Trying to tune a Mini 14 that won't shoot can be an expensive exercise in frustration. I wouldn't recommend spending the money on mods or barrel swaps because the odds of seeing dramatic improvement are not in your favor, especially at a reasonable cost. This of course is assuming that you are doing your part and it's not your shooting or an issue with the scope. If it were me I'd cut my losses and swap it off for an AR. In the long run it will be the cheaper, easier route to an accurate rifle.
Ruger Mini-14 Accuracy
- Thread starter kayaks
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Trying to tune a Mini 14 that won't shoot can be an expensive exercise in frustration. I wouldn't recommend spending the money on mods or barrel swaps because the odds of seeing dramatic improvement are not in your favor, especially at a reasonable cost. This of course is assuming that you are doing your part and it's not your shooting or an issue with the scope. If it were me I'd cut my losses and swap it off for an AR. In the long run it will be the cheaper, easier route to an accurate rifle.
In my experience, and I do have some in this area, Just about any out-of-the-box AR would outshoot my Mini14 that I had spent over 20 years tuning and working up reloads for. No amount of love would improve it's accuracy. AR's are also cheaper in many instances nowadays and spare parts can be found at just about any LGS. Try finding a bolt for a Mini, or even a firing pin.
jimmyraythomason
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X-Rap
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Cut your losses and dump that thing, listen to the words of experience in this thread. It took me 4 trys before I finally threw in the towel.
Now they say give the new and improved a shot, I've yet to own an AR that wouldn't shoot rings around any Mini I ever owned with any ammo so why would I switch back to a tempermental rifle that needs some thingamajig to make it shoot 2" groups so I can say looky there I got a good one, no thanks.
Now they say give the new and improved a shot, I've yet to own an AR that wouldn't shoot rings around any Mini I ever owned with any ammo so why would I switch back to a tempermental rifle that needs some thingamajig to make it shoot 2" groups so I can say looky there I got a good one, no thanks.
Jackal
Member
Sell the old Mini, buy a new one.
I own both Mini's and AR's. It comes down to whether you want a more traditional rifle feel or a pistol gripped EBR. I personally shoot my Mini better than my AR's, but thats just because I have more practice with a traditional rifle.
I own both Mini's and AR's. It comes down to whether you want a more traditional rifle feel or a pistol gripped EBR. I personally shoot my Mini better than my AR's, but thats just because I have more practice with a traditional rifle.kayaks
Member
I have a M77 in .223 that I shoot alongside it, got it down to less than a inch at 100 yards. Using a lead sled, so things are not moving much...
I have a 188 series with an accu strut that gets 1.5" groups at 100 yards. There are always flyers though as the barrel begins to heat up. Usually a flyer every 5-7 rounds. This thing is just as accurate with cheap steel cased wolf ammo as it is with everything else. My dad owns a 182 series with no mods that is in the 2-3" group area and he has a 581 that I've yet to shoot. Back when I used to read the perfect union board there were a lot of guys with bedded minis with trigger work and accu struts that claimed sub moa
The thing about minis is that barrel heating up. Its going to heat up and get flyers. You almost have to be using factory mags to get reliable shooting, and without an accu strut you're just better off not even trying. If you bed it, put on an accu strut, and only use factory mags it'll be a very good rifle to you. Of course I only paid $400 for mine, so for what I've got in to it I'm very happy. Had I paid the $700+ folks are wanting these days I would be disappointed
Edit: about the guy below talking about putting the right grain bullet through it he's very right. Mine has a 8.5:1 twist while many others have a 12:1 twist and they require different bullet weights for the best accuracy. Call Ruger and they'll tell you your twist rate and recommended bullet weight.
The thing about minis is that barrel heating up. Its going to heat up and get flyers. You almost have to be using factory mags to get reliable shooting, and without an accu strut you're just better off not even trying. If you bed it, put on an accu strut, and only use factory mags it'll be a very good rifle to you. Of course I only paid $400 for mine, so for what I've got in to it I'm very happy. Had I paid the $700+ folks are wanting these days I would be disappointed
Edit: about the guy below talking about putting the right grain bullet through it he's very right. Mine has a 8.5:1 twist while many others have a 12:1 twist and they require different bullet weights for the best accuracy. Call Ruger and they'll tell you your twist rate and recommended bullet weight.
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Well, I stand corrected. A couple years ago when I NEEDED a bolt there were none available anywhere and Ruger would only sell one if they fit it at the factory. So I sent my mini to Ruger and they told me it wasn't worth fixing when all it needed was a replacement bolt that I knew good and well I was capable of fitting myself. Long story, but Ruger ended up destroying my old mini and sending me a new one that I had to pay for. I left it in the box and got my FFL to sell it for me. Left me wondering about a company that couldn't or wouldn't fix their own guns when I was more than willing to pay whatever it took.
carbine85
Member
The Mini can be plenty accurate. Sometimes it all depends on which series you have. I have an old Stainless 183 series with more than 5,000 down the pipe and it still shoots under 2MOA. I had a 186 series blued model that shot 3-4MOA The stainless versions tend to shoot better and the newer ones do pretty well. A trigger job and bedding the action can go a long way with the Mini. With that said the the difference in price between a Mini and a budget model AR usually makes one lean towards the AR. One thing the Mini has going for it is reliability.
35 Whelen
Member
To the guys recommending AR's, you have to remember some people don't want an AR. That's why they buy Mini's and work to get them to shoot. It's the same reason someone buys a Chevy diesel and works on it so it'll pull like a Dodge!
35W
35W
chicharrones
needs more ammo
Yep.
bergmen
Member.
I have a brand new AR and wish I had gone with the Mini-14 instead. I just cannot warm up to the platform at all. I'm a lumber and steel type of rifle shooter and the AR is like picking up a cold crankshaft or something. Besides it would go very nicely alongside my M1A.
Dan
Dan
You never said what series mini you have. But, you can get good accuracy by, getting a trigger job, a barrel strut, and bedding the action, and squaring up the gas block. If doing these things don't get it a 1 1/2 MOA, then yea, I'd trade it off. But let me say, when you have a fine shooting Mini, you"ll let your AR sit in the safe. When I take folks down to my farm and let them shoot my 581 series mini and one of my 5 different AR's, even though 3 of my AR's will shoot well under 1 MOA. Everyone loves shooting the mini and that's a fact jack.
kayaks
Member
Thanks to everyone for the advice. There are definitely some more links to follow. I'll keep looking for a load it likes...
Sun Tzu warrior
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Most people that complain about Mini 14 accuracy use the wrong weight projectile for the rate of twist ib their barrel, or have a composite stock in which the action floats around in!
If any of you have a 180- 183 series Mini 14 you would like to unload, for a non-accurate price, PM me.
If any of you have a 180- 183 series Mini 14 you would like to unload, for a non-accurate price, PM me.
http://www.gunpartscorp.com/Products/291460.htm
The consensus among the Mini crowd with guys who have bought these is that the firing pins are non-OEM, inferior to factory pins, and are prone to premature breakage if not fitted properly.
Send it in to Ruger...
Good luck
M
The consensus among the Mini crowd with guys who have bought these is that the firing pins are non-OEM, inferior to factory pins, and are prone to premature breakage if not fitted properly.
Send it in to Ruger...
Good luck
M
OP, I have a mini 14 tactical with the 16" barrel including the flash suppressor. I have talked to other owners and was told that they are a little more accurate due to the shorter barrel ( less harmonics ). The best consistent group i have shot was about 2 MOI with a decent scope. I put the ghost rings back on it and is my "SHTF" gun.
To the rest of the posters that are knocking the MINI, i can say that mine has never had a FTF, stove pipe or Jam. I have a few AR's but and the ones in the same price range that i paid for my mini ($600) have about the same accuracy. But i cant say that i have never had a FTF or jam with mine. Oh and i have some decent AR's that are accurate but even my Sun Devil has stove piped on me with cheep ammo.
To the rest of the posters that are knocking the MINI, i can say that mine has never had a FTF, stove pipe or Jam. I have a few AR's but and the ones in the same price range that i paid for my mini ($600) have about the same accuracy. But i cant say that i have never had a FTF or jam with mine. Oh and i have some decent AR's that are accurate but even my Sun Devil has stove piped on me with cheep ammo.
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