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January 21, 2018, 04:39 PM | #1 |
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Join Date: September 6, 2009
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My 583 Series Mini M14 is Finally Complete
Finally got it just like I want it. While I've had it almost 3 yrs, I finally put on a Choate front sight/FH combo and sprung for a beautiful walnut stock. It's enough like it's 'Big Brother', my NM sighted M1A so that they feel like a set. With Hornady 62grn HPBT bullets from Mid-South Shooter's Supply for my handloads as well as my standard 62grn Hornady fmj handloads, I took it to the range yesterday to give it a go. I've heard good things about them accuracy wise as they have a BC of .355 vs the 62grn fmj's BC of .274 (per Hornady).
As it was turning colder and the wind was picking up in advance of the snowstorm we have today, I was just able to shoot at my bowling pins at 200yds with the irons rather than a paper target so I didn't get to really see how the final product performed over it without the walnut stock and Choate front sight/FH I recently added. However, pins are my favorite targets so I'm use to them and it felt like the finished combo with Hornady's more accurate HPBT bullets in my handloads gave me a bit more accuracy. Time will tell when the weather is better. Even though my Mini now weighs about 9oz more than a stock Mini with the addition of an Accu-Strut, Choate sight/FH, and the more beefy walnut stock, I like the way it balances with the OE brand, straight 20rd mags installed. A nice, solid feel and the look . . . . . . . well, I'm in love with it all over again. My tweaks include: Painted Choate HG, Accu-Strut, Wilson buffers, Mini200 rear sight with a target .042" aperture coupled with a Choate front sight blade thinned to .050" wide for a 'NM' set of irons, sweet trigger job, shimmed the action, 1" shortened walnut stock for a more 'up close to the irons' sighting, OE brand straight 20rd mags w/Ruger followers, reduced gas bushing, torqued gas block, M1 Carbine sling, and 'Lightened' safety lever all give it a definite M14esque feel. While that sounds like a lot of money, if one subtracts the $200 stock I added for the looks, all the other mods cost me about what a decent AR trigger would have. Couple the package with my handloaded 62grn Hornady fmj or better yet some of the new 62grn Hornady HPBT bullets for even better accuracy and the package gives me a sweet Mini! Accuracy in the 1-1½ MOA range with my handloads makes for a terrific package that's a real joy to shoot. |
January 21, 2018, 05:31 PM | #2 |
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Nice! Impressive!
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January 21, 2018, 05:33 PM | #3 |
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Location: Poquoson,Virginia
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VERY nice!
The Mini is just nice to shoot. Enjoy!
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January 21, 2018, 06:56 PM | #4 |
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Is the flash hider a pin on unit that fits 581 and later series Minis without any modifications?
I like your Mini14, is pretty sweet! |
January 21, 2018, 07:32 PM | #5 |
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Join Date: October 9, 2009
Location: North Alabama
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+1
Yes very nice indeed. Tell me more abut that top handguard.
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January 21, 2018, 08:24 PM | #6 |
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I really like it. I have a 580 series and may have to paint my handguard. That sets it off. At least it looks better than the black plastic. And I have two handguards on hand.
I do not doubt the groups you reported. My gun shoots cheap Monarch ammo in to 2” groups. But some of the AR fan boys may want a lot of proof. I will never sell my Mini-14. It’s one of those “going to the happy hunting ground” with me rifles. |
January 22, 2018, 01:47 AM | #7 |
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Great looking rifle!
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January 22, 2018, 04:40 AM | #8 |
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sweet!
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January 22, 2018, 08:32 AM | #9 |
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Join Date: February 23, 2017
Location: Colorado
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Looks beautiful COSteve.
On a side note, I was curious what your thoughts were on the Accu-Strut? How much did it help? Is it worth the cost? Also second rickyrick's question on the choate sight/FH? |
January 22, 2018, 02:17 PM | #10 | ||
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Quote:
Quote:
As to the visual, I also have a an M1A that is my Mini's 'Big Brother'. With the Accu-Strut mimicking the gas system of the M1A, they make a great pair. As my Basic Training weapon, the M14 was my first battle rifle and I love the feel and heft of it so the M1A holds a special place in my collection and I shoot it along with my Mini as often as possible. (Good thing I handload!!!) |
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January 22, 2018, 02:24 PM | #11 |
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Join Date: March 15, 2010
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Thanks, last muzzle device I tried, I guess they hadn’t figured out the barrel diameters yet.
I put one on in 2010 and it went down range in 2014 lol. Turns out the pin was just in front of the barrel step, but looked like a pin groove. It was advertised as being for a 581 mini, but apparently it was not. Looks like this one is correct hahahahahaha. |
January 22, 2018, 02:30 PM | #12 | |||
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Quote:
Quote:
I also have a few ARs and yes, my scoped 20" A4 will out perform my Mini, however, it is an expensive unit I built up for long range shooting. I shoot apples at 400yds with it using my 68grn precision handloads. Not surprisingly, I added a walnut stock and custom made pistol grip to it as well. Not a fan of plastic and aluminum as only my lightweight build AR carbine is not 'wood and steel'. The AR fan boys can say what they will. I'm tickled with my Mini and prefer the platform size, compact shape, and better heft over my AR carbine any day. Truth be told, I prefer the mil style of the M1 Garand, M1 Carbine, and M14 over the M16. As I own all of them, (2 Garands, 2 Carbines, and an M1A) I shoot what I like. Quote:
As to the visual, I also have a an M1A that is my Mini's 'Big Brother'. With the Accu-Strut mimicking the gas system of the M1A, they make a great pair. As my Basic Training weapon, the M14 was my first battle rifle and I love the feel and heft of it so the M1A holds a special place in my collection and I shoot it along with my Mini as often as possible. (Good thing I handload!!!) |
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January 22, 2018, 04:14 PM | #13 |
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Location: Colorado
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Great, thanks. So the accu-strut doesn't actually add any harmonic dampening? Didn't even think about it being a heat sink, makes sense though.
I see you swapped for different buffers, but did you switch it the gas block? |
January 22, 2018, 04:22 PM | #14 |
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Location: Alabama
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Oh goodness. That's by far the nicest I have ever seen. At first glance I thought it was a M1A. Beautiful. Congratulations.
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January 23, 2018, 12:50 AM | #15 |
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you have me pricing your list of add ons. Very well done.
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January 23, 2018, 12:13 PM | #16 | ||
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Quote:
Later after I shimmed the stock, added a target aperture and thinned the front sight, and got a full trigger job it shot tighter still. Now that I've added the walnut stock and the Choate front sight I've shot it just under 1¼" groups with my 62grn Hornady HPBT handloads. Quote:
This caused me to strain my neck forward trying to gain the same sight picture I use to with the other platforms. I found the stock Mini rear sight awkward to use. Adding the Tech Sight's great Mini200 rear sight moved the aperture back .5" giving me a 15" Heel to Aperture distance but it still didn't feel right to me so I removed the buttpad and cut down the birch stock 1" and re-attached the buttpad. When I got my walnut stock, I did the same thing. Now the Heel to Aperture distance is 14". Last edited by COSteve; January 23, 2018 at 12:30 PM. |
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January 23, 2018, 06:56 PM | #17 |
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Thats a pretty slick mini, I wish you could buy them out of the box like that, and for the same price(yep, I want my cake, and to eat it too). I was looking at flash hiders, and found one thats a copy of the M14 flash hider, but they were only made for the older pencil mini barrels.
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January 24, 2018, 07:17 PM | #18 | |
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Quote:
I talked to the owner of Choate Machine & Tool about 2 yrs ago to see if he'd consider offering it for the thicker .625" barrels on the 58X series Minis and also with a shorter flash hider, say 2-2¼" long. He said that the cost of changing the tooling for the new model wouldn't be cost effective. However, as one who spent 40+ yrs working with design and fabrication of advanced, classified Aerospace hardware, I know just how 'hard' it would be to change the CnC program to shorten the length of the flash hider and increase the collar size to fit the barrel of the newer Mini's. I'm guessing that the real reason he won't consider it is because he doesn't want to compete with his existing design that fits the newer Minis. |
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January 25, 2018, 12:01 AM | #19 |
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The old pencil barrel minis were are quite dated. I wouldn't assume the change would be a CNC program. He might very well be making those with a Hardinge manual rotary indexer or similar. The volume can't be very high and it is a small part. May be sitting on inventory from two decades ago.
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January 25, 2018, 01:48 AM | #20 |
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By far the best-looking Mini I've ever seen. And I like the way they look to begin with...
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January 25, 2018, 10:15 AM | #21 |
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I’m with you, this looks fantastic and I’m sure is fun to shoot. I love my mini and my $2k ARs and there is more than enough room for variety!
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March 19, 2018, 09:59 AM | #22 |
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well thought out, and good components. I like it.
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March 21, 2018, 10:59 AM | #23 |
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So now with the weather getting nicer, I've been able to take it out more. It's a ton of fun still and I think it may be a bit better with the new front sight/FH. I narrowed the front sight a bit more on my Choate than before and it gives me a more precise sight picture.
Just a great fun shooter. |
March 22, 2018, 10:07 AM | #24 | |
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Good looking rifle! Seems very functional too.
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March 22, 2018, 04:02 PM | #25 |
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Very nice looking Mini-14!
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