New Mini-14 or AR-15?

[CowboyT]

OK, we just shot the thing. It shoots way better than I do. At 50 yards off of a not-so-good rest, my best grouping was an inch, but that was me. It was obvious to all three of us that the gun can do way better than that. Ammo was Federal 5.56 NATO in LC brass. Recoil, as expected, is minimal. Fun factor is way up there.

Now, all that's needed is more practice so I can actually get good with the thing....

[zephyp]

And it is a great shooter T...looks like it might make a decent gun for target...

[LFS]

OK, we just shot the thing. It shoots way better than I do. At 50 yards off of a not-so-good rest, my best grouping was an inch, but that was me. It was obvious to all three of us that the gun can do way better than that. Ammo was Federal 5.56 NATO in LC brass. Recoil, as expected, is minimal. Fun factor is way up there.

Now, all that's needed is more practice so I can actually get good with the thing....

My understanding was that while the Mini-14 tacticals and ranch rifles were able to shoot .223 and 5.56, the target model is specifically .223 only, and that shooting 5.56 out of it will ruin it.

[CowboyT]

Hmm...I'll double-check that; thanks for the heads-up. If that's turns out to be the case, then I've got plenty of civvie .223.

Hey...I guess this means buying a Ranch Rifle later on so I can shoot the NATO stuff! COOL!

[Mindflayer]

Cowboy - I can confirm regarding the target mode land .223 only restriction.

[CowboyT]

Checked the manual this morning. According to it, "5.56 Military spec" is OK. I'll scan it in and post later tonight.

[Mindflayer]

Checked the manual this morning. According to it, "5.56 Military spec" is OK. I'll scan it in and post later tonight.

Please do, as I checked Ruger's site, and I saw NO YUO 5.56 NATO. I'll look for that info and then we can ask Ruger WTF.

[CowboyT]

Here you go. This is Page 12 from the Mini-14 Target Rifle manual.

[rromeo]

Thnks for posting that cowboy. I have never owned a mini, but for years and years, the Gospel has been that mini 14 target models shouldn't shoot 5.56. It looks like that is not the case.

[Mindflayer]

Hmm, I need to read my manual again and see if I missed that! I would have bought this wickedly well priced 58x Target model. Ah, well.... I guess I'll have to be happy with my lousy stainless all-weather model.

So... when we going shootin'?

[CowboyT]

Whenever you're ready, bro. You busy this weekend? We can also talk about the proposed "cast 'n' greet" and actually making this happen.

Besides, to paraphrase Richard Pryor, "there's good Mini-14's and there's great Mini-14's. Ain't no such thing as bad Mini-14's!"

- T

[rromeo]

Cowboy, upon further review, it actually says that the Ranch model is okay to use military ammo, not the Target model.

[Mindflayer]

The RUGER® MINI-14® RANCH RIFLES are offered in two calibers :the .223 Remington (5.56mm) cartridge and the 6.8mm Remington SPC cartridge. The Target Model uses .223 Remington cartridges only.

Page 12 of the manual, CowboyT. The confusion made me wary enough to check.

Repeated on page 13:

RUGER® MINI-14® RANCH RIFLES are offered in two calibers: .223 Rem. (5.56mm) and 6.8mm Rem. SPC. The Target Model Mini-14 is chambered for .223 Remington ammunition only.

http://ruger.com/products/_manuals/mini.pdf

What year is the target rifle? That might explain why the manuals appear different.

[Mindflayer]

Shame the Mini 14 is so inaccurate.


Mini 14 shooting by Mindflayer, on Flickr

[gunderwood]

Shame the Mini 14 is so inaccurate.


Mini 14 shooting by Mindflayer, on Flickr

What distance was that at?

Inaccurate compared to what is the key. Then depending on your intended use, that may or may not matter.

[Mindflayer]

What distance was that at?

Inaccurate compared to what is the key. Then depending on your intended use, that may or may not matter.

You weren't supposed to ask, gunderwood! Now I have to shamefacedly admit it was just 100'.

I read many, many posts on the Interwebs that the Mini 14 was a 9 MOA firearm off a bench, and that was freestanding with cheap ammo. Yes, I know 100 yards is another game, but it looked pretty.

I'll go back to my n00b hole now that gunderwood called me out....

[krmgator]

I hope Santa reads this post, because I want a Mini-14 for Christmas. I have been a very good boy this year.

[gunderwood]

What distance was that at?

Inaccurate compared to what is the key. Then depending on your intended use, that may or may not matter.

You weren't supposed to ask, gunderwood! Now I have to shamefacedly admit it was just 100'.

I read many, many posts on the Interwebs that the Mini 14 was a 9 MOA firearm off a bench, and that was freestanding with cheap ammo. Yes, I know 100 yards is another game, but it looked pretty.

I'll go back to my n00b hole now that gunderwood called me out....

I was just curious. Wasn't calling you out. Good shooting.

[Mindflayer]

I was just curious. Wasn't calling you out. Good shooting.

Oh, I know. Self-deprecating humor. Just when I think I am getting to be a better shot, I see someone else shoot and it is daunting to witness.

[CowboyT]

Tell me about it! There was a dude on MDShooters that posted something with (I believe) his Remington 700 and from 300 yards, he was getting 0.35" and smaller groups. Really scary. And no, I don't believe he was lying.

So, Mindflayer, when are we going shooting? Just PM'd you.