Ruger New Mini-14 - A Second Look

COSteve · February 20, 2015, 04:25 PM

I've been shooting ARs for over a dozen years (had a GI issue some 45 yrs ago but didn't shoot it because with both my M-2 50 MG on the cupola and the 90mm main gun on my tank, it really wasn't needed). While I enjoy ARs, both my light weight 14.7" middy and heavy 20" long range shooter, and they are killer accurate, I'm still a wood and steel rifle guy at heart.

It's true that my long range AR wears real walnut stock, forend, and custom pistol grip but at heart it's still a 'Black Rifle'. My collection of long guns runs more to leverguns but also includes an M1 Garand, M1 Carbine, and M1A and they all are wood and steel rifles that just look and feel like real rifles to me. Fact is, the S&W MP15 Magpul middy is the only plastic stocked long gun I own.

So, it's no surprise that the Ruger Ranch Hand Mini-14 holds some appeal being wood and steel and all, but I've stayed away from them because of their reputation of poor accuracy. Recently, however, that changed when I got the chance to shoot a friend's new model 5801 with some enhancements he did to it that gave it decent accuracy.

How good? Accuracy in the 1" at 100 yds arena as demonstrated in this July 2012 post right here on The Firing Line. While not sub MOA that ARs are known for, that is still well within the accuracy of many modern hunting rifles. Couple with that level of accuracy with the compact design of the Ruger and it's worth another look as a field gun or plinker. Not every gun I own needs to be a bullseye shooter as I'm not myself and the appeal of a light, compact scaled down M14 type shooter appeals to me.

My friend explained that the new, heavier barreled 580 series Rugers manufactured since late 2005, are more accurate out of the box and with a simple trigger job (videos on Youtube) can be made to be decent 1"-1½" at 100yd shooters which is consistent with must long guns these days. He also installed a Accu-Strut barrel stabilizer under his barrel to further dampen vibration which he said helped, but he admitted that he added it mostly because he liked the look of his Ruger better with it installed.

Shooting his Ruger with his 60grn handloads proved him right as he was able to shoot multiple groups just over 1" at 100 yds and even I, not your best 67 yr old benchrest shooter by a long shot, was able to shoot under 2" groups with a new gun and scope setup. I'll have to say that I was impressed enough to look into collecting a Ruger Ranch Hand basic model (wood and blued steel) for myself one day . . . soon.

rickyrick · February 20, 2015, 06:58 PM

I've had a 581 since '09 and I love it... I had replaced the wood stock with a tactical type just to preserve the wood while running around through the brush.... Never liked the tactical stock, but the wood kinda got left behind in a divorce and I'm NOT going BACK for it.lol

I wish to reinstall a wood stock now. I'm working on another AR and the polymer stock just doesn't belong on the mini... Maybe one of those cool laminated stocks might sit under it

chris in va · February 21, 2015, 01:07 AM

Huh, 1moa you say. I may have to re-think the Mini again.

I really can't get excited about my AR with all the stuff protruding everywhere, would be nice to have something closer to my Garand in operation.

I will say inserting the mag on the Mini is a PITA. Is there some trick to it?

rickyrick · February 21, 2015, 01:14 AM

Insert the mag with the bolt open... Stick the front corner in deep first

With good hornaday hunting ammo, my Mini will do this

USMC 77-81 · February 21, 2015, 11:39 AM

I have a 1990's manufactured Mini with a 1/7 twist that likes heavy bullets being pushed with Varget (Sportsmans' warehouse in Lewiston has Varget on the shelf!) which produced a 3 shot 1 hole group at 50 yards, I'm currently in load development and will be pushing the distance out when the weather warms a little. I also expect good accuracy from heavy bullets with various other powders which I will move on to once I get my Varget load finalized.

geetarman · February 21, 2015, 02:40 PM

Rickyrick,

What range did you shoot that group?

rickyrick · February 21, 2015, 03:08 PM

100 paced off so give or take a few

Was v-max ammo... Not too much coffee or cigarettes that day..

Prone on a good rest (my backpack)

It won't do that with plinking ammo

Took me some time to find a 100yard swath clear enough to shoot that far with it...

geetarman · February 22, 2015, 11:47 AM

Rickyrick,

Please tell me more about your Mini. I have never seen one shoot that good.

What series do you have and what scope?

I am SERIOUSLY interested in getting one myself. I have had two and while they were reliable, they were not very accurate.

rickyrick · February 22, 2015, 12:08 PM

Bushnell 3-9x40

It was a 581 tapered barrel mini built and purchased in 2009.

At the time of that shot, I had installed one of those john madsen black warrior muzzle brakes... I think that might have helped... However I didn't know at the time that the roll pin didn't line up with the roll pin slot in the barrel...
The roll pin actually passed in front of the front edge of the barrel..

Amazingly the brake stayed on for couple or three years, it went down range not long ago lol...

The brake was installed because when hunting prone, the mini would kick up lots of dust... The brake fulfilled the task.

There's lots of confusion as to what muzzle devices fit which mini's (even with manufacturers) so my next step is thread the muzzle and be done with it....

Also this has a very tight fitting polymer stock, not sure if this had the same effect as bedding.... I ordered it directly from ATI because I didn't want black, or green, or tan or any other of the tactical colors... They will make a color to order( or they used to) I'm going back to wood, however I don't have the original.

Anyway bulk plinking and surplus ammo won't do that... 2-3 inches.
I'm sure a hand loader can squeeze lots of accuracy out of a mini..
I've always had good luck out of hornaday premium cartridges.

Skans · February 23, 2015, 08:57 AM

Be careful about stepping over to the "Dark Side" and embracing a Mini-14. Many AR folks have had secret love affairs with the Mini-14 which upon exploring this platform leads to feelings of betrayal, abandonment, bewilderment, and inadequacy all for the forbidden love of wood and steel. Tread carefully soldier......

geetarman · February 23, 2015, 09:31 AM

I am feeling a cold wind blowing. . . .

Bamashooter · February 24, 2015, 01:09 PM

I have both AR and Mini-14. The AR is more accurate but the mini will shoot 1.5" groups with my handloads and sometimes a little better. Like them both. Don't believe everything you hear about the Mini.

Mine is a 580 series skinny barrel with accustrut and trigger job. Shoots good with iron sights and shoots better with my Burris on top.

T-90 · February 24, 2015, 02:40 PM

I am really wanting to like the Mini-14. In some ways I like the concept more than the AR-15, but I hear steel case ammo is a no-no, and mags seem to be a bit pricy for it.

Any thoughts on steel case ammo in the Mini-14? Or cheaper after market mags?

rickyrick · February 24, 2015, 03:06 PM

I've used tons of steel cased ammo... No problems... There was a period when that was all that was available.
Ruger mags are expensive but tough...

I have a couple of pro mags that work just fine...

I have three mags for the mini ..... They have supported my shooting habits just fine

rickyrick · February 24, 2015, 03:09 PM

If you do plan on shooting cheapie Russian steel case ammo...

Don't blame the rifle if it's not too accurate...

But I see no wear issues with steel cased ammo

Rogervzv · February 24, 2015, 10:34 PM

Quote:

If you do plan on shooting cheapie Russian steel case ammo...

Don't blame the rifle if it's not too accurate...

But I see no wear issues with steel cased ammo

Well, I'm not shooting that junk in my nice Mini 14s...

1stmar · February 25, 2015, 01:31 AM

Roger those 100 yards?

geetarman · February 25, 2015, 07:26 AM

Is that 100 yards and handloads?

Mannlicher · February 26, 2015, 09:56 PM

heck, this old timer will give 1.5 inch 100 yard groups.

johnwilliamson062 · March 1, 2015, 12:14 AM

Ruger uses light "sporting" profile barrels on pretty much all their guns. THey don't do rapid fire well.

I had an early 580 cut to 16.25 with gas port bushings, etc. I'm not sure how accurate it got. I have never fired it off of sandbags. I have used it at informal CMP shoots and I didn't shoot significantly worse than my CMP Garand from the prone. The guy three positions down relayed from the guy 6 positions down that I was hitting him with all my spent brass.

http://www.greatwestgunsmithing.com/mini14.htm

Ibmikey · March 1, 2015, 09:15 AM

Just like Babamashooter indicated one should not shy away from the Mini because of it's well earned reputation. My Tactical with 16" barrel and flash hider out shoots the half dozen previous Mini's I have owned by a large margin. I do however prefer the AR pattern for it's ease of adaptability to most any shooting task that you wish to fill, and I find that the Mini tends to stay in the rack while the AR's are gobbling the ammo. At least in my case.

February 20, 2015, 04:25 PM	#1
COSteve Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2009 Posts: 1,344	Ruger New Mini-14 - A Second Look I've been shooting ARs for over a dozen years (had a GI issue some 45 yrs ago but didn't shoot it because with both my M-2 50 MG on the cupola and the 90mm main gun on my tank, it really wasn't needed). While I enjoy ARs, both my light weight 14.7" middy and heavy 20" long range shooter, and they are killer accurate, I'm still a wood and steel rifle guy at heart. It's true that my long range AR wears real walnut stock, forend, and custom pistol grip but at heart it's still a 'Black Rifle'. My collection of long guns runs more to leverguns but also includes an M1 Garand, M1 Carbine, and M1A and they all are wood and steel rifles that just look and feel like real rifles to me. Fact is, the S&W MP15 Magpul middy is the only plastic stocked long gun I own. So, it's no surprise that the Ruger Ranch Hand Mini-14 holds some appeal being wood and steel and all, but I've stayed away from them because of their reputation of poor accuracy. Recently, however, that changed when I got the chance to shoot a friend's new model 5801 with some enhancements he did to it that gave it decent accuracy. How good? Accuracy in the 1" at 100 yds arena as demonstrated in this July 2012 post right here on The Firing Line. While not sub MOA that ARs are known for, that is still well within the accuracy of many modern hunting rifles. Couple with that level of accuracy with the compact design of the Ruger and it's worth another look as a field gun or plinker. Not every gun I own needs to be a bullseye shooter as I'm not myself and the appeal of a light, compact scaled down M14 type shooter appeals to me. My friend explained that the new, heavier barreled 580 series Rugers manufactured since late 2005, are more accurate out of the box and with a simple trigger job (videos on Youtube) can be made to be decent 1"-1½" at 100yd shooters which is consistent with must long guns these days. He also installed a Accu-Strut barrel stabilizer under his barrel to further dampen vibration which he said helped, but he admitted that he added it mostly because he liked the look of his Ruger better with it installed. Shooting his Ruger with his 60grn handloads proved him right as he was able to shoot multiple groups just over 1" at 100 yds and even I, not your best 67 yr old benchrest shooter by a long shot, was able to shoot under 2" groups with a new gun and scope setup. I'll have to say that I was impressed enough to look into collecting a Ruger Ranch Hand basic model (wood and blued steel) for myself one day . . . soon.

February 20, 2015, 06:58 PM	#2
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,236	I've had a 581 since '09 and I love it... I had replaced the wood stock with a tactical type just to preserve the wood while running around through the brush.... Never liked the tactical stock, but the wood kinda got left behind in a divorce and I'm NOT going BACK for it.lol I wish to reinstall a wood stock now. I'm working on another AR and the polymer stock just doesn't belong on the mini... Maybe one of those cool laminated stocks might sit under it __________________ Woohoo, I’m back In Texas!!!

February 21, 2015, 01:14 AM	#4
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,236	Insert the mag with the bolt open... Stick the front corner in deep first With good hornaday hunting ammo, my Mini will do this __________________ Woohoo, I’m back In Texas!!!

February 21, 2015, 02:40 PM	#6
geetarman Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2009 Location: Arizona Posts: 3,157	Rickyrick, What range did you shoot that group? __________________ Geetarman Carpe Cerveza

February 21, 2015, 03:08 PM	#7
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,236	100 paced off so give or take a few Was v-max ammo... Not too much coffee or cigarettes that day.. Prone on a good rest (my backpack) It won't do that with plinking ammo Took me some time to find a 100yard swath clear enough to shoot that far with it... __________________ Woohoo, I’m back In Texas!!!

February 21, 2015, 01:07 AM	#3
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	Huh, 1moa you say. I may have to re-think the Mini again. I really can't get excited about my AR with all the stuff protruding everywhere, would be nice to have something closer to my Garand in operation. I will say inserting the mag on the Mini is a PITA. Is there some trick to it?

February 21, 2015, 11:39 AM	#5
USMC 77-81 Senior Member Join Date: February 6, 2012 Location: Northern Idaho Posts: 254	I have a 1990's manufactured Mini with a 1/7 twist that likes heavy bullets being pushed with Varget (Sportsmans' warehouse in Lewiston has Varget on the shelf!) which produced a 3 shot 1 hole group at 50 yards, I'm currently in load development and will be pushing the distance out when the weather warms a little. I also expect good accuracy from heavy bullets with various other powders which I will move on to once I get my Varget load finalized.

February 22, 2015, 11:47 AM	#8
geetarman Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2009 Location: Arizona Posts: 3,157	Rickyrick, Please tell me more about your Mini. I have never seen one shoot that good. What series do you have and what scope? I am SERIOUSLY interested in getting one myself. I have had two and while they were reliable, they were not very accurate. __________________ Geetarman Carpe Cerveza

February 22, 2015, 12:08 PM	#9
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,236	Bushnell 3-9x40 It was a 581 tapered barrel mini built and purchased in 2009. At the time of that shot, I had installed one of those john madsen black warrior muzzle brakes... I think that might have helped... However I didn't know at the time that the roll pin didn't line up with the roll pin slot in the barrel... The roll pin actually passed in front of the front edge of the barrel.. Amazingly the brake stayed on for couple or three years, it went down range not long ago lol... The brake was installed because when hunting prone, the mini would kick up lots of dust... The brake fulfilled the task. There's lots of confusion as to what muzzle devices fit which mini's (even with manufacturers) so my next step is thread the muzzle and be done with it.... Also this has a very tight fitting polymer stock, not sure if this had the same effect as bedding.... I ordered it directly from ATI because I didn't want black, or green, or tan or any other of the tactical colors... They will make a color to order( or they used to) I'm going back to wood, however I don't have the original. Anyway bulk plinking and surplus ammo won't do that... 2-3 inches. I'm sure a hand loader can squeeze lots of accuracy out of a mini.. I've always had good luck out of hornaday premium cartridges. __________________ Woohoo, I’m back In Texas!!!

February 23, 2015, 08:57 AM	#10
Skans Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2008 Posts: 11,132	Be careful about stepping over to the "Dark Side" and embracing a Mini-14. Many AR folks have had secret love affairs with the Mini-14 which upon exploring this platform leads to feelings of betrayal, abandonment, bewilderment, and inadequacy all for the forbidden love of wood and steel. Tread carefully soldier......

February 23, 2015, 09:31 AM	#11
geetarman Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2009 Location: Arizona Posts: 3,157	I am feeling a cold wind blowing. . . . __________________ Geetarman Carpe Cerveza

February 24, 2015, 01:09 PM	#12
Bamashooter Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2010 Posts: 1,860	I have both AR and Mini-14. The AR is more accurate but the mini will shoot 1.5" groups with my handloads and sometimes a little better. Like them both. Don't believe everything you hear about the Mini. Mine is a 580 series skinny barrel with accustrut and trigger job. Shoots good with iron sights and shoots better with my Burris on top.

February 24, 2015, 02:40 PM	#13
T-90 Senior Member Join Date: January 11, 2011 Posts: 145	I am really wanting to like the Mini-14. In some ways I like the concept more than the AR-15, but I hear steel case ammo is a no-no, and mags seem to be a bit pricy for it. Any thoughts on steel case ammo in the Mini-14? Or cheaper after market mags?

February 24, 2015, 03:06 PM	#14
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,236	I've used tons of steel cased ammo... No problems... There was a period when that was all that was available. Ruger mags are expensive but tough... I have a couple of pro mags that work just fine... I have three mags for the mini ..... They have supported my shooting habits just fine __________________ Woohoo, I’m back In Texas!!!

February 24, 2015, 03:09 PM	#15
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,236	If you do plan on shooting cheapie Russian steel case ammo... Don't blame the rifle if it's not too accurate... But I see no wear issues with steel cased ammo __________________ Woohoo, I’m back In Texas!!!

February 25, 2015, 01:31 AM	#17
1stmar Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2012 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,378	Roger those 100 yards?

February 25, 2015, 07:26 AM	#18
geetarman Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2009 Location: Arizona Posts: 3,157	Is that 100 yards and handloads? __________________ Geetarman Carpe Cerveza

February 26, 2015, 09:56 PM	#19
Mannlicher Senior Member Join Date: July 8, 2001 Location: North Central Florida & Miami Posts: 3,209	heck, this old timer will give 1.5 inch 100 yard groups. __________________ Nemo Me Impune Lacesset "The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so.".........Ronald Reagan

March 1, 2015, 12:14 AM	#20
johnwilliamson062 Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2008 Posts: 9,995	Ruger uses light "sporting" profile barrels on pretty much all their guns. THey don't do rapid fire well. I had an early 580 cut to 16.25 with gas port bushings, etc. I'm not sure how accurate it got. I have never fired it off of sandbags. I have used it at informal CMP shoots and I didn't shoot significantly worse than my CMP Garand from the prone. The guy three positions down relayed from the guy 6 positions down that I was hitting him with all my spent brass. http://www.greatwestgunsmithing.com/mini14.htm Last edited by johnwilliamson062; March 1, 2015 at 12:26 AM.

March 1, 2015, 09:15 AM	#21
Ibmikey Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2013 Location: Now relocated to Texas Posts: 2,943	Just like Babamashooter indicated one should not shy away from the Mini because of it's well earned reputation. My Tactical with 16" barrel and flash hider out shoots the half dozen previous Mini's I have owned by a large margin. I do however prefer the AR pattern for it's ease of adaptability to most any shooting task that you wish to fill, and I find that the Mini tends to stay in the rack while the AR's are gobbling the ammo. At least in my case.