The weather was perfect; about 40 degrees F, no wind and clear but overcast. The rifle was cleaned and lubricated last night. The ammo was Wolf, 62 grain HP, steel case. The inital shot at 25 yards indicated the rifle was low and seemingly centered. Then it was off to 200 yards. I sight in and shoot at either 200 yards or 300 meters offhand. This weapon was a 200 yards sight in. The first three shots were quite low and somewhat to the left. After adjusting the sights (2.5 full revolutions up, about half way to full right) I was ready to see what the rifle would do. The sights moved and adjusted exactly per the directions in the Ruger User's Manual; publication MSI-KMSI/5-09. I must also add that I had previously been shooting an Ithaca Model 37 D&PS 12 gage with 1 oz foster slugs, a Ruger SP 100 with full power .357 and my Marlin .45-70 GG; thus I was not the steadiest. The first group of six was okay, being in about a 12 inch circle. It was the second goup of 6 that could be covered with the an extended fingers hand that gave some inkling that this rifle may have some accuracy potential. The final group of 6 was in about an 9 inch circle, my offhand average with my M4 at 200 yards. I have scoped the M4 and shot it at 100 yards off the bench. It is a true 1.5 MOA rifle. I would guess this Mini-14 Tactical is a 1.5-2 MOA rifle. Some observations after today's shooting efforts:
1] The sight picture is every bit as good as with the military aperture on my M4.
2] The trigger is far better than any military type rifle I've purchased in the last 20 years!
3] The rifle points very well, the weight of the little flash supressor making it just barrel heavy enough it settles down well for offhand shooting. A PS here, I walk from the firing line to the targets and back in between sighting groups, approx 1/4 mile, thus this observation has some basis in fact.
4] The gun is very quick to get on target. I only have one rifle faster, my Ruger Model 77 International with its NECG peep.
5] The rifle carries very well; even with the Ruger 20 round magazine in place.
6] Brass is not thrown to the right rear as with my other Mini-14s and Mini-30. This rifle throws the brass to the immediate right. The receiver wall where the brass ejects is now beveled on the inside; perhaps this is the reason.
7] This is the lightest recoiling centerfire .223 I've ever fired.
8] 6 rapid shots followed by three more within 30 seconds did not heat the barrel to any degree near as hot as the series 580 barrels get. It seems about on a par with my M4. I suspect that sustained fire (I do not do this) would heat this 581 barrel quicker than the M4 tho.
My summary:
This is an ugly gun; very little cosmetic finishing has been done, even relative to my Series 580 carbines. That said; it appears much as any military weapon; lots of toolmarks, seams and ugly finish. It also seems more military in its robustness than the 580 series rifles (the one exception being the sling loops). The gun functioned flawlessly through all 28 shots. The accuracy seems on a par with the better of my two Mini-14 Series 580 carbines, perhaps even the equal of the M4 I own. For me, the 580 series carbines pointed much faster than the M4 or any other AR 15 derivative; the new 581 Tactical, with its improved front sight makes it faster still. The gun cost me $631. For this money, as long as one is happy with a military type rifle (no cosmetic niceties), you get what you are paying for in full measure. After it has digested more rounds I will report on its serviceability.
