Redneck with a 40
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I just bought a new Mini-14 today, and I got some 55 grain PMC FMJ ammo because it was cheap, $85/200 rounds, can I expect good accuracy, will they shoot in a 1:9 twist?
Will 55 grain bullets work in a 1:9 twist .223 barrel
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Z-Michigan
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So tempting to be a wiseguy on this... but I'll be honest. Yes, 55gr FMJ will work just fine in your Ruger's 1:9 twist barrel.
As far as good accuracy, it all depends what you're expecting. PMC FMJ is good quality inexpensive ammo, but not match ammo. It would probably shoot around 1.5-2 MOA in a really accurate gun. Also, all guns vary in accuracy, and Mini-14's especially. I would guess you should be able to get 4" or smaller groups at 100 yards if you shoot off sandbags or are skilled. Maybe better, maybe not.
As far as good accuracy, it all depends what you're expecting. PMC FMJ is good quality inexpensive ammo, but not match ammo. It would probably shoot around 1.5-2 MOA in a really accurate gun. Also, all guns vary in accuracy, and Mini-14's especially. I would guess you should be able to get 4" or smaller groups at 100 yards if you shoot off sandbags or are skilled. Maybe better, maybe not.
Float Pilot
Member
Even 40 to 62 grain stuff will work fine in a 1 in 9 twist. Are you sure yoru Ruger is a 1 in 9?
Redneck with a 40
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I'll be ok with that level of accuracy, I'm not looking for sub-moa anyway. I like the mini's, they are very robust, rugged, and durable. I'll happily trade some accuracy for ruggedness. Also, Jeff Quinn on gunblast.com got 1.25" at 100 yards with Wolf 75 gr match ammo, thats pretty good!
Hopefully I can get it to shoot 2-2.5" at 100 yards.
As far as I know, all the new mini's are 1:9, I'll check the website.
Hopefully I can get it to shoot 2-2.5" at 100 yards.
As far as I know, all the new mini's are 1:9, I'll check the website.
jpwilly
Member
Yes, quite well in mine!
FlyinBryan
Member
the one i had wouldnt even do that @50yds, but it was a very early model, before they even had the receivers that would hold scope rings (i think they started calling them ranch rifles when those came out)
but you said you got "a new" one, and from what i have heard the new ones are night and day better than the older ones.
i wouldnt mind checking out a range report on yours
HorseSoldier
Member
There should be a sticky on this, as frequently as 5.56mm ammo & twist rate threads come up.
Z-Michigan
Member
I've noticed two things about Gunblast.com. First, all of their accuracy results are far better than anyone else reports, even with guns not known for really good accuracy. Second, all or nearly all of their gun reviews are of guns made by companies that are advertisers.
I'm not saying that 1.25" at 100 yards isn't possible with a Mini-14 - if it happens to be a particularly accurate one and you're using match ammo. Just saying I wouldn't expect it.
hags
Member
I was lucky to get 1.5" at 50 yards with a Mini 14 I recently shot. Nothing against the Mini 14 but they're not known for their accuracy.
By comparison a recent AR build I did for a customer in .204 Ruger shot 5/8" at a 200 yard zero. Pac Nor barrel by the way.
By comparison a recent AR build I did for a customer in .204 Ruger shot 5/8" at a 200 yard zero. Pac Nor barrel by the way.
Tim the student
Member
55's work quite well in my 1/9 .223.
possum
Member
op,
pmc is good stuff, runs good in all the .223 guns that i have seen, including my ar, that has seen a few thousand of it. however at $85 for 200 that is a little much, i got mine for $385 for 1k.
anyway my ar is 1x9 and it does just fine.
pmc is good stuff, runs good in all the .223 guns that i have seen, including my ar, that has seen a few thousand of it. however at $85 for 200 that is a little much, i got mine for $385 for 1k.
anyway my ar is 1x9 and it does just fine.
Don't always assume the worst, especially about people you don't know, doing a job you know nothing about.
1) The writers over there may well be excellent shots... they certainly have the history and resume to lead one to believe that. And most guns will outshoot their owners.
2) It is often a policy to not print negative reviews. I wrote software reviews back in the early 1990s, and this was my editor's policy. Products that didn't measure up would be sent back to the maker, with as detailed a list of defects as I could write up. They were also invited to resubmit their product at a later date for a re-review, without prejudice, so long as it was understood that the problems with the original version would be noted. (To the extent that they were fixed, this would also me noted in the review).
You have to understand that reviewing stuff is as much a service to the makers as it is to the buyers. So long as all such issues are disclosed, I've got no problem with crafting policies that attempt to satisfy both goals.
As to the reviews of advertiser's stuff... well, duh. There really aren't that many companies in the gun biz to begin with, and everybody knows who they are. They have showcased some obscure-but-neat stuff, as witness the Fenris Wolf rifle, among others.
I'm a big fan. Not of their (disturbingly theocratic) politics, but to the extent that they write about guns and gun stuff, they write well. It's harder to do than anyone who's never done it realizes.
--Shannon
Redneck with a 40
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How about the 69 grain bullets, will they work in the 1:9 twist.
lobo9er
Member
mini 14 will out "rugged" a typical AR. Gun snobs are lame. 55 grain will be fine. shtf or caught with out your break free your better off with the ranch rifle. i'm pretty sure alot of critter have been put down with a mini 14. AR's are awesome but cant a dude ask about a rifle without someone jumping in like a hyper kid yelling about their AR
PMROY
Member
$385 for 1K of PMC .223? Please let me know where, as in these parts its way north of $450. Georgia Ammo at the show was $420 for reloads 55grs and PMC was at about $500.
Z-Michigan
Member
Online. Bud's Gun Shop had it for about that price within the last month or so:
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/index.php
Also AIM Surplus has had some pretty good prices, including Centurion .223 for around $340/1000 IIRC.
Z-Michigan
Member
I hear you, and I worded my statement carefully. I would not be surprised if they are excellent shots. I would not be surprised if their handloaded ammo is really well done and better than some match ammo. I also wouldn't be surprised if manufacturers send them "ringers" to test - i.e. guns that are either handpicked for quality and accuracy or even blueprinted and tested, far beyond normal manufacturing practices, before being sent for "review." It may be that their test results are completely accurate, but they still might not represent what you or I can actually expect to buy.
Anyway, I don't really know or care about ultimate accuracy of a Mini-14. Ruger supposedly improved it a lot when they replaced the tooling. I just would not expect most users to get 1.25 MOA from a factory stock Mini-14.
HorseSoldier
Member
They don't have a very good reputation for running consistently among guys who teach rifle and carbine work for a living. Sitting in a gun rack in the back window of a pick up truck is a pretty pampered existence compared to what M4s and M16s go through.
lobo9er
Member
ever try shooting an AR with out a can of break free i wouldn't say that is all that reliable. now that said the majority of us will never be in dire need of high cap semi auto rifle but if i were i'd leave the AR on the rack any rifle that needs to be cleaned and lubed constantly prolly wouldnt be the pick for a camping/hiking/trail/ where cleaning may not be possible
lobo9er
Member
love to to see video of an AR With a dry bolt no lube dirty run good put it on youtube no lube available or proper cleaning ability your better off with a '94 30-30 than an AR sorry off topic with my opinions i think we can all agree though 55 grain should work fine
What are you guys talking about? I keep my ARs wet I grab it, take it to the range, shoot a few hundred to over a thousand times, then take it home and clean it and lube it again. There you go that is how you do it. Not so complicated now is it? And yes 55 grain will work well.
1987rx7guy
Member
I'm sorry but if you are carrying enough ammunition to dry out an AR you are probably able to carry a cleaning kit.
I don't know anyone that goes camping with 500+ rounds without being able to carry the appropriate cleaning supplies.
Heck I don't know anyone that goes camping strictly to go camping and thinks that it might be necessary to carry more than 6-8 mags for defensive use. And i'd consider more than 4 mags above normal.
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