How Are the New Mini 14’s/ Mini 30’s Quality?

mk70ss · March 19, 2020, 03:52 PM

Years ago, I had a Ruger Mini-14 and no matter what load I used, it never shot as accurately as it should. Even at 50 yards, groups were in the 5-6 inch range. I always liked them, but inaccurate rifles are zero fun for me. How about the current models?

rickyrick · March 19, 2020, 05:08 PM

The mini14 I bought in 2009 has been amazing.

Schlitz 45 · March 19, 2020, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mk70ss

Years ago, I had a Ruger Mini-14 and no matter what load I used, it never shot as accurately as it should. Even at 50 yards, groups were in the 5-6 inch range. I always liked them, but inaccurate rifles are zero fun for me. How about the current models?

That’s why the A-Team could never hit anything they were shooting at

jetinteriorguy · March 19, 2020, 05:42 PM

I bought a Mini 30 from the first production run, took it to the range and at 100yds it was a 6” group at best. I was so disappointed I felt like throwing it on the road and running over it with my truck. So I went to the gun shop to discuss it with my advisors. I worked up a load with BlC2 and did a little work on the trigger. I polished the sear surfaces and cut 1 1/2 coils out of the spring for the disconnector to lighten the trigger pull. Worked pretty good, from that day forward it was a solid 2 MOA rifle and I killed a lot of deer with that rifle. To this day I regret selling it but since I quit deer hunting years ago I had no good reason to keep it. Dumb way to think. Now I have an AR47 that’s pretty much the same accuracy wise and just a treat to shoot, so still no need for another Mini 30.

rickyrick · March 19, 2020, 06:49 PM

I’m not a fan of how the magazine goes in and out.

TBM900 · March 19, 2020, 07:09 PM

I picked up my first one up last year and so far I've enjoyed it immensely running a simple Leupold fixed 2.5x
Couldn't give you a measured group as I shoot "practical"
On my 8.5x11 plates and can easily keep all shots on steel out to ~200 offhand
With an expedient rest I can run it well past 300
It's run flawless using the same bulk 55gr

rc · March 19, 2020, 09:16 PM

The improvements didn't really make them all that more accurate. I would say you can expect 5 inch or under at 50. With a steel strut, groups closer to 2 inches will be more likely. Out of the box my 581 series rifle was probably about a 10 inch at 100 gun with typical ball ammo and open sights. It was a waste with a scope. With the strut and ghost ring adjustable tech rear sight I can reliably hit a 2 liter bottle at 50yards relibly. Not great but they are very reliable.

rickyrick · March 19, 2020, 09:35 PM

Mine is accurate enough with cheap 5.56 and .223.
It’s really accurate with hornaday ammo

robert1804 · March 19, 2020, 10:22 PM

I bought a Ranch Rifle in 2015, a Mini 14 300 Blackout and a Mini 30 Tactical in 2019. All were bought new. No mods on any of them except a .045 gas bushing in the Ranch. The Ranch Rifle will easily do 1 1/2"-2" at 100 yards. The 300 Blackout and the Mini 30 can do 1" or slightly less at 50 yards, havn't tried 100 yards with either one yet. No problems with any of them. Cycling has been 100% except for a few loads that were too light to cycle the 300 BLK. My Minis perform as well or better than my expectations so I'm very satisfied with them.

agtman · March 20, 2020, 06:37 AM

The general consensus, if you read enough 'Mini' posts here and on other boards, seems to be that the newer Mini-14s are more accurate than their predecessors were, but are still less accurate than an 'average' AR as well as being spendier both for the gun and the mags.

TBM900 · March 20, 2020, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rc

The improvements didn't really make them all that more accurate. I would say you can expect 5 inch or under at 50. With a steel strut, groups closer to 2 inches will be more likely. Out of the box my 581 series rifle was probably about a 10 inch at 100 gun with typical ball ammo and open sights. It was a waste with a scope. With the strut and ghost ring adjustable tech rear sight I can reliably hit a 2 liter bottle at 50yards relibly. Not great but they are very reliable.

Sounds like maybe you need to learn how to shoot better.
Everything credible I've read, everything I've watched, as well as my own experience via sample of one...
Indicates the new tooling made a huge difference in accuracy, and that it is FAR more accurate than your assertions.

rickyrick · March 20, 2020, 08:50 AM

Having owned my Mini14 for a long time, it was one of the first after new barrel design and retooling, it is on par with AR15s in the accuracy department.

The Mini14 is my favorite, I often bashed ARs in the past, but I now own several ARs; but over time, I’ve realized that ARs have a definite edge over the minis because of the utility and modular style.
I will never part with my Mini14, it’s a great rifle, I love how it shoots, looks and feels. Mini14s are incredibly reliable, you can get a decent hunting scope on it, but the real estate to mount a scope is limited. You can’t use many optics without making it look kinda hokey. Most aftermarket stocks make it worse.
Used as-is it is great.

It’s not an AR15 and and AR15 is not a Mini14.
If you buy one as substitute for the other, you will be disappointed.
If you like the Mini14 and you want one, you will be happy with it.

I don’t know how the Mini14s built 11 years ago after retooling compare to the guns produced today.

COSteve · March 20, 2020, 09:34 AM

rickyrick's post above is spot on. I've had my 583 series Mini-14 Ranch Rifle since I got it new some 5 years now and I love it. Like rick, I also have ARs, both a carbine and an scoped long range A4. They have their place, however, I really don't like them as they are too bulky with terrible ergonomics, and a terrible feel at the shoulder.

I'd heard of the old style pencil barreled Minis' accuracy issues so I stayed away until I happened to shoot a friend's 581 Series at our range. He'd done some cheap tweaks posted on PerfectUnion's Mini forum and with iron sights it was surprisingly accurate. First time out with it I was popping clay pigeons at 200yds with iron sights as well as I could with my lightweight RRA AR carbine. Best of all, it has the heft and feel of the M1, M1 Carbine, and M14/M1A that I have and love.

Anyway, I got a NIB, Birch, Blued, Mini14 Ranch Rifle and immediately found it a sub 2 MOA shooter out of the box. With the tweaks I did that totaled the same as a decent 2-stage trigger for an AR, and using my handloads, I found I had a sub 1¼ MOA shooter at 200yds with irons. That's plenty good enough to knock down bowling pins and shatter clay pigeons at 200yds with iron sights!! (BTW, a 2-stage trigger is absolutely a required upgrade to an AR to even hope to approach a 1 MOA shooter.)

Yes, I'm partial to the M1, M1 Carbine, and M14/M1A as I have examples of each so the basic design of the Mini suits me much better than the AR, I'll admit that. In fact, I went a bit nuts on my Mini, adding a real walnut stock, straight OE brand 20rd mags, and Choate front sight/FH to the other tweaks I did to give my Mini a real 'Mini M14' look. It now shoots even better and I love the look and feel. My ARs pretty much sit home unused now.

FireForged · March 20, 2020, 04:11 PM

I have owned 2 and find the quality and reliability to be quite high. That said, I didn't care for them for things you normally do with a rifle. I didn't care for the accuracy at 100 yards after the barrel heats up a little.

mk70ss · March 20, 2020, 05:29 PM

Thanks for all the replies, looks like I will have to keep my eyes open for a newer version of the Mini 14/30.

Forte S+W · March 20, 2020, 06:57 PM

The funny thing about the Mini 14 and all the bellyaching over its accuracy is that certain high dollar bullpup rifles have equal accuracy, but nobody ever complains about their accuracy. In fact, the only mention of their accuracy is either praise or playing devil's advocate by making nonsensical excuses that their OAL somehow affects accuracy despite bullpups having full-length barrels.

Like so many other firearms out there, the Ruger Mini 14 suffers from being an inexpensive firearm, meaning everyone harps on every little issue and writes them off for it, yet more expensive firearms with the exact same issues have folks playing spin-doctor for them 24/7 because they don't want to admit to themselves that they paid a premium price for something which really doesn't perform any better out of the box than the cheap workhorse guns.

Another great example is how a heavy double action trigger is the kiss of death for a cheap semiautomatic pistol, but gets praised on a high-dollar revolver.

jetinteriorguy · March 21, 2020, 11:48 AM

Oh man COSteve, you’re killing me. Every time you post pics of your Mini 14 it just makes me want one so bad. I’m pretty well set with all the guns I have but when I see this beauty I get the urge for just one more. So stop it. Just kidding of course.

rc · March 22, 2020, 04:17 AM

While there are plenty of big mouth trash talking internet ninjas here, I've never heard of a mini 14 or Mini 30 winning an accuracy competition. Those of us who know what to expect from a decent rifle can certainly tell you there is still an issue with accuracy in current production mini 14 and mini 30 rifles. That doesn't mean you shouldn't get one. They are fun, reliable short range plinkers and self defense rifles. Just don't expect too much when it comes to accuracy. Expect to spend money on some upgrades. rc

TBM900 · March 22, 2020, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rc

While there are plenty of big mouth trash talking internet ninjas here, I've never heard of a mini 14 or Mini 30 winning an accuracy competition. Those of us who know what to expect from a decent rifle can certainly tell you there is still an issue with accuracy in current production mini 14 and mini 30 rifles. That doesn't mean you shouldn't get one. They are fun, reliable short range plinkers and self defense rifles. Just don't expect too much when it comes to accuracy. Expect to spend money on some upgrades. rc

There are many easily found reputable video/text reviews along with countless personal examples all showing the vast improvement and accuracy of the "new" model mini 14, that directly counter your assertions. None of which portray themselves as "big mouth trash talking internet ninjas" so let's not get all indignant, especially when smugly proclaiming "Those of us who know".

Take the chip off your shoulder, toss it in the bushes, calm down, take a breath and smile

starnbar · March 22, 2020, 07:39 AM

I don't know if it is the stocks or the type recoil springs but after working mine over i/e bedding and trigger new springs etc at 100 I can get 1 moa with gi brass and heavy bullets

TBM900 · March 22, 2020, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forte S+W

The funny thing about the Mini 14 and all the bellyaching over its accuracy is that certain high dollar bullpup rifles have equal accuracy, but nobody ever complains about their accuracy. In fact, the only mention of their accuracy is either praise or playing devil's advocate by making nonsensical excuses that their OAL somehow affects accuracy despite bullpups having full-length barrels.

Like so many other firearms out there, the Ruger Mini 14 suffers from being an inexpensive firearm, meaning everyone harps on every little issue and writes them off for it, yet more expensive firearms with the exact same issues have folks playing spin-doctor for them 24/7 because they don't want to admit to themselves that they paid a premium price for something which really doesn't perform any better out of the box than the cheap workhorse guns.

Well said

What a world we live in when people complain that a rifle which is equal to or better than U.S. Military acceptance standards is "inaccurate".
First world problems I guess.
That or it's just folks simply trying to justify or validate their own personal choices, opinions, etc, by dumping on others.
The real clincher is that speaking from my own personal experience, those that go on about such accuracy, can almost never shoot to the standards they tout.
The ole "I won't own a rifle that isn't capable of 1moa or better", then you spend some time shooting with them and quickly see they cant shoot for diddly.

Oh well

I own a number of the "high dollar" bullpups that I assume you are referring to, the Steyr AUG.
I would say your assertion isn't far off the mark, in fact it's pretty much spot on.
Just as with the Mini I mentioned above, I've never shot my AUG's for group accuracy either.
I sight them for practical accuracy using preferred loads, then just shoot the snot out of them.
Using the same 8.5x11 steel, I've found them to be at least equally accurate with my single mini 14.
Doing the math they are easy < 3moa shooters, which is better than military acceptance standards.
In the hands of a better shooter than myself, I don't doubt they are likely more accurate than that.

TBM900 · March 22, 2020, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by starnbar

I don't know if it is the stocks or the type recoil springs but after working mine over i/e bedding and trigger new springs etc at 100 I can get 1 moa with gi brass and heavy bullets

I don't doubt it.
There are many reputable examples online of folks getting under 2moa with out of the box Mini's.
Often they have to hunt for the best load combo to get it, but once there it is capable.

COSteve · March 22, 2020, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jetinteriorguy

Oh man COSteve, you’re killing me. Every time you post pics of your Mini 14 it just makes me want one so bad. I’m pretty well set with all the guns I have but when I see this beauty I get the urge for just one more. So stop it. Just kidding of course.

I can't help it if I've been in love with the M14 since Basic Training back in 1967 and love my M1A. So, it was only natural that 5 yrs ago I picked up a NIB, 583 Series, Mini-14 Ranch Rifle and make it into a little brother for my M1A; a 'Mini M14'. It's easy to see the family resemblance isn't it?

And of course, I have to post it's 'beauty shot' for completeness, don't I?

Greguw · March 25, 2020, 05:59 AM

I loved my Mini-30 , never really a accurate rifle but got the job done better than the Mini-14 . I also had a few of the Mini-14’s , never bought then new just friends who got tired of them .
There was a reason the A-Team used the Mini-14 ... You couldn’t hit any thing with them .. LOL

COSteve · March 25, 2020, 02:51 PM

If it wasn't accurate, it's likely because you were using junk, commie, steel cased ammo in it. There are many owners who handload with quality components and produce sub MOA shooters because even the older Mini-30s all came with thicker barrels and avoided the barrel whip issues the original, pencil barreled Mini-14s had.

March 19, 2020, 03:52 PM	#1
mk70ss Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,598	How Are the New Mini 14’s/ Mini 30’s Quality? Years ago, I had a Ruger Mini-14 and no matter what load I used, it never shot as accurately as it should. Even at 50 yards, groups were in the 5-6 inch range. I always liked them, but inaccurate rifles are zero fun for me. How about the current models? __________________ Say when.....

March 19, 2020, 07:09 PM	#6
TBM900 Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2015 Posts: 777	I picked up my first one up last year and so far I've enjoyed it immensely running a simple Leupold fixed 2.5x Couldn't give you a measured group as I shoot "practical" On my 8.5x11 plates and can easily keep all shots on steel out to ~200 offhand With an expedient rest I can run it well past 300 It's run flawless using the same bulk 55gr __________________ Playboy billionaire Retired Colonial Marine 1st to walk on the moon without a spacesuit

March 19, 2020, 10:22 PM	#9
robert1804 Member Join Date: May 5, 2015 Posts: 53	I bought a Ranch Rifle in 2015, a Mini 14 300 Blackout and a Mini 30 Tactical in 2019. All were bought new. No mods on any of them except a .045 gas bushing in the Ranch. The Ranch Rifle will easily do 1 1/2"-2" at 100 yards. The 300 Blackout and the Mini 30 can do 1" or slightly less at 50 yards, havn't tried 100 yards with either one yet. No problems with any of them. Cycling has been 100% except for a few loads that were too light to cycle the 300 BLK. My Minis perform as well or better than my expectations so I'm very satisfied with them. __________________ They'll have to pry my Illudium Q36 Explosive Space Modulator from my cold dead gripping appendages.

March 20, 2020, 04:11 PM	#14
FireForged Senior Member Join Date: November 4, 1999 Location: Rebel South USA Posts: 2,074	I have owned 2 and find the quality and reliability to be quite high. That said, I didn't care for them for things you normally do with a rifle. I didn't care for the accuracy at 100 yards after the barrel heats up a little. __________________ Life is a web woven by necessity and chance...

March 20, 2020, 05:29 PM	#15
mk70ss Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,598	Thanks for all the replies, looks like I will have to keep my eyes open for a newer version of the Mini 14/30. __________________ Say when.....

March 19, 2020, 05:08 PM	#2
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,237	The mini14 I bought in 2009 has been amazing.

March 19, 2020, 05:42 PM	#4
jetinteriorguy Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2013 Posts: 3,175	I bought a Mini 30 from the first production run, took it to the range and at 100yds it was a 6” group at best. I was so disappointed I felt like throwing it on the road and running over it with my truck. So I went to the gun shop to discuss it with my advisors. I worked up a load with BlC2 and did a little work on the trigger. I polished the sear surfaces and cut 1 1/2 coils out of the spring for the disconnector to lighten the trigger pull. Worked pretty good, from that day forward it was a solid 2 MOA rifle and I killed a lot of deer with that rifle. To this day I regret selling it but since I quit deer hunting years ago I had no good reason to keep it. Dumb way to think. Now I have an AR47 that’s pretty much the same accuracy wise and just a treat to shoot, so still no need for another Mini 30.

March 19, 2020, 06:49 PM	#5
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,237	I’m not a fan of how the magazine goes in and out.

March 19, 2020, 09:16 PM	#7
rc Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2001 Location: CA Posts: 1,767	The improvements didn't really make them all that more accurate. I would say you can expect 5 inch or under at 50. With a steel strut, groups closer to 2 inches will be more likely. Out of the box my 581 series rifle was probably about a 10 inch at 100 gun with typical ball ammo and open sights. It was a waste with a scope. With the strut and ghost ring adjustable tech rear sight I can reliably hit a 2 liter bottle at 50yards relibly. Not great but they are very reliable.

March 19, 2020, 09:35 PM	#8
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,237	Mine is accurate enough with cheap 5.56 and .223. It’s really accurate with hornaday ammo

March 20, 2020, 06:37 AM	#10
agtman Junior member Join Date: July 26, 2001 Location: midwest Posts: 2,374	The general consensus, if you read enough 'Mini' posts here and on other boards, seems to be that the newer Mini-14s are more accurate than their predecessors were, but are still less accurate than an 'average' AR as well as being spendier both for the gun and the mags.

March 20, 2020, 08:50 AM	#12
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,237	Having owned my Mini14 for a long time, it was one of the first after new barrel design and retooling, it is on par with AR15s in the accuracy department. The Mini14 is my favorite, I often bashed ARs in the past, but I now own several ARs; but over time, I’ve realized that ARs have a definite edge over the minis because of the utility and modular style. I will never part with my Mini14, it’s a great rifle, I love how it shoots, looks and feels. Mini14s are incredibly reliable, you can get a decent hunting scope on it, but the real estate to mount a scope is limited. You can’t use many optics without making it look kinda hokey. Most aftermarket stocks make it worse. Used as-is it is great. It’s not an AR15 and and AR15 is not a Mini14. If you buy one as substitute for the other, you will be disappointed. If you like the Mini14 and you want one, you will be happy with it. I don’t know how the Mini14s built 11 years ago after retooling compare to the guns produced today.

March 20, 2020, 09:34 AM	#13
COSteve Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2009 Posts: 1,344	rickyrick's post above is spot on. I've had my 583 series Mini-14 Ranch Rifle since I got it new some 5 years now and I love it. Like rick, I also have ARs, both a carbine and an scoped long range A4. They have their place, however, I really don't like them as they are too bulky with terrible ergonomics, and a terrible feel at the shoulder. I'd heard of the old style pencil barreled Minis' accuracy issues so I stayed away until I happened to shoot a friend's 581 Series at our range. He'd done some cheap tweaks posted on PerfectUnion's Mini forum and with iron sights it was surprisingly accurate. First time out with it I was popping clay pigeons at 200yds with iron sights as well as I could with my lightweight RRA AR carbine. Best of all, it has the heft and feel of the M1, M1 Carbine, and M14/M1A that I have and love. Anyway, I got a NIB, Birch, Blued, Mini14 Ranch Rifle and immediately found it a sub 2 MOA shooter out of the box. With the tweaks I did that totaled the same as a decent 2-stage trigger for an AR, and using my handloads, I found I had a sub 1¼ MOA shooter at 200yds with irons. That's plenty good enough to knock down bowling pins and shatter clay pigeons at 200yds with iron sights!! (BTW, a 2-stage trigger is absolutely a required upgrade to an AR to even hope to approach a 1 MOA shooter.) Yes, I'm partial to the M1, M1 Carbine, and M14/M1A as I have examples of each so the basic design of the Mini suits me much better than the AR, I'll admit that. In fact, I went a bit nuts on my Mini, adding a real walnut stock, straight OE brand 20rd mags, and Choate front sight/FH to the other tweaks I did to give my Mini a real 'Mini M14' look. It now shoots even better and I love the look and feel. My ARs pretty much sit home unused now.

March 20, 2020, 06:57 PM	#16
Forte S+W Senior Member Join Date: October 12, 2019 Posts: 819	The funny thing about the Mini 14 and all the bellyaching over its accuracy is that certain high dollar bullpup rifles have equal accuracy, but nobody ever complains about their accuracy. In fact, the only mention of their accuracy is either praise or playing devil's advocate by making nonsensical excuses that their OAL somehow affects accuracy despite bullpups having full-length barrels. Like so many other firearms out there, the Ruger Mini 14 suffers from being an inexpensive firearm, meaning everyone harps on every little issue and writes them off for it, yet more expensive firearms with the exact same issues have folks playing spin-doctor for them 24/7 because they don't want to admit to themselves that they paid a premium price for something which really doesn't perform any better out of the box than the cheap workhorse guns. Another great example is how a heavy double action trigger is the kiss of death for a cheap semiautomatic pistol, but gets praised on a high-dollar revolver. __________________ Conspiracy theorists are the greatest political spin-doctors of all time. Only they can make the absolute worst political blunders sound like spectacular feats of ingenuity.

March 21, 2020, 11:48 AM	#17
jetinteriorguy Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2013 Posts: 3,175	Oh man COSteve, you’re killing me. Every time you post pics of your Mini 14 it just makes me want one so bad. I’m pretty well set with all the guns I have but when I see this beauty I get the urge for just one more. So stop it. Just kidding of course.

March 22, 2020, 04:17 AM	#18
rc Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2001 Location: CA Posts: 1,767	While there are plenty of big mouth trash talking internet ninjas here, I've never heard of a mini 14 or Mini 30 winning an accuracy competition. Those of us who know what to expect from a decent rifle can certainly tell you there is still an issue with accuracy in current production mini 14 and mini 30 rifles. That doesn't mean you shouldn't get one. They are fun, reliable short range plinkers and self defense rifles. Just don't expect too much when it comes to accuracy. Expect to spend money on some upgrades. rc

March 22, 2020, 07:39 AM	#20
starnbar Junior Member Join Date: February 20, 2020 Posts: 7	I don't know if it is the stocks or the type recoil springs but after working mine over i/e bedding and trigger new springs etc at 100 I can get 1 moa with gi brass and heavy bullets

March 25, 2020, 05:59 AM	#24
Greguw Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2006 Location: Bucks County , Pa Posts: 519	I loved my Mini-30 , never really a accurate rifle but got the job done better than the Mini-14 . I also had a few of the Mini-14’s , never bought then new just friends who got tired of them . There was a reason the A-Team used the Mini-14 ... You couldn’t hit any thing with them .. LOL

March 25, 2020, 02:51 PM	#25
COSteve Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2009 Posts: 1,344	If it wasn't accurate, it's likely because you were using junk, commie, steel cased ammo in it. There are many owners who handload with quality components and produce sub MOA shooters because even the older Mini-30s all came with thicker barrels and avoided the barrel whip issues the original, pencil barreled Mini-14s had.