[mcblack]

Mini 14
Serial 195-xxxxx
16 inch Barrel with factory flash-hider
Accu-Strut
buffers front and rear
gas block bushing with 1mm hole
Archangel Sparta stock
Leupold 30mm QRW rings
Konus M30 1-4x24 scope
Harris 6-9 bipod
Ammo : 63gr Gecco FMJ (Swiss GP90 ammo for civilians)

Range 50m (about 55 yards)
Shots fired : 15

Story behind this target is the testing for my scope and re-settlement on the Archangel stock.

I took off the scope (thanks to the QRW rings) before ever 5 shot group. The first shot after every "putting on" are those 3 outside the calliper. First round was 9 mid-right , second one was 9 low-right, third one was 9 low-left.

I didn't re-adjust the scope, it settled to a good zero after the first shot.

Inside the calliper are 12 shots, all fired from a bipod in a sitting position.

If I take the central group I have about a 2 MOA shooter.
I think I can't complain for a self-loading rifle.

Best regards

Marcus

 

[Pet-Rock]

Fun day in the Country!

As you all know Im not the best storyteller so bear with me. Anyways, I was able to get out and shoot today! Beautiful Iowa day, 88 degrees F and SE winds at 10-12mph. Had a blast out in the country, I love how quiet it is out there. A buddy and I went out just to plink and came back with a few trinkets. Everything was shot from 80 paces (read 75-85 yards) laying prone with a front rest. Nothing on the rifle (Mini 14 above) has changed.

First Picture-Group 1
- Federal 223 Soft Points...3 shots....55gr?? Cant remember lol

Second Picture-Group 2
- My reloads...24.1 grains of AA2520....60gr. VMAX....Mixed Brass......CCI No. 400 Primers. 4 shots with a called 5th pulled shot just under the caliper.

Third Picture- Can Pic
Well the first shot was pretty hilarious. I shot at it and it fell over but I thought I might have just scared it. Walked down the country lane to find it zipped right through the rim, through the lower hole of the pop tab, and dinged the rim on its way out. :blink:

Fourth and Fifth Picture- Can Pic
We also had a 3/8'' steel plate out there with us so we decided to tape the pop can to the center of it so a buddy with an iron sighted AR-15 could get a better view of the target. Well on the 1st stinkin shot (seated) he nailed it dead center so I guess it worked! We went up because the steel plate fell of its rack and were shocked to see the can! Looks like it had a grenade go off inside of it!:blink: Im not quite sure if that shot was with the Mil-Surp 62gr. steel core 5.56 or bulk 55gr HPBT, but it went through the can fine and when it impacted the steel plate it must have blown up. Many pieces came back out the front and reminded me why I always wear eye protection when shooting....even out in the country during informal plinking

 

[USSF06]

Must've missed this thread while I was overseas.

580 Series Mini 14 Ranch Rifle
Hogue Stock
Amega Ranges Scout Rail
Bushnell Trophy Red Dot Sight
Specter Sling w/ Mag Pouch
Magpul AFG
Ammo used: I almost always use Tulammo. Brass casings don't function well in my rifle.

Pictures are from my last range visit.

These are the first 3 shots at 50 yards. I was shooting Tulammo using two sandbags as a rest. My optic is a cheap Bushell Trophy red dot.

The groups didn't change much the entire session at 50 yards.

I don't shoot out to 100 yards very often, but once I adjusted my point of aim the grouping was decent. It seems each group had a flyer.

These were the first three shots. I had to adjust my point of aim.

My grouping went to hell on the silhouette at 100 yards. I didn't have a good spot to maintain consistent point of aim. The covered shots are from my SKS at 100 yards.

 

[USSF06]

I tend to agree. While some of you guys are getting great bench-rest groups, I use mine more for "run and gun". This was fired from 50 yards, with 5 rounds standing, 5 rounds kneeling, 5 rounds sitting, and 5 rounds prone. The entire course was fired in under 30 seconds using 55gr FMJ. The rifle is bone stock.

Sounds like fighting words.

Surely you sight in using a bench-rest. I don't see "run and gun" at all in standing, kneeling, sitting, and prone. Just saying

I'll be sure to do some real run and gun shooting during my next range visit. Should make some interesting photos :ar15:

 

[gldnedge]

Results from my 12 year old shooting a steel plate @ 80 yards - one 223 magazine and one 5.56. I suspect the 5.56's are the ones that went through.

 

[hottarod]

I noticed that some went through and some didn't so I was going to ask what the difference was. I thought you might have some AP rounds or perhaps steel jacket. I think the lead is too soft to go through. I have watched lead rounds hit the thicker steel and just turn to lead dust when they hit if they have decent mass and/or velocity.

Here is my last trip with my mini 30. I love my mini 30. Too bad it can't make coffee too, LOL. I guess we can't have everything.

Mini 30 straight barrel at 100 yards from a range bag rest, Tula FMJ's.
Mods: Ati stock, Weigland rail, accu-strut, barrel cut, crowned, threaded and A2 flash hider installed, 3-9x/40 Bushnell scope.

I pulled the upper rightmost round. Squares are 1 inch. My heart rate was up and I was moving 1/2". Also Tula is not my best shooting round. It is weird I know but that big hole is a triple through because I shot a ten round mag.

The bottom 2 were my last 2 rounds, my heart rate was coming back down and I got rained out. The gun, I think, may still tighten up just slightly once the barrel has some heat in it. I have my scope at 1" high at 100 but looks like I needed 3 or 4 right clicks on windage still for SNIPER work. I can snipe out to 200 yards, LOL. 1 inch high at 100 is 0 at 150 and 3 low at 200.

All in all, totally happy with it exept that it is now fracken heavy. With a 20 round loaded mag it weighs 11 or 12 pounds now.

 

[gldnedge]

I noticed that some went through and some didn't so I was going to ask what the difference was. I thought you might have some AP rounds or perhaps steel jacket. I think the lead is too soft to go through. I have watched lead rounds hit the thicker steel and just turn to lead dust when they hit if they have decent mass and/or velocity.

The ones that didn't completely penetrate, left large "bulbs" on the backside of the target plate - just millimeters from going through. Again, I'll bet it was the 5.56's that plowed all the way through.

 

[Hellgate]

You might have gotten a different story on a hardened steel plate. The problem with buying steel plae for targets is the harder it is (armor plating) the more expensive it is. You have fairly soft steel.

 

[Pet-Rock]

Nice shootin hottarod!

I know bedding really helped my rifle, and if yours is already shooting that well it might tighten things up even further. Plus its just fun to do it yourself!

 

[gldnedge]

You might have gotten a different story on a hardened steel plate. The problem with buying steel plae for targets is the harder it is (armor plating) the more expensive it is. You have fairly soft steel.

I just priced AR500 target plates on eBay. Hmmmm... Looks like I can get a nice 12" round gong for little more than a couple boxes of plinking ammo. That seems worth it to me.

 

[Pet-Rock]

Just got back from the range this morning. 30* outside today was about as it as it was going to get for me, especially compared to the -35* temp on Monday.

Tried to do some load development with Hornady 55gr. and AA2520. Still very new to this stuff and it looks like 24.5gr and 27.0gr are the weights to go with. My COAL was between 2.187-2.194 so I'm going to try to lengthen that to ~2.200 or more and see what it does for me. Reloading is a blast

On a side note, the hat used for a brass catcher really works like a charm! I wish I would have tried this earlier, I didn't lose one piece of brass.

 

[tri70]

Nice shooting PR!

 

[ssm]

Just got back from the range this morning. 30* outside today was about as it as it was going to get for me, especially compared to the -35* temp on Monday.

Tried to do some load development with Hornady 55gr. and AA2520. Still very new to this stuff and it looks like 24.5gr and 27.0gr are the weights to go with. My COAL was between 2.187-2.194 so I'm going to try to lengthen that to ~2.200 or more and see what it does for me. Reloading is a blast

On a side note, the hat used for a brass catcher really works like a charm! I wish I would have tried this earlier, I didn't lose one piece of brass.

Your shooting's great.

Your "adjustable cap/brass catcher" is priceless!!

Well done!

 

[Pet-Rock]

5/17 Range Session!

Pictures kinda speak for themselves. Only second time shooting this year so Im definitely happy with the groups! I feel with some more trigger time they will tighten up. Im just learning proper breathing and trigger technique and am very satisfied with the results!

I cant wait to improve!

**O.T.O in the pics means it was measured outside edge to outside edge. So most are right around 2 inch groups. One thing I did find cool is that rifles really do need to settle back into the stock after you pull them out. I bedded my rifle and the group still proved that. Cool to witness!