Reloading for the Mini 14

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SamD63

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I did a bit of a search here but couldn't find an exact answer to my question.

I just got my Mini 14 today. Has yet to be fired. Hopefully Friday!! Anyway I was looking through my Sierra reloading manual and came up with a couple of questions.
First, I do want the info for the 223 Remington that are .244, correct?

Second, The manual has 2 sections for the 223 Remington. One section for AR-15 and another for Bolt Action. I use the charts under AR-15, correct?

Also what powder sems to work best in the Mini 14 with the 55gr bullet?

Thanks everyone.

--> Sam D
 
Bullets for a Mini-14 are .224 diameter. I use the Hornady 55 gr FMJ-BT and Varget. Use the service rifle AR-15 section for best results.
 
Good luck finding your brass after you shoot it. It will fling them into the next county.
 
The Mini is chambered for .223. I would not use the service rifle loads as the service rifles are chambered for 5.56, a higher presure round than .223.

By the way I use IMR 4895 and Winchester 748 behind Hornaday 55 gr. FMJBT bullets. Both give me very good results at the range.
 
Sam, try to find the #10 Speer manual. It used the Mini as its test rifle for the 223. Some loads are above max in some other manuals.Work up carefully.
Byron
 
Thanks for the quick replies and info guys. It helps a lot!


P.S. Byron -- I happen to have the #11 Speer book and it also used the Mini 14 for the test rifle. Thanx!!
 
the mini 14 can shoot 5.56 loads safely.....I use a variety of bullets from 55 gn to 75 gn..... the powders I use are Varget, ball C, IMR4064, and Ramshot TAC.... all work fine , last long time!
 
5.56 in the Mini 14 is OK. It states it in the manual. ;)

H335 is hard to beat with the bulk 55 Gr FMJ-BT bullets, but other similar powders work well also.

The Mini 14 does sling brass a country mile. I made a deflector for mine. I have changed scopes, and need to make a new one as my old one won't fit now.
 
I ran Reloader 10X and H-4895 with good results. Despite being a pain to meter, 4895 was my favorite. PM me if you want my load data.

p.s. an adjustable gas block will pile brass neatly at your feet.
 
The Mini 14 does sling brass a country mile. I made a deflector for mine.
Click to expand...

Walkalong,

LGB here... Any chance you could PM me more info on your deflector.

Thanks Mate.

LGB
 
imr4198 powder and 52gr hpbt's work well in mine, under 1" at 100yds now with some tweaking of the rifle.

as for brass flinging, change out the gas bushing for a smaller hole, cost <$10
 
SamD63 said:
I did a bit of a search here but couldn't find an exact answer to my question.

I just got my Mini 14 today. Has yet to be fired. Hopefully Friday!! Anyway I was looking through my Sierra reloading manual and came up with a couple of questions.
First, I do want the info for the 223 Remington that are .244, correct?

Second, The manual has 2 sections for the 223 Remington. One section for AR-15 and another for Bolt Action. I use the charts under AR-15, correct?

Also what powder sems to work best in the Mini 14 with the 55gr bullet?

Thanks everyone.

--> Sam D
Click to expand...
The bullet is .224, not .244. ;)

Yes, you use the AR-15, aka semi-auto, section.

I've used BL(C)-2 for all my Mini-14 reloading. It is pretty clean and fairly accurate, although I'm still working on accurizing my Mini-14 so I'm not an expert on what's best.

By the way, contrary to what some may say, the Mini-14 manual for the new 580 series says it is okay to use 5.56 ammo in them. I've shot both and have had no problems with mine.

The following is the forum that specializes in Mini-14's. That is where I learned what little I know.

http://www.perfectunion.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=86
 
I would suggest not feeding it any bullets heavier than 55gr. because the Mini 14 barrel twist in stock form is not fast enough to stabilize anything heavier. I reload for my Mini 14 and for my pair of AR15's and I try to keep the ammo separated, I can shoot up to 75gr. in my AR's and anything lighter but its not recommended to use those heavy bullets in the Mini14, they will fire but you will probably get a lot of keyhole shots. I think the best weights are 52 or lighter and if you still want good performance experiment with the Barnes Triple Shocks, TSX or Varmint Grenades.
 
Silverado6x6 said:
I would suggest not feeding it any bullets heavier than 55gr. because the Mini 14 barrel twist in stock form is not fast enough to stabilize anything heavier.
Click to expand...

That depends on the year your Mini-14 was made:

Badger Arms said:
Looking at the book, Ruger and his Guns, I found that the twist rate of the Mini-14 started out at 1-in-10" in 1975. It then changed to 1-in-7" in 1989 and then finally to the current 1-in-9" starting in mid-1994. I'm wondering if this might result in the reports of poor accuracy we get often on this board. If you're shooting Military Ball ammo of the 55gr fodder out of the 1-in-7" barrel, you're not likely to get good results even in an AR.

The serial numbers are approximately:
1989: 185-56000 or for the Ranch Rifle: 187-84000
1994: 186-35000 or for the Ranch Rifle: 188-75000
Click to expand...

Mine was a 1:7 twist, and would stabilize almost anything.
 
I would suggest not feeding it any bullets heavier than 55gr. because the Mini 14 barrel twist in stock form is not fast enough to stabilize anything heavier.
Click to expand...

This depends entirely on the year, make and model Mini-14. Current production Mini-14 rifles have a 1-9 twist. This is more than fast enough to stabilize bullets heavier than 55gr.
 
Well I would say its nice to have up to date answers! I always assumed my Mini 14 was an old one that would not eat the the newer military ball ammo, then again the last time it was off the hooks and fired was 8 years ago.

Speaking of barrel twist and optimum performance I have several projects developing accurate loads with all copper bullets such as the Barnes Triple Shocks and TSX in several calibers most importantly my .308 M1A and the .223, not much load data is around plus other variables like having a long jump for these bullet in the chamber.

Traditional reloading has always been upon the factor and density of using lead bullets, not anymore, people can disagree about the new "green" bullets but they do offer some interesting higher short range penetration and severe wound trauma damage for one shot game hunting kills. I am very impressed with the effects and I will be using some MRX reloading soon for 400 plus yard shots.
 
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