Neo-Luddite
Member
I've had the bolt 'stick' when stored gunky for extended periods in a fairly damp basement. Solvent down the bore + a tap with a cleaning rod and a mallet set things right.
Mini-14: your experience?
- Thread starter teflonbilly0
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JWF III
Member
I now have 3.
The 1975 180 series is ultra-reliable, and shoots 2.5-3" @ 100 yards (iron sights).
The mid-80's Stainless standard is mostly reliable (all mag problems, I can't seem to stop buying other guns long enough to save for enough (10 or more) factory 20s). The barrel has been cut to ~15" with the A2 style flash hider welded (totaling 16.25"). With a (cheap) ATN Ultrasight (I think thats what they're called), it shoots around 2" @ 100 yards.
The early-90's blued ranch is mostly reliable (again mag problems). The barrel on this one has been cut to ~13" with the M14 style flash hider welded (totaling 16.125"). With Leupold Rifleman 2-7x32 mounted, it shoots around 1.5-2" @100 yards.
As others have stated, they are reliable guns, accurate enough for most people in all but benchrest comps. Certain different tricks (like the shorter barrel) will improve accuracy. Also, Accuracy Systems, Inc. can build an extremely accurate rifle out of them.
And at $375 I'd say buy it. I paid for mine $250 for the 180 series (in 1992), $400 for the stainless (in 2005), and $450 for the ranch w/ folding stock (in 2006).
As long as you're not expecting MOA accuracy with it, I don't think you will be unhappy with the rifle.
The 1975 180 series is ultra-reliable, and shoots 2.5-3" @ 100 yards (iron sights).
The mid-80's Stainless standard is mostly reliable (all mag problems, I can't seem to stop buying other guns long enough to save for enough (10 or more) factory 20s). The barrel has been cut to ~15" with the A2 style flash hider welded (totaling 16.25"). With a (cheap) ATN Ultrasight (I think thats what they're called), it shoots around 2" @ 100 yards.
The early-90's blued ranch is mostly reliable (again mag problems). The barrel on this one has been cut to ~13" with the M14 style flash hider welded (totaling 16.125"). With Leupold Rifleman 2-7x32 mounted, it shoots around 1.5-2" @100 yards.
As others have stated, they are reliable guns, accurate enough for most people in all but benchrest comps. Certain different tricks (like the shorter barrel) will improve accuracy. Also, Accuracy Systems, Inc. can build an extremely accurate rifle out of them.
And at $375 I'd say buy it. I paid for mine $250 for the 180 series (in 1992), $400 for the stainless (in 2005), and $450 for the ranch w/ folding stock (in 2006).
As long as you're not expecting MOA accuracy with it, I don't think you will be unhappy with the rifle.
Tarvis
Member
Well, truth be told, I went out to sight in my mini today and BOY was I surprised. I didn't think my mini was THAT inaccurate, but groups were terrible, much like the picture above at 50 yards or so. Now, I have taken the gas block off before and it may have been improperly torqued, but this is the first time I've shot this rifle on paper. Also, this is a LE trade in so it may be worn out.
I doubt all mini's shoot 14" out of the box using a good rest and a skilled finger. I wouldn't be surprised if the newer ones were more accurate either. In any case, I will get a torque wrench tomorrow, re-torque the gas block, re-shoot the rifle and post the results.
I doubt all mini's shoot 14" out of the box using a good rest and a skilled finger. I wouldn't be surprised if the newer ones were more accurate either. In any case, I will get a torque wrench tomorrow, re-torque the gas block, re-shoot the rifle and post the results.
Castr8r
Member
Mine is a 181 series I've had for a lo-o-o-ong time; I paid $125.00 for it. It always goes bang when I pull the trigger, even with cheapie mags. Accuracy is so-so; I find it adequate for protecting wildlife by "one shot saluting" cats. It's fun to shoot, reliable as death and taxes, and doesn't need to be kept meticulously clean to be reliable. I'd glom onto that one at that price.
It really is the same argument seen in the AK vs AR threads. Do you want accuracy with a bit of trade on extreme reliability or do you want reliability with a bit of a trade on extreme accuracy? Personally I wouldn't spend my money on one. At $375 it is getting a bit tempting but at their NIB price they are way out of their league. Even for $375 I would rather pick up something in the same price range that eats 5.45x39 so I could shoot cheap. At that point neither gun is going to be a stellar paper puncher so you might as well feed something that is 1/2 to 1/4 the cost per round.
Then comes the part of me that strives for accuracy. You have to love the flexibility of the AR to go from a short carbine to a heavy bench gun. A few companies can get you 1/2 MOA or less out of the box and a lot can get you under 1 MOA. The local store has RRA A2s in that hold at least 1 MOA for $770. If accuracy means much it doesn't have to cost a "ton" more like it would if you were going for it in the Mini.
The Mini is a fun rifle built on a great design. The problem I have is that people are willing to accept 4" groups from a $600 rifle while for $770 you get a rifle capable of 1" groups. It just seems like very little price difference for the performance difference, though the used market in this case takes that for a bit of a twist. Then when people start talking about buying 10 factory mags the real questions start turning. $400 for 10 Mini mags or $150 for 10 mags for an AR. Right there you toss $250 more into the cost of the Mini than it would take to get an AR to the same spot, capacity wise, ignoring the fact you would have 30 round AR mags instead of 20 rounders. Now you have almost $800 invested in a used mini when you could have had the same in a used RRA rifle and had a much better shot at getting an accurate rifle.
Then comes the part of me that strives for accuracy. You have to love the flexibility of the AR to go from a short carbine to a heavy bench gun. A few companies can get you 1/2 MOA or less out of the box and a lot can get you under 1 MOA. The local store has RRA A2s in that hold at least 1 MOA for $770. If accuracy means much it doesn't have to cost a "ton" more like it would if you were going for it in the Mini.
The Mini is a fun rifle built on a great design. The problem I have is that people are willing to accept 4" groups from a $600 rifle while for $770 you get a rifle capable of 1" groups. It just seems like very little price difference for the performance difference, though the used market in this case takes that for a bit of a twist. Then when people start talking about buying 10 factory mags the real questions start turning. $400 for 10 Mini mags or $150 for 10 mags for an AR. Right there you toss $250 more into the cost of the Mini than it would take to get an AR to the same spot, capacity wise, ignoring the fact you would have 30 round AR mags instead of 20 rounders. Now you have almost $800 invested in a used mini when you could have had the same in a used RRA rifle and had a much better shot at getting an accurate rifle.
lionking
Member
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2006
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- 3,109
agreed with benzy.I bought this rifle back in 90 or 91 on sale at a gunshow for $250 back when I was wanting a .223 to blast but AR's were pricey compared.
It is fun,it is good depending on your needs,and if you can get one at a decent reduced price.$600 compared to $700 AR makes it less appealing.
Now I feel the need to take it to a real rifle range and test a couple ammo brands after seeing this thread.
It is fun,it is good depending on your needs,and if you can get one at a decent reduced price.$600 compared to $700 AR makes it less appealing.
Now I feel the need to take it to a real rifle range and test a couple ammo brands after seeing this thread.
I've had three and I'm selling the last one to my buddy. I had one that couldn't reliably stay under 12 MOA 
. One that shot 4-5 MOA, but strung badly when the barrel was hot and one that shot 3 MOA and was dead nuts reliable. That is the one that I'm selling to my buddy. I put on an aftermarket stock and a red dot scope for him.
. One that shot 4-5 MOA, but strung badly when the barrel was hot and one that shot 3 MOA and was dead nuts reliable. That is the one that I'm selling to my buddy. I put on an aftermarket stock and a red dot scope for him.Ignition Override
Member
benzy2:
Pardon this comparison.
Being a relatively new guy at all of this, it still escapes me as to how a gun that is "a stellar paper puncher" can be fun, no matter what the range.
If destroying or nicking a floating orange at 70 feet is successful with an iron sight, that is much more fun to some us as tiny holes at 100 yards are to others.
Pardon this comparison.
Being a relatively new guy at all of this, it still escapes me as to how a gun that is "a stellar paper puncher" can be fun, no matter what the range.
If destroying or nicking a floating orange at 70 feet is successful with an iron sight, that is much more fun to some us as tiny holes at 100 yards are to others.
I have been shooting Mini's since the early 80's and have owned several. My current one is of the latest series. Mini's are not match rifles. They are ammunition sensitive. I reload and found the bullet and charge mine likes. The Speer 10 has good Mini data. Reducing the barrel band at the gas piston about 1/8th of a turn seems to help accuracy in some Minis.With my loads and a scoped Mini,I have gotten groups of under 2" at 100 yards on a cold,clean barrel. I have no trouble with the factory 5 round magazines or Ruger 20's. I prefer the 5 round for hunting. Byron
Ignition Override:
Would shooting that same orange at 200 yards be any more fun if your rifle could do it at that range just as reliably?
There is an old saying I have heard for years and I think it couldn't be more true. "Only accurate guns are fun." I'm not saying every gun should be capable of bench rest standards. I will say that the direct competition to the Mini 14 can all hold much better groups on average. That .223 is going to blow the orange up if it came out of an AR or a Mini. Why pay the same money, or darn close to it for a rifle that is less accurate? Same round. Same reliability. Worlds different accuracy. Its really funny because even with budget bottom end builds you hear guys getting under 2" at 100 yards on the big side of groups with good ammo in an AR. When you hear reports from Mini owners 2" is almost unheard of. I had $600 on the nose in my AR build. A new Mini costs the same. It shoots from 1-1.5 inch groups at 100 yards with ammo it likes. Why would I spend the same $600 on a rifle that from all reports here will shoot anywhere from on the lucky side 2" to 10-15 inches to only a 2 shots hit a paper plate at 50 yards?
I totally agree that accuracy isn't always the biggest issue in a firearm. Most of the shooting I do with my AR is with an Eotech and not magnified. Most of the shooting I do with it is just blasting away. The great thing is if I want to go out in the field and shoot a groundhog with it all I need to do is unscrew the red dot, screw the scope on, fire a few rounds to get zeroed and go have a blast in the field.
The real problem I have with the Mini isn't its general lack of accuracy. It is the general lack of accuracy and the price point it is sold for new. If the Mini ran for half the price it does I could live with it holding 4-5" groups and take it for what it is. Price it in a market with tough competition and it has to perform. If you aren't going to win with price you have to win with accuracy, or at least be in the same ball park. I really do like the Mini as much as it may not seem like it. I love the Garands. I love the M1 Carbine. I would love a "Garand" action in .223 but with the price where it is Ill stick with an AR. Nothing against the Mini 14, just Ruger's current decisions with it.
Would shooting that same orange at 200 yards be any more fun if your rifle could do it at that range just as reliably?
There is an old saying I have heard for years and I think it couldn't be more true. "Only accurate guns are fun." I'm not saying every gun should be capable of bench rest standards. I will say that the direct competition to the Mini 14 can all hold much better groups on average. That .223 is going to blow the orange up if it came out of an AR or a Mini. Why pay the same money, or darn close to it for a rifle that is less accurate? Same round. Same reliability. Worlds different accuracy. Its really funny because even with budget bottom end builds you hear guys getting under 2" at 100 yards on the big side of groups with good ammo in an AR. When you hear reports from Mini owners 2" is almost unheard of. I had $600 on the nose in my AR build. A new Mini costs the same. It shoots from 1-1.5 inch groups at 100 yards with ammo it likes. Why would I spend the same $600 on a rifle that from all reports here will shoot anywhere from on the lucky side 2" to 10-15 inches to only a 2 shots hit a paper plate at 50 yards?
I totally agree that accuracy isn't always the biggest issue in a firearm. Most of the shooting I do with my AR is with an Eotech and not magnified. Most of the shooting I do with it is just blasting away. The great thing is if I want to go out in the field and shoot a groundhog with it all I need to do is unscrew the red dot, screw the scope on, fire a few rounds to get zeroed and go have a blast in the field.
The real problem I have with the Mini isn't its general lack of accuracy. It is the general lack of accuracy and the price point it is sold for new. If the Mini ran for half the price it does I could live with it holding 4-5" groups and take it for what it is. Price it in a market with tough competition and it has to perform. If you aren't going to win with price you have to win with accuracy, or at least be in the same ball park. I really do like the Mini as much as it may not seem like it. I love the Garands. I love the M1 Carbine. I would love a "Garand" action in .223 but with the price where it is Ill stick with an AR. Nothing against the Mini 14, just Ruger's current decisions with it.
birdshot8's
Member
3 pages, these mini topics really draw out the opinions. after reading the posts i decided i had better go shoot the mini 195 series i picked up at a gun show last year. i shot it once at 25 yards to see if it was on the paper. i had mounted a cheap bushnell 6x. that shot about 3 inches high right above the bulleye. i then backed off to 100 long steps and shot 3 rounds of remington umc hardball, taking maybe 3 minutes total. i had an 1.4 inch group. i then loaded up 62 gr silver bear and fired 10 rounds in about 30 seconds. i had an almost straight line moving up and left, evenly spaced holes of 8 inches. after a cool down i fired a second three shot group and got a two inch spread. shooting 5 shots moved it out to about three inches. the cold shot was right on the money. my gun is completely stock. one of the things which drew me to the mini 14 was the handiness of the rifle. i don't think i will hang anything on the barrel except a flash hider. i'm thinking for the 700 dollar upgrade, i can buy that new savage 25, hopefully they will have it in 221 fireball by the time i have saved sufficiently.
Omaha-BeenGlockin
Member
The truth is somewhere in the middle---its not as bad as many say--but its not tack-driver either---they can be made to shoot a little better with a few tricks.
With good magazines---they are utterly reliable---avoid the junk mags like the plague.
They recent price increases have made them less attactive---but its still a fair deal---was thinking about building another AR till I came across a NIB Mini marked down to $599 and I already have a bunch Mini mags laying around.
Just what I was looking at:
580 Mini-14 $599
AR:
Barrel $225
BCG $120-Colt $170
Upper Rec--pushing $140-$150 by the time you get the charging handle etc..
So were talking $500 before we even get to the lower build.
Being as I already have AR's and was just looking for another .223 rifle before Nov---I bought the Mini.
Mini's are handy and just plain fun.
With good magazines---they are utterly reliable---avoid the junk mags like the plague.
They recent price increases have made them less attactive---but its still a fair deal---was thinking about building another AR till I came across a NIB Mini marked down to $599 and I already have a bunch Mini mags laying around.
Just what I was looking at:
580 Mini-14 $599
AR:
Barrel $225
BCG $120-Colt $170
Upper Rec--pushing $140-$150 by the time you get the charging handle etc..
So were talking $500 before we even get to the lower build.
Being as I already have AR's and was just looking for another .223 rifle before Nov---I bought the Mini.
Mini's are handy and just plain fun.
Calling BS on this. Sorry Art, but the Mini14 out of the box just does not do this.
I agree that it is plenty good for coyotes and jack rabbits, just not if you are trying to shoot more than one of them.
Ruger itself only claims 5-6" accuracy, so unless you had some work done to it, I just do not believe it.
By the way, I have owned 3 and like the gun for what it is, minute of bigscreen TV at 100. { I do plan on having the one I have now tweaked}
i have a mini 14 ranch rifle but on the top of the rifle it doesnt say ranch it says ruger mini 14 cal .223
and nothing else to my knowledge all of the stainless mini 14s are ranch
i also am curious on how old it is can anyone help
and nothing else to my knowledge all of the stainless mini 14s are ranch
i also am curious on how old it is can anyone help
Reaper,on your serial number,the first 3 numbers before the dash is the model series.Go to Ruger's web site and this will give the approximate years that that series was made.
In regard to Art's comments, I have read his input for some years.If he states his will do 1 1/2 MOA at a 1000 yards,I would believe him. Byron
In regard to Art's comments, I have read his input for some years.If he states his will do 1 1/2 MOA at a 1000 yards,I would believe him. Byron
birdshot8's
Member
Hoji, i got 1.4 for 3 shots, with the plain 195 series mini i recently bought. i am sure i could have done better from a bench.
I believe the quote (from Col. Townsend Whelan) is: "Only accurate rifles are interesting." And, for the most part that is true.
I read forums like this all the time and occasionally join and post. Rarely will two people ever agree on anything particularly cars, guns, or women...
Buy what you can afford and are comfortable with. An AR15 is a better all-around platform than a Mini, no doubt. If it weren't true Gene Stoner's design would've been passed over for the Winchester carbine in .223 (very similar to the Mini) back during the trials. I have no doubt that a Mini-14 when loaded with the RIGHT ammo (and handloading would certainly help) and shot in groups of no more than three with sufficient barrel cooling would probably group closer to the 2MOA range than the more common 4/5. People who shoot 5.56 tend to buy the cheapest ammo they can; Wolf, Win Q-loads, Fed Am. Eagle, or the other various surplus ammo out there ain't match ammo and shouldn't be expected as such. Hell, my 20" HBAR won't group white-box Winchester worth a damn. I've never handloaded for any of my Mini's or my AC556's but I have shot some 52 grain Black Hills match ammo out of the shorty AC and it will shoot a hair over 2.5" at 100 yds. with it and with Wolf it will shoot in the mid-3" range as long as I don't shoot more than five rounds. But, the AC seems to have a slightly heavier bbl. as well as less bearing surface past the gas block to flex. If it didn't shoot any better than 4-5" I could still shoot your ass in the head with it, open sighted, at 100 yds...
Also keep in mind that most Mini's have rifling that is 1-12 twist (the same as the original AR/M16's) and they don't like bullet weights of more than 55 grains...
There is no "best rifle" for every purpose. I can't reiterate enough that IMO it's a nice little rifle that does what it's designed to and does it reliably. I expect no more.
-J.Burnett
I read forums like this all the time and occasionally join and post. Rarely will two people ever agree on anything particularly cars, guns, or women...
Buy what you can afford and are comfortable with. An AR15 is a better all-around platform than a Mini, no doubt. If it weren't true Gene Stoner's design would've been passed over for the Winchester carbine in .223 (very similar to the Mini) back during the trials. I have no doubt that a Mini-14 when loaded with the RIGHT ammo (and handloading would certainly help) and shot in groups of no more than three with sufficient barrel cooling would probably group closer to the 2MOA range than the more common 4/5. People who shoot 5.56 tend to buy the cheapest ammo they can; Wolf, Win Q-loads, Fed Am. Eagle, or the other various surplus ammo out there ain't match ammo and shouldn't be expected as such. Hell, my 20" HBAR won't group white-box Winchester worth a damn. I've never handloaded for any of my Mini's or my AC556's but I have shot some 52 grain Black Hills match ammo out of the shorty AC and it will shoot a hair over 2.5" at 100 yds. with it and with Wolf it will shoot in the mid-3" range as long as I don't shoot more than five rounds. But, the AC seems to have a slightly heavier bbl. as well as less bearing surface past the gas block to flex. If it didn't shoot any better than 4-5" I could still shoot your ass in the head with it, open sighted, at 100 yds...
Also keep in mind that most Mini's have rifling that is 1-12 twist (the same as the original AR/M16's) and they don't like bullet weights of more than 55 grains...
There is no "best rifle" for every purpose. I can't reiterate enough that IMO it's a nice little rifle that does what it's designed to and does it reliably. I expect no more.
-J.Burnett
Omaha-BeenGlockin
Member
Reaper---Standard Mini's came in stainless too.
All new Mini's after the factory retooling ('05 or so) are in the Ranch configuration.
Current twist on new Mini's is 1 in 9.
Ruger is now offering 20 round mags when you buy a new Mini and it seems to be in the works to offer them to the public at a more reasonable price.
All new Mini's after the factory retooling ('05 or so) are in the Ranch configuration.
Current twist on new Mini's is 1 in 9.
Ruger is now offering 20 round mags when you buy a new Mini and it seems to be in the works to offer them to the public at a more reasonable price.
Sistema1927
Member
I am guessing that I have the longest history with the Mini-14 of anyone here, seeing as I bought one of the first ones, back in 1974 when I was a High School Senior.
With a home brew scope mount, and a Weaver V9 (I told you it was a long time ago), it was perfectly suited for head shots on West Texas coyotes, out to a couple of hundred yards. I paid for two semesters of college with that gun.
I stupidly sold it, and have owned a couple of others over the intervening years, but now I have an AR-15.
With a home brew scope mount, and a Weaver V9 (I told you it was a long time ago), it was perfectly suited for head shots on West Texas coyotes, out to a couple of hundred yards. I paid for two semesters of college with that gun.
I stupidly sold it, and have owned a couple of others over the intervening years, but now I have an AR-15.
NotSoFast
Member
I own a new 580 series. They are definitely fun to shoot and fun to tinker with to get greater accuracy because they are not the most accurate gun out of the box.
The only thing mine has a problem with is that it walks for the first three to four shots, then it settles into a nice 2 1/2" - 3 1/2" group. I've decided to send off my barrel to be cryoed to take care of this. Total cost about $50 plus shipping.
I live in California so I am stuck with 10 round mags but I find John Masen mags to work find in my Mini. Only one of two of them stick a bit on the first round being loaded into the mag.
The only thing mine has a problem with is that it walks for the first three to four shots, then it settles into a nice 2 1/2" - 3 1/2" group. I've decided to send off my barrel to be cryoed to take care of this. Total cost about $50 plus shipping.
I live in California so I am stuck with 10 round mags but I find John Masen mags to work find in my Mini. Only one of two of them stick a bit on the first round being loaded into the mag.
ThomasT
Member
Here is a picture of a group i shot today with my new 580 series mini with the straight taper barrel. The range was 50 yards. I sat in the bed of my truck with a sandbag on the side wall. When i shot this group the gun had been shot 30 times prior with no cooling off allowed. The butt of the gun was not rested either.
I was using Pro-Mag 20 round magazines. The flyer was the third shot and i knew it when i did it. Thats also a 10 shot group.
A better rest would have helped. I am still pleased with my new rifle.
I was using Pro-Mag 20 round magazines. The flyer was the third shot and i knew it when i did it. Thats also a 10 shot group.
A better rest would have helped. I am still pleased with my new rifle.
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mgregg85
Member
I bought mine for $350 after taxes and it works great. It all depends on what you are looking for in a rifle.
If you want MOA accuracy and the widespread availability of hi-cap mags then you need an AR type rifle.
If you are looking for more of a little, easy to carry carbine for farm use or what not, the mini-14 works great. It isn't an AR but then again it wasn't meant to be. Its very reliable, just not very accurate. For close in work 150 yards and under, its just fine.
That being said, I'd like to get an AR-15 too for fun use/HD/zombies and what not.
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