Any mini 14/30 fans ?

[southernhunter]

I picked up a mini 14 years ago and instantly loved the look and feel of the gun. I sadly sold it after less than impressive accuracy issues. I waited patiently for ruger to fix the problems. I finally decided to pull the trigger on a new Heavy barrel 580 series mini 30. Well today I took it to the range with a new red field 3x9x40 scope I got good 3moa groups out to 100 yards . Which is good enough for me. The bad news is I never could get the groups to point of aim. I put 40 plus rounds Down range.
Hoping it's a easy fix next time out. Any thoughts ? Any perfer ammo for the mini 30 ? I was shooting hornady zombie , wolf , Winchester ( hog )ammo

 

[DaveB]

Story is it likes a cold barrel, which is not suprising or unusual.

As to accuracy, you telling me you adjust scope to move strike of bullet to deadcenter bullseye and this does not result in bullseye hit? or even really close? POI moves elsewhere? But the group stays small? using same box of ammo?

If so, triple check every screw and in particular the action screws. Who mounted the scope? It sounds loose-not floppy but loose.

 

[infoman jr.]

The mini 14 has never been known to be a shooter. :smash:

 

[DaveB]

Yeah, I tried to help a guy with a Mini14 which is kinda what this one is based on. It made a loud bang and a big hole but it was not very accurate.

The Mini Thiry howver is supposed to fairly good, except barrel gts hot FAST and begins throwing lead eveywhere.

Still, I think we have4 something else in play here.

 

[southernhunter]

I wish I'd took pics of target. Groups where decent with hornady ammo with the occasional flyer. Left to right was ok . It either shot a group lower or higher than point of aim. I cleaned barrel between rounds and gave barrel time to cool. Most 3 shot groups with cold barrel where in the area of 3 moa . Of course the steel case wolf ammo was worse. I have the 16" barrel model. I was really hoping with the heavy short barrel this issues wold t come into play. Scope is brand new. All mounts seemed tight. Going to try some different ammo next time out. I wouldn't hesitate hunting with it as is. All rounds where well within a vital deer target at 105 yards. On average the groups where either 5 inches high or 3 inches low. I know it really dosnt make sense. I am thinking barrel was warm then I'd make adjustment and it would change. I am going to make slower adjustments next time out with longer cooling periods. I never really got barrel hot to the touch. I love the mini really hope I can get it doing just a touch better.

 

[7mminatree]

Pull off the scope and shoot the irons and see if the point of aim goes in the same direction as it did with the scope. If it does, check the gas block for squareness. You may need to remount and retorque the block. It could also be a bad crown. If the irons shoot good but you can't get the scope lined up, you might look at the scallops in the receiver. Some of those were machined incorrectly in the factory. If you can't figure it out, send it back to Ruger. They have good customer service.

 

[1 good shot]

i won't have another mini

 

[southernhunter]

i won't have another mini

I hear that a lot. I love the looks, fit and feel of the mini. After my first mini I tried the ar in 223/300 blackout . Hunted with the 300 b/o Last season and hated it. As I mentioned in my earlier post this mini 30 shoot decent groups. I am hoping a can tweak it into my accepted accuracy range.

 

[7mminatree]

Reloads 62 gr Barnes TSX and 60 gr. Nosler Partitions. Not a bench gun, but still a fantastic carbine. Shot these groups rapid fire from a sandbag at 100 yards as fast as I could pull the trigger and line back up on the bullseye. Death on running coyotes out to 300 yards. And yes my AR will group better, but nothing points and handles like this mini does.

 

[DaveB]

Both those targets are full magazines. Pretty good shooting, your reloads look very very solid.

Catch you in the field.

 

[southernhunter]

Nice , thanks for the pics. You have the same gun as I do . I was thinking on going with a heavier 150 gr bullet but looks like you went lighter and did very well.

 

[7mminatree]

Nice , thanks for the pics. You have the same gun as I do . I was thinking on going with a heavier 150 gr bullet but looks like you went lighter and did very well.

Well, you mentioned yours was a mini 30/7.62×39 and mine is a mini 14/5.56/223 actually the 60 and 62 gr. Bullets are more on the heavy side of that caliber. My 1:9 twist prefers the heavier stuff between 60 and 70 gr. Bullets.
If you get a chance check out " perfectunion.com" you can find tons of info on your mini 30

 

[southernhunter]

Sorry I missed that. The 223 accuracy is suppose to be better than the mini 30

 

[RUGER]

Wanted a mini 14 ranch rifle ever since the A team was on tv.

Never got one though.

 

[Steverino]

7mminatree, noticed you have that H-Bar on your Ruger. Did you put it on and if so did it work as advertised? I'm getting my first Ranch Rifle tomorrow and I was thinking of trying one of those. I used to have an M1-A1 (which I miss terribly) and it had an assembly similar to that but was part of the gas cylinder setup. Not sure if it did dual purpose of anchoring the barrel or just the way the self loading mechanism worked. I"m also curious about what youre using for the scope. My eyesight isn't great so a scope or aimpoint is in order. All my rifles have scopes but its hard to get on target fast with them whereas an aimpoint might make that job easier. Most of my shots will be 100 yds or less. ANy advice is appreciated from anyone. Thanks - Steve

 

[7mminatree]

7mminatree, noticed you have that H-Bar on your Ruger. Did you put it on and if so did it work as advertised? I'm getting my first Ranch Rifle tomorrow and I was thinking of trying one of those. I used to have an M1-A1 (which I miss terribly) and it had an assembly similar to that but was part of the gas cylinder setup. Not sure if it did dual purpose of anchoring the barrel or just the way the self loading mechanism worked. I"m also curious about what youre using for the scope. My eyesight isn't great so a scope or aimpoint is in order. All my rifles have scopes but its hard to get on target fast with them whereas an aimpoint might make that job easier. Most of my shots will be 100 yds or less. ANy advice is appreciated from anyone. Thanks - Steve

Steverino, here's what I've done. The barrel stabilizer is a trueshot technologies and a #2 UTG barrel clamp. This dampins the barrel harmonics and also acts as a heat sink. So you still get some drift as the barrel heats it's just no as severe, like older minis were prone to. I also bedded the action with Devcon, squared up the gas block and installed Wilson recoil buffer at the rear of the op rod. Did my own trigger job and the scope is a 1x4 Leupold. Usually the first 3 shots will shoot MOA at 100 yards and when it was in stock configuration it was about 2 MOA. All these mods I done myself, so don't have a lot of $$ invested. Give it a try. Having owned an older mini I was reluctant to buy the new version. But I'll tell it gets shot a lot and I've changed a few mini haters minds by letting them shoot this baby.

 

[southernhunter]

I think I'll order a accu-strut for my mini 30. I have heard a lot of ppl suggest that the gas blocks need squared as you have done. Why is that and how hard is it to do ?

 

[7mminatree]

I think I'll order a accu-strut for my mini 30. I have heard a lot of ppl suggest that the gas blocks need squared as you have done. Why is that and how hard is it to do ?

Check out these threads, it will give some good info.
http://www.perfectunion.com/vb/ruger-mini-14-mini-30/