Ruger mini14/30 questions............

I always had a love/hate relationship with mine. It was kinda like the mother-in-law driving over the cliff in my brand new Corvette.

You will want to check our PerfectUnion.com. Let the modifications begin...
 
I recently purchased a new Mini-14 Tactical. I have only put 100 rounds through it, but so far, so good. After I mounted a low power scope and sighted it in I got 1 1/4" to 1 1/2"
groups at 100 yards with some Radway Green 62gr. surplus ammo. That is better then I ever got from my AR. It also shot 69 gr. and 75 gr. match ammo very well, but the
pont of impact was quite different.

My only complaint is the trigger. It sucks, but since it is pretty much like a M1 or M14 trigger, it's a easy fix. It's too bad that you can't use AR magazines. If you get one, stick to Ruger factory magazines.

 
Wolf Ammo (steel cased) has been working well in my Mini-14. Guns are cheap, it's the ammo that's expensive! Relatively, of course. I figure after a few thousand rounds I've saved enough to by an entirely new rifle. I have used Wolf Ammunition in a Colt AR-15 during a training course and it worked fine the entire 1,200 rounds. Accuracy may not have been as good as some of the others (who were paying 1$ per round versus my 20 cents) but it was hard to notice. Not saying it couldn't damage a gun but I haven't seen it and I've saved a bunch of money.

Probably like most here, I prefer the AR-15 over the Mini but both will work fine.

Now is a good time to buy a Mini-14. It wasn't too long ago that it was difficult to get factory, high capacity magazines. Ruger used to be difficult with that. Now, there seems to be all kind of choices and I agree with Uffda, get only Ruger factory magazines. I've had various problems with the other brands.

Both mine and my friend's newer Mini-14s are 100% reliable. Nice rifles.
 
There have been reports of failures to fire with Wolf ammo due to hard primers. I don't shoot the stuff, so I have no experience with it. There are heavier springs available that fix the problem.
 
You're right Uffda. I've heard about broken extactors too with steel case ammo (amongst other problems). If I had a high dollar Noveske AR-15, I would not use it, but on the Mini where I spend half the time plinking, I'll continue to use Wolf. I can't wholeheartedly recommend it because of those reports though.
 
always wanted a mini-14, (early 80s) then i shot one.

they work, but I would still get an AR over a mini.

now, the steel case issue.


the money a noveski costs you should be able to fire rocks through it. steel case ammo should be a breeze.

some of the most high dollar ammo you can get in the US is in steel case made by wolf(the case), and yet for some reason nobody wants to use steel case ammo.


i think most people that run into problems with steel case ammo are running their guns to dry. a little bit of oil and a thorough cleaning will go a long way.

YMMV

good luck with mini

If anybody is wondering what the high dollar ammo is with the steel case made by wolf,

TAP.
 
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I have some Hornady Steel Match--Is that steel cased? I also bought American Eagle (black and white box) and some Herters.
 
Monofletch said:
I have some Hornady Steel Match--Is that steel cased? I also bought American Eagle (black and white box) and some Herters.
Click to expand...

yep.

American eagle that i shot a few years ago was brass case, got terrible groups out of it so i never bought it again, so I don't know.

see if a magnet will stick to it(the case)
 
Well, I went to the range today with my new Mini 14. LOVE IT! All ammo fired just fine out of it--I am not liking the Mag Pro 20 round mag I got-it's going back!

Here is my 1st five round groups un-supported....

Ruger1.jpg


and with my beloved Mosin 9130...

ruger2.jpg
 
I don't remember for sure, but I think there were a couple of companies that were supporters of rimfirecentral dot com that did trigger jobs on mini-14's also (not just 10-22s). I have an older mini-14 and a newer AR-15. I haven't shot either of them enough to declare one more accurate than the other but my AR should be much more accurate than my mini-14 because it is set up that way. Longer barrel, chrome-lined, bi-pod, etc. I've not made any mods to my mini-14 though.
 
Monofletch, idly curious as to your target distance..and whether off-hand or bench with front and/or rear rest or other bench aid.

If 100 yards standing, mighty fine shooting..if 7-25 yards from a bench and with rests. probably not a real good shooter, ammunition or rifle test.

Enjoy your new rifle.

Best.
 
Sorry for the delay UNK. That was unsupported at about 65 yards. I had to adjust the rear sight a smidge. I am a horrible shot! I'll admit that!
 
I have shot a few of the older mini 14/mini 30 models and the accuracy on them is ok at 50 yards, but take it to 100 yards and the groups grow. A decent SKS will probably shoot better then one of the older mini's will. I haven't shot one of the newest models so i can't comment on them. I do have a Rock River in 5.56/223 that surprised me on accuracy out of the box. If you're wanting to get an older military surplus rifle look at a K-31 swiss. They are very accurate and with the left over money you can buy a good amount of ammo if comparing the price of an AR.
 
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