Well, I finally got a chance to try out my new mini-14. Using Wolf 55gr hp, a muzzle brake, recoil buffer and Mike's gas bushing, I was getting 3 inch groups at 100 yards. I'm fairly satisfied with this since I was using a Leupold-Gilmore dot sight. Hopefully I can pull them a little closer after bedding the stock. However, I am getting a gas leak at the gas block (black soot on the barrel). Does this indicate that I don't have the gas block on straight? Would this effect the accuracy? I'm going to loosen the screws and use a gauge to set the gaps.
Finally got to shoot my little warrior ....
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SEW, Don't forget to loctite the threads (the med hold Blue). I would also go with Mikes recommended 2 to 3 ft-lbs of torque = 24 to 36 in lbs. I torqued mine less than this, and my gasblock moved fwd a little, as the gas bushing is the only thing keeping the blocks from sliding down the barrel if not tight enough. Torque them in a cross pattern, a little at a time, but don't strip em out. This should make a better seal. If you read Z-mans sticky in the accuracy section you will see his accuracy improved some after gaping, and torqueing. Bedding my Hogue stock tightened group avg, by 3/4", and got rid of the flyers.
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414 Posts
SEW,
American Eagle and Winchester 55GR both shoot the same for me - about 5 inch groups at 100 yards. They're about $5 per box. Wolf shoots about 8 inch groups in my mini-14 at 100 yards. That's with no muzzle brake or trigger work. But the rifle has been glass bedded.
Wolf just doesn't shoot well enough in my mini-14 for longer ranges. Other loads work much better. Federal 52 GR boat-tail Speer tip got me down to 3 inch groups, but it costs about $15 per box.
Forget Wolf unless you're blasting at 50 yards or less. That's my experience. If you fully accurize your rifle, you should do much better.
May the force be with you. But just in case, don't forget your rifle and pack a thousand rounds.
KC
American Eagle and Winchester 55GR both shoot the same for me - about 5 inch groups at 100 yards. They're about $5 per box. Wolf shoots about 8 inch groups in my mini-14 at 100 yards. That's with no muzzle brake or trigger work. But the rifle has been glass bedded.
Wolf just doesn't shoot well enough in my mini-14 for longer ranges. Other loads work much better. Federal 52 GR boat-tail Speer tip got me down to 3 inch groups, but it costs about $15 per box.
Forget Wolf unless you're blasting at 50 yards or less. That's my experience. If you fully accurize your rifle, you should do much better.
May the force be with you. But just in case, don't forget your rifle and pack a thousand rounds.
KC
Welcome to the forum Bubba. Just goes to show not all mini's are equal.
SEW, my mini likes Winchester 45 gr varmint. $9 for a double box of 40. Many shooters like Federal LC. You know you don't have ta pick up your brass. Not all people recycle their alum. cans, not all people reload their brass. Based on 10 reloads per case, I reload 20 rds for $2.94, and they are more consistant, and shoot tighter groups than factory ammo. It works for me
SEW, my mini likes Winchester 45 gr varmint. $9 for a double box of 40. Many shooters like Federal LC. You know you don't have ta pick up your brass. Not all people recycle their alum. cans, not all people reload their brass. Based on 10 reloads per case, I reload 20 rds for $2.94, and they are more consistant, and shoot tighter groups than factory ammo. It works for me
Thanks all for the responses and advice. I finished bedding the stock yesterday and I hope to be able to get out this weekend and try it out. If I can get the Wolf to under 3" I'll be satisfied, as I mentioned above, I'm using a 2 mil dot scope. And ... at 100 yards, 3 inches should still keep me on the yote. If, after the mods, I still can't get under 3" then I'll try some other ammo.
Cajungeo you wrote, "Bedding my Hogue stock tightened group avg, by 3/4", and got rid of the flyers."
Was there any prep work you did on the stock before applying the glass bedding. I had heard of some people having problems with the bedding adhering to the rubber on the stock.
Thanks
David
Was there any prep work you did on the stock before applying the glass bedding. I had heard of some people having problems with the bedding adhering to the rubber on the stock.
Thanks
David
Hi dave. The Hogue is a fiber glass stock, with a bonded rubber coating on the outside only. The only place I did not apply the epoxy is on the top of the stock, under the receiver as it is rubber. Some of the Butler Creek stocks are more plastic in nature, therefore drilling shallow holes inside help to form mechanical locks to aid in bedding.
Today was the first chance I had to try the gun since I bedded the stock. The Wolf 55 gr HP groups are now at 2 ½ inches @ 100 yards. The bedding (and making sure that the gas block screws were tight) reduced the groups by about ½ inch.
One problem though … I find that with the dot sight, I am at the max elevation setting. When I started, I was very low at 50 yards and when I hit the elevation limit it was still printing about a foot low. I shimmed the rear of the scope up about 3/16 and it shot about 5 inches high. I was able, at that point to sight it in at 100. Has anyone else reported problems with using a dot scope? I'm satisfied with the way it is shooting now but not happy about having to shim the scope.
One problem though … I find that with the dot sight, I am at the max elevation setting. When I started, I was very low at 50 yards and when I hit the elevation limit it was still printing about a foot low. I shimmed the rear of the scope up about 3/16 and it shot about 5 inches high. I was able, at that point to sight it in at 100. Has anyone else reported problems with using a dot scope? I'm satisfied with the way it is shooting now but not happy about having to shim the scope.
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14 Posts
SEW -
Glad you are having some luck. Please tell me more about the Leupold/Gilmore sight. Is it good in low-light, good for hunting, fast acquisition, etc...
Was considering a red-dot for my mini-30.
Thanks,
lostcajunboy
Glad you are having some luck. Please tell me more about the Leupold/Gilmore sight. Is it good in low-light, good for hunting, fast acquisition, etc...
Was considering a red-dot for my mini-30.
Thanks,
lostcajunboy
lostcajunboy,
I really like the scope as it functions well within my set goals for the mini which is accurate within 3 in @ 100 yards. Right now I’m at about 2 ½ (and under) with 55 gr Wolf hp. I will primarily be using it for close coyote and like the VERY quick pick up.
I talked the Gilmore about the elevation problem. Seems that there is a problem using Ruger rings and Ruger mounts. The combination nullifies all of the elevation. Probably too optically high for the gun. He assured me that if I install the Weaver to Ruger mount and use the rings that came with the scope I would recover most of the elevation adjustment. We’ll see.
I really like the scope as it functions well within my set goals for the mini which is accurate within 3 in @ 100 yards. Right now I’m at about 2 ½ (and under) with 55 gr Wolf hp. I will primarily be using it for close coyote and like the VERY quick pick up.
I talked the Gilmore about the elevation problem. Seems that there is a problem using Ruger rings and Ruger mounts. The combination nullifies all of the elevation. Probably too optically high for the gun. He assured me that if I install the Weaver to Ruger mount and use the rings that came with the scope I would recover most of the elevation adjustment. We’ll see.
Hey SEW. I hope the techs recomendations work for you, but it seems strange that your problems wouldn't also occur with an optical scope. Do you have an old scope or borrow one to check it out? Let us know how it turns out.
lostcajunboy welcome to the forum. The big thing to remember with the red dot is the dots MOA size. You may already know this but some people don't so the thing to remember is a 2 MOA dot means the red dot will cover 2" of the target at 100 yds, whereas some gilmores are 8 MOA which will cover 8" at 100 yds. Then there are things like batt life, and avail, cost etc. I would recomend taking in a large gun show to check em out for free before ya buy.
lostcajunboy welcome to the forum. The big thing to remember with the red dot is the dots MOA size. You may already know this but some people don't so the thing to remember is a 2 MOA dot means the red dot will cover 2" of the target at 100 yds, whereas some gilmores are 8 MOA which will cover 8" at 100 yds. Then there are things like batt life, and avail, cost etc. I would recomend taking in a large gun show to check em out for free before ya buy.
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SEW and cajungeo -
Thanks for the welcome and info. I just attended the Lake Charles, LA show and it was weak on scopes and most prices, pricey (I got a couple of great deals, though). I've seen the Leupold/Gilmore in SGN for around $150 and Cabela's seems to have a deluxe model for around $200 (their brand - Pine Ridge).
Good shooting,
lostcajunboy
Thanks for the welcome and info. I just attended the Lake Charles, LA show and it was weak on scopes and most prices, pricey (I got a couple of great deals, though). I've seen the Leupold/Gilmore in SGN for around $150 and Cabela's seems to have a deluxe model for around $200 (their brand - Pine Ridge).
Good shooting,
lostcajunboy
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