strut length?

[prc77]

How long should I make the strut. I'm using Sarge's idea with the tri rail clamps from Cheaper Than Dirt. Sarge cut his at 5" longer? shorter? what do you think?

[Warlord]

When I made mine, I made it according to my barrel length. Gundoc cut mine at 17 inches and installed the sight at the end of the Levang suppressor so mine came out to 5.625"

[prc77]

Warlord
This one will be going on a mini with a standard length barrel with pin on brake. I was thinking 5.5"-6". what do ya think?

[tri70]

I think is matters more were you place the clamps on the barrel, getting the sweet spot close to the muzzle brake or backed off in 1/8 incraments till you find the best place. That is the way I did mine, the clamp towards the gas block did not make as much difference. The shorter the strut length the more rigid it will be, also depending on the material used for the rod. I have piece of metal carbide rod, very rigid and only about 4" long.

[Warlord]

Warlord
This one will be going on a mini with a standard length barrel with pin on brake. I was thinking 5.5"-6". what do ya think?

I think you should measure it which I'm sure you probably have and go from there. I'm not sure why I did this but, I put my front clamp right at the barrel "step" when I set it up. It brought my groups down to 1.3" and I haven't moved it since but as Tri70 said, you can reposition the front clamp and see how if effects accuracy.
I made mine out of 5/8" heavy wall aluminum tubing and added a damping compound in the center of the rod which fits very tight. I don't know what, if any affect the compound has had on the accuracy but the strut has been working great.

[prc77]

Mini 14 182 series. Hate it that its not a ranch. Hogue Overmold, Ultimak rail, Bushnell Trophy 3-9X40, ASI small gas bushing, pin on brake, recoil buufer from GUNDOC, store built strut (rail clamps are from Cheaper than Dirt) and a nice piece of 5/8 stainless steel for the strut. Hope it shoots as good as it looks:(

[tri70]

That looks very cool! Shoot it and adjust up or back, that's what I did to find the best place for best groups. Try shooting 3 shot groups before adjusting. Do you handload or buy factory ammo?

[prc77]

That looks very cool! Shoot it and adjust up or back, that's what I did to find the best place for best groups. Try shooting 3 shot groups before adjusting. Do you handload or buy factory ammo?

TRI70
I do roll my own, I will be starting with 69gr HPBT and work my way down to 40gr. I would expect the heavier bullet to perform the best due to the twist rate, but you never know.

[Warlord]

Mine seems to like the 55gr SP and HP. I must say though the Mini 14 is a strange weapon where bullet weight/length is concerned. It certainly seems to step outside the norm where twist rate is concerned.