Mini 14's on the range

[David E]

I took my two Mini-14's to the range today. It'd been awhile since I shot them. They both have the factory barrel shortened and sport flash hiders. One blue with factory iron sights and folding stock, one stainless with factory birch and a red dot.

The range had recently built berms at 100, 200 and 300 yds. At each distance, they have IPSC steel targets and 8" plates.

I realized I'd not shot them past 100 yds ever, and it'd been way too long since I shot them at 100.

This should be interesting, I thought as I settled into position with the SS red dot. I placed it on the full silhouette and fired. Whack! First shot was minute-of-badguy.

After a few more shots and hits, I went on to the 200. A few satisfying whacks later, I went out to 300. "I should hit close enough to make them keep their heads down," I thought, as I let my first round fly. I saw the dust plume just miss, so I adjusted the sight picture and fired again. No dust plume....Clang! I made a few sight adjustments, repeated the target sequence and was hitting man-size and smaller targets on demand from 100, 200 and 300 yds with a short barreled Mini-14.

The iron sighted Mini essentially repeated the previous shots and hits.

I couldn't shoot for groups on steel, but I was happy to make those hits out to 300 yds on demand with not one, but two Mini-14's.

Just thought I'd share the range day.

 

[Jeff F]

The Mini's won't shoot groups on paper like an AR but are plenty accurate enough to make hits on bad guys or coyotes out to 300 yards and beyond. They are not a bad little carbine.

 

[Owen Sparks]

The shortening of a barrel has no effect on accuracy UNLESS you are using iron sights. This is simply because they are mounted closer together on a short barrel and farther apart on a long one and that gives you more precise alignment. With a red dot or scope barrel length does not matter at all.

Just out of curiosity, how short are your barrels?

 

[TimboKhan]

They are not a bad little carbine.

I agree. The internet does not.

 

[bigfatdave]

I'm always pleasantly surprised at the wife's mini-14, particularly since I dumped the scope neither of us ever warmed up to and put on a Tech-Sight to replace the somewhat primitive rear peep.

If magazines that worked were more affordable, it would be vying for the spot of "favorite centerfire carbine"

 

[35 Whelen]

If magazines that worked were more affordable, it would be vying for the spot of "favorite centerfire carbine"

What kind of magazines have you tried? I have a 20 rd. Ruger factory, a 20 rd. ProMag and a no-name 30rd. The ProMag stays in my rifle 24/7. In fact it's really the only one I use. No jams or FTF....ever.

Congrats on your shooting. I have a 581 Series and love it. I glass bedded it and fire lapped the barrel and I've been getting some 5-shot groups under 1.5" with 62 gr. handloads and a 4X scope. Specifically a 1 3/8" and a 1". I'm off tomorrow and plan to shoot it some more.

35W

 

[Double Vision]

Well done! I'm a big fan of the Mini and find it shoots just fine.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Well now, that's nice to hear. Satisfaction with a mini not burdened by what it isn't or what does or doesn't out shoot it.

Great practical observations on your part.

 

[WardenWolf]

A short-barreled Mini-14 can be more accurate than a long-barreled one due to reduced barrel whip. Glad you got your rifles are fixed up.

 

[David E]

The blue one has a 14.5" barrel BUT has a 2" long M-14 style flash hider welded permanently in place, making it 100% legal. The SS is 16" and is threaded for an AR flash hider.

I was pleased how easy it was to hit with the shorter, iron sighted gun at 300 yds.

 

[David E]

If magazines that worked were more affordable, it would be vying for the spot of "favorite centerfire carbine"

CDNN has Factory 20 and 30 rd mags for reasonable prices.

The only mag I've ever had trouble with is USA brand.

 

[DAdams]

Nice shooting. What were you throwing?



I like mine. NRA ed with Hogue Stock.

 

[David E]

I was shooting Federal 55 grain FMJ's

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

my mini 14 tactical shoots minute of coyote and or hog every day. dont care if they drop in their tracks or run a mile as long as they die. last week a buddy of mine and I both with our minis made running shots at coyotes at 100 yards...2 dead coyotes and almost nailed the 3rd at about 400 yards or more still on the run. with a 2x7x33 Redfield it serves my purpose and thensome.

 

[Skyshot]

Had one of the first Mini's back in 76, it was fun to shoot, but not so accurate after a few rounds when the barrel heated up. I ended up trading it for a M70 Win. Always missed the fun with the mini. Flash foward to 2010 a LEO friend of mine got one for his patrol car. A 581 series tac model. We snuck off one day a he let me fire off a mag at 300yards at an 18 inch piece of pig iron. 20 round mag-20 hits of hand with an bushy trophy red dot on it. Went the next weekend and bought one for myself. Just last week put a 1x4 leupold pig plex on it. Absolutly love this rifle, yes my AR will out group the mini, but not by much. But the mini just handles superb and will absolutly eat any ammo its fed.