My old mini-14

cbsweeney · Member Joined: Jun 18, 2010 Posts: 197 Location: New York

I have a mini-14 that I bought about 15 years ago. Anyone who has one knows they are fun to shoot, but the accuracy is like throwing a hand full of rice at a target Shocked

. On mine , anyway. A friend of mine told me about some inexpensive modifications that will improve the accuracy on the older models. It seems Ruger has made some changes in the last couple years, and the newer models shoot much better. So, I bought a muzzle brake, evened the gap on the gas block, bedded the action, and polished the trigger. My groups at 100 yards went from 4-5 inches down to about 2 inches. Very Happy

It's almost as much fun as having a new gun!

Suzanne · Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 6:21 am Post subject: Re: My old mini-14

Cool CBSwee !! but what do mean that you evened the gap on the gas block? Just curious. Was it angled? and to what extent did you bed the action? Pretty nice groupings!!

Suz

cbsweeney · Member Joined: Jun 18, 2010 Posts: 197 Location: New York

Suz,
My friend pointed out to me that on some of the older mini's, the gap on the gas block may not even. I checked mine with a spark plug feeler gauge (real scientific, huh) and it was off. One side was .027, and the other was .032. I loosened the screws and tightned it up using the feeler guage to get the gap even. I don't know how much of a difference it made, because I did all the changes before shooting it again. I bedded the top of the stock where the action sits, under the stock reinforcing bracket, and the where the lugs on the action meet the wood stock (in front of the reinforcing bracket). I don't have any pictures while I was doing it, but I could take one of the finished job if you're thinking about doing it.

Pumpkinslinger · Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 7:44 am Post subject: Re: My old mini-14

My Mini-14 is a 180 series that I bought about 30 years ago. It will generally shoot into about 2" if I do my part. It may not be a tack driver but it ALWAYS works, which is what I bought it for. I've taken loads that my AR couldn't digest and the Ruger gobbled them right up.

CB, I've seen those same tuning tips for the Mini-14 elsewhere but haven't tried them. I need to break the old rifle out and check those things.

cbsweeney · Member Joined: Jun 18, 2010 Posts: 197 Location: New York

Pumpkinslinger,
Mine is a 196 series, and the groups it used to shoot were pretty humble. I never had an issue with reliability, it shot everything I fed it. Sometimes 200 rounds in a day, and not a hiccup. I love the gun, I was just hoping it would shoot a little better.

slimjim · Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 8:27 pm Post subject: Re: My old mini-14

I had an older mini-14 for many years. I sold it when I needed more room in my safe for an AR. The mini-14s reputation for accuracy is not that good and yours, before the mod, shot as good if not better than most, CBS. Often, they have trouble keeping a group under 7 inches. When I added the muzzle brake (by luck because I didn't have Internet to search back then), it stabilize the barrel and groups went to the 2-inch range. Mine had a 1:12 twist barrel and did best with 50 to 55gr bullets. (what is your twist?) I then started shooting Hi-power Matches so I could earn the privilege to buy an M-1 from CMP. The Hi-Power director wouldn't let me shoot in a match until I proved I could shoot at 300 yards. I had added a Williams peep-sight and shot a 6-inch group so they let me participate.

As you said, never a malfunction. That Garand-action is also doing well in Afganistan with the M-14s. The ARs are not doing as well with all the fine dust they have over there.

cbsweeney · Member Joined: Jun 18, 2010 Posts: 197 Location: New York

Slimjim,
My barrel has a 1:9 twist and I shoot 55 or 63 gn bullets. I tried everything from 40 to 77 gns in it. The middle weights shot best for me. Now, I find myself taking the Mini-14 with me whenever I go to the range, because I want to shoot it, instead of only once or twice a year to make sure it's still working!

slimjim · Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 7:26 pm Post subject: Re: My old mini-14

It always amazed me how simple and reliable the mini-14 is.

TRBLSHTR · Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 8:45 pm Post subject: Re: My old mini-14

Anthing you guys ever wanted to know about:mini-14.................www.perfectunion.com
I hang out on that site a bit,and they even help to influence ruger corp!More info there than probably any other source anywhere on mini-14s. Very Happy

rblain · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 10:39 pm Post subject: Re: My old mini-14

Hey Guys,

Kind of funny but i bought one yesterday. Cool lookin little gun. I can hardly wait to get it to the range. I wanted a non-restricted 223 caliber that I could take into the bush and plink with, this fit the bill perfectly. You can dress them up and give them a tactical/military look if you want for not a lot of money.
I've been all over the net looking info up on them. love the gun.

cbsweeney · Member Joined: Jun 18, 2010 Posts: 197 Location: New York

rblain,
Congratulations! I'm sure you are gonna love it. I heard that Ruger made a few changes, and the newer Mini-14's shoot pretty well right out of the box. Let us know how it shoots.