Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Mini-14 Accuracy?

What kind of accuracy do you guys get with factory standard Mini-14s?

I own a Ruger Mini-14. It carries a Leupold Vari-X II 3x9x40 scope. Yes, it's an old Vari-X II, not a VX-II.

I've been told by several people that Mini-14s are not very accurate and OK I believe it. I don't expect to shoot MOA groups with this rifle, but this is ridiculous. It shoots patterns that are 12" or larger at 100 yards.

Don't blame it on the shooter. I can shoot MOA groups with several other rifles that I own.

I have checked the rings and they are tight. If it was a lesser scope, I would guess that the reticle is loose, but it's a Leupy. I suppose that even a good scope could get damaged, so my next test will be to remove the scope and see how it shoots with iron sights.

What do you guys think?

KC

5 inch groups at 100 yards was typical with mine with surplus 55 grain ammo. I was able to get 3 MOA out of it by using premium 55 grain bullets and loading them down to around 2700 fps,..but 12" groups sound excessive.

I'd suspect the scope.

they'll hold minute of barn. never shot one that was what I'd consider real accurate

Dittos on the scope/mount. I'm not a fan, but as it's what we're issued I use one.

Head shots on the new, smaller, "Q" target are a non-issue with any of the ones we have with irons.

George

Mine did some better than a foot with a scope on it. About four five inches best I remember. Haven't had it for several years now as I gave it to one of my kids who wanted it.

BCR

I got rid of the one I had for that reason.

I'd like to hear some reports on the new version with the heavier, short barrel.

I'd buy one if it would consistently group into 2.5 MOA with surplus ammo.

Has anyone tried the newer, alledely more accurate series of mini - 14s. Ruger stopped prodcution awhile back, and changed the barrel, gas system, and now says it is much impored. Experiences?

1B

I was going to say minute of pie plate.Accuracy is not their selling point.They are dependable,though. Lightman

Had an early one, 181 series, that would shoot 50 gr. Speer bullets three under a inch over the hood of my pickup. Would shoot inch and a half or real close, with every thing I tried in it. Long story short, I sold it and am now sorry. Some of em will shoot right out of the box.

It's a fairly proven design. Wonder why so inaccurate? Barrel? lock up, bedding? Looks like they could and should be more accurate. Should shoot with an AR. Why not?

The new ones have heavier barrels, and are said to produce greater accuracy.

mini 14..and accuracy?....hope you weren't hopin for them being in the same conversation....

Always liked the look, concept and feel -- but never bought one due to the accuracy issue.

there is something wrong with your scope or mounts.

My mini shoots 2 MOA groups all day long with a Vortex Strikefire red dot sight, and equally as well with the factory irons.

I have owned probably 6 Mini-14's over the years, plus a Ranch Rifle in .222 and a Mini-30. Although I did scope several of them, none of them were accurate enough to justify keeping a scope on it. Basically they could be relied upon to hit a man-size target out to about 150 yards or so. The best one shot groups of about 5" at 100 yards and the worst one was about 10" at 100. The good thing about them was that I can not recall ONE malfunction of any kind with ANY of them in maybe a total of 8,000 rounds or more (using 5, 20 and 30 rd. Ruger magazines..most aftermarket mags are crap), even with ammo that gave trouble in AR-15's. They always go bang.

The accuracy problems are usually identified as a barrel that is too light, and that also is of poor quality. The light barrel flexes at its mid point upon firing, due to the influence of the heavy reciprocating operating rod assembly against the gas block. The barrels supposedly are turned down to the light profile too fast during manufacture and tend to warp when they get hot. That's the conventional wisdom, anyway.

The new Mini's have much better barrels that are heavier in profile, especially near the gas block. I have examined them in gun stores and they are indeed stiffer looking than the earlier models were. Also, I understand they are manufactured a bit more carefully. The reports I have seen claim decent accuracy...maybe 2 MOA or better with an exceptional specimen. Haven't shot one myself.

There are things you can do to an older Mini to make it shoot better. For example, there are struts that can be attached to the barrel and gas block that limit the barrel flex problem. The 3 struts I am aware of are the Accu-Strut, Mo-Rod and the Har-Bar. Also, you can install a smaller bushing in the gas block to soften the operation of the action.

I have a Mini that I carried for years as a patrol rifle. I was always underwhelmed by its accuracy, but impressed by its reliability. I eventually put on a Hogue stock, a set of Millet sights, had the barrel recrowned and still suffered with accuracy of about 6 to 8 inch groups at 100 yards.

I put an Accu-Strut on it and the accuracy improved to about 2 1/2 to 3 MOA with iron sights. It would certainly do a little better with a scope.

The first group I shot with it after installing the strut was 2.79":



I don't have a photo handy of the complete strut, but here is a partial look at it:



I am planning to sell it because my eyes are getting bad for use with iron sights. If anyone is interested, we could work out a fair deal.

Trade it in on a Decent Heavy barreled AR-15 with a good trigger. Been down your road and it is not a good one. Fixing up a mini 14 is akin to putting lipstick on a pig.

Tell me you didn't trade that 06 CDL for a mini-14......





Casey

And that would be from the inside?

I have a 183 series GB Mini-14 that with PMC FMJ, Win. FMJ, and Win. PSP, shoots 1 1/2" at 100 yards, when I do my part.

I've killed coyotes out at 200 yards and ground squirrels at farther distance than that, using a K4x Weaver 'scope.

Works for me.

L.W.