[j870sm]

I am the owner of a Mini-14 and would like to know if any of you have one and if you are satisfied with it. I bought mine mainly out of curiosity but I expected more than I got, shame on me. I am not a fan of Ruger Rifles and I have had several of various calibers, never found any of them to shoot as well as Rems and Wins right out of the box.
My Mini is good for coyotes but not a good target rifle. I know it wasn't intended for that but I think it should do better than it does. It walks all over the place after a few shots and I contribute that to the thin barrel and heat. This is the only Ruger Rifle I have left and it is a truck gun only. Meaning, not relied on for much of anything unless I don't have a real rifle with me and coyote jumps up. For a little more money I could have bought another AR and had a great gun.
DO any of you have any suggestions on accurizing these, different barrel, heat dissipation add ons etc... It seems these should be as easy to hop up as a 10-22. [/i]

 

[wwb]

Do you handload? If so, try small steps in powder charge until you find a load that groups nicely. Also, different bullet weights will perform differently, sometimes radically so. My son has a mini-14, and once he found the right combination, he makes cloverleafs at 50 yards. A couple more tenths of a grain of powder, though, will blow those groups wide open.

I'm not sure what he loads, but if you're interested, I can ask him.

 

[j870sm]

WWB, please ask for the recipe if you don't mind. Has he done any mods to his Mini? I think mine should shoot better than it does and since so many people find it necessary to modify factory 10-22's maybe I should look at some of these for the Mini. I actually found a place in Lubbock, Tx. that claims to be the authority on modded Mini's and they boast of some fantastic groupings after the mods. The only thing about it is that I could buy another Mini for what they charge.

Thanks,
j870sm

 

[Drop-Shot]

870 I saw with my own eyes a ruger ranch rifle that came back from wilson's guns,and bill wilson himself worked on that rifle.A 3 shot group under 1 inch and gave it to my friend.They came back home with it and told every one what it will do.The made him prove it.They 1 box of ammo and went to the local gravel pit and with pressure upon him,he shot a 3/4 inch group with 30 people standing around,every one there sent Bill Wilson their guns and all were happy.They can be nade to shoot but bill Wilson charges a pretty peeny to do.Ed Brown offers a m4style varient of the m16 and guarrentys 1/2MOA thats 1/2 inch group at 100 yards,there are shooters out there that can be made to shoot better.Drop-Shot

 

[kodiakemt]

I had one the did the same thing. Walked all over the paper with the same box of ammo. At the time I blamed it on the scope. The more I read the more I wonder if it wasn't the gun. I sold it due to money issues so I will never know. I know a few people that love theirs. One guys has worn out 3 barrels.

 

[billt]

I am the owner of a Mini-14 and would like to know if any of you have one and if you are satisfied with it. I bought mine mainly out of curiosity but I expected more than I got, shame on me. I am not a fan of Ruger Rifles and I have had several of various calibers, never found any of them to shoot as well as Rems and Wins right out of the box.
My Mini is good for coyotes but not a good target rifle. I know it wasn't intended for that but I think it should do better than it does. It walks all over the place after a few shots and I contribute that to the thin barrel and heat. This is the only Ruger Rifle I have left and it is a truck gun only. Meaning, not relied on for much of anything unless I don't have a real rifle with me and coyote jumps up. For a little more money I could have bought another AR and had a great gun.
DO any of you have any suggestions on accurizing these, different barrel, heat dissipation add ons etc... It seems these should be as easy to hop up as a 10-22. [/i]

The Mini 14 is a good rifle with a bad reputation which it richly deserves. It functions well, but is horribly innaccurate. Ruger could, (and should), improve this, but won't. My wife got intrested in semi auto .223's on a trip to the range a few years back. There was a guy there shooting a Ruger Mini 14 and it functioned flawlessly, but he had everything he could do to keep it on a pie plate at 100 yards. So we started looking at AR-15 type rifles. She settled on a Bushmaster 20" A-2, and loved it so much she went on to buy the Heavy Barreled 16" M-4, and the Carbon 15 Model 21S Pistol, all in 5.56 MM NATO. It's been a good choice. All of the Bushmasters are very accurate and run flawlessly. I would never buy a Ruger Mini 14 after purchasing these guns. AR-15's are the only way to go. Pouring money into a Ruger Mini 14 is like pouring money into a boat. The 2 greatest days in boating are like the 2 greatest in Mini 14 ownership. The day you buy it, and the day you sell it!



All 3 of her Bushmasters. And what she can do with them on a good day with iron sights. Bill T.

 

[Hagar the Republican]

Got a Mini-30 just so I could shoot the cheap 7.62x39 ammo. Actually, so my in-laws could shoot it, and not waste my good stuff. It's turned out to be a great little gun. More accurate than I expected. Just have to not go crazy and heat up the barrel too much. It should be a great coyote getter. Found mine "used" so it was a hundred dollars cheaper, but it looks like it was never fired. All in all I am quite happy with it. Just wish there were some decent high cap mags for the 30.

 

[luv2safari]

My SS Ranch Rifle shoots about 2"-2 1/2" at 100 yards, and I find that acceptable for what the little gun is in reality.

I wish I had never parted with my AR 15, however.

 

[Shadow]

I owned a Mini-14 many years ago, I sold it because I needed to pay the rent back in the late 1980's as I recall the gun was O'kay for just plinking. You guys might differ with me on that. Also I'd have to agree with the guy with the hot wife, for the money just get a good AR. If you have to sink a bunch of money into a $500 rifle, to even get it close to an AR just get the AR

RUGER should fix the Mini! It would be a great gun if it shot well. As it is it's little better than my AK Saiga .223 perhaps not as good.

 

[ifishbaja]

The Mini-14 isn't a tack driver nor will it be due to it's design. They do function pretty much flawlessly and that is what most folks find apealing.

That being said, there are a number of things you can do to improve accuracy.
1. Start with the gas block. Make sure it is gapped and torqued evenly.
2. Add/install weight to the muzzle via a muzzle break or some other device.
3. Have the trigger worked on by a gun smith.
4. Have the action bedded.

Mine shot pretty decent out of the box but I now have it to around 2 inches and once this latest thing is done to it, I hope to be around an inch.

There is another web site with tons of info on mini-14's. If you want to know what it is, PM me and I will pass it along.

Doug Gordon

 

[nyrackaddict]

I certainly dont wanna ripp on AR owners but I just dont get the AR craze. I had my fill of them while in the service. I dont remember them being remarkable accurate and they jammed like crazy even if cleaned thoughly & often & believe me they made us clean the hell out of em. The civilan ones dont impress me either. My mini gets about 4'' or better(100yd) offhand w/ a scope, who could ask for more? Never jammed on me ,ever ,even If I dont clean it. Also doesnt need a foward assist.In my expierience Ruger is a solid company that gets a bad rap somtimes.

 

[martinc64]

Re: re: Mini-14

I certainly dont wanna ripp on AR owners but I just dont get the AR craze. I had my fill of them while in the service. I dont remember them being remarkable accurate and they jammed like crazy even if cleaned thoughly & often & believe me they made us clean the hell out of em. The civilan ones dont impress me either. My mini gets about 4'' or better(100yd) offhand w/ a scope, who could ask for more? Never jammed on me ,ever ,even If I dont clean it. Also doesnt need a foward assist.In my expierience Ruger is a solid company that gets a bad rap somtimes.

I have a similar opinion about the AR. Used them in the Army and thought they were ok. Fairly reliable and fairly accurate but certainly nothing worth bragging about (in my opinion).

I have a Mini which I just got about 6 weeks ago. It is not exactly perfect but I wasn't looking for perfect. I wanted something that was extremely reliable and "accurate enough". I understand everyone has their own idea about what "accurate enough" might be. I personally wasn't looking for a target rifle and didn't get one.

I love mine.

Love my 10/22 also for that matter.

But I know that smart people sometimes disagree.

 

[billt]

The Mini 14 has been around since the early 70's. Plenty of time for the armed forces to evaluate it. You don't see any of them in a military compacity. If they were that wonderful you would, plain and simple. When the Mini 14 was first introduced it wasn't even sold to the public. "Law Enforcement Only". When the police didn't want it, they offered it to the general public in an attempt to make a buck on it somehow. Most all law enforecement, as well as the military, use the AR-15/M-16 platform. It's not because the Mini 14 is better. Added is the fact Ruger won't sell Hi-Cap mags to the citizens who waste their money on this overpriced plinker because of some stupid policy old man Ruger continues to administrate from the grave. You never see one at a high power match, and never will. Even the new "Accurized Target Model" which lists for $995.00 won't and can't print under an inch in spite of the fact Ruger advertises it as such. Instead of addressing it's horrible accuracy, Ruger elected to use some stupid barrel weight, along with a stock from outer space in place of better barrels and an assembly procedure that won't bend it's barrel. I think it's a nice looking rifle with a good gas operating system. It's simply not worth the money. Check the used market against AR-15's and you'll find the bulk of shooting America agrees. AR-15's don't sell for more used because they're worse. Bill T.

 

[martinc64]

Re: re: Mini-14

The Mini 14 has been around since the early 70's. Plenty of time for the armed forces to evaluate it. You don't see any of them in a military compacity. If they were that wonderful you would, plain and simple. When the Mini 14 was first introduced it wasn't even sold to the public. "Law Enforcement Only". When the police didn't want it, they offered it to the general public in an attempt to make a buck on it somehow. Most all law enforecement, as well as the military, use the AR-15/M-16 platform. It's not because the Mini 14 is better. Added is the fact Ruger won't sell Hi-Cap mags to the citizens who waste their money on this overpriced plinker because of some stupid policy old man Ruger continues to administrate from the grave. You never see one at a high power match, and never will. Even the new "Accurized Target Model" which lists for $995.00 won't and can't print under an inch in spite of the fact Ruger advertises it as such. Instead of addressing it's horrible accuracy, Ruger elected to use some stupid barrel weight, along with a stock from outer space in place of better barrels and an assembly procedure that won't bend it's barrel. I think it's a nice looking rifle with a good gas operating system. It's simply not worth the money. Check the used market against AR-15's and you'll find the bulk of shooting America agrees. AR-15's don't sell for more used because they're worse. Bill T.

I'd like to be able to say you're wrong but I don't believe you are. Not exactly. The military did not need to evaluate the mini 14.

The military used the M14 prior to switching to the M16 and the mini 14 is essentially (not exactly but essentially) a Mini M14 chambered for the 5.56 NATO round.

Why would the military go back to a rifle they had replaced already?

And for what it is worth, if I were still in the army I'd prefer the M16 to a Mini 14. In fact I would not even CONSIDER using a mini 14 in that capacity.

I still feel the mini 14 is an excellent little rifle. Not as a target rifle. Not as a modern military rifle.

But a great little rifle.

 

[billt]

"Why would the military go back to a rifle they had replaced already?"

The Ruger Mini 14 can in no way be compared to the M14/M1A platform. Yes, they may have similar gas systems, but the comparision ends there. M1A rifles produced today are incredibly accurate. They also fire a much more authorative round, (.308). The reason the M-14 was replaced is because it was a large and heavy weapon that was uncontrollable for most average soldiers in full auto fire. The M-16 can be handled by a 12 year old. It also allowed for a combat soldier to carry far more ammunition. When Ruger tried to make the Mini 14 into a .308, (The Ruger "XGI"), they ran into so many problems, they abandoned the attempt to produce it altogether. As I said, I think the Ruger Mini 14 is a nice looking handy little rifle. I would buy one if it wasn't so horribly inaccurate, and was able to run reliably on Hi-Cap mags. Ruger won't sell them, and those who will don't make them reliable enough. So if you buy one you're basicly stuck with a 5 shot semi auto that, unless your lucky, won't group better than 4" at 100 yards. And mind you it will cost upward of over $700.00 to achieve this. It's just simply not worth it unless of course your into inaccurate 5 shot, overpriced, semi autos. Bill T.

 

[martinc64]

Re: re: Mini-14

The Ruger Mini 14 can in no way be compared to the M14/M1A platform. Yes, they may have similar gas systems, but the comparision ends there.

I'm sorry but that is a ridiculous assertion. Of course they can be compared. I used the M21 sniper rifle in the army. It is the sniper version of the M14. I am not just someone who read an issue of <i>Guns and Ammo</i> and considers himself an authority on the subject. I've fired both. I've field stripped both.

 

[billt]

There is enough difference in caliber alone to make any such comparision foolish. Another is how in the hell could you ever make a "sniper rifle" out of a Mini 14 when it's pot luck to hit a pop can with it at 100 yards. Bill T.

 

[nyrackaddict]

Re: re: Mini-14

Im not aware of this policy, but Im also not aware that hi cap (over 10rnds)mags can be manufactured and sold by any gun maker to private citizen in the US since 94'. I have a 20 & a 30rd factory ""pre-ban''. Im also not gonna base my opinion of the mini on what military pencil pushers or "hi power match" target nerds(not you Billt) prefer. Ive used both, I can afford either, Ill take the mini. A Ruger mini is not chinese made junk ,its American made quality ,acurate or not, & its worth the 500$ I paid.

 

[nyrackaddict]

Re: re: Mini-14

The Mini 14 has been around since the early 70's. Plenty of time for the armed forces to evaluate it. You don't see any of them in a military compacity. If they were that wonderful you would, plain and simple. When the Mini 14 was first introduced it wasn't even sold to the public. "Law Enforcement Only". When the police didn't want it, they offered it to the general public in an attempt to make a buck on it somehow. Most all law enforecement, as well as the military, use the AR-15/M-16 platform. It's not because the Mini 14 is better. Added is the fact Ruger won't sell Hi-Cap mags to the citizens who waste their money on this overpriced plinker because of some stupid policy old man Ruger continues to administrate from the grave. You never see one at a high power match, and never will. Even the new "Accurized Target Model" which lists for $995.00 won't and can't print under an inch in spite of the fact Ruger advertises it as such. Instead of addressing it's horrible accuracy, Ruger elected to use some stupid barrel weight, along with a stock from outer space in place of better barrels and an assembly procedure that won't bend it's barrel. I think it's a nice looking rifle with a good gas operating system. It's simply not worth the money. Check the used market against AR-15's and you'll find the bulk of shooting America agrees. AR-15's don't sell for more used because they're worse. Bill T.

what I said above

 

[martinc64]

Re: re: Mini-14

There is enough difference in caliber alone to make any such comparision foolish. Another is how in the hell could you ever make a "sniper rifle" out of a Mini 14 when it's pot luck to hit a pop can with it at 100 yards. Bill T.

So you think the fact that they are different calibres means they can not be compared? I guess a remington 700 in .270 and a remington 700 in .243 can never be compared either then? Unbelievable. For a second I thought you might be a knowledgeable person. Glad you cleared that up.


And who said anything about making a sniper rifle out of a mini 14? I merely stated that I had fired the sniper version of the M14 (the m21). I said that to make the point that I had actually fired an M14 and a mini 14 both.