[grumpy_old_man]

I bought a 582 series mini 14 Tactical a couple of weeks ago and have put 30 rounds through it so far. It wasn't a serious sighting in session but was just a chance for me to check the rifle out using various 55gr reloads. Today however, I have some loads that I worked up specifically for this rifle over the weekend and it is time to do some serious shooting. The one conclusion I came to was that when I am at the range I want to be at the far right table. I apologized to the guy next to me for all the hot brass zinging at him and he was nice enough about it.

When I went to the range last week, the rifle was shooting minute of basketball which is sort of what I expected. I am hoping for tighter groups today because this rifle is meant to replace my AR 15 which is a long story that I'll get into later. I've been doing a lot of reading here and now I know I might want to retorque the gas block and that an Accu Strut or Mo Rod might help but because of the shorter barrel, but it's doubtful. Bedding the action is something that will also happen and I'm fairly certain I will replace the iron sights with something else. Williams WGRS series maybe?

Anyhow, I'm off to the range and will file a range report later.

Hi Alaskafe;

The mini is somewhat more sensitive to variations in shooting technique than some other rifles. Here's an interesting read: Accu-strut for Mini-14

I thought I had my technique down pretty well before the ammo drought. Last time I had it out, I proved that good marksmanship skills can be perishable.

Good luck and all the best,
Grumpy

 

[grumpy_old_man]

Bedding is going to be a huge factor. If you take out the trigger group and hold the stock upside down, and the action falls right out, it needs to be bedded badly.
You will also need a trigger job.

These two things, I promise you, will be huge... HUGE!

Oh.. And the gas block if its way outta wack.

Good points, both.

Gundoc's got some great videos on those topics: Gunsmithing Videos by Great West Gunsmithing

To the OP, for right now I'd stick with a simple polish job on the sear and notch surfaces. Use something like MAAS metal polish and be careful not to round any surfaces.

Check your sights for tightness. The stock rear sight assembly on the new series minis is notorious for loosening. Mine very nearly fell off after a couple hundred rounds (didn't notice because I was using a scope). Blue loctite on all three of the screws is essential once you get 'er sighted in. Or replace the rear sight unit with the appropriate model from Tech Sights. Highly recommended.

On the question of technique, are you using a sling wrap? I would not, unless you float the forearm and anchor a stud to it. Reason is that the stock mini has its front sling swivel mounted on the gas block and that can cause issues with vertical stringing and changes of vertical POI based on the tension applied. If you're using a bipod, be careful of "bouncing", which also can cause vertical stringing and changes in vertical POI.

With the ammo drought on, if you can get snap caps that can help with trigger control, but recoil handling has to be done live. Your mini can be made to shoot better than that, so don't despair. Here was one of the 50 yd groups I shot a while back before the ammo drought. That was an unbedded action and I was having a lot of trouble with scope parallax at the time. Figures I'd get my new scope in (Nikon Buckmaster 4.5-14x40 w/side focus) just in time for the whole "no bullets for you" thing to hit.

So hang in there! Your rifle can be made to shoot well.

Good luck and all the best,
Grumpy