Un-Retouched Mini Accuracy

[fclight]

I've just gotten a used 185 and shot some 62gn cartridges in it at 50 yards and shot a 1" group of three shots. That works out to about 2" at 100 yards.

I didn't get a chance to shoot any 10 shot strings (too many folks wanting so shoot her!!) so I don't know about stringing. I did shoot again about 20 shots later and it was still around an inch and hadn't shifted impact significantly.

What has everyone else gotten from a bone stock Mini in the past? From some of the posts here I was pleased by 1" at 50!! Is this average or do I have a good-un?
FL

[2LTBarganier]

50 yards? awful groupings with the military surplus I use...About 4 inches at 50 yards...

Other than that I can only afford wolf right now, but with the wolf I would say I get about 3'' groups at 50 yards.

Keep in mind though that this is all done with ironsites.. When I get a scope, then i'm going to get me some better ammo and really start taking notice of my groupings.

[USMCGUNNY0369]

The problem with Mini's in the past has always been that you never knew what you were getting until you shot it. Some shot pretty good and others couldn't hold a group. I'd say that you were very fortunate to get a good one. A 2'' group at 100yds is as good as any AR-15 except a expensive varmit model.

[Marlin 45 carbine]

yes 2" at 100 is fairly decent scoped rifle groups, particuarly with the thin Mini barrel.

[mercdank]

accu-strut+16in barrel=MOA (or better) at 100yards
i have only the strut and FH and get moa with mil spec silver bear

[steve4102]

The problem with Mini's in the past has always been that you never knew what you were getting until you shot it. Some shot pretty good and others couldn't hold a group..

You got that right, cept this Hit & Miss accuracy issue is not only found in the Mini, it is found in all of Ruger firearms. I have stated this before, Ruger has zero quality control. They puke em out as fast as they can and sell whatever comes off the line both the good and the bad. If you get one of the bad and complain, they will try and make it right. If you get one of the bad and do nothing, all the better for Ruger.

[fclight]

mercdank,

What kind of groups did you get before the mods?

I had a Ranch Rifle a few years back that wouldn't hit a pie plate regularly from 100 yards. I called Ruger and the Tech was actually rude about my expecting better accuracy out of a $450 rifle! I told him I'd had a 180 years ago that would shoot dimes at 100 yards and he said I should have kept it:angry: I agreed with him and until I found this BB, I'd sworn off Minis altogether!:(

By the way, I was shooting 62gn Federal American Eagle ammo in the original post in this thread.
FL

[USMCGUNNY0369]

You got that right, cept this Hit & Miss accuracy issue is not only found in the Mini, it is found in all of Ruger firearms. I have stated this before, Ruger has zero quality control. They puke em out as fast as they can and sell whatever comes off the line both the good and the bad. If you get one of the bad and complain, they will try and make it right. If you get one of the bad and do nothing, all the better for Ruger.

I have to dissagree there. I shot Rifle/Pistol on several teams while in the Corps and have owned or shot many weapons since. The MOST reliable and accurate pistol I have ever owned & fired right out of the box is the Ruger P-90 (45ACP). Yes, some say it's big & bulky but I don't find it anymore so than the Beretta M-9 (model 92FS) Service Pistol. I've owned several P90's and they will digest/load any 45 ammo they are fed without a hiccup. It is the only pistol that a manufacturer will reccomend as safe to fire .45ACP +P also.
In addition, the 10/22 has to be one of the most popular firearms ever sold for some reason.

[Mini-Dave]

I have to dissagree there. I shot Rifle/Pistol on several teams while in the Corps and have owned or shot many weapons since. The MOST reliable and accurate pistol I have ever owned & fired right out of the box is the Ruger P-90 (45ACP). Yes, some say it's big & bulky but I don't find it anymore so than the Beretta M-9 (model 92FS) Service Pistol. I've owned several P90's and they will digest/load any 45 ammo they are fed without a hiccup. It is the only pistol that a manufacturer will reccomend as safe to fire .45ACP +P also.
In addition, the 10/22 has to be one of the most popular firearms ever sold
for some reason.

I have to agree. I think Ruger makes good tough ergonomic quality for a fair price.
I have had a .22 Winchester rifle, and it is nothing like the 10/22 I have now which blows it away.
I have a Ruger P-89 9mm and it is large, it is heavy, it is not real tight, but it goes bang every single darn time. And it eats ANYTHING that says 9mm Luger on the box.
I also have a Walther P-99 in .40 cal, and it is beautiful, it is light, it is very tight. It also jams when using hallow points. It misfires when I use Wolf and don't clean it like a surgeon washes his hands. It is temperamental, it is moody, it is not what James Bond should be trusting his life with in an extended firefight. The Ruger, well it is the American AK of handguns, and even the Mini-14 has been called the "American AK".
Ruger makes very nice guns. I have been disappointed by SAR's, Colts, Remingtons, and several others, but right now I only own six guns. Four are Rugers because while they don't provide the very best in the industry, they do give a known quality at a fair price. Not just good guns, but aftermarket feature adaptable, and can take large cap mag.

[tri70]

I had not cleaned my Rem 700 30-06 in a while and I could not get it to group better than 6'' @ 100 yds. I gave it a good cleaning and the accuracy returned. I forgot how long it had been since I shot it. Now saying that we will shoot our mini for 50 rnds and say they can't shoot or group. If I want good groups from my guns I have to keep them clean but I do handload which greatly helps.;) I think any gun can shoot bad if you let it but I think every gun has its potential to shoot well if we figure out how to fix it.

[handirifle]

So far, with two different loads, and only at 50yds, my Mini Target has gotten sub QUARTER inch 3 shot groups:D.

Have not had a chance to get back to the range for further testing.

The bullets used were 55gr Vmax's and 55gr Sierra Gameking HP's. Powders were H4198 and Varget.

This is from a bench and fully support rest, testing the rifle, not me, not yet anyway. The scope is Burris 3x9x40 Fullfield II.

[NautclRltr]

fclight, 2 inches is a great group at 100 yards. Normally, I might expect a 2'' group when I have a sub-1 inch group at 50 yards. But as I found out, my mini did not prove out that presumption. I could only do 2-3 inch groups after doing 3/4 inches at 50 yards. It seems (with my mini anyway) that what ever effect the barrel whip has, it does not seem to show up until the second 50 yards. I am still working on getting sub-two-inch groups at 100. Good luck to you.

[Evil_Lurker]

If I had a Mini that shot 2" groups
at 100 yds. I would praise the Lord and leave it alone. But that's just me.

[fclight]

I was able to shoot some more this past weekend and am plesantly surprised!

Again, at 50 yards I shot 15 rounds, 5 seconds apart, rested with a scope using American Eagle 62 gn fmj. The first three were within 1 1/4" and as I continued they began to string vertically (big surprise there :rolleyes:). The entire 15 shot group was 2 7/8" outside measurements.

From what I've read here, cryotreatment will stop the stringing for around $50 including shipping!! I'm gonna have to give it a try before doing anything else and then I'll give her another try with a 15 shot group.

FL

[handirifle]

Next time I get to the range I will take pics, but don't know when that will be. Gonna make another 200 mile jaunt to my daughters this weekend (3 out of the last 4 weekends:(), and when I can I'll test it out for longer ranges.

[Mickey1539]

I had my barrel treated at Cryo-Pro near Springfield, MO. I do have a Har-Bar strut and my Mini shoots better when the barrel is hot. My first shot is at 2 O'clock by 4" and the scond at 2 O'clock by 2" and the third shot is at 2 O'clock by 1/2". After that, they stay on target from warm to hot. If the gun sits for a while when I'm changing targets, it still stays on target. The Cryo treatment is well worth the money.

Thanks, Mickey

[DrMaxit]

Wth does Un-Retouched mean? anyways, i was getting about 3.5moa "untouched" (or un-re, whatever.)

--Chuck

[fclight]

Un-reotuched is essentially box stock with no modifications to the operating systems. No flash hiders/brakes, cryo-treatment, barrel shortening, trigger mods, barrel exchanges, glass bedding, harmonic balancers, etc.

I'm trying to get a feel for what is really good stock accuracy and what is really crappy stock accuracy and what has a beneficial effect on accuracy and what is junk.

My goal is to improve the accuracy of my rifle as much as possible while staying within $150.00. I'll be doing as much at home as can be accomplished and posting the results here.

Yes, I realise that I could have bought a rifle for the same amount of money that wouldn't need to be modified but where's the fun in that??? This way, when my Mini-14 owning friends see my rifle and how accurate it is, I can talk junk and say it's all my work and has nothing to do with the factory!

FL

[handirifle]

fcflight
I think that's why I want a second one. With it 1.5 MOA will be the goal, as a tactical weapon.