Ruger Mini-14 Ranch Rifle

[WolfMansDad]

I had one for a while, and it never worked for me. I wasn't looking for a target rifle and would have been happy with 6" groups at 100 yards, but this thing wouldn't even do that. It wouldn't even keep all its rounds on the paper at 50 yards. I could do better with slugs in a shotgun.

The mini-14 is the only rifle that I've had this experience with. I have a Remington 700 that shoots 1" groups at 100 yards with ease. I recently got to shoot a "California-legal" AR, and with iron sights could easily keep all my shots in the black at 100 yards, or hit steel silhouettes at 200 or 300 yards every time.

I, like so many before me, got rid of my mini after a short time. Based on what other people say, mine was probably just a lemon, but that was my experience.

 

[Mannlicher]

Sentinal

I was checking out a Ruger Mini-14 at my local gun shop the other day and the guy behind the counter said he wouldn't recommend it. He said the Mini-14 just sprays bullets and isn't accurate at all.

Hmmmm. In some 50 years of hanging out in gun shops, thats the first report I have ever heard of a guy behind the counter not trying to sell a gun. Are you SURE thats what he said?

frankly, anyone that reports their mini shot 6 or 8 inch groups at 100 yards, I have a real problem beliving. I own two now, and have owned others. I have never seen, in real life, a mini that shot that bad. My BS meter pegs when I read things like that.

 

[Brad Johnson]

To echo the sentiment of others...

The Mini-14 is solid and dependable, just don't count on winning any target shoots with it.

I've seen some that hold under 2" at a hundred but most seem to wind up in the range of 4" @ 100 yrd, especially with a hot barrel. Careful ammo selection can mitigate this to some extent.

It's plenty fine for a carry-around brush gun, especially given the little 14's well-earned penchant for firing dependably under any circumstance or condition. It's accurate to minute of coyote at the usually 'yote distance of 50-80 yds (around here anyway). Plus, it's just dang fun for a plinker, not to mention that .223 is dang cheap to shoot compared to most other rifle calibers.

Brad

 

[ProficientRifleman]

Buy a new one

Sentinal: There is a new generation of Mini's in production now which are tack-drivers compared to the older ones. The fellow you spoke with in the gun shop was probably unaware of this, or was trying to seel you something more expensive. FYI, the previous generation of Mini 14's would shoot about 4" at a hundred yards. These new ones will hold 1-2 inches all day long. Buy one and enjoy...!

 

[ArmedBear]

Hmmmm. In some 50 years of hanging out in gun shops, thats the first report I have ever heard of a guy behind the counter not trying to sell a gun. Are you SURE thats what he said?

Nothing says he wasn't trying to sell a gun, just THAT one.

Seen Bullshmaster's new CA-legal carbon M4gery for a grand? Maybe he was trying to sell one of those.

 

[JCF]

...dont shoot in tall grass, that way you can find the parts that fall off from the recoil, and becareful what scope you put on it, the crosshairs on mine cracked because of the recoil.

Oh yeah... my mini-14 kicks like a mule. Ten to fifteen rounds of 223 is all I can deal with during a range session before my shoulder says uncle

 

[Rugerdaddy]

"Oh yeah... my mini-14 kicks like a mule. Ten to fifteen rounds of 223 is all I can deal with during a range session before my shoulder says uncle"

Ooohh yeahh! When I shoot my mini 14 with them big ol' .223 rounds, I get a sore arm just from liftin' the rounds to load the magazine! Reminds me of loadin' the 105mm main gun on the M48A5 tanks I used to crew. Then I cringe when I start to squeeze the trigger on the mini, anticipating that mind numbing KAWOOMPH!, when all them 55 grains explode, blowing the stock of that rifle almost clean through my shoulder! Actually, after shootin' about 3 rounds, my right shoulder gets pushed all the way around behind my left shoulder! I always bring my chiropractor with me to straighten me out every few rounds. That's why I never shoot more than a 3 shot group.

To help manage the recoil, I've mounted TWO Smith muzzle brakes in-line, to deflect the blast. The report is so loud, the airport next to the range asked me to shoot somewhere else, as it was interfering with their noise abatement program. As a recoil buffer, I had to use a Select Comfort Sleep Number Mattress set on 94!

No, if you can't take the recoil- DON'T buy a mini 14!!!

 

[Manedwolf]

Question:

Why would someone choose the Mini-14 over the Saiga .223, which has a thick (chromelined) barrel to avoid the heating-up issue, seems by most reports to be more accurate, and at around $250 retail costs nearly half the price?

Because the Saiga is relatively "new", and the old Ruger is "familiar"...?

/Just askin'...

 

[benEzra]

3/4" groups at 100 yards?? Nope.

1 1/2" to 2" groups?? Yep.

I've got a Mini-14 GB, 182 series that will shoot 2" groups all day with both PMC and Win. ball, and Win. PSPs.

Let's see now. That means that at 300 yards, it's shooting 6" groups. Hmmmm. Most "practical" field targets are bigger than that. Guess I'll hang on to my Mini-14 GB.

Yours is not typical, I think.

Here's the best group my 188-series Mini-14 Ranch Rifle has ever shot at 100 yards, in the 16 years I've had it:

5.5 inches, or just under 6 MOA. That's from a front rest and rear bag, using the iron sights, on a windless day, from a cool barrel, slowfire, and I have shot 1" groups at that distance with other rifles so I'm pretty sure I wasn't the problem. Over the years, I have tried scopes (both a 3-9x variable and a 2.5x fixed), premium ammunition in weights from 40 to 69 grains, three different stocks, etc. and never beat this group.

Is my mini accurate enough for defensive purposes? Yes. It's also totally reliable (never had a single rifle-related failure in 16 years and 2000-3000 rounds), and fit and finish was good. But as an all-around defensive/plinking/target gun, it is terrible on the target part.

The last straw for me was a few weeks ago, when I bought a SHOTGUN SCOPE (2.5x) to put on it, spent 2-3 hours trying to sight it in, and the rifle would just not shoot consistently enough for me to be confident in the zero. I took the shotgun scope back off and gave up on optics for that rifle. It's just not accurate enough.

If I had it to do over again, I'd have bought an AR-15 type carbine instead. If I were forced at gunpoint to live somewhere that had a ban on protruding rifle handgrips, like California, I'd probably get a Kel-Tec SU-16. I don't think I'd get another mini.

 

[bhk]

My newer 580 series does 2 1/2 inch five shot groups at 100 yards with a 4x Burris scope on it. Not bad for what I use it for (farm/truck/etc.).

 

[crazed_ss]

That's terrible. Guess I wont be getting a Mini-14.

 

[Keith Wheeler]

I own both a stainless steel 184-series Mini-14 (with factory folder) that I've had for 20 years (G-d I'm getting old) and a CAR-15 I've had for 10 years.

Thoughts:

If "MOA" concerns you at all, the AR is the better of the two. I'll admit I'm not a bench shooter, I don't worry about rifle accuracy other than "minute of bad guy" or maybe "minute of coke can".

What I like about the Mini-14 is it's simplicity and reliability. I've never had a rifle related issue, shooting an assortment of Israeli, LC, Guat, and Brit surplus including 55gr, SS109, and a few tracers. I used to have a 40 round mag that would "skip" about halfway through. I've been lucky with mags, all of my aftermarket 30 rounders are great, but they are all way pre-ban, and I think "back in the day" after market mags in general were better quality.

I've let both rifles go too far between cleanings, and both still functioned fine. I love my -14, but then it was my first centerfire rifle, and the stainless steel folder is just a bit of too cool sillyness (and 80's nostalgia).

In my experience and for my uses, the Mini and AR are about the same thing. Only difference is that it's a lot easier to get parts and good mags for the AR. Of course I expect the AR to eventually break something and need parts, the Mini I figure will be shooting for a long, long time.

If you're in a state that makes AR ownership difficult, there's nothing wrong with a Mini-14. It's great for target shooting, if you like to shoot targets the way I do. Ballons are a favorite -- you either kill 'em or you don't, none of this mucking with whether you killed 'em in the left or right ventricle stuff.

 

[Rugerdaddy]

Why a mini 14 instead of a Saiga?

"Why would someone choose the Mini-14 over the Saiga .223, which has a thick (chromelined) barrel to avoid the heating-up issue, seems by most reports to be more accurate, and at around $250 retail costs nearly half the price?"

Because the Saiga is relatively "new", and the old Ruger is "familiar"...?

No,......'Cause we live in California....

 

[Ed Ames]

The mini-14 isn't impressive in any way I can think of, but the person I know with one takes it out more often than his "better" rifles. I take that as an endorsement.

 

[jayhway]

If you're in CA, I'd suggest that you build yourself a CA compliant AR style rifle using an off list lower.

As posted already, head over to :
http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/index.php

You can read up on off list AR's as well as CA compliant AK's

 

[Brad Johnson]

Why would someone choose the Mini-14 over the Saiga .223, which has a thick (chromelined) barrel to avoid the heating-up issue,

The chrome lining has nothing to do with heat. It's there to guard against wear and corrosion.

Brad

 

[Rugerdaddy]

CA Centerfire rifle law

If you're in CA, I'd suggest that you build yourself a CA compliant AR style rifle using an off list lower.

You can read up on off list AR's as well as CA compliant AK's

They are already rewriting the law to prohibit this practice. Anway, any AR you build with an off-list lower still meets the Assault Rifle criteria under the definintion portion of the law. That's why I bought a mini 14, then did improvements to make it shoot straight. It's the best you can do in CA. You can also buy a Kel-Tec SU16, or a Robinson Arms M96CA (no pistol grip).

Also, I don't know of any CA compliant AKs. Do you? Even the Saiga, which under the definition portion of the law should be legal, is on the banned list.

 

[ArmedBear]

Because the Saiga is relatively "new", and the old Ruger is "familiar"...?

No,......'Cause we live in California....

Another reason...

If you have a problem with a Mini, you call Ruger and they'll take care of it for free.

Some Saigas are technically legal, but good luck finding someone who will do the paperwork for you here in CA. Not worth the hassle to them.

 

[Rugerdaddy]

Another reason...

If you have a problem with a Mini, you call Ruger and they'll take care of it for free.

Roger that. Also, I can't stand the idea of having to break open an AR to load 10 rounds from the top (it's a CA thing) , when I can swap a 10 round mag in a mini in about 2 seconds .

 

[K.L.O.sako]

you know ruger just introduced a target version of the mini, it looks to be a 1inch gun at a 100 yrds

 

[22/22mag]

I have 3 Mini-14 rifles, 2 are older and 1 new They all shoot very well Im not a good shooter but I hit all rds on a 9" paper plate at 50 yds and that is fine for my HD.

 

[HuntAndFish]

With a Mini-14 Ranch Rifle and Millett Red Dot...from a bench several weeks ago.

At 100 yds I'm playing with the settings between 5 shot strings. For perspective, those are 1" squares on the target. Roughly a 2-3 MOA gun at 100 yards. Probably better if I could shoot at all. The Red Dot is 3 MOA.

 

[GRIZ22]

Quote:

frankly, anyone that reports their mini shot 6 or 8 inch groups at 100 yards, I have a real problem beliving.

I agree with you Mannlicher. It seems to me it might be a question of operator error. I've probably shot 40-50 Mini-14s and all of them would do a least 3".

On the other hand the AK which can only shoot 6-8" is considered "adequate" by its supporters.

 

[Froggy]

He really didn't recommend anything else. I am also interested in purchasing an AR-15, but right now it's a little outta my price range. Is there a decent rifle for target shooting and possibly small game in the $200 to $300range?

You bet. As Guns and Labs suggested above, there are plenty of options if you will be happy with a bolt action rifle. My first pick in your price range would be a Savage, remembering you may want to set aside a few dollars for a scope to go along with it.

If you want an autoloader for the fun it brings to plinking, you might consider getting both the Savage bolt action and an SKS -- might be able to get both for less than the cost of new Mini-14 if you shop around.

BTW, I have a Mini-14 and love it. As others have already said, your happiness with one will depend on what you were looking for when you bought it. Mine gets 2" - 4" groups using cheap military surplus or Remington 55 grain plinking ammo without a scope. (believe it or not, my SKS does slightly better). One of these days I'll put a scope on the Mini-14 and buy some decent ammo for it just to see how good it can be. It's not a target gun, but that isn't what I wanted it for. Its a lot of fun to shoot and has killed every coyote it has been pointed at. My only gripe with it is that it throws the expended brass about 20' off to the side - a real hassle for anyone shooting on my right while at the range, and makes finding the casings a real PITA.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

My only gripe with it is that it throws the expended brass about 20' off to the side - a real hassle for anyone shooting on my right while at the range, and makes finding the casings a real PITA.

You can get gas port bushings which have smaller holes through them, reducing the amount of gas tapped from the barrel. This means the action isn't worked quite as vigorously so the brass doesn't fly as far.

You can get more info on these from the Mini-14 gurus at Perfectunion.com.