off at the range you will be very happy. I shoot 55 grain by any manufactuer. Never fails to feed, and handles great
 
Ok, that's basically what I wanted to clarify. If I want a tack driver, that's a very different kind of firearm and I'll expect to pay appropriately. That's not what I'm looking for in a Mini-14, so thank you for the information.

William
 
One needs to keep in mind that the Mini has been produced over a number of years, and there can be variations of performance between the different series. One of the changes has been to the rate of barrel twist; there have been 1:10, 1:7, and 1:9. Each version has its own liking for ammo. Matching the ammo to barrel twist is important in order to maximize its performance.

The newer models have been reported to do well out of the box. The older models tend to need a bit of homegrown TLC. Make a couple of modifications and the older models will shoot quite well.
 
With a .223? Of course not, I don't consider that an acceptable deer cartridge. That said, the nine inch paper plate still makes a good practical base line of accuracy. If I can put 20 rounds into 9" at 100 yards, it's good enough for any purpose a .223 is suitable for.

When I am chasing Bambi, I'll have my Mauser 93 and some nice 175 grain soft point 7x57 along ;)

William
 
I about to "pull the trigger" on purchasing a new Mini-14 from CDNN sports - they have excellent prices on all variations. As far as accuracy goes, everything I've read (no I have not shot one) indicates that the newer 580 series are improved over the older 180 series and that they can be 2MOA or so at 100 yards with appropriate ammo. I recommend reviewing the many threads on THR as well as an article on www.gunblast.com.
 
I guess the reason i keep getting into these, is that i have a true love for the little Ruger .:)
Ive owned my little ss 580 series carbine for a couple of years and i have come across all too many mini 14 vs this,or that .The truth is as we all know the mini 14 wasn't built to be a tack driver ,if it was, it failed horribly! What the mini does offer is a rock solid platform ,eats just about any ammo, and accurate enough to get the job done as well as a nostalgic look.
Theres been several debates here on THR ,please check them out,:banghead: theres lots of other great info to , check out the perfectunion site. Heres a couple of old targets i posted last year in a previous thread . Ive seen a couple of guys out shoot me and ive fired slightly better on my last shoot (sorry no pics).I really can't speak for the older model im sure some of the poor accuracy claims are true but Ruger
reworked there little mini and the improvements may not have turned this thing into a driver but what i will guarantee is that ive never seen one not go bang!
 

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I have owned minis for years, long time ago tried all kinds of quality scopes and few good results but I still love them. I gave a buddy of mine a series 180 that I only shot open sight with and he shoots 2" groups with it using a Leupold. I got me a new tactical 14 and I kill big hogs with it all the tiime, I keep hearing from people that the .223 is not a deer round, but that is their opinion and we all know about opinions. when I was a kid, most of my friends took their deer with .222s, including big South Texas deer. I kill hogs in excess of #200 with a .223 I guess I keep forgetting the so callled "experts" say it aint a suitable round, I dont pay attention to those experts. they must actually believe what they read. I kill big hogs with a .17 hmr, we are overrun with them, they are a big problem here in this part of Texas. the .223 will do the job, do yours and you will be surprised.:evil:
 
In my very limited experience accuracy with a newer model from a cold bore is quite decent. Probably 1.25 MOA with match ammo.

However like all light barreled Rugers I have shot, the barrel starts walking pretty severely after a couple of shots. Mine would do 5 shots (match ammo) at about 1.5 - 1.75 MOA. Continued shooting will open it up more.

Something I have noticed is that the POI changes more when changing loads with the Mini than with any other gun I can remember shooting. POI change might be 4-6 inches from one load to another.

Unfortunately, after getting used to AR accuracy, the above results didn't sit too well with me and I sold it.
 
"62-75 grain soft point ammo makes a very good bambi buster."

Maybe, maybe not. What if Bambi's "Uncle Buck" comes along?
 
It seems that if you have one and keep it they are the best, or you get rid of it and you don't feel that way to much.
If good hunting accuracy for you is keeping it in a paper plate you will probably be fine with the newer Mini's.
 
My best group out of my 580 series Mini-14 was 2 inches at 100 yards, Winchester 5.56 nato round, 5 shot group. My handload's deliver 2.5 inches on a consistent basis, with the Hornady 55 grain spire point soft point, a bulk bullet.:) As far as accuracy with a hot barrel, mine has never opened up more than a 3 inch group.
 
I like the Mini-14

I'm new to rifles. I used to shoot some when I was younger, but not that much. I did a lot of research and chose the mini-14. I bought a used 580 series and added a new ATI stock and a BSA Sweet .223 scope. I've found a good price at Wal-mart on Federal bulk 100 round box 55 grain, $40. Here are some pics and a target I just shot at 100 yards:
th_DSCN0130.jpg

th_DSCN1206.jpg

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th_DSCN1449.jpg
 
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I've had four Minis; all early versions. With a K4 on top, I could reliably put the first three shots into 1.5 MOA. That's plenty good for hunting coyotes or jackrabbbits.

I'd guesstimate that the first shot from a cold barrel was always within an inch or so of the first shot of a week or month before.

I never worried about groups on paper after getting sighted in or "just checking". That's not why I bought the thing.

They all did what I wanted, and for all practical purposes, just as good as any other "first shot or two" rifles. That's not a regime where half-MOA means anything much.
 
Series 580 and 581 Mini-14s

I own two stainless steel Series 580 Mini-14s and one Series 581 Tactical (blued). I shoot these rifles mostly at 200 yards. With cold and warm barrels, the Series 580 rifles yield 2 (wood stock) and 3 (synthetic stock) MOA. The synthetic stocked Series 580 rifle shifts its POI to the right about 2 MOA and opens up to about 4 MOA when the barrel is hot. The wood stocked Series 580 I own does not shift laterally, but it does open the groups to about 4 MOA when the barrel gets hot. The new Series 581 Tactical is the real winner. The front sight has flared protective wings so there is less sight clutter, the heavier barrel seems more accurate and is far less effected by heating up than the previous Series rifles. This rifle delivers 2 MOA until the barrel gets quite hot, it then opens to 3 MOA with no shift in POI. The barrel accuracy and behavior are the same as my M4. If my Mini-14 Tactical (conventional stock and flash suppressor) is representative of the breed, I would certainly use it for coyotes and such to 200 yards. Mine is accurate enough that 300 meter offhand shooting is meaningful.
 
That said, the nine inch paper plate still makes a good practical base line of accuracy. If I can put 20 rounds into 9" at 100 yards, it's good enough for any purpose a .223 is suitable for.
Click to expand...

If that's your base line, then I foresee that you will almost always be satisfied with the accuracy of whatever gun you buy.

I think I've only had one rifle in my life that wouldn't group 9" at 100 yards and that was a thoroughly shot out Mosin Nagant that I paid something like $30 for.

Seriously, even the cruddiest Romanian AK using iron sights and the cheapest steel cased ammo available will reliably shoot 9" groups at 100 yards.
 
Practical accuracy, when shot offhand, is quite good with my old 187 series. Seems to do surprisingly well on moving targets as well...though I can't quantify that for you. It's easy to get hits with it when shot offhand. This might lead one to expect something quite good from the bench. Unfortunately 2 to 3 MOA is about the best I've seen.

I think the reciprocating mass of the bolt has a lot to do with it. Things start moving before the bullet's left the barrel; that upsets aim a small amount. With the gun benched and on bags, it's more prone to move or bounce a bit. Shooting offhand, movement induced by the action cycling is controlled better so the thing starts to shine.....at least that's my theory.
Bob
 
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