[Capt. Myles Keogh]

Howdy all. This is my first post on the forum, and I am in a bit of a dilema. About a year ago I purchased my Mini-14 Ranch Rifle. On it I have placed a 3-9 40mm Bushnell scope. The weapon shoots best with 55 grain core lokt ammo. 55 grains is the lowest I have tried. In this past year, I have taken 1 Deer, 2 hogs, and a Coyote.

I have looked on the Clark customs site, and I really liked what I saw. The Gun Barrel Stabilizer, that fits around your barrel seems to have good reports. For 245 bucks, it seems to be a good deal.

I am really interested in getting my Mini shooting better that 1.5" at 50 yards......but I am also looking for the best deal. The whole thing with the muzzle break doesn't seem to work for everyone, so it may be a waste of time.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Many Thanks Pards,

Capt. Keogh
:usa:

 

[cajungeo]

Welcome to the forum Capt. If you use the search button upper right, and enter muzzle brake, you will only find 2 members, that saw no improvement using the $20 pin on muzzle brake out of all the members that have tried a muzzle brake. Most report groups cut near 1/2 at 100 yds. If you use a sandbag to steady your rifle, with it scoped, muzzle brake, stock bedded, trigger job you should be 2" groups, or less at 100 yds, with the ammo your mini likes best. Most members that have done these things have gotten there. The barrel stabilizer will improve accuracy, but if you want max accuracy you'll still need to bed the stock, and a trigger job.

Also use the search for barrel stabilizer.

Just something you may want to research more, and save yourself some bucks.

 

[Capt. Myles Keogh]

Thanks a lot pard. What muzzle break would you personally recommend?

Capt. Keogh :2guns:

 

[Capt. Myles Keogh]

Cajungeo, My Mini-14 Ranch is of the 196 series, and is Blued. I really like the slip on muzzle break that slides over the front sight. Do they make one like yours, but blued? I am really interested in accurizing my Mini now, instead of going with the Stabilizer.
Many Thanks,
Capt. Keogh

 

[cajungeo]

This is the one I have, only in stainless: http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ctd/product...G88Q0T2TKKWDT6D
Same as: http://www.johnmasen.com/Merchant2/merchan...tegory_Code=RMA
There are others, but many here have had good luck with the BlackWarrior.

Ignore CTDirts warning of it not fitting your mini. It is a misprint, and have informed an employe in this forum. IT fits my 196 series perfect.

 

[Capt. Myles Keogh]

Thanks a lot Cajun. This sure will save me some $$$, believe me I appreciate it. This is what I have planned to do in the upcoming month. Since I will be continuing to hunt Deer (They're kinda small out here in west Texas), Hogs, and various varmints, accuracy is a must.

1. First I will be ordering that Black Warrior muzzle break.
2. Order the Choate Vented Hand Gaurd.
3. I will send in my rifle to my local gunsmith to have it glass bedded. He has done work for me before and does a good job.
4. When the rifle is returned to me, I am going to use a torque wrench on all screws into the rifle, gas block, and scope mounts, and rings. Included will be lock tight.
5. After mounting the muzzle break I will shoot in the bedding with 50 rounds of ammo. Afterwards clean, then fire lap.

Cajun.....I read somewhere on here that you fire lapped your barrel. I understood through your post that you did this by ordering bullets with a kind of "grit" on their outsides. After firing different grades through the barrel, the process was complete. Do I have this right? If so, can you put me in contact with company, or person who sells the supplies for lapping. I believe it was said to be "Mike" not sure who that is.

I will not be doing a trigger job for the simple reason that I like the two stage trigger that is on my Mini. Once the slack is taken up, it acts as a hair trigger. It is very consistant.

Thanks a lot. I do believe this will make a considerable difference on accuracy. At least I hope so.

Capt. Keogh

 

[Capt. Myles Keogh]

The only issue I have with the fire lapping is that I have no way to make my own reloads and I do not believe that it is possible to buy the bullets for fire lapping already loaded.

Capt. Keogh

 

[Carnifex]

You can buy premade firelapping bullets. Use the search button in the upper right for Mike Knifong. I know u can get them from him.

 

[reloader]

Oh Captian, My Captain! Do yourself a huge favor and get the trigger job. It doesn't eliminate the 2-stage feel, it just makes that second stage sweeter. Mine weighs out just over 3.5#'s and breaks like glass. Mike in Oregon set it up for me and I can wholeheartedly recommend his services. Initiating service with Mike is as simple as shooting him an email. He will give you all the info you need and his turnaround is excellent. From SW Missouri to Oregon and back in less than a week.
BTW, Captain Keogh, are you LEO or military/what branch?

Aim High!
(former)Senior Airman...Reloader, USAF

 

[cajungeo]

capt. the lap bullets, I used I got from Mike in Oregon. They must be reloaded. They were 60 lead bullets with 220, 320, and 600 grit. I only used 30, and have enough if I get another mini. You can also buy the grit, and bullets, but you still have to reload em. The trigger job will not eliminate the military 2 stage pull in your mini. Like reloader said it will make a diff in the second stage, and will be more accurate, especially during rapid fire..

 

[Capt. Myles Keogh]

Thanks all for posting. I believe I am gonna go with Mike's "Combo Kit". This added with the glass bedding, Black Warrior muzzle break, and vented hand gaurd should make a difference.

The handguard I am looking at is the one sold by bushmasters. I think it is $12.95

The only thing I am concerned about, is that on the factory handguard there is an outard buldge that protects the hand of the shooter from the slide. On the handguard sold by bushmaster, this appears to be non-existant. Is this a bad thing?

Capt. Keogh

 

[Dennis]

I have an aftermarket slotted handguard and it has the bulge that you are referring to.

I imagine but don't actually know that the Bushmaster unit is the same.

Dennis Jenkins

Originally posted by Capt. Myles Keogh
Thanks all for posting. I believe I am gonna go with Mike's "Combo Kit". This added with the glass bedding, Black Warrior muzzle break, and vented hand gaurd should make a difference.

The handguard I am looking at is the one sold by bushmasters. I think it is $12.95

The only thing I am concerned about, is that on the factory handguard there is an outard buldge that protects the hand of the shooter from the slide. On the handguard sold by bushmaster, this appears to be non-existant. Is this a bad thing?

Capt. Keogh

 

[cw2go]

If you have a tendency to grab the forearm in a way which would put your fingers into contact with the op rod when firing, then you should stick with the covered version.

If you shoot enough to get your barrel really hot, especially if you have or are likely to install a scope, you might prefer a solid handguard. The military switched to a non-vented handguard for the M14 because the heat creates a mirage effect -- a thermal optical abberation from rising heat waves that will affect your sighting precision when your barrel gets hot. Vents along the sight line or in front of the scope direct heat out in that area. Yes, I understand the arguments that (1) it cools slightly faster, and (2) the front of the barrel also gets hot also (but it is out in the breeze and dissapates around 360 degrees).
Also remember that a metal handguard may get hot on you. I never really understood why they designed vents up front on Minis, or why people want more of them.

-- cw

 

[Dennis]

My aftermarket slotted handguard is plastic. I bet a metal one would get HOT.

Dennis Jenkins

Also remember that a metal handguard may get hot on you. I never really understood why they designed vents up front on Minis, or why people want more of them.

-- cw

 

[BigUglyOne]

Dennis,
just got back from the range and ran 140 rounds through my stainless RR in less than an hour .... I have a nickle steel hand guard on mine and it was cool enough to handle. By the way, I have never had my fingers pinched by the op rod ... yet, anyway.


:beer: