Ruger Ranch Mini14 accuracy?

No matter what you decide. DO NOT let A.R.S. (Accuracy Rifle Systems) in Texas touch your rifle. For any reason!!! I let him talk me into a match barrel, trigger job and bedded action with a "sub 1 inch guarentee."

He got my $ but my mini won't come close to 1" groups. Sent it back and it only got worse from there. Don't let him touch your gun!!!

Eddie


Mini 14 Ranch Rifle, heavy match stainless barrell, good trigger for sale....... :D
 
I have to agree with most of the opinions in this thead. It certainly is a waste a pricey scope on a Mini-14. The exception is to find a red-dot sight for the little guy. Now you have something.

Quick, accurate, fun, reliable, as long as you keep things within 100 yards. I have one and really enjoy it. I considered an AR-15 but why . . . except they are so cool.

If you wan't real super accuracy get a good bolt action like a Rem 7, a Savage 111, or a Ruger 77. Scope that and you have something.

No gas operated animal will match a solid bolt action, even a M1A. Just the facts.
 
I've said this a few times before... They are really cool guns... for making noise and looking good. All of mine would keep the bullet inside of a coffee cup size group from 5 yards! But they are cute!
 
Mini-14s are ok if you're just wanting a handy-dandy rifle to do 100 yard varminting or plinking. They're rugged and reliable. They aren't accurate. They aren't worth mounting a pricy scope on.

For the ranges that the Mini-14 is good for, you're really doing just fine with iron sights. If you really want optics, get a red-dot or a reflex sight. Again, these are not 300-yard target guns. Yes, you can kill coyotes from a good distance... but dont count on hitting any specific part of the coyote. (and kill the thing... don't create a problem for someone else who is hiking and stumbles across the animal you just pissed off)

My problem with the Mini-14 is I usually see them for $500. I can step up quite a bit and get an AR-15 from Bushmaster or Rock River Arms for $200 and change more, and have a lot more routes to go if I ever do want to make it more than a backpack gun, and get good groups to boot. Given the price of Mini-14s compared to "mil-spec" post-ban ARs, I'm surprised people still buy Minis. Bill Ruger needs to rethink his marketing on this one.

Hell, if you want something dirt cheap that will shoot 5" groups at 100 yards, buy a Kalashnikov. You will never be short of spare parts. It's not like you need to clean it. The ammo will be as cheap or cheaper. 7.62x39 hits a little harder. And, you only need to use one bullet per coyote. If you only wound it, AKs make good clubs. It's not like you're worried about harming the gun... It's like having a pet hamster. If it breaks, just go buy another.
 
As I have posted many times, it is easy to fix the problems with the Mini-14s accuracy. It just takes some nerve to be willing to disassemble the gas block.

Just get a RCBS hex wrench set. The largest wrench fits the gas block. Disassemble the rifle as per the Ruger instructions. Unscrew all the screws on the gas block (don't be supprised if several of them are not tight). Clean off the gas block with a good gun scrubber. Look for any burrs. Take them off with some light file or cauccus cloth.

When reassembleing, just hand tighten all the 4 screws (clean them off first and put a little lock-tite in them). Get a car feeler guage (for spark plugs). Now, just like a car tire, jump around tightning the screws just a bit. Check the gap between the high and low gas block plates that fit on the barrel. Make sure they stay even all the way around (this IS the problem, uneven pressure). After all the screws are tightened and the plates are even, let the lock-tite set for 24 hours.

If you want to go further, get some Acra-glass and glass bed the two metal reinforcements INTO the stock. Yep, that makes a real stiff stock.

Then, the last minimum thing I can think of doing is getting rid of the wiggleing rear sight. That sight is worthless. Eagle makes a polyimer rear peep that replaces the metal 'L'. Get it, and fit it to the slot (might need just a bit of filing). I drilled the apendature just a bit larger myself.

Ok, then get some good 64 grain ammo and try from a bench. I got 1 inch groups at 50 yards (NO cooling of the barrel, just 3 good shots). That gun can stay in a 4 inch group at 100 yards, 10 shots strait, no cooling of the barrel. Good enough!

Now, if you do this yourself, very little cost. If you have a gunsmith, go get a AR... you will be spending 200 bucks, hell, get the AR (I have both!!).

Deaf
 
Coyotes and 7.62x39.....

..........Forget about the fur! I guess in Texas all the yodel dawgs are pertty scrawny and mangy anyhow.
 
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