I'm a handloader, but the Fiocchi 55 grain FMJ's are running out of mine at right around .650" for accuracy at 100 yards. To say I'm impressed is an understatement.
I have a Ruger Mini 14 Ranch Rifle from '99 with the thinner barrel. I put a 3X9 scope on it and it's not terribly accurate, but the gun is utterly reliable and just plain fun to shoot!
I just bought one, still waiting on the ten day waiting period here. I bought this instead of an AR 15 because I live in California that has odd requirements for them. I will be satisfied with the Mini if it produces the same sort of accuracy yours does. It’s practical accuracy for a utility gun that I can take the wife and kids out to the desert and have some fun with. Good presentation btw.
Pretty good shooting for that set up. I shoot in precision rimfire matches and I see some possibilities to shrink those groups. That stack of sand bags are okay but at 3:04 I see them leaning way forward which makes them super unstable. You want them standing straight up for each shot. Also, move them out to the tip of the forearm as close as you can without touching the barrel. A rear bag would help with consistency by removing one more part of the human interface. When shooting for groups, I squeeze the trigger as usual but without wrapping my whole hand around the pistol grip ... I simply put my thumb behind the trigger guard and pinch the trigger. Seems like a small point but realize every thing you can do to reduce the human interface enables better consistency. Also ... super light cheek welds. Obviously, off hand shooting while hunting is totally different but when group sizing and ammo testing every tiny little thing adds up. Sorry if this offends in any way ... I'm just passionate about small groups.
Not offended at all. I do realize that there are better set ups than the one I had. Heck, shooting out of a sled would be the ultimate way to go. But I use a set up similar to this when I am sighting in a hunting rifle, and typically have 1/2 to three-quarter inch MOA success. The biggest thing that would help other than better quality ammo I believe would be a lighter trigger
I've had my mini 14 tactical for years. I finally just bought my first AR but when I compare the two side by side it just inspires my fondness for the mini.
Hey, Buddy. I made a comment on your Mini-14 video from 9 months ago. I mentioned the Accu-Strut as an item I installed on my 580 series Mini-14. The 580 series is definitely an improvement over earlier models, being drilled and tapped for a picatinny rail, thicker alloy barrel, protected leaf front sight with a patridge cut. The Accu strut, if installed properly and lock tite used on the fasteners does work to improve accuracy, however not exactly in the way people think. It does shrink groups. You can expect a .(on a 580 series) a .5 MOA increase for most rifles, pencil barrels can expect even more benefit such as yours. It does increase rigidity however most of the benefit is gained from harmonics. The vibration reduction prevents barrel oscillation as the round is traveling out the bore. For such a small unobtrusive item, I find it worth the money to buy, you can purchase a different model that upgrades the gas port as well. Aha, I just found your video from a month ago addressing the 580-1. Nice.
I have a mini 30 and the mini 14. They both shoot about 2” with quality ammo. I have never had a malfunction that’s the beauty of those,reliable and handy
I've owned 7 minis from first mod to the newest that l own even with tula and have had consistent groups of 1.25 - 2in. Groups at 100 hundred yards .added a barrel vstrut and brought it down to 1- 1.25 & 1.75 @ 100yards sometimes better depending on weather!!!when you shoot the same rifle over & over you can become very good with it Great hog rifle!!! Luv em!!
I get 1.5 inch groups at 100 metres with my 186 series Mini-14. I installed an Accu-strut and an Amega scout rail and have a 4x16x40mm Nikon scope mounted on it. I ran American Eagle 55 grain rounds sighting it in.
I posted this on another video. I had a SS mini 14 a while back. It shot 4” group 100 yards, I cryo treated it and it shot 2” @ 100 yards. Same range same lot of ammo. Nothing great just standard 55gr ball ammo. This rifle showed definite improvement with cryo treating.
Excellent video reporting on the Mini-14! Believe it or not, I purchased my Mini-14 about a 18 months ago and ammo prices went through the roof and/or 2.23 / 5.56 ammunition became non existent. Ammunition supply is better now, so your video is very motivating for me to get my gear in motion! Thanks again for the excellent video!
I’d have to say they have definitely addressed accuracy issues from earlier models with the heavier contour barrel. I don’t know if the old barrel struts would do much to improve the new rifles, I’d like to see if that were the case
Thanks. My older videos were a lot longer than these days. The shorter format kind of forces me to be more organized. The average person’s gonna cut out inside of 30 seconds unless it’s interesting
I have a 581 Ranch series .556. Accuracy can be greatly improved with a barrel stabilizer from True Shot Technologies for $69+ shipping, and a gas port bushing kit from Accuracy Systems for $30. It will take some tuning to get it right, but it will be worth it. Very easy to do! I also have a Altimak Rail with a Holosun Circle Dot with a reworked trigger with a Chote stock. I kid you not. This thing will ring steel out to 250 yards +! Easy! I have a couple of Buddies, who were former Marines that have shot my Mini 14 that were absolutely blown away by how good it shoots. They love it! This gun is a laser! I have spoken to several San Bernardino County Sherriff's Deputy's who carry the Ruger Mini 14's, and they love them! No complaints, what so ever! Check on line for videos of the 2015 terrorist attack there, an you will see almost everyone in the department carrying a Mini 14 to respond to the incident. I know what many will say. "I can get an AR for way cheaper that will shoot just as good, or better". Well, get it then. I'll stick with my Mini 14. Good on you!
I have an old Stainless Ranch Rifle I bought back in about 1995 With a decent scope on it that shoots way better than any of the newer ones with the heavy barrel on the videos I've watched. I don't know if I just got really lucky and got a good one or what but I normally shoot at my pond dam which is 250 yards from the house where I shoot from and regularly hit small rocks with it. I don't rack off twenty at a time either and get it really hot either which is when many say they loose accuracy. It is Plenty good enough for varmints way on out there is all I know. I'll keep it. Shoots right in there with my AR's.
I know someone that has a SS mini-14 with wood a stock that is about 40 years old. The accuracy has always been lackluster. A few years ago he re-stocked the gun with a Hogue Overmold stock and installed a nice scope on it. Wow, what a difference that made in accuracy. He easily cut his group size by about 60% if I recall.
Using 119 rounds of Prvi Partizan match 223 75 Grain HP Boat Tail, out of a 2020 580 series. With a Nikon 223 BDC scope, at 527ft elevation and 14% humidity at 68°F. The Mini 14 grouped on average from .75 in the first 30 rounds then consistently averaged 1.25 MOA at 100 yards. Used a Caldwell leadslead on a plastic Home Depot folding table, but shot while kneeling on account of not remembering to bring a chair. Worth mentioning I had one FTF with a good primer strike. I did not reuse the cartridge. Riffle is a stock ranch 580 with the exception of a check riser and a pic rail with low mount vortex rings. Hope this is useful to someone.
Reloads in my 1980's Mini 14 shoot about 1 inch at 100yds. Thats using old Remington bulk bullets that have been weighed and sorted to the same cannelure height. That's good enough for me.
Everybody should keep in mind that a Ranch Rifle isn't meant to be the proverbial tack driver. Comparing the Ruger model to bolt actions with the bells & whistles is apples & oranges. Try 5 or 10 shots vs time with those rifles and Ruger wins.
And a tackdriver it is not! After 3 Mini-14s and a Mini-30 of various vintages it takes the trophy for the most consistently inaccurate auto rifles I've owned in the past 50 years.
My mini-14 shoots 1 1/2”-2” groups at 100 yards using a solid rest. Certainly not what I would want for shooting at smaller game big game such as antelope at 300 yards, but then again I don’t care if coyotes run away and die.
Excellent range report. I'd like to see what I can do with hand loads when I get a new mini. It's as good as many AR's with plinking ammo. Not all, but many.
Never owned a Ruger Mini-14, but from what I've heard your accuracy is very good with this rifle and the limited supply of ammo tested with. Good shooting David!
I like this review. I've seen negative reviews regarding the Ruger Mini 14, and the big thing they point out the accuracy, but this video gave a much clearer idea on what the accuracy issue is, and that it depending on what one needs are, its accurate enough. Thank you.
Great video. I like your approach to "expectations" to accuracy. It's called "ranch rifle", something that can be used as a handy tool. Some guys are expecting precision performance and they paid for the base model.
right? not every firearm was designed to be a 1 moa shooter, for example: The Thompson wasn't The M1 Garand wasn't The M1 carbine wasn't The M14 wasn't The M16 wasn't The Mini-14 wasn't
The first "assault rifle " I owned was a mini 14 and I loved it. I was plinking cans and could literally walk a single can up a bank with my mini 14. I definitely prefer the mini 14 over an AR 15, especially since I learned to shoot with a m1 carbine. I traded my mini for an hk 91, but I wish I still had it.
@@narcisist83 I totally understand, I had one of the old style ones and put a flash suppressor on the barrel. I absolutely love that style of rifle as I grew up learning to shoot with an m1 carbine. I've owned just about every assault rifle made over the years and today I have a Smith and Wesson m&p 15 which I really like, but if they would have had a mini 14 when I bought my rifle, I would have definitely bought the mini 14. It's just a shame about the pricing because when I bought my first mini I paid less than $250 for it and today it would cost me more than I paid for my AR 15
I’m very sure that would help. Having said that, I typically can achieve 1/2 to 3/4 inch groups with my hunting rifle shooting the exact same way without a rear bag
Down to earth review. I agree with everything and have experienced similar results with my Mini 14. Stone cold barrel first shot at 50 yards is 7 o’clock 4 inches from my zero consistently…the rest land at a couple of inches. Hickok 45 don’t do no MOA.. he does gongs and liters. Lol.
Try a barrel strut from strum ruger l put one on my mini 14. I'm getting sub MOA at 100 meters. The strum ruger strut is integrated into the gas block, so it's one piece no set screws. But it will require you to replace your factory gas block.
Thanks for this review. Nicely presented. Have been curious about this information with this type of ammo in the Mini 14. Really looking forward to seeing the results with better ammo.
I'm glad this review exists. I had been hoping the Rancher would have been roughly equivalent to my 2022 M1A Loaded, and had I bought this I would have been sorely disappointed.
People that really don't know firearms thinks every run should shot .5 moa if it doesn't the gun is trash... The mini 14 and mini 30 is made to be a reliable battle rifle and is accurate enough to be one
The first rifle I bought when I turned 18 was one of the original "GB" AC556 look-a-like models with the factory folding stock and flash suppressor. That was in the mid-'80s. I loved everything about it except for the accuracy, or rather I should say the lack thereof. Those older ones were pretty sloppy by today's standards, although people will come out of the woodwork to defend them with all kinds of tall tales. In reality, most of them were minute-of-man, at best. I soon traded it in on my first AR-15, a Colt R6600DH, which was in a whole other league, of course. Although to be fair, it did cost more than twice as much at the time. Looking back, I wish I could have kept the Mini just because it was the super cool-looking version, but money was tight back then, so it took one for the team, and I went home with the nicest AR you could buy in 1986 instead.
The accuracy of this new Ruger shot similar groups with 55 grain FMJ from my 80’s Mini 14. I would give it another attempt at using premium type .223 Remington ammunition with better results.
I’ve got a mini 14 target. I put on a Hogue rubber stock and took off the barrel weight. I can consistently get around 1” groups at a 100 yards with good ammunition. If I’d put in a good trigger probably even better. It’s my favorite.223. I’ve found it to be so reliable I never use my AR’s anymore for a yote hunting.
Had several mini 14s the last one I had I got used mid 1980s rifle shot terrible at first removal copper from the bore and re broke in the barrel would shoot 1.5 inch group consistently with 55 grain remington 223 soft points
I have a mini like yours and found that it will digest all kinds of ammo but seemed the most accurate with IMI 65gr ammo. Try the heavier bullet when you can find some.
The mini 14 I had back in 2008 had what is known as a wandering zero. A cold bore and 3 shots gave me a 2 inch group. Let in cool down shoot 3 more on a cold bore and get a 4 inch group. Same ammo was used in all testing. Once you had 10 rounds thru it and having heated up the barrel a bit I was lucky to hit a torso sized target at 125 yards. It functioned fine but accurate no it wasn't. Could one bed the stock sure you could but I think the barrel is where the problem lies.
As you state, this isn't the rifle for MOA at distance. My CZ and Thompson Center among others will do that all day long. However, with an inexpensive Browning reflex red dot on my 582 Mini I can hit bowling pins or clay pigeons at 100 yds every time. Any ammo. That's what she was designed for and what she does best. BTW, at 250 yds it's still M.O. paper plate and that's good enough for me.
I live in Colorado,we have wind,rain, snow, sandstorms,heat. My mini (same model) runs in all weather. It's dry weather here so I didn't get the stainless.Again, I love factory 20 round mags
@@harperhellems3648MSRP is around $1200 yes. I haven't bought an AR since Covid, but I'm betting I could pretty easily put one together that can both cost less and outshoot the mini14.
I have ruger ar556 mpr 18 in barrel and the frontier 55gr has out performed all the ammo I have tried. Clover leaf 5 shot groups at 50 yards, so I could never complain at this price point.
I think your ammo, as you pointed out, was probably the limiting factor. 55gr fmj type ammo will also group between 2 and 3 inches out of a standard AR as well. On average the AR will probably be a little better with this type of ammo, but not much. The AR will outpace the Mini in accuracy more noticeably if you use higher end ammo and compare. I like the mini for the nostalgia and the feel. I prefer the AR for serious applications because it is a standard platform that I can easily get replacement parts for and I can install those parts myself without needing machine tools or hand fitting. Outside the logistics though, the AR and the Mini do the same thing about as well: get rounds on target with reasonable accuracy fast.
About as objective and straight to the point as it gets. AND exactly what I expected when I bought mine as a former and therefore always US Marine... But having been an "early adopter" by NO choice of my own of the AR platform in an M16A1 shoved down my M14 throat, I was soured for life...
Thanks for another great review! I would say the accuracy is very good for that type of ammo. A savage axis I had would shoot about 2.5 MOA with similar ammo.
I would "fire lap" the bore, and try some MK 262 "types" 63s. Groups like that I would confirm that the screws are at spec torque. You might do a series on this. I enjoyed these 2 videos. THANK YOU!
Excellent video. I use my Mini 14 Ranch rifle as a line of sight, if I can see it I can shoot it type of accuracy. I look at it as a better replacement for an AK with Iron Sights. Handy rifle. 😊
I am impressed by the groups this rifle made with the conditions. He used the cheapest ammo and shot on a barrel that was already heating up from prior shooting. If he had some quality Barnes or Hornady .223 hunting ammo I bet he would have no problem making half inch groups at 100 yards.
Once again Dave, awesome job. Please, please, please, would a ammunition company or Ruger donate some high quality ammo to Dave. Definitely wanna see what that mini is capable of!
That was me. Thanks. Burris is good. I have a 3 x 9 x 40 Nikon pro staff on mine. She shoots great for what it is,.....a utility rifle. If I want to drive nails I get out the Winchester 70 or my Weatherby and some hand loads.
I have the mini 30 and see the same types kf groupings. Definitely not a 1 moa rifle but decent enough and my most fun gun to shoot. However does the mini 14 have a light primer issue with steel cased the way the mini 30 does?
Sold my MINI-14 in 1986 to a friend when I lived in Miami and I would love to have it back. I did not hunt when I lived in Miami but I hunt since I have returned to North Florida since 1986.The price is for one right now is crazy so I am not in the market for one at current prices.
@@silverwings21 Nope his name was Jessie and he had 22” pythons and was a Law Enforcement Officer and eventually became the Chief of Police in Sweetwater, Florida before he got into some type of trouble and left that Department.
My guess is it can be improved. A decent trigger job and bedding the action will improve the accuracy considerably if that is what you are after. For what I would use it for I will use it as it is. I rarely shoot mine anymore.
I could never get my mini-14 to shoot with 55 grain ammo of any kind. Went to 62gn Hornady TAP's and groups came down to about 1.5 to 1.75 MOA. This rifle just seems to love anything between 60 - 70 grain pills.
Not bad, not bad at all. I’m having the best results with Federal Fusion 62grs with the same set up. I put the only scope i have. A very old but serviceable weaver 4x. The gun is allot of fun.
Thanks for the review. I appreciate your reminder on moderating our expectations for the platform. I am curious how effective the peep site might be on coyotes at 300 yards. I just installed a peep sight on my Ruger 10/22 and am looking forward to some time on the range.
If I bought a Mini-14, it would be for only one purpose, self defense against two legged predators, and a two inch group at fifty yards is well within the body mass size of the indicated target.
I've had two. One a late 1980's vintage that I sold in the late 90's, the other a 580+ series I picked up a few years ago when I was waxing nostalgic for my first one. Tried over a dozen loads in each when I first got them, with Nikon 3x9 scopes on each. Neither was better than 2.5-3" groups @ 100 yds (5 rd groups fired) with even the best match ammo (Fed GMM, etc), and both were typically 3-4" group rifles with typical FMJ white-box grade ammo. For comparison, I routinely get .7" groups from a Rem 700, .308 5R hvy bbl, so I am at least an average shooter. The rifle is what it is, but for the prices these days, there are dozens of better options. Even the cheapest parts kit AK will pretty much outshoot the typical Mini-14. Getting your neighbors to get over the appearance of an "evil assault rifle" will be the greatest hurtle (particularly if you live on either coast).
''used some tula in my mini, ejector tore thru the rim and left the case in the chamber, won't use in in the mini anymore, ,works fine in the AR though
Very nice video indeed. IMO it is more about lockup rather than ammo. The lockup on a bolt action is so much more consistent I believe. I can very often tune in lesser quality ammo at 100 yards if the lock up of a bolt gun is the platform. After 100 the error is exponential. And suffers greatly the farther you shoot. Using open sights is faster (for me) and out to 100 much better suited as you stated for the M14. Great job very well done indeed.
As a comparison my Colt M4 non-floated standard hand guard will shoot an average of 2.5 inches 5 shot group at 100 yards with M193 equivalent (55 FMJ) off a rest.
So my takeaway from this that it is grouping half decently but to me what gets me is the triangles not at all being centered around the bullseye, which im assuming is the POA.
People reporting 1 moa accuracy at 100 yards pretty much means that you're going to be hitting what you aim at further out. That's good enough for me. If I need a sniper rifle,I sort of have one for that function.
@@drdrake63 I'm getting close to 3 moa from a rest with my Mini14 stock except for the Houge Ghillie Green stock. I intend to scope it to get as much accuracy as possible from it.
And a few years ago(2009?)Ruger had a match version of the Mini 14 with a barrel mounted harmonics compensator that was supposed to give match conditioned ARs all sorts of Hell.
Nice video. What scope rings are in the video and what height are they? Big fan of mini 14 and have two. One Ranch and an LE 186 series. Looking to scope the Ranch.
Nice. If you're going to test accuracy potential, you gotta use an optic and a rest. I have a Remlin 45-70 that shot 1/2 moa. Yes, being a Remlin, it was messed up and I had to fix it but it did shoot well. The Mini... well, it shoots about like most Ruger's. That one probably better than most. One of the best SHTF carbines out there.
Yeah, take the the scope off and go back to irons. Even if it shot 4inch groups it's still a viable carbine. Because that's what it is, just a semi auto carbine. It baffles me how people chase MOA accuracy out of semi auto carbine or even the AR pistol variants.
I just bought a new wood stock, stainless steel Mini 14 Ranch rifle. I was wanting to mount a scope to do some load development but I have heard these rifles have spent cartridge ejection issues when a scope is mounted. Since you have tested a new Ranch ini 14 with a scope mounted, have you noticed any ejection issues with a scope? Also, do you have plans to test the new Ranch Mini 14 with at 100 yards with good ammo and a scope. Many viewers like myself would be very interested in this test. Thanks!
I’ve had quite a few mini 14s throughout the 80s and 90s, they never really completely satisfied, for what I need to do with a wood stocked compact rifle, the M1A SOCOM 16 and a 10/22 with a peep sight seemed like a better idea.
@@robertgallagher7734 I've got a 1980's "pencil barrel" mini ranch. I thought the new production Mini-14s would be more accurate than 4-5" groups even with Tula.
Yes it’s a little $$$$ but worth every penny!!! You get what you pay for!!!Mini is my go to when things get bad. Yes I own ARs. My Mini always got 2 Moa at 100 yards.
I wish it would cool down some so I can go to the range and do some shooting but right now or I'm at its like 100 degrees out and I don't like getting out in this heat. I'm going through gun shooting withdrawals.
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I have a mini 14 and it just runs and runs, and accuracy is not bad.
Tula is a great round. No jams
I'm a handloader, but the Fiocchi 55 grain FMJ's are running out of mine at right around .650" for accuracy at 100 yards.
To say I'm impressed is an understatement.
@@MIDNIGHTSUNALASKA Both my mini 14s like the 55 grain FMJs, but they love the SBKs.
@@hoffmiermp Right on.!
Thanks for sharing about the Blitzkings.
I have a Ruger Mini 14 Ranch Rifle from '99 with the thinner barrel. I put a 3X9 scope on it and it's not terribly accurate, but the gun is utterly reliable and just plain fun to shoot!
What kind of groups can you do and with what ammo? I am going to try Hornady 55gr soft points in mine. Definitely better than bottom barrel.
Best as I can tell, my Ruger ranch 223 is from 1984 with a hoagie over mold stock that's super comfortable.
I just bought one, still waiting on the ten day waiting period here. I bought this instead of an AR 15 because I live in California that has odd requirements for them. I will be satisfied with the Mini if it produces the same sort of accuracy yours does. It’s practical accuracy for a utility gun that I can take the wife and kids out to the desert and have some fun with.
Good presentation btw.
Practical hunting accuracy with lesser quality ammo (formerly known as cheap or inexpensive ammo) is grounds for celebration. Well done, Dave!
Pretty good shooting for that set up. I shoot in precision rimfire matches and I see some possibilities to shrink those groups. That stack of sand bags are okay but at 3:04 I see them leaning way forward which makes them super unstable. You want them standing straight up for each shot. Also, move them out to the tip of the forearm as close as you can without touching the barrel. A rear bag would help with consistency by removing one more part of the human interface. When shooting for groups, I squeeze the trigger as usual but without wrapping my whole hand around the pistol grip ... I simply put my thumb behind the trigger guard and pinch the trigger. Seems like a small point but realize every thing you can do to reduce the human interface enables better consistency. Also ... super light cheek welds. Obviously, off hand shooting while hunting is totally different but when group sizing and ammo testing every tiny little thing adds up. Sorry if this offends in any way ... I'm just passionate about small groups.
Not offended at all. I do realize that there are better set ups than the one I had. Heck, shooting out of a sled would be the ultimate way to go. But I use a set up similar to this when I am sighting in a hunting rifle, and typically have 1/2 to three-quarter inch MOA success.
The biggest thing that would help other than better quality ammo I believe would be a lighter trigger
I've had my mini 14 tactical for years. I finally just bought my first AR but when I compare the two side by side it just inspires my fondness for the mini.
Hey, Buddy. I made a comment on your Mini-14 video from 9 months ago. I mentioned the Accu-Strut as an item I installed on my 580 series Mini-14. The 580 series is definitely an improvement over earlier models, being drilled and tapped for a picatinny rail, thicker alloy barrel, protected leaf front sight with a patridge cut. The Accu strut, if installed properly and lock tite used on the fasteners does work to improve accuracy, however not exactly in the way people think. It does shrink groups. You can expect a .(on a 580 series) a .5 MOA increase for most rifles, pencil barrels can expect even more benefit such as yours. It does increase rigidity however most of the benefit is gained from harmonics. The vibration reduction prevents barrel oscillation as the round is traveling out the bore. For such a small unobtrusive item, I find it worth the money to buy, you can purchase a different model that upgrades the gas port as well.
Aha, I just found your video from a month ago addressing the 580-1. Nice.
I have a mini 30 and the mini 14. They both shoot about 2” with quality ammo. I have never had a malfunction that’s the beauty of those,reliable and handy
I've owned 7 minis from first mod to the newest that l own even with tula and have had consistent groups of 1.25 - 2in. Groups at 100 hundred yards .added a barrel vstrut and brought it down to 1- 1.25 & 1.75 @ 100yards sometimes better depending on weather!!!when you shoot the same rifle over & over you can become very good with it Great hog rifle!!! Luv em!!
I get 1.5 inch groups at 100 metres with my 186 series Mini-14. I installed an Accu-strut and an Amega scout rail and have a 4x16x40mm Nikon scope mounted on it. I ran American Eagle 55 grain rounds sighting it in.
I have a Ruger ranch 223 that starts with a 187. When were those made?
Its just not a match rifle. For what it is, it does the job just fine! Thank you DR. 👍🏻🇺🇸
I posted this on another video. I had a SS mini 14 a while back. It shot 4” group 100 yards, I cryo treated it and it shot 2” @ 100 yards. Same range same lot of ammo. Nothing great just standard 55gr ball ammo. This rifle showed definite improvement with cryo treating.
Now that's a good rifle review.
Excellent video reporting on the Mini-14! Believe it or not, I purchased my Mini-14 about a 18 months ago and ammo prices went through the roof and/or 2.23 / 5.56 ammunition became non existent. Ammunition supply is better now, so your video is very motivating for me to get my gear in motion! Thanks again for the excellent video!
With the right handload and a decent trigger I’m sure those groups would improve quite a bit. Thanks for sharing.
My sentiments exactly. The trigger definitely has some room for improvement if you want to turn this into more of a target shooter
@@drdrake63
You did better on the open sites video
Anyone who needs more accuracy from their Mini should check out the Accu-strut. Great content Dave!
I’d have to say they have definitely addressed accuracy issues from earlier models with the heavier contour barrel. I don’t know if the old barrel struts would do much to improve the new rifles, I’d like to see if that were the case
FWIW I don't think they're even worth it for the old barrels. Maybe it's just mine.
It seemed to help me. Maybe dropping $200 helped me hold my hand more steady
Great video without all the needless rambling. Just the necessary information, clearly explained on the topic at hand.
Thanks. My older videos were a lot longer than these days. The shorter format kind of forces me to be more organized. The average person’s gonna cut out inside of 30 seconds unless it’s interesting
@@drdrake63 exactly right.
I have a 581 Ranch series .556.
Accuracy can be greatly improved with a barrel stabilizer from True Shot Technologies for $69+ shipping,
and a gas port bushing kit from Accuracy Systems for $30. It will take some tuning to get it right, but it will be worth it. Very easy to do!
I also have a Altimak Rail with a Holosun Circle Dot with a reworked trigger with a Chote stock.
I kid you not. This thing will ring steel out to 250 yards +! Easy!
I have a couple of Buddies, who were former Marines that have shot my Mini 14 that were absolutely blown away by how good it shoots. They love it!
This gun is a laser!
I have spoken to several San Bernardino County Sherriff's Deputy's who carry the Ruger Mini 14's, and they love them! No complaints, what so ever!
Check on line for videos of the 2015 terrorist attack there, an you will see almost everyone in the department carrying a Mini 14 to respond to the incident.
I know what many will say.
"I can get an AR for way cheaper that will shoot just as good, or better".
Well, get it then. I'll stick with my Mini 14.
Good on you!
did the same to my skinny barrel AR and it became a totally different rifle !
I have an old Stainless Ranch Rifle I bought back in about 1995 With a decent scope on it that shoots way better than any of the newer ones with the heavy barrel on the videos I've watched. I don't know if I just got really lucky and got a good one or what but I normally shoot at my pond dam which is 250 yards from the house where I shoot from and regularly hit small rocks with it. I don't rack off twenty at a time either and get it really hot either which is when many say they loose accuracy. It is Plenty good enough for varmints way on out there is all I know. I'll keep it. Shoots right in there with my AR's.
I know someone that has a SS mini-14 with wood a stock that is about 40 years old. The accuracy has always been lackluster. A few years ago he re-stocked the gun with a Hogue Overmold stock and installed a nice scope on it. Wow, what a difference that made in accuracy. He easily cut his group size by about 60% if I recall.
Using 62-64 grain ammo might help with accuracy considering the short barrel and twist rates.
Using 119 rounds of Prvi Partizan match 223 75 Grain HP Boat Tail, out of a 2020 580 series. With a Nikon 223 BDC scope, at 527ft elevation and 14% humidity at 68°F. The Mini 14 grouped on average from .75 in the first 30 rounds then consistently averaged 1.25 MOA at 100 yards. Used a Caldwell leadslead on a plastic Home Depot folding table, but shot while kneeling on account of not remembering to bring a chair. Worth mentioning I had one FTF with a good primer strike. I did not reuse the cartridge. Riffle is a stock ranch 580 with the exception of a check riser and a pic rail with low mount vortex rings. Hope this is useful to someone.
Reloads in my 1980's Mini 14 shoot about 1 inch at 100yds. Thats using old Remington bulk bullets that have been weighed and sorted to the same cannelure height.
That's good enough for me.
Everybody should keep in mind that a Ranch Rifle isn't meant to be the proverbial tack driver. Comparing the Ruger model to bolt actions with the bells & whistles is apples & oranges. Try 5 or 10 shots vs time with those rifles and Ruger wins.
Agreed
And a tackdriver it is not! After 3 Mini-14s and a Mini-30 of various vintages it takes the trophy for the most consistently inaccurate auto rifles I've owned in the past 50 years.
@@LuvBorderCollies my 83 series is a 1.5 moa rifle at 200 yards... the heck do you determine accurate? Head shots out to 500 yards all day.
My mini-14 shoots 1 1/2”-2” groups at 100 yards using a solid rest. Certainly not what I would want for shooting at smaller game big game such as antelope at 300 yards, but then again I don’t care if coyotes run away and die.
Great presentation, clear verbiage, very good camera work.
Excellent range report. I'd like to see what I can do with hand loads when I get a new mini. It's as good as many AR's with plinking ammo. Not all, but many.
Never owned a Ruger Mini-14, but from what I've heard your accuracy is very good with this rifle and the limited supply of ammo tested with.
Good shooting David!
thank you. I definitely view it as a rifle that can do many jobs. Competitive target shooting not being one of them
You look happy and proud holding that rifle.
The first centerfire rifle I ever bought was a Mini 14 in 1977. Nothing but ARs after that but now getting nostalgic for another.
One other thing I remember was paying only $175.00 for it brand new.
One other thing I remember was paying only $175.00 for it brand new.
I like this review. I've seen negative reviews regarding the Ruger Mini 14, and the big thing they point out the accuracy, but this video gave a much clearer idea on what the accuracy issue is, and that it depending on what one needs are, its accurate enough.
Thank you.
Great video. I like your approach to "expectations" to accuracy. It's called "ranch rifle", something that can be used as a handy tool. Some guys are expecting precision performance and they paid for the base model.
right? not every firearm was designed to be a 1 moa shooter, for example:
The Thompson wasn't
The M1 Garand wasn't
The M1 carbine wasn't
The M14 wasn't
The M16 wasn't
The Mini-14 wasn't
The first "assault rifle " I owned was a mini 14 and I loved it. I was plinking cans and could literally walk a single can up a bank with my mini 14. I definitely prefer the mini 14 over an AR 15, especially since I learned to shoot with a m1 carbine. I traded my mini for an hk 91, but I wish I still had it.
I traded mine for an Oly Arms AR, and I miss it.
@@narcisist83 I totally understand, I had one of the old style ones and put a flash suppressor on the barrel. I absolutely love that style of rifle as I grew up learning to shoot with an m1 carbine. I've owned just about every assault rifle made over the years and today I have a Smith and Wesson m&p 15 which I really like, but if they would have had a mini 14 when I bought my rifle, I would have definitely bought the mini 14. It's just a shame about the pricing because when I bought my first mini I paid less than $250 for it and today it would cost me more than I paid for my AR 15
Thank you! Great information, very well presented!!!
This thing isn't a competition rifle, but with some tuning and good handloads it'll shoot plenty accurate.
I wonder if the group would tighten up by using a rear bag.
I’m very sure that would help.
Having said that, I typically can achieve 1/2 to 3/4 inch groups with my hunting rifle shooting the exact same way without a rear bag
Down to earth review. I agree with everything and have experienced similar results with my Mini 14. Stone cold barrel first shot at 50 yards is 7 o’clock 4 inches from my zero consistently…the rest land at a couple of inches. Hickok 45 don’t do no MOA.. he does gongs and liters. Lol.
Try a barrel strut from strum ruger l put one on my mini 14. I'm getting sub MOA at 100 meters. The strum ruger strut is integrated into the gas block, so it's one piece no set screws. But it will require you to replace your factory gas block.
Thanks for this review. Nicely presented. Have been curious about this information with this type of ammo in the Mini 14. Really looking forward to seeing the results with better ammo.
I'm glad this review exists. I had been hoping the Rancher would have been roughly equivalent to my 2022 M1A Loaded, and had I bought this I would have been sorely disappointed.
People that really don't know firearms thinks every run should shot .5 moa if it doesn't the gun is trash... The mini 14 and mini 30 is made to be a reliable battle rifle and is accurate enough to be one
I'm getting one soon! Pistol grip tho
The first rifle I bought when I turned 18 was one of the original "GB" AC556 look-a-like models with the factory folding stock and flash suppressor. That was in the mid-'80s. I loved everything about it except for the accuracy, or rather I should say the lack thereof. Those older ones were pretty sloppy by today's standards, although people will come out of the woodwork to defend them with all kinds of tall tales. In reality, most of them were minute-of-man, at best. I soon traded it in on my first AR-15, a Colt R6600DH, which was in a whole other league, of course. Although to be fair, it did cost more than twice as much at the time. Looking back, I wish I could have kept the Mini just because it was the super cool-looking version, but money was tight back then, so it took one for the team, and I went home with the nicest AR you could buy in 1986 instead.
The accuracy of this new Ruger shot similar groups with 55 grain FMJ from my 80’s Mini 14. I would give it another attempt at using premium type .223 Remington ammunition with better results.
I’ve got a mini 14 target. I put on a Hogue rubber stock and took off the barrel weight. I can consistently get around 1” groups at a 100 yards with good ammunition. If I’d put in a good trigger probably even better. It’s my favorite.223. I’ve found it to be so reliable I never use my AR’s anymore for a yote hunting.
Had several mini 14s the last one I had I got used mid 1980s rifle shot terrible at first removal copper from the bore and re broke in the barrel would shoot 1.5 inch group consistently with 55 grain remington 223 soft points
Love the test I would like to see the accu strut attached to the gun
I have a mini like yours and found that it will digest all kinds of ammo but seemed the most accurate with IMI 65gr ammo. Try the heavier bullet when you can find some.
The mini 14 I had back in 2008 had what is known as a wandering zero.
A cold bore and 3 shots gave me a 2 inch group. Let in cool down shoot 3 more on a cold bore and get a 4 inch group.
Same ammo was used in all testing.
Once you had 10 rounds thru it and having heated up the barrel a bit I was lucky to hit a torso sized target at 125 yards.
It functioned fine but accurate no it wasn't.
Could one bed the stock sure you could but I think the barrel is where the problem lies.
As you state, this isn't the rifle for MOA at distance. My CZ and Thompson Center among others will do that all day long. However, with an inexpensive Browning reflex red dot on my 582 Mini I can hit bowling pins or clay pigeons at 100 yds every time. Any ammo. That's what she was designed for and what she does best. BTW, at 250 yds it's still M.O. paper plate and that's good enough for me.
I live in Colorado,we have wind,rain, snow, sandstorms,heat. My mini (same model) runs in all weather. It's dry weather here so I didn't get the stainless.Again, I love factory 20 round mags
My Mini likes.223 PMC Bronze 55 gr. Very consistent 3”.
I had a mini 14 after awhile I traded it off on a ruger compact m77 223 and was pleased after I free floated the barrel .
I've always wanted a Mini-14, still do, but I think it's overpriced...even in today's market.
(There's gonna be THAT GUY who one upper his ass off saying something about he bought his mini rifle for $400 back in 200 AD or whatever date. Lol)
@@SCH292 I'm your huckleberry. lol
I've always thought these should be $650-850. What are they? $1,200?
@@harperhellems3648MSRP is around $1200 yes. I haven't bought an AR since Covid, but I'm betting I could pretty easily put one together that can both cost less and outshoot the mini14.
Well the Market is ALWAYS Right. So if they are overpriced they won't sell and the price will be dropped. Econ 100
I have ruger ar556 mpr 18 in barrel and the frontier 55gr has out performed all the ammo I have tried. Clover leaf 5 shot groups at 50 yards, so I could never complain at this price point.
I think your ammo, as you pointed out, was probably the limiting factor. 55gr fmj type ammo will also group between 2 and 3 inches out of a standard AR as well. On average the AR will probably be a little better with this type of ammo, but not much.
The AR will outpace the Mini in accuracy more noticeably if you use higher end ammo and compare.
I like the mini for the nostalgia and the feel. I prefer the AR for serious applications because it is a standard platform that I can easily get replacement parts for and I can install those parts myself without needing machine tools or hand fitting.
Outside the logistics though, the AR and the Mini do the same thing about as well: get rounds on target with reasonable accuracy fast.
Mine ejects brass into low orbit. Had to turn my scope 90 degrees so it wouldn’t break the dial. Fun to shoot though.
About as objective and straight to the point as it gets. AND exactly what I expected when I bought mine as a former and therefore always US Marine... But having been an "early adopter" by NO choice of my own of the AR platform in an M16A1 shoved down my M14 throat, I was soured for life...
Waiting to pick up my mini14 in a day or 2 , looking forward to your high quality amo results !
Thanks for another great review! I would say the accuracy is very good for that type of ammo. A savage axis I had would shoot about 2.5 MOA with similar ammo.
Great vid, Ty. I also prefer open sights, although I don't have a mini-14. And, I like your targets; and 8" at 500yrds. very impressive.
I would "fire lap" the bore, and try some MK 262 "types" 63s. Groups like that I would confirm that the screws are at spec torque. You might do a series on this. I enjoyed these 2 videos. THANK YOU!
Excellent video. I use my Mini 14 Ranch rifle as a line of sight, if I can see it I can shoot it type of accuracy. I look at it as a better replacement for an AK with Iron Sights. Handy rifle. 😊
I am impressed by the groups this rifle made with the conditions. He used the cheapest ammo and shot on a barrel that was already heating up from prior shooting. If he had some quality Barnes or Hornady .223 hunting ammo I bet he would have no problem making half inch groups at 100 yards.
Once again Dave, awesome job. Please, please, please, would a ammunition company or Ruger donate some high quality ammo to Dave. Definitely wanna see what that mini is capable of!
Believe me I have been begging as well. So thank you for helping me beg these people LOL
@@drdrake63 lol hope it works
That was me. Thanks. Burris is good. I have a 3 x 9 x 40 Nikon pro staff on mine. She shoots great for what it is,.....a utility rifle. If I want to drive nails I get out the Winchester 70 or my Weatherby and some hand loads.
I have the mini 30 and see the same types kf groupings. Definitely not a 1 moa rifle but decent enough and my most fun gun to shoot. However does the mini 14 have a light primer issue with steel cased the way the mini 30 does?
Firing pin and spring change, and your mini 30 will do just fine with all ammo put thru it.
Norma 55 grain fmj shoots the best out of my AR. 1/2 moa at 100 yards!
Sold my MINI-14 in 1986 to a friend when I lived in Miami and I would love to have it back. I did not hunt when I lived in Miami but I hunt since I have returned to North Florida since 1986.The price is for one right now is crazy so I am not in the market for one at current prices.
Sold a Mini-14 to a friend in Miami in 1986? His name wouldn't happen to be Michael Platt, would it?
@@silverwings21 Nope his name was Jessie and he had 22” pythons and was a Law Enforcement Officer and eventually became the Chief of Police in Sweetwater, Florida before he got into some type of trouble and left that Department.
@@silverwings21 I updated my last reply and I am currently in the market for a Stainless Steel model here in late 2022.👍👏🇺🇸
@@1OFGODSOWN Nice.
After glass beading, and trigger work 2.5 lbs I have seen 1moa at 300 yards.
My guess is it can be improved. A decent trigger job and bedding the action will improve the accuracy considerably if that is what you are after. For what I would use it for I will use it as it is. I rarely shoot mine anymore.
I could never get my mini-14 to shoot with 55 grain ammo of any kind.
Went to 62gn Hornady TAP's and groups came down to about 1.5 to 1.75 MOA.
This rifle just seems to love anything between 60 - 70 grain pills.
Your barrel probably has a higher twist rate
@@keithchambers3826 Mine has the 1 in 9 twist.
I found the 62 grain green tip rounds were the best fit for accuracy when I was using a Mini 14.
Mine didn't like the M855 ammo but they responded well using the 68/69 grain OTMs.
I love my mini! It's never let me down
Not bad, not bad at all. I’m having the best results with Federal Fusion 62grs with the same set up. I put the only scope i have. A very old but serviceable weaver 4x. The gun is allot of fun.
Thanks for the review. I appreciate your reminder on moderating our expectations for the platform. I am curious how effective the peep site might be on coyotes at 300 yards. I just installed a peep sight on my Ruger 10/22 and am looking forward to some time on the range.
If I bought a Mini-14, it would be for only one purpose, self defense against two legged predators, and a two inch group at fifty yards is well within the body mass size of the indicated target.
I agree. And I would think claiming " self defense " @ 2-300 yards would be a hard one to sell.
I've had two. One a late 1980's vintage that I sold in the late 90's, the other a 580+ series I picked up a few years ago when I was waxing nostalgic for my first one. Tried over a dozen loads in each when I first got them, with Nikon 3x9 scopes on each. Neither was better than 2.5-3" groups @ 100 yds (5 rd groups fired) with even the best match ammo (Fed GMM, etc), and both were typically 3-4" group rifles with typical FMJ white-box grade ammo. For comparison, I routinely get .7" groups from a Rem 700, .308 5R hvy bbl, so I am at least an average shooter. The rifle is what it is, but for the prices these days, there are dozens of better options. Even the cheapest parts kit AK will pretty much outshoot the typical Mini-14. Getting your neighbors to get over the appearance of an "evil assault rifle" will be the greatest hurtle (particularly if you live on either coast).
''used some tula in my mini, ejector tore thru the rim and left the case in the chamber, won't use in in the mini anymore, ,works fine in the AR though
Just seems rifles were so much more accurate when I was a young guy in the 70s .
A lot of the mini 14 rifles in the 70’s were 1 in 10 twist rifling always felt were more accurate especially with 55 grain ammo
You are right on the money...my 581 shoot 2 moa with handloads..
I have a range model camo stock mini 14 with mount 4x6 power scope.
Very nice video indeed. IMO it is more about lockup rather than ammo.
The lockup on a bolt action is so much more consistent I believe.
I can very often tune in lesser quality ammo at 100 yards if the lock up of a bolt gun is the platform.
After 100 the error is exponential. And suffers greatly the farther you shoot.
Using open sights is faster (for me) and out to 100 much better suited as you stated for the M14.
Great job very well done indeed.
As a comparison my Colt M4 non-floated standard hand guard will shoot an average of 2.5 inches 5 shot group at 100 yards with M193 equivalent (55 FMJ) off a rest.
So my takeaway from this that it is grouping half decently but to me what gets me is the triangles not at all being centered around the bullseye, which im assuming is the POA.
you assume wrong
People reporting 1 moa accuracy at 100 yards pretty much means that you're going to be hitting what you aim at further out.
That's good enough for me.
If I need a sniper rifle,I sort of have one for that function.
I seriously doubt if anyone is getting 1 MOA out of a Mini-14, or an AK, or the majority of ARs ever made........but many claim to!
@@drdrake63 I'm getting close to 3 moa from a rest with my Mini14 stock except for the Houge Ghillie Green stock.
I intend to scope it to get as much accuracy as possible from it.
If you get 1 MOA, you should start a RUclips channel because a lot of people are gonna want to see that LOL
@@drdrake63 1 moa at 100 yards isn't that difficult.
Try shooting at a 1" square at 25 yards on a rolling destroyer with an M14.
And a few years ago(2009?)Ruger had a match version of the Mini 14 with a barrel mounted harmonics compensator that was supposed to give match conditioned ARs all sorts of Hell.
Was that fully automatic at about 0:17?! So, why does the warmed up barrel decrease accuracy?
Love my Mini 14. Purchased about 6 mo ago. I wanted one so paid the price.
M-carbo sells a trigger spring that makes a good difference for about $12
Nice video. What scope rings are in the video and what height are they? Big fan of mini 14 and have two. One Ranch and an LE 186 series. Looking to scope the Ranch.
Nice. If you're going to test accuracy potential, you gotta use an optic and a rest. I have a Remlin 45-70 that shot 1/2 moa. Yes, being a Remlin, it was messed up and I had to fix it but it did shoot well. The Mini... well, it shoots about like most Ruger's. That one probably better than most. One of the best SHTF carbines out there.
Yeah, take the the scope off and go back to irons. Even if it shot 4inch groups it's still a viable carbine. Because that's what it is, just a semi auto carbine. It baffles me how people chase MOA accuracy out of semi auto carbine or even the AR pistol variants.
It's easy to get MOA accuracy out of an AR these days, though. If anything, it has become the standard for acceptable accuracy from the platform.
I just bought a new wood stock, stainless steel Mini 14 Ranch rifle. I was wanting to mount a scope to do some load development but I have heard these rifles have spent cartridge ejection issues when a scope is mounted. Since you have tested a new Ranch ini 14 with a scope mounted, have you noticed any ejection issues with a scope? Also, do you have plans to test the new Ranch Mini 14 with at 100 yards with good ammo and a scope. Many viewers like myself would be very interested in this test. Thanks!
Good rifles, the Mini-14 ... Good shooting.
I’ve had quite a few mini 14s throughout the 80s and 90s, they never really completely satisfied, for what I need to do with a wood stocked compact rifle, the M1A SOCOM 16 and a 10/22 with a peep sight seemed like a better idea.
So - 2 rifles instead of one
Believe the tooling was redone a few years back due to complaints with the older models.
@@robertgallagher7734 I've got a 1980's "pencil barrel" mini ranch. I thought the new production Mini-14s would be more accurate than 4-5" groups even with Tula.
@@jacka55six60 they are. 2.5" groups with cheap ammo. Watch the video
As another Minnesotain what outdoor range do you go too I can never find a outdoor range to shoot 100 yards?
Yes it’s a little $$$$ but worth every penny!!! You get what you pay for!!!Mini is my go to when things get bad. Yes I own ARs. My Mini always got 2 Moa at 100 yards.
I have a 185 series, fun plinking steel out to 200 yards.
I wish it would cool down some so I can go to the range and do some shooting but right now or I'm at its like 100 degrees out and I don't like getting out in this heat. I'm going through gun shooting withdrawals.
I wonder if the stainless version would be more accurate?
I have mine shooting sub moa with 58gr soft tip custom reloads..
My 187 series prefers 75 and 77 gr for some reason. Groups tighten up 🤷♂️
I don't care what ammo you get. The Mini-14 was never designed for accuracy. It was designed for dependability.