[josamkay]

Hi I am new to this forum and also new to my mini 14 580 series..I would like to know if I can shoot 5.56 in this mini....Any additional help would be greatly appreciated....Thanks Joe USMC

 

[COBrien]

All Mini-14s (except the Target models...) will eat 5.56x45 with no problem.

 

[Pet-Rock]

The chamber is actually cut 5.56 instead of 223 from the factory on all but the target model

 

[jgodwin2]

Yep. Mine ate several hundred rounds of M855 before I noticed it had .223 etched into the reviever. I don't worry about it any more.

 

[SUBlime]

Yes. P. 13 of the owner's manual.

 

[glenwatkins]

Ranch Rifles and all Mini 14's except the target model love 5.56!

 

[Popeye 14]

Count me in I 've never had a problem shooting 556 out of my Mini ranch rifle.

 

[forestdavegump]

All sounds true and good enjoy!

 

[lynn8964]

For quick in-depth answer to your question, click here:
.223 Remington - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Cserv]

Without a doubt. My 580 Ranch chews up and spits out anything I feed it. Since 2007 have only had 2 FTE's both with steel cased ammo after not cleaning for a while. Now if I use steel I always brush the chamber.

Eric

 

[Old Navy]

5.56 is okay. However, if possible, stay away from steel cased ammo. If you must, regular cleaning, including the chamber is good advice.

 

[grumpy_old_man]

I would like to know if I can shoot 5.56 in this mini

If you can find any, and its not a target model go for it. I find that Federal M193 ball works best in all of mine. PPU (Prvi Partisan) tends to leave more brass chips (soft?), and I have never shot steel cased in any mini.

BTW, "Independence" brand is actually Israeli surplus M193 spec'd ammo being brought in by Federal. Good stuff.

All the best,
Grumpy

 

[Old Navy]

Grumpy: That's a coincidence. I have been shooting the Federal M193 ball and the Privi Partisan (62 gr. boat tail). However, have not noticed any brass chips. Will watch closer for it. Anyway, It seens to be good ammo with no problems.

 

[Cserv]

I was wondering about the PPU stuff, as that was all I could get for my ration the other day at$7.97/box from WM.

Eric

 

[grumpy_old_man]

I was wondering about the PPU stuff, as that was all I could get for my ration the other day at$7.97/box from WM.

Eric

Its not my favorite loading, but I've been buying it too. Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned the brass chips thing, since it really was just a minor PITA during cleanup after firing a lot of ammo - I used to fire 2-300 rounds of .223 during a range session and afterwards it seemed like there were more chips than usual. Man I miss those days where I could go out there in the early morning and burn powder all day long, with no real care at all about the .22LR's I fired. Now I just write on the fora, clean my guns, and keep searching online for ammo....

PPU is reasonably clean stuff and I have never had a misfire.

All the best,
Grumpy

 

[forestdavegump]

Steel cased okay here.

5.56 is okay. However, if possible, stay away from steel cased ammo. If you must, regular cleaning, including the chamber is good advice.

"if possible" for me is a problem, the prices TODAY make it impossible, have been shooting steel cased here for years and YES we clean her up after every time she needs it. The Mini's both 14 and 30 seem to do rather well with steel cased stuff! To each his own I also shoot .223 and 5.56 like it makes no difference in these rifles, cause it don't! Ruger saved us on that.:wacko: