[SNate]

Ive been lurking around here for a few weeks now and really enjoy your forum. I owned a Ruger 10/22 when I was in my early teens and enjoyed shooting very much. I have decided to get back into shooting and due to my love of the 10/22 I have decided my next step is a Mini 14. I have ordered a stainless/synthetic ranch model and it should be in soon. I have also ordered a Black Warrior muzzle brake for it. I have read all of the posts regarding accurizing the rifle and besides the muzzle brake I intend to bed it and eventually send it in to Mike for the trigger job and gas kit. I have no need for a super accurate rifle and if I was able to get close to a 2" group size, as I see many of you have, I would be more than satisfied.

I am a college student, in my 4th year of an electrical engineering degree and besides not having a lot of free time I also dont have many tools or any space to work on an object the size of a rifle. Due to these concerns I dont think that bedding the rifle myself is not a good idea, and I doubt my roomates would really appreciate it either. I would really like to have my rifle professionally bedded. This way I can be sure that it is done right and wont be a hassle for me. Is bedding something that I can have done by most gunsmiths? Does anyone know of a company or a certain smith who specializes in this sort of thing? Im located in the Eastern PA region.

Also in the posts I have read I have seen two different ways of securing the stock to the action/barrel, glass bedding and pinning. Im not exactly positive as to what pinning is, but I was wondering which technique is more effective?

Thanks for the help guys and keep up the great work. This is one of the most helpful and friendly forums I have come across.

Nate



:usa:

 

[bubba052698]

Hi Nate, welcome!

I know this a bit off-topic, and I am FAR from being a guru or expert, but I would suggest you shoot a couple hundred rounds through your new mini before upgrading or modifying. It will give you a chance to learn your weapon and decide what needs to be changed and what is fine the way it is. Plus when you do upgrade, you'll have a point of reference on the way it was...much more gratifying

As far as bedding, I ordered Mike's video and am going to attempt it myself. When I asked a local gunsmith about bedding my mini, he replied "why would you do that?" hehe. He quoted around $75 - $100.....A lot more than doing it yourself.

 

[GREYBEAR]

SNate,

Where in Eastern Pa. are you? In the area of stroudsburg there are at least 5 gunsmiths that will do whatever work you want done, the least expensive that I know of is the new guy that Dunkelbergers has just hired. If you're further North of that, you'll just have to look around. Of course you will get, as bubba said a lot of laughs and questions as to why bother. If you want tell the smith or whoever to pour dirt into his AR, and your Mini and see which one will shoot. I didn't get a taker, when I did to one of the smiths.

 

[SNate]

Thanks for the advice/info guys.

Bubba- I am definetely planning on spending a couple of days at the range to play around and break in the stock rifle before performing any of the modifications. Besides being good advice I think I am too impatient to sit around with a brand new rifle without shooting it first anyways.

Greybear- I am new to the area and I am currently living in Nazareth, PA. I think I remember seeing signs around for Stroudsburg, so I dont think it is too far away. I would be willing to drive around 50 miles or so for a good smith. Do you know the name of that smith you recommended? Does he do the best work in the area or is he just the cheapest? As for the laughs, they can laugh all they want as long as they do quality work.

Also, another question I had is what is the best breakin procedure? Is it really necessary to clean the bore after every shot?

Thanks again

Nate

 

[bubba052698]

Hi Nate,

Do a search on "break-in" to see how. From what I hear, it will help to remove factory roughness and burrs in the bore. If you don't clean after every couple of shots, the bullets just glaze the bore with copper instead of "sanding".

BTW, have fun shooting it at the range. The mini may not be a tack driver, but it sure as hell one of the most enjoyable firearms to shoot out there. A close 2nd is the calico m900 9mm, but it doesn't have as much "umph".

 

[lcm]

SNate,
Welcome to the forum, not much to add - good advice from both bubba and Graybear.
Good Shooting

 

[GREYBEAR]

SNATE,
The smith at Dunglebergers, I don't remember his name, but it is the largest sporting good store in Stroudsburg, which is 25mi from Nazereth. Go North on 33, I don't have their # but you can get it from the Yellow book. Same place to get names of other smith and gunranges in the area. Try Sunset Hill, they have 25,50 100,200yard target setups. Another good place for a smith is Frank Manharts. He's good but expensive, The State Cops use him and he's couch of the HS shooting team, but he swears by his AR. Down in Allentown you could also go to Army- Navy sporting goods, large selection of guns, better prices than Dunkelbergers. Like anything in life its just a matter of shopping around.:rapid: :beer:

 

[cajungeo]

Welcome to the forum SNate. Mike in Oregon also bed stocks. You might check for a price. A common range I have heard is $35 to $45 for a beding job. The mini is a little different if you have a stock reignforcement linner, as it is also bedded. I beded mine myself.

If you try several different types of ammo to find what your mini likes best, Install the muzzle brake, bed the stock, and have a decent scope, you should achieve your goal of 2" or less. Using iron sights will open the groups some.

Bubba is correct on barrel break-in. (shoot 1 shot/clean, for 10 shots; shoot 3 shots/clean, for 10 times; shoot 10 shots/clean for the remainder of the 100 rds.) This will break in your barrel, increasing accuracy,and reduce fouling.

By cleaning use a good copper cleaner. I use Hoppies Benchrest, and use Weedwacker line with a melted ball at one end to hold the patches. (Thanks coyote in our 10/22 forum for the tip) Feed line thru the receiver, and pull from chamber to muzzle. Why? because over a period of time the metal cleaning rod will wear our the crown of the muzzle, and accuracy will drop.

 

[Spud]

Ok guys,
I have a stainless/synthetic mini. I've thought about bedding but in all honesty I can't figure why I would do that. I have done bedding in the past on bolt guns with wood furniture so I'm familiar with the job. Is there something I'm not seeing in my mini? I've taken the trigger assembly out and looked for movement, but I can't find any. Should I be looking for something else?
Thanks for any info,
Spud
:usa:

 

[cajungeo]

If there is no side to side movement of the receiver, in the stock, (it only takes a few thou. to open the groups at 100 yds), and you shoot circlular groups with no flyers, then you may be one of the lucky ones, where bedding will not improve groupage much.

 

[Spud]

Thanks Cajungeo,
I do have a small amout of side to side movement but I really have to push to get any indication. I was more concerned about the contact point of the lower gas block and the forward stock causing problems. In my previous experiences, some rifles with barrel to stock contact are inaccurate. I suspect there is no way to eliminate this on the mini.
I'll have to go to the range as soon as it quits raining and use a bench rest to fully know what I have. Until now, I've been satisfied with it and it is a kick to shoot.
Finally got the gumption to post on this board, and glad I did.
Spud

 

[SNate]

Hey thanks again for the great information guys. I really appreciate it.