natedog
Member
I wanted a centerfire rifle. Badly. I had been shooting for about 2 years, and I figured it was time. I wanted something semi-automatic, in a cheap calbier, but yet still potent. Being a California subject (woops I mean citizen), the choice was obvious, the Mini-14. I had read about it's innacuarcy, it's magazine issues, but also I had read that it's accuracy is easily fixed. So, I decided, why not. I got the Ranch version, the one with fold down iron sights and scope rings included. When I pulled it out of the box I found a very compact, light carbine, yet it felt solid with the wood stock and stainless steel. It had a very nice trigger, good sight picture, good looks, and easy take down. I added on a Tasco 3x9x40mm scope, which surprisingly has clear optics and a pretty bright sight picture. Also, a sling and Harris Bipod went on for accuracy tests. I was ready for the range. I was shooting Reminton Core-Lokt Premier 55 grain bullets for accuracy, 55 grain Remington UMC and Wolf 55 grain for general tests. The rifle had very mild recoil when shooting from the bench at 100 yard targets, and after dialing in the scope I proceeded on for score. 5 shots later, I looked down range with binoculars and saw a pretty good group. I retrieved my target, and upon examination I had gotten a 3" group. Not bad for my first centerfire. Next I took off the bipod and scope and folded up the irons for close in shooting. I took aim at a terrorists head (a picture i had printed off the internet) and fired from the standing position. 5 slow, controlled shots later and I had a 1" group right between the eyes 
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Next I tried rapid fire. The Mini-14 has mild recoil, but quite a bit of muzzle climb, especially when scoped. I could keep all the shots on the paper with my shooting time only being about 4 seconds. Then, I tried the Wolf ammo. It functioned flawlessly, and I was able to hit a 12" gong from the standing position at 150 yards. Overall, I liked the Mini-14. It was stone cold reliable, reasonably accurate, cheap to shoot, semi-automatic, and looked cool. One side note is that the brass ejects far. Very far, to the right and behind almost 50 feet away! This isn't a problem, but it may inconvience spectators. I would reccomend the Mini-14 to anyone looking for an inexpensive, fun to shoot, autoloading rifle.
. Next I tried rapid fire. The Mini-14 has mild recoil, but quite a bit of muzzle climb, especially when scoped. I could keep all the shots on the paper with my shooting time only being about 4 seconds. Then, I tried the Wolf ammo. It functioned flawlessly, and I was able to hit a 12" gong from the standing position at 150 yards. Overall, I liked the Mini-14. It was stone cold reliable, reasonably accurate, cheap to shoot, semi-automatic, and looked cool. One side note is that the brass ejects far. Very far, to the right and behind almost 50 feet away! This isn't a problem, but it may inconvience spectators. I would reccomend the Mini-14 to anyone looking for an inexpensive, fun to shoot, autoloading rifle.
For shooting at real 'reactive' targets, at variable ranges, it does just fine. 
