Mini 14 target model

[FrankB1948]

A friend just bought a Ruger Mini 14 target model. Ruger specifies that the target model can only shoot .223 while other Mini 14s can shoot the 5.56 NATO round. I'm curious does anyone know why?

 

[blitztech]

Has to do with the pressure produced by the 5.56 NATO round. Maximum pressures are greater in the 5.56 than in the .223 factory ammo

 

[FrankB1948]

Aren't the actions on all Mini 14s the same. The other models can shoot 5.56. Something has to be different like a tighter chamber.

 

[ford8nr]

Chamber and Leede. The actual .223 chamber has a shorter leede to the rifling that 5.56 ammo doesn't like building higher chamber pressures. The original thought was better accuracy, I've seen tests that have since disproved that in an 'average rifle'. Might make a difference in a target gun, but a mini14?

 

[MistWolf]

Has to do with the pressure produced by the 5.56 NATO round. Maximum pressures are greater in the 5.56 than in the .223 factory ammo

Not so. Both types of ammo are loaded to about the same pressure when fired in their respective chambers. But the leade of the 223 SAAMI chamber is shorter and 223 ammo is loaded accordingly. Fire 5.56 ammo in a 223 SAAMI chamber and the shorter leade causes higher pressure. Fire 223 in a 5.56 NATO chamber and the longer leade causes pressure and performance to drop

 

[Jackal]

I had one. Would shoot sub moa all day long with decent loads. I fired both .223 and 5.56 without a hiccup.

 

[HD_Ride]

I have the Mini14 Ranch, I called Ruger (a few years ago) to confirm that I could shoot 5.56×45mm and that is exactly what the Ruger rep said, 5.56 was a No-Go in target model. it is still odd because the Ranch rifle barrel is stamped with .223 but the Ranch owner’s manual does make reference to 5.56 and I've shot both w/o issues. I just wish we could shoot the cheaper Russian ammo in them, that's about the only thing stopping me from buying the Mini30.

 

[jmr40]

Almost all rifles will shoot 5.56 and 223 interchangeably. There are very minor differences but virtually all rifle chambers are loose enough so that it is not a problem. The target guns have chambers cut to minimum tolerences to aid in accuracy. It wouldn't be dangerous to shoot 5.56 in the target rifle, but reliability will not be as good.

 

[DBR]

A 5.56 chamber has about .100 more free bore than a SAAMI 223 chamber and a more gradual lead into the rifling. This difference may seem minor but it can make a difference of at least 5,000 psi in peak chamber pressure.

It is OK to shoot 223 in a 5.56 chambered gun but it is generally not OK to shoot real 5.56 ammo in 223 chambered gun.

Bolt action guns are usually very strong and therefore forgiving of high pressure ammo. Other types of actions not so much.

 

[ID-shooting]

I have the Mini14 Ranch, I called Ruger (a few years ago) to confirm that I could shoot 5.56×45mm and that is exactly what the Ruger rep said, 5.56 was a No-Go in target model. it is still odd because the Ranch rifle barrel is stamped with .223 but the Ranch owner’s manual does make reference to 5.56 and I've shot both w/o issues. I just wish we could shoot the cheaper Russian ammo in them, that's about the only thing stopping me from buying the Mini30.

Why cant you shoot steel-cased Russian ammo? We have a mini-14 and 30. They both feed, shoot, eject steel all day long.

 

[ngnrd]

HD-Ride: Take a closer look. I'd bet you a nickle your Mini is marked 223CAL not 223REM.

 

[MistWolf]

...The target guns have chambers cut to minimum tolerences to aid in accuracy. It wouldn't be dangerous to shoot 5.56 in the target rifle...

If a rifle is cut with the minimum amount of leade as allowed by 223 SAAMI specs, it will cause pressures to spike to over 70k psi. Not a good thing