Best round for Mini 14?

[slatecaller]

My Dad just bought a Mini 14 and he doesnt know which factory rounds he should try first.  What have you guys had the best accuracy with? Thanks

[R. Tillery]

My 181-series Mini seems to like W-W 45 grain HPs.

[scruffy]

My 188 series Ranch (1-7" twist ruger barrel) likes the Winchester white box Varmint pack, 45 grain JHP's, 3600fps advertised.  It shoots moa 5 shot groups in my mini with the trigger plate shimmed to eliminate flyers and the front sight removed to simplify barrel harmonics.  It shot moa 3 shot groups with a choate flash hider installed, but that's another story.

Slatecaller, if you want some help on getting the mini shot shoot better cheaply, let me know.  

later,
scruffy

[stuffit]

Off hand do you know the twist rate of these rifles.  It's interesting that in both of the post here, the 46 grain bullet shoots more accurately. Since the military bullet is 55 gr FPBT,  and thinking it was designed around that round, I would have expected the better performance in that weight.  Any thoughts on why, anyone?

[scruffy]

Not sure, one theory is that the lighter bullets cause less bullet whip.  I'm not sure I buy into that (I think the win 45gr varmint stuff is just really good), but I've tested heavier bullets and they always have a HIGHER POI than the lighter ones, like the ultralight barrel is whipping up more.

later,
scruffy

[mikej]

My Mini 14's (2) have a 1/12" twist and work best with 55 grain bullets, but aren't that accurate, about 4-6 MOA with the factory iron sights. I would try three or four good 55 gr loads, and a couple of the lighter weights as well. If the twist rate is still 1/12" the heaviest bullet that will stabilize will be 60 grains. If Ruger has gone to a 1/7" twist then anything will work from 40 gr to 80 gr , but the lighter construction of the lower weight varmint bullets could cause them to disintegrate after leaving the barrel. Do NOT use any steel cased military ammo in your Mini, blue or stainless, as the chamber is not chrome plated, and the harder steel cased ammo will batter the chamber and cause headspace problems, as well as extractor problems.

POI is higher for heavier bullets due to increased barrel time and leaving the muzzle at a later point during the recoil cycle.

[scruffy]

new mini's come with a 1-9" twist.  late 80's/early 90's was 1-7.  Before that was 1-10" and 1-12".  If you call Ruger with the serial number they can tell you date of manufacture, twist rate, configuration (straight stock, folder, etc).

later,
scruffy