Author Topic: Mini 14 Ranch Rifle (Read 2515 times)

Daveinthebush · « **on:** January 14, 2003, 04:54:48 PM »

Trying to figure which semiauto to buy.

How is the dependability of the ranch rifle?
Do you have faith in it in a tough situation where your life might depend on it?
How about accuracy, 200, 300 yards?

Whats the word guys, thanks.

Frog123 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 14, 2003, 10:14:59 PM »

For the most part I like mine, dependability is good, I qualified with one at the Sheriffs Dept and know quite a few officers who carry them in place of a shotgun. I'm not overly impressed with mine's accuracy, around 2" at 100 yds, I've never shot further than that with mine, although I know of a few deer killed at distances further than that with them. They were taken by prison sharpshooters out of guard towers with accurized versions. I'm not gonna say much more about that due to statute of limitations that probaby hasn't expired:) I guess it depends on how you plan on using it and what your primary use is gonna be. I did see on the Discovery channel some Inuit natives harvesting caribou with one so they are being used in your part of the world.

Frog

Daveinthebush · « **Reply #2 on:** January 17, 2003, 03:30:51 PM »

Many of the Eskimo villages that I have been to favor the Mini 14 in .223 for almost everything. The stainless steel versions being quite popular. They do the job, cheap ammo, reliable at -30 temps and easy to carry across the chest as most people do when riding snow machines.

MI VHNTR · « **Reply #3 on:** January 18, 2003, 03:53:44 PM »

Daveinthebush, I had a SS RR years ago. I kept it a month and dumped it. The reason: lack of accuracy. A friend bought a SS RR less than a month ago against my advice. He kept it less than a month and traded it in. The reason: lack of accuracy. The rifles are dependable enough, but the accuracy is sorely lacking. The last Mini that I fired, see above, patterened a 6"x6" group at 100 yards. The rifle was scoped with a 3-9x40 Bushnell Elite 3200. Very sad for a $500+ rifle. MI VHNTR

I am CAL......... · « **Reply #4 on:** January 21, 2003, 03:54:49 PM »

Hello Dave

,I have had two of the Mini14s and didn't like either one.I could not get the Ranch Rifle to group worth anything with a scope.I find them to be inaccurate,loud,and hard kickers for the size bullet.I didn't keep it long enough to know about the function!I don't know what you intend to use it for but the Chinese SKS really shoots good and functions good. I don't know how much power the ammo has though. My .01 cents worth!I am CAL.....

shooter308 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 23, 2003, 05:19:46 PM »

I had mine accurized at ARS in Odessa, Tx. I had a 1 in 12" twist with a military chamber. Sounds strange but, I was shooting a 3" group at 300 yards using the Win. 45 grn. JHP XTP at 3,600 fps. Wal Mart sells it for $13.00 a box of 40. I traded for a new M1a custom 16.5" Douglas Prem Grade HW brl and action job built by Mr. James McCollum in Tuscaloosa, AL. I shot the mini with Carlos Hathcock's son at Quantico, Master Gun. Sgt. Hathcock who is a coach with the Marine Rifle Sharp Shooting Team.

Mainspring · « **Reply #6 on:** January 30, 2003, 03:55:24 AM »

I was going to get a RR last year, but after I priced out what it would cost to get the the thing to shoot as straight as an off the rack AR, I could just buy the AR. I ended up with a Bushmaster, and am very happy with it. Part of my decision too was the fact that I know a lot more about ARs from having been in the Army than I do about the RRs.

Is it as reliable as a RR under extreme conditions?? I donno. The RR could very well have the edge there.

Clif4570 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 03, 2003, 12:25:54 PM »

I have had 2 mini 14's and neither would shoot with any accuracy. I could not beleive Ruger would continue to produce a rifle that hot so poorly with out doing something about it. So far they haven't and probably won't as long as people keep buying them. My 2 RR seemed to function well,never really had a problem other than dented cases and the fact the RR would spew cases almost anywhere except in the same spot. My personal opinion is that until Ruger cleans up the accuracy problem (well documented) I would buy almost anything first. I read where Ruger specs allow a 2" group at 50 yards as their standard level of accuracy. Not too good for a .223 in any sort of gun. I have owned many semi auto's and many would hold 1" all day

msmith · « **Reply #8 on:** May 03, 2003, 03:36:46 PM »

Mini 14 and accuracy should not be used in the same sentence. I could holda 4 inch group with good ammo with mine. Dumped it for a Colt AR and it holds 1.5 inch group with bad ammo.

PJ · « **Reply #9 on:** May 04, 2003, 01:09:36 AM »

I have a Mini-14 Ranch that is chambered in 222 Rem. from the factory.It was made for the Swiss Army try-out back in 1982.....Hmmmmm thats right Ruger didn't make a Ranch rifle in 1982 or did they. :wink: Anyway it shoots sub-1" groups at 100yrds or less.I think I'll hang on to this one :-D

daddywpb · « **Reply #10 on:** May 04, 2003, 01:11:10 AM »

Frog123,
Prison sharpshooters killing deer from guard towers? That's beautiful! A shining example of law enforcement, and a classic example of the wrong people being on the outside of the bars.

Frog123 · « **Reply #11 on:** May 04, 2003, 08:41:06 AM »

Now hold on, it's not as bad as it sounds. The area where the deer are being taken is off limits to traditional hunting for obvious reasons. Deer reside within the compound and receive no hunting pressure during the traditional season. The officers were permitted to take the deer in an effort to keep the population down. Once a deer was taken it was picked up by a patrol unit either on an atv or in a service truck and then delivered to the prisons kitchen where it was cleaned and prepared by the prison trustees. The deer was then cooked and served in the prison's kitchen. This often supplemeted the trustee's and other prisoner's diet at no cost to me and other taxpayer's.
It's not the first time I've heard of this either, some of the Sheriffs in some of the more rural counties have been known to serve deer in their jails to help offset the cost of inmate upkeep. The only reason it's supposed to have come to a stop is due to the same people who advocate inmates having meat in their diet for much needed protein don't feel that non-govt. inspected meat needs to be served or prepared by or to inmates. Then again those same people are not paying to house these prisoners.

Frog

les hemby · « **Reply #12 on:** June 07, 2003, 08:36:56 AM »

kinda touchy subject on that one my wife bought me one for christmas love the gun feels good never jams but the 600.00$ piece of crap shoots a group so big i have never even felt like the scope was sighted in because i have no idea where next shot is going i love rugers but i would not recomend these hunks of junk to anyone the only reason mine has not been traded is it was a gift and i would feel bad about screwing whoever bought it !!!!!!!!!!!!!

1GLOCK · « **Reply #13 on:** June 21, 2003, 04:40:54 AM »

Just my oppinion !! The RR is for the guy who wants a 223 semi auto but is on a budget. My father bought a SS RR, my AR will beat it in accuracy every time. My oppinion is find a used AR, youre better off with a used AR than a new RR.

Frog123 · « **Reply #14 on:** June 21, 2003, 04:57:14 AM »

I got an AR there 1Glock, and I agree it's far more accurate than the mini. The mini in my opinion is far more reliable about cycling than the AR. Remember that AR's got that dang forward assist on the side to help seat the bullet. Not the best of ideas IMHO. I thought about getting a mini 30 for deer, figured it might make a decent brush gun but if that gun won't shoot any better than the 14 then I won't be laying out any more money for mini's.

RicMic · « **Reply #15 on:** June 22, 2003, 12:32:14 PM »

My RR shot 5 to 6 inch groups right out of the box, not good for $489.99 plus tax from Gallyan's. Instead of wrapping it around a tree (what most people do) I bought a Clark Gun Barrel Stabilizer $245.00. Now you say that I have a $750.00 piece of crap, at about the same cost as a good AR. But wait! It now shoots so-so ammo into 1"- 1 1/4" and the stuff it really likes into 5/8"-3/4"at 100 yds. Yeah its got a big nose and yeah it weighs 8.5 pounds with a scope and yeah it still dents brass......yeah yeah yeah. We'll see how the varmints on the farm like it.

les hemby · « **Reply #16 on:** June 23, 2003, 12:49:57 PM »

in my opinion the rr is ok for combat (if not very far) but is pretty unacceptable for hunting past 100 yds if target is very small mine may hit a coyote but ground squirrel is out of question it is very combat reliable mine has never jammed for accuracy AR wins hands down just my .02 if you still want a RR mine is SS and perfect

SAWgunner · « **Reply #17 on:** June 24, 2003, 03:30:00 PM »

I just paid a little over $600 for a SS Ranch Rifle with the laminated stock. I can't get it below about 4-5" at 100 yards and I have been to the long range marksmanship school at Ft. Campbell (so I am pretty sure it is not me). I plan on taking this rifle to a guy here in town that will put on a bull barrel and a new gas block and a trigger job for a little over $400. He guarantees .75 MOA or better at 100 meters. Although this puts me into the well over $1k market, I cannot giv eup a gun that I own. That is like selling my soul. heh heh

SSG G.

Paladin · « **Reply #18 on:** June 24, 2003, 04:43:06 PM »

traded my 30 ss rr off last week because of the same problems, still have a mini 14 that will do i" at 100 yds. very disappointed in the ranch rifle

SAWgunner · « **Reply #19 on:** June 24, 2003, 05:01:33 PM »

Although, I think firearms are like children, you can't give up on them, no matter how bad they are. I love the Mini-14, and I find that it is more reliable than all of the AR-15/M-16/M-4 variants. I have a good basis of knowlege on the M-16 series (I have been in the Army for a few minutes, heh heh). I consider it a better weapon than the M-16 series, but the Mini-14 cannot shoot as well as the M-16 series out of the box, which is a pain in the butt.