[battlingbeasts]

Hi guys...My mini-14 SS/SYN Ranch NIB is on it's way. I found this site while browsing the net...and am I glad I did. I have never seen so much eagerness and enthusiasm to help others in the sport. "Atta boys" to you all..especially canjungeo and Satan2655. I guess I've spent the last 3 days or so reading many, many posts, and am gaining great respect for the mini (always wanted one), and a lot of knowledge. Thanks again for a great site.

:sniper:

 

[cajungeo]

Welcome Battlingbeasts, may I call you BB for short? We all help each other on this forum. So we are better shooters now than we were before. When you get your mini, and break in the barrel, you will have a lot of fun with it, but the mini dosen't stop there. It is an awsome project gun. With a little tunning it will shoot a lot more accuractly, and you can mod it many different ways, as there is a lot of aftermarket accesories, you can add on.
Its kinda like waiting on Christmas till it comes in. Again welcome aboard.
P.S. Sorry the server is so slow, Bill our Administrator is working on the problem, and will have us up to speed soon.

 

[battlingbeasts]

Hey Cajungeo...yes BB is fine. Say, after I break-in my Ranch Mini, (by the way what's a good break-in routine?); I plan to 'accessorize' it some. I'd like to see the differences in accuracy. Some of the things I've read about here really seem to improve it's performance.

Future plans are: 1. bedding the stock, 2. installing a smaller gas bushing kit, 3. a trigger job, 4. muzzle brake, and 5. firelap the barrel after a couple of hundred rounds?

Lastly, I've read a lot about scopes, and was considering a Burris Fullfield II 3-9x40...'Bear Basin' has 'em for $187. Not too bad, and the specs on eye relief, etc. look good, and it seems to be a rugged scope.

I live in FW, TX, but am on a company assignment right now. I'll get back home next month on a business trip, and to receive my 'baby', then start the break-in process.

BTW, what do you recommend of the 'future plans', and where do I get the work done? Seems to me I saw where someone said a guy in Arlington, TX does some mini-14 work. Like you, I don't want to spend a lot of $$$ accessorizing the mini. I'm only interested in plinking mostly...so .5 MOA at 100 yds isn't all that important, but I'd like to get better than what factory is.

Thanks..BB




:sniper:

 

[cajungeo]

Hey BB, there are many favorite ways to break in the barrel of a new rifle, I use Hoppe's Bench Rest #9 copper cleaner, or your own favorite copper cleaner, Shoot 1 shot, then clean, repeat 10 times; then Shoot 10 shots, then clean, repeat 10 times, your done! The idea is to smooth the machine marks in the bore for improved accuracy, and less fouling. I firelaped the barrel, as the ruger barrel is not only rough, but had tight spots. The fire laping improved average grouping by 1/4" @ 100 yd.
Sounds like you already have a good scope picked out, Mine is a 3-9x40mm leupold.
The guy in texas, I don't know, there have been many unforavorable posts about, I would go with Accuracy Systems in Aurora Co. However you can do all your listed mods your self, I did all mine except the trigger job, and I sent it to Mike in Oregon @ NW Shooter Support. Good luck

 

[battlingbeasts]

Sounds like a plan. I'll start the break-in about 3 weeks from now when I get back. I'm looking forward to it. I like what Mike sez...scope it, bed it, lap it, install gas-ports & shok-buffer, and have the trigger worked over. After break-in, I'll contact Mike @ NW Shooters and send the trigger to him.

Say, what type of muzzle brake do you recommend? Thank for the tips...

:sniper:

 

[djskit]

One more thought on breaking in barrels -
You're done when the cleaning gets easy! Could be 10 rounds, coule be 50 rounds... the rifle will tell you.
I haven't broken in a factory rifle barrel in a few years, and am working on one now.
WOW - talk about work.
I have to do 4 or 5 cleaning cycles before that copper comes clean. And that's after only one shot!
My "broken in" shilen barrels are clean after one cycle, and that after 10 - 20 rounds!
Hard work now=less work later!
:beer: