Mini 14

[Shiner]

I have always liked the looks and feel of Mini 14's, and had one briefly in the past. I never shot it much, then ended up trading it for something else. I have always heard horrible things about the accuracy from these rifles. A few months back I bought another one. I put a 3-9 Nikon on it, and have been shooting it quite a bit. It's one of the new ones, the 580 series, and I have been quite impressed with this rifle. If I let the barell cool between shots, with PMC 55 gr FMJ's it will shoot 2'' groups consistently. I know that is not incredibly accurate or anything, but for what I will use this rifle for, truck gun at the lease and plinking, it's fine with me. Did I just get lucky with this particular rifle or are the Mini 14's that are being sent out now more accurate?

[jro45]

I bought my MINI 14 about 15 years ago maybe 20 years ago. But anyway I put a brake on it and that improved the grouping. Instead of a round circle the bullets are a small group.

[S.S.]

Never had an accuracy problem with mine..

[saltydog]

I enjoy shooting the Ruger mini's (14 SSRR and 30) however unlike some I have never been impressed with the accuracy potential in particular after heating up the barrel with as few as 5 shots in 60 secods or so - 2 moa. I consider them as "truck" rifles for use on that under 100 yard shot the quickly presents itself. In their favor they have been extremely reliable and easy to clean and maintain and as I mention enjoyable to shoot. I had to put a Wolff spring kit in my mini 30 in order reliably fire the new Military Classic Wolf ammo. No real quality / reliable hi cap magazines available for the mini 30's is also another drawback.

[303Guy]

I had an early one - pre-ranch rifle.  MOA ten shot groups was the best I could get out of it!  But that was with match bullets that did not perform well on critters beyond 100yds.  Still, if I had the critter in my sights, it was dead.  Loved that gun.  Traded it on an old Anschutz 22 hornet.  I'm not sorry - I've had plenty fun with that too.  I just didn't want a semi-auto anymore.  (I never did fire it in rapid).

[pastorp]

I've owned several older mini-14s and none of them were accurate enough to be useful to me. However reciently I bought one of the new ranch rifles in stainless/ synthetic and am quite pleased with the accuracy. At least MOA with most any good ammo. Certinally accurate enough for most hunting except long range prarrie dogs. And we don't have any PDs in southeast alaska.

Regards,

[Coyote Hunter]

My older brother has two (three?) Mini-14s.  I’ve taken a couple to Dog Town and shot them on other occasions and was thoroughly frustrated with the accuracy.

They are certainly not what I would choose for a varmint rifle but if I chose one that ain’t what I would chose it for anyway.  High fire rates and reliability have other uses.