I have a 188 series rifle (1 in 7 twist) and was wondering if anyone out there had developed a accurate (as accurate as you can get) load. I went for years and did not know it was 1 in 7. The only load that ever shot close to good was the Wolf 62 grain. I would assume a heavier bullet would shoot better but I don't wont have to re-invent the wheel. Any help would be appreciated.
there are a lot of folks that don't know that the 188, and probably other series, have the 1:7 twist.
One consequence is that the light 55 grain bullets give poor accuracy, and the heavier bullets give better accuracy.
The hunting load I use, and for SD also, is a Winchester 64 grain SP. I use H335 powder and Wolf SP primers.
I get two inch accuracy with no gimmicks or special stuff.
Black Hills blue box 68gr OTM work best in my wife's 187-XXXXX. But a close second is Privi Partisan M193 I believe manufactured in 04. American Eagle and Winnie white box did just awful. The AE was over 8 inches at 100yds. All this with a 9x scope. I had a ghost ring put on for speed at closer ranges because my and her eyes are old and tired. But she (my wife) can sure give someone the blues at 200yds.:lol: F of Rs
Would you guys with the heavy bullet loads for the fast twist guns, mine is also a fast twist, please list your OAL. This would be a great help as I have a pile of reloads that do not shoot worth a diddly, then I checked the twist.... Geez... 50s and 55 just will not cut it.
It is amazing to me the stuff that is written about the mini and the things people do to try and get one to shoot, without ever checking the twist!
Best,
Ed
I get great accuracy in my 186 series 1 in 7 Mini's using 55gr bullets in my own loads. I also get great accuracy using the 69gr Sierra HPBT Match bullet. You can find the load and results in the 2-MOA results thread in the Mini-14 target shooting contest section.
In looking at Ruger's list of productions dates and the 184xxxxxxx series seems to be at 1:10 twist rate. Where does this put my rifle insofaras bullet weight? Thanks........
I have a Stainless Ranch Rifle with 1/7" twist. I worked up loads with 69 gr Matchkings and WW748 years ago, and got decent groups (< 2" at 100 yds.). Never had consistent luck until I had a trigger job done (2 1/2 #), installed a smaller gas bushing, put recoil buffers in and put a homemade stabilizer bar under the barrel. It's liked Silver State Armory 70 gr Barnes TSX and recently put three rounds of Silver State Armory 77 gr OTM into under a half inch at 50 yards. I know it wasn't designed to be a target rifle, but it's fun to try different things to see what works.
I loaded the 77 gr. SMK to a length of 2.260". This load will group just over an inch at 100 yards. I have used the 68 grain Hornady match in the Mini and several AR's and it is nearly as accurate as the heavier Sierra. I also have got near MOA out of the 60 grain V-Max, and 55 grain Sierra Blitzking. From looking at the barrel twist charts for the Mini, my 195 series should have fallen into the 1-7 twist range, but measuring with the tight patch on a swivel rod shows it to actually be a 1-9" twist. I was surprised the heavy 77 grainer shot as well as it did, but I never shot it at longer ranges to see if it was still stabilized. I still have a few left so might try it when it warms up. I was getting best accuracy with the 77 gr. with my starting load of 22.7 grains of H-4895. I have done quite a bit of shooting with the 68 grain Hornady Match out to 500 meters. Last summer got to shoot many prairie dogs out to 300 with the scoped Mini. The Mini really likes the 55 Sierra Blitzking, and they are really explosive on the little varmints. Here is a 100 yard bench group with the 77 grain Sierra, would have been 1 inch except for the round I pulled to the right.
Sandog: Sounds like you have a good shooting rifle. That's a nice looking group in the picture. Have you done any mods on it, like a stabilizer or trigger work? I tried to determine the barrel twist rate with the bore brush and cleaning rod, but could never get that to work as the brush would start unscrewing from the cleaning rod. I've heard there are some overlaps for models and twist rates. I've been told that you can call Ruger and they will give you the barrel twist rate from your rifle serial number. I plan on loading some Sierra 69 gr Matchkings, some Sierra 77 gr Matchkings and also some Hornady 70 gr GMX to see what the rifle likes best.
yagermeister, I have an Accustrut, Hogue stock, use buffers, and smoothed the trigger when I had it apart, but pull was already nice at 4 lbs., so I didn't lighten it any. My 195 must be a transitional model, as the chart says it's supposed to be a 1-7", but I measured it several times and it came out as being 1-9".
Sandog: Could you tell me which buffer you use on the front end, at the base of the gas pipe or piston? I'd put one of the Wilson Combat 1911 Shok Buff Recoil Buffers (blue) on the Mini-14 before, and it seemed to do a great job in absorbing the operating rod impact. Also have the Wilson Combat Rifle Shok-Buf (gray) at the back end of the operating rod spring. I'd heard somewhere that it was risky putting a shock buffer around the gas pipe, as it changes the operating rod timing, and there is the possibility of blowback gases due to higher gas pressure in the barrel when operating rod starts moving back. It was suggested using a piece of vacuum cleaner drive belt instead, as it isn't as thick but will still last a long time, and also cushion the impact.
I use Wilson blue buffers front and rear, but to alleviate worries about shortstroking, etc., I cut the buffers so they are half as thick. I'm still getting some benefit from the buffers, but trying to cut down on potential problems. I first tried thinning them by holding them with pliers and cutting them with a new blade in a razor knife, but those suckers are tough, I wasn't getting them even and it was taking a while. I then clamped one halfway in some vise grips, and used one of those Dremel bits that looks like a miniature circular saw blade. I cut halfway down then flipped the buffer around in the vise grips and cut the other half. I made up several spares within minutes, but haven't needed replacements yet. I'm still on the original buffers and have a good 600 rounds through them. Some have reported that their buffers get chewed up fast, but my front one looks charred from heat and gasses, but is otherwise still serviceable.
Sandog:
I picked up a couple cans of H4895 yesterday, and also some 70 gr. Barnes TSX BT bullets. Was wondering what kind of cases you were using when you loaded the 77 gr. Matchkings with H4895. The Barnes website recommends using H4895 for either the .223 or 5.56 NATO with the 70 gr. TSX, but not both. I'm hoping to get some 69 gr. Matchkings, 77 gr. Matchkings and 70 gr. TSX Barnes BTs loaded up sometime soon for accuracy tests. Will post a 100 yd. range picture with some of the heavier commercial loads when I get out next time.
yager, I used British surplus 5.56mm brass (Royal Ordnance Radway Green). I was using CCI's #41 primer, as I was loading for an AR as well. Will be interested to know how they all shoot for you, especially the Barnes. I tried some in my .308 for a hunting load but could not get them to shoot. Perhaps it was because my .308 has a relatively slow twist ( 1-12") and the all copper bullets are longer for their given weight.
Here's from my last outing a couple weeks ago. Shot at 66 yards off the hood of my S-10 Blazer. It looks like it definitely likes the 69 gr. Matchkings as well as the 77 gr. Matchkings.
I've been reloading 60, 62, 68, & 75 gr. bullets with W748. So far the Hornady Match 75's have grouped best followed closely by cheap Armscor 62's. Going in the opposite direction I plan to try some 55 gr Hornadys with a stiff charge of IMR 4198. A few people report good results with that load.
leadpot, if you get your hands on some Hornady 55 Grain Spire Points #2265 along with that IMR 4198 it used to make for some extremely tight groups at 100 Yards with 1-14 or 1-12 rifling. Still ain't bad with 1-9, be interested to see what it does at 1-7.
That's exactly what the doctor ordered! Already loaded up and waiting patiently for good day to goof off at the range! I will be trying both 1-9 & 1-7 mini's, looking for the OCW from the low to high end of the powder charge. Past experience tells me the mini's will like the high end but we'll just have to wait and see.
Finally got a nice calm day to go to the range, with better shooting rests. My 1/7" 188 Series likes most everything from 69 gr. up to 77 gr. It seems to like the Silver State Armory 5.56 77 gr. OTM, so this is one of the loads I'll try to duplicate.
Finally got out to test IMR 4198 thru the 1 in 9 mini. Surprisingly all powder charges from the low of 20.4 to the high of 21.8 cycled the action, even with the reduced gas port bushing.
Best groups from the 55 gr Hornady SP came at 21.60 grns. Not bad accuracy, It'll work for plinking, but not as good as the heavier 75 gr Hornady with W748. At least I know I can run the IMR 4198 without cycling issues.
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