Why are Mini-14s (and Mini-30s) relatively inaccurate?

[Batty67]

I keep finding myself considering getting one of these (I already have an AO
M1 carbine). I see the pros and cons of the mini-14 vs. mini-30 in terms of ammunition ballistics and costs.

I keep reading, for the most part, that they are relatively expensive for what they do, and are consistently not very accurate.

Why? They have a 16-18" barrel. Realisitically, just how accurate can a stock mini-14 or mini-30 be with a good scout optic and using quality ammo? What are some ways to upgrade the accuracy without rebuilding (or replacing) a base version? Thanks.

 

[Cluster Bomb]

I can only attest for its accuracy from what i have heard from others including owners. Around here they are resold at an alarming rate, even ones that are tricked out with accessories and other swapped parts. I have seen them go for cheap aswell, even with after market addons.

I too was going to get a mini 14, but from what i read and heard from others i didn't buy one.

 

[dprice3844444]

buyem cheap and rebarrel em

 

[LoonWulf]

The new 580 series are generaly 1.5-2.5" rifles, Mine will consistently stay under 2" with pretty much every ammo ive run thru it. The lone exception to that are....lemme see if i can find a box....meh cant. Some kinda steel case, They shot all over my 6" shoot and see last time we were out.
The major issues with minis, are the light whippy barrel, and the fact that they usally arnt very tight. Bedding the action into the stock offten improves accuracy, tho it didnt help with mine.
Also adding a barrel stabilizer accustrut/morod what have you, is also supposed to help. Im waiting on some money to pick one up. Lopping off 1-2" of barrel and adding a muzzel weight of some sort, a flash suppressor/brake being most common, has worked for any number of people. Not an option im personally going to use as i like longer tubes.
Accuracy Systems International offers some different options other then just a strait rebarrel. I like the tensioner idea, but again, i lack the funding to try it.
Ive also heard that adjusting the gas pressure is supposed to help with accuracy but again i havent seen any difference in my own rifle (im using an ASI gas bushing kit). I would like to get an adjustable gas block to see if i could "tune" it for a bit more accuracy.

Another factor that isnt directly related to accuracy, but to accurate shooting is the trigger. The factory trigger on most of the minis ive shot is OK, but not good. A little stoning (if your not comfortable doing it yourself, a 50 dollar trip to the gunsmith) can vastly improve your trigger. I stoned mine for engagement and smoothness, and took one coil off the secondary sear spring. The pull now is as good (tho not as lite) as my bolt guns.

 

[mac66]

Back when Mini 14s came out they were the greatest thing since sliced bread. Never heard of any accuracy problems. In fact they were considered at least service rifle accurate which is 4 MOA.

Over the years, they have gotten a bad rap particularly after Bill Ruger said some stupid things about hi-cap mags. People bad mouthed them because of that.

I used a Mini 14 at a police rifle class back in the 1980s and as a result I bought a Mini 30 to hunt with when they came out. I have killed a dozen or so deer over the years with it and has always worked fine. I always hit was I was aiming at.

IMO, accuracy "issues" of the Mini were either fabricated, exaggerated or operator induced.

The newer Minis are supposed to be more accurate than the older ones and one doesn't here the accuracy rap on them much anymore.

Personally, I like the more traditional style of the Minis, M1 Carbines and M1as over the more assault rifle styles.

 

[rcmodel]

I think part of the problem is, Ruger advertised them as rifles, while in fact they are carbines just like your M1 Carbine. Nobody complains about an M1 Carbine being inaccurate, because they don't expect it to be as accurate as a full size rifle.

Another thing is, Ruger used the old 1974 tooling until it was past retirement age in 2003. There towards the end, they got pretty sloppy.
New tooling and a few design improvements makes the new ones a different carbine.

I own a early 181 Series Mini-14 I bought in 1979. It isn't bull barrel varmint rifle accurate, but it ain't all that bad with my old eyes and open sights either.

rc

 

[Panzercat]

Old reviews are old, or people haven't shot the recent models and go by word of mouth. You'll probably be okay with a freshly manufactured mini.

 

[Welding Rod]

The barrels were small in diameter and didn't tolerate heat well.

The rear sight aperatures had tons of slop inside their mount.

The triggers (like most Ruger firearms) had considerable creep.

Those are probably the biggest things.

I have had several older Minis and one newer one - a 580. The 580 was way more accurate that the older ones. Mine could shoot 1 1/2" to 2" with most loads... which still wasn't enough to satisfy me so I sold it too and got another AR that would shoot groups half that size.

Still I think the Mini is pretty cool. But like all Rugers, they subject to very sketchy QC issues, so they need to be check over and function tested thoroughly.

 

[sixgunner455]

Because people started comparing them to the AR. With prices on decent AR carbines dropping, you have to wonder if it's worth it to mess with a Mini. If the Mini really does start out as a 4moa piece, you have to think, hmm, most ARs start out much better than that for similar money. Every dollar and hour spent working on the Mini to get it in the ballpark of the standard AR could be spent turning that AR from an accurate carbine into a real tack-driver.

I wouldn't know if the Mini is really inaccurate, personally. I have too much time and muscle memory invested in the AR to mess around with one, which is really too bad because the Mini is an attractive little beast.

 

[kludge]

My SU-16 cost me $425, weighs 5 lbs, shoots 2-3 moa with XM193 and Wolf ammo (iron sights). It shoots ~1" groups at 50 yards with a BSA red dot (Wolf ammo). Groups are roughly half the size of the dot when I bag it and take my time.

Why would I want a Ruger?

 

[LoonWulf]

Obviously you didnt LOL. The only box stock ARs, that ive shot, that are in the same price range and weight class as the mini would shoot about the same as the new ones.

 

[Hi-Lander]

I have a newer 580 series tactical. It is as accurate as some of my entry level AR's. The tapered barrel and flash hider helped a ton. Mine is a consistant 1.5" rifle at 100yds even when hot.

 

[Stack]

Word had it that if you cut the barrel just behind the front sight and get it re-crowned they can gain nearly half a minute. Apparently the installation of the front sight deforms in some way the muzzle. Also, reasonable success has been reportedly achieved using the Tubb final finish system as well.

 

[Double Vision]

My Mini 14 and Thirty are among my favorite rifles. Fun to shoot and solid.
I don't experience any of the accuracy issues claimed here.

 

[Sky]

I was always told it was the loose chamber that caused the issue with accuracy. Just what I was told. Accuracy issues/rumors have been around for a long time.

 

[LoonWulf]

Interesting thought Sky. I shoot neck sized only handloads (only have a .222 die), that will jam a friends AR, but run fine in my Mini, hardly final but not something i ever really thought about.

 

[BADUNAME37]

I had a Mini 14 that I shot a lot, I hunted with it and shot it nearly every day. I had the OEM sights on it and could shoot about a 1.5" group at 50 yards. This was with extremely inexpensive ball ammo made in some communist country.

My Mini was extremely accurate right out of the box, part of the reason I shot so well with it was the simple reason that I shot it frequently and when I shot it it was like two 40-round magazines every time!

Of course, this was in the early 80's or so, so things may have been made a bit differently then. Can one even buy a 40 round magazine anymore?

 

[Sky]

Interesting thought Sky. I shoot neck sized only handloads (only have a .222 die), that will jam a friends AR, but run fine in my Mini, hardly final but not something i ever really thought about.

If I had to bet your weapon is more accurate than the run of the mill Mini-14 with that ammo. Friend of mine has one for sale $400. Mags are expensive and sometimes very problematic...

I always liked the looks and the way they handled but......

 

[DesertFox]

I don't personally have one in the arsenal but have fired thousands of rounds through Mini-14s belonging to colleagues. Although one of my associates refers to his as a "bullet hose", I found it to be reasonably accurate and fun to shoot. 5.56x45 has never been my size so my version is an M-14 in 7.62x51, which is the basic Garand action shared by the original, the M-14 and the Mini-14.

Watching Camp Perry National Matches the other day and seeing how far the AR platform has come - complete domination. You can take a "basic" AR and have more accuracy than you'd get out of an M1A1 National Match, glass bedded, with every trick in the book $6,000 rifle... Arrgh... While I do not like losing or admitting defeat, the AR has surpassed my romantic notion of a real EBR (read: M-14 / M1A1 7.62) as being a superior platform.

For the money, I'd get an AR over a Mini-14 7 days a week.

 

[Sky]

Watching Camp Perry National Matches the other day and seeing how far the AR platform has come - complete domination

You can demonstrate, talk, show vids, explain, how much the platform is superior in many different ways but Diehards have that name for a reason...

 

[Elkins45]

IMO the reasons for buying a Mini-14 no longer exist. Back in the day it was a poor man's .223 semi since they were much less expensive than a Colt AR, which was essentially the only other .223 semi with large cap mags widely available. When a Mini was $349 and an AR was $659 it was hard for some folks (myself included) to swing the extra cash for the Colt.

Nowadays you can get an AR from a whole bunch of decent makers for almost the same cost as the Mini. For that you get access to a world of cheap surplus mags and parts, vs. relatively proprietary Mini mags and parts. Unless yo just hate pistol grips or they are banned in your area there's really no reason to even consider the poor cousin.

As for me, I bought a Ranch Rifle in 1989 that couldn't shoot better than six inches at 100 yards no matter how much effort i spent trying to develop a load it liked. I finally saved up enough money that I traded it for an HBAR in 1992 and I was glad to part ways with the RR. I have zero desire to ever own another Mini.

 

[JohnBT]

Why? I thought it was because they were made to haul around behind the seat in the truck to shoot farm pests at 35 yards. They will do that. They could call it a ranch rifle.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Ive bashed em in the past. But I'm an open minded Guy and would be willing to try one out.

BUT ILL BE DANMED if I'm gonna pay $600+ folks seem to want for used minis that look like they've been used as a jackhandle for years.

I've never seen a mini new or used priced under $550 in my ten years as a complete gun nut. If these things are that bad they should be everywhere for $350 much like the remmy autoloaders are

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[W.E.G.]

I've had one of each.

All I have to say is two words: Wandering Zero.

 

[bushmaster1313]

I think it is hit or miss.

I had a Mini-30 that shot six inch groups at 100 yards with a scope.