The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Skunkworks > The Smithy

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old August 28, 1999, 08:32 PM   #1
marsh
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 12, 1999
Location: New Mexico
Posts: 126
What would cause a Stainless Mini-14 (182 series) to shift point of impact 4 to 5 feet after sitting in safe for a few months? This happens with both iron sights and scope.

marsh
marsh is offline  
Old August 29, 1999, 06:15 AM   #2
George Stringer
Staff Alumnus
 
Join Date: October 12, 1998
Location: Earlington KY
Posts: 2,299
Marsh, I'm assuming that you disassembled and cleaned before storing it. When you reassembled it, it was somehow put back in the stock diffently. That's about the only guess I can make for such a radical shift. George
George Stringer is offline  
Old August 30, 1999, 06:38 PM   #3
HankL
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 11, 1999
Location: The Sunny South
Posts: 2,174
Marsh, What range were you shooting at to see a shift of 4 to 5 feet? This would help with some answers to your question.
Hank
HankL is offline  
Old August 31, 1999, 08:15 PM   #4
marsh
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 12, 1999
Location: New Mexico
Posts: 126
100 yds.
marsh is offline  
Old September 1, 1999, 09:24 PM   #5
HankL
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 11, 1999
Location: The Sunny South
Posts: 2,174
Marsh, That would be right at a 60 moa shift. Have you fired your Mini 14 again since your last post? The only thougt that comes to mind "barring something really unfortunated happening to your barrel" is that the stock was really swollen with moisture and dried out in you safe. 60 moa is still worrying me! Scope and iron sights both = bent barrel to me. Do you have a bayonet that someone could have put on that rifle and used to open metal banded containers with?

Let us know and good shooting,
Hank
HankL is offline  
Old September 1, 1999, 11:50 PM   #6
Mal H
Staff
 
Join Date: March 20, 1999
Location: Somewhere in the woods of Northern Virginia
Posts: 16,939
marsh,
I just tried an experiment to see how far off the iron sights would have to be in order to shift the POI 4.5 feet at 100 yds. The front or the rear sight would have to shift roughly 3/8 inch, or any combination of front/rear shift that equals 3/8". That is a lot. You shouldn't be able to even adjust the rear sight this much to one side or the other. If the barrel was bent that much you would definitely notice it. I think we can rule out the shooter causing this, no one can have that much flerk (flinch/jerk).

Two questions come to mind, 1) Are you absolutely sure it was sighted in when you put it away? 2) You do mean 4 to 5 feet right? Not inches?
Mal H is offline  
Old September 2, 1999, 04:38 PM   #7
marsh
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 12, 1999
Location: New Mexico
Posts: 126
Maybe it wasn't quite 4 feet but was at least 1 foot as it was well off the cardboard backing. I noticed when I disassembled it for cleaning, the stock was extremely tight in the gas block. Same when it was re-assembled. Barrel does not appear bent. It has not been abused ever in fact, it still looks like new. I have ordered a synthetic stock from Choate and I'll see what happens when and if it comes. I had shot it last winter in the cold and next fired a couple of weeks ago when temp was in high 90's at Ft. Bliss, TX. This rifle is very ammo sensitive. Switching from 55 gr. to 50 gr. shifts impact about 5-6" due to differing harmonic vibrations. We don't want to get rid of it as it was a gift to my wife from a very dear friend who is now departed this mortal coil and has great sentimental value.

marsh
marsh is offline  
Old September 25, 1999, 03:17 PM   #8
Mal H
Staff
 
Join Date: March 20, 1999
Location: Somewhere in the woods of Northern Virginia
Posts: 16,939
I'm resurrecting this thread to relate what happened yesterday at the range with my Mini-14. I shot several groups at 50 yds with my usual Win 55 gr FMJ factory rounds. I was getting 3 shot groups of around .6". Then I shot several groups with some reloads I made to try some med. loads (Speer 50 gr TNT, 23.0 gr AA2230) just to be sure the action would cycle with no problems. These 3 shot groups were around .4". Both groupings were very good for a Mini-14, IMHO. But, they were about 5 inches apart! The lighter loads were consistently 4" high and 3" to the right. The movement to the right is the major concern.

This emphasizes what marsh said in his last post. The Mini-14 barrel is extremely whippy. We should find a good load and stick with it after zeroing the sights. You certainly can't experiment very much with this rifle.
Mal H is offline  
Old September 26, 1999, 12:47 PM   #9
4V50 Gary
Staff
 
Join Date: November 2, 1998
Location: Colorado
Posts: 21,824
Ruger realized that the Mini needed a heavier barrel and for a very short production run, made some .223 barrel using their heavier Mini30 barrel blanks. Even this measure didn't deliver the results hoped for.

There are gunsmiths out there who do refit the Mini14 with a heavier barrel, but they're not giving it away.

------------------
Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt

4V50 Gary is offline  
Old October 1, 1999, 06:23 PM   #10
Gino
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 14, 1998
Location: Lake City, FL USA
Posts: 919
I've heard that cryo treating the barrel can reduce the muzzle whip. I heard this from a European shooter that said most of their shooters got this done as a matter of coarse. What little I do know about cryo treatment (the theoretical idea) seems to back this up. Anyone know for sure? And where to have it done?

[This message has been edited by Gino (edited October 01, 1999).]
Gino is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:04 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.06817 seconds with 10 queries