[cajungeo]

I played hookey from work today and went to the range, I thought you all might like to see how we are doing in searching for that magic bullet of 1 MOA avg. from a tuned, stock Mini-14.
Sierra 63 gr. SP, 22 gr Rx-7 powder, Winchester brass, Federal Match primers. I fired 6 groups of 5. Horizontal avg 1.12, Verticle avg. 1.36. This may not be my target load, but should be a good load for coyotes. The problem is my shooting technique. You can see from the picture, my horizontal is good, but the verticle is a variable, caused by uneven; hand pressure, cheek pressure, and shoulder pressure. I just need to work on this, and order more bullets. Next I want to work on a light weight ballistic tip, and maby tighten the groups a schosh more. What do you all think? Constructive criticism is always welcome.
Technical Difficulties. Please Stand By!
Helloooo, Can ya hear me now? I'm way down at the bottom!!!

 

[goodorbit]

Not to complain, but the attached image was really, really small on my screen. Like an inch square! Can you boost it up so I/We can see? Or am I doing something wrong?

Also while I've got you on the horn-

What would you use for an "out of the Box" ammo. I'm still looking for my project mini, and don't want to spend all that dough on reloading....

....yet!

 

[Dennis]

The Federal American Eagle 50 grain JHP flat base shoots well out of both my older 1 in 10 twist rifle and my newer 1 in 7 twist.

I don't have a 1 in 9 twist rifle but I imagine it would work well with it also.

BTW, this is not the same ammo as the more common Federal American Eagle 55 grain FMJ or 62 grain FMJ.

I'm sure there is some other ammo that is okay but this stuff is both cheap and good. <G>

Dennis Jenkins

Originally posted by goodorbit
Not to complain, but the attached image was really, really small on my screen. Like an inch square! Can you boost it up so I/We can see? Or am I doing something wrong?

Also while I've got you on the horn-

What would you use for an "out of the Box" ammo. I'm still looking for my project mini, and don't want to spend all that dough on reloading....

....yet!

 

[ksregulator]

Hey Cajun!

Are you using a bi-pod or a rest? Vertical can vary if you are just shooting from sandbags.

For cheek help a lot of guys on the west coast use those adjustable Blackhawk Cheekpads. You can find them on deltaforce.com.

Keep up the good work for us. I may need your help when I order a gas bushing kit from your buddy Mike. With all of your posts, you sold me on that upgrade.

Can you post a pic of your Mini?

Thanks again.

 

[Kalifornia Citizen]

Cajungeo,
Your posts have been really useful for my mini-14. Just 2 years ago, I thought you got the best quality you could expect just out of the box. Accurizing wasn't in my vocabulary.

I've been sorely tempted to buy a bench rest for testing. To take my bad habits out of the equation. But as I looked at the $169 model, it didn't seem good enough. I'd still have to resight after each shot, so what's the point in buying an expensive fixture? Have you tried anything like that? What's your opinion?

KC

 

[Ivanimal]

Hey Kali I make a pretty good bench rest myself and it looks like you are 2 or 3 counties away. I will most certainly give you the rest at cost since you have been so forthright with your responses to my usual crap. E mail me with your address and I will send pics. I would have done it here but all my pics. are at work. I am able to get great groups with most rifles, even heavier calibers.

Cajungeo,
It has been my experience that any vertical patterns that recur at a rest with any consistency, is the powder and not the rifle. The harmonics of a barrel will normally travel up and down, our jobs as reloaders is to find the furthest point up or down where the barrel is moving the slowest. There we usually find our shots going horizontal, which is good, from there we can work on aim and other issues. Careful powder measure is key to finding the sweet spot. I have 2 rifles that may never see that end :usa:

 

[mikr]

Originally posted by goodorbit
Not to complain, but the attached image was really, really small on my screen. Like an inch square! Can you boost it up so I/We can see? Or am I doing something wrong?

I'd try sending it to Paint or even photoshop if you have it, and then just magnify it, and if you can't, when I get back home, I'll do it for you and post it, if it'll help you.

 

[cajungeo]

Sorry about the teeny tiny pic guys, I had a time just getting the format changed. I will work on it today. Thanks for all your comments.
Goodorbit Out of the box ammo, I tried, Federal Premium, plain ole Remington, Bernuls, and Winchester. The Federals initally shot the best, till I tuned, and smoothed the bore. Then the Winchester 45 gr Varmint $9.00 for a box of 40 at Academy sports shot best. There is a lot more ammo I haven't tried. I needed something I could hunt with, was fairly accurate, and cheep to shoot, so the Winchesters is what I stuck with from begining to end of tuning. They started with 4.5" groups at 100 yd now the average is 1.5" groups. Your mileage may vary.
Dennis , there is a lot of factory ammo I haven't tried, but reloading is so cheep, once you have your equip. They are more accurate, as well.
Ksregulator, I shoot with a a bench rest, but there is still teqnique involved, as I am learning. It is tough for me to get confortable on these benches, as they are not on concreate, but built up on a wood frame, with kids around there is too much movement. I started yesterday shooting from the 300/400 yd concrete bench over to the 100 yd targets. Just have to adjust to it.
Kalifornia , I bought the ROCK, by Caldwell, it is rock solid,and has all the adjustments, including the for stock, stop. On sale from midway with front bag for $71. I use a cheep rabit ear rear bag. May up grade. For the average shooter, a home made sand bag will suffice. I use the rest to eliminate as much human error as possible to measure effectiveness of mods, and load developement. You are correct you have to resight after each shot. When I go hunting I use bipods for long shots. siting, and prone.
Ivanimal, my loads are exact, brass, bullets, powder, all weighed to the nearest nats a_ _. I can feel my shooting hand , and cheek pressure are the variables. One of the better shooters at the range sugested, a firm shoulder contact will evenup the hand, and cheek pressure. I will give it a try.
I do not have a digital camera, but walmart will develope film on flopies, for me. Will post some pictures when I get them. thanks guys for your responses

 

[cajungeo]

Still trying to attach this darn picture. I know its easy if ya know how!
Helloooo, can ya hear me now? I'm down here!!!! Can ya see this any better?

 

[Ivanimal]

I would try .5 grains higher if its within limitations and see what happens. My model 788 remington did the same thing till I went up on the powder. Of course every gun is different and we are talkin bolt versus semi auto ect........................:usa:

 

[Kalifornia Citizen]

Cajungeo,
That pic looked pretty fine. In this one, the vertical spread was about 3 times the horizontal.

In the other 5 groups that you averaged, did the pattern look about the same? More vertical spread than horizontal?

Many mini-14 thanks,
KC

 

[cajungeo]

They were similar vertical, but about an inch wide horizontal. When I get some more bullets, I will use my cronograpy, and bump up the powder a little. I still believe it was my technique, I will also use a firmer into shoulder pressure.
If Bertha dosn't bring heavy rain, I will try some 50 grain BT tomorrow, and see how it goes. Would like to have the heaver load for the yotes, and a lighter bullet for the smaller varmints. I will use the 10/22 for squirel, and rabbit.

 

[goodorbit]

much better pic- thanks!

Have you tried any of the black hills 55g softpoints? It does well by me, but I'm not as scientific as you are. Might just be the red box

 

[cajungeo]

Hi goodorbit, no I haven't tried the Black Hills, but it seems everyone who shoots em likes em. I may try some after I nail down my reloads. It's a good idea to have some good factory loads to fall back on especially on a fast shooten autoloader.
I am going to take some pictures of my mini, and range set up when Bertha gets out of de way Will post them if I can next week.

 

[Ivanimal]

Here is a picture of my bench rest, I hope it comes through O.K.

 

[Ivanimal]

Here is a picture of the rest I created.

 

[Kalifornia Citizen]

Is that one of those new stealth rests?




KC

 

[Kalifornia Citizen]

Ivan,
Sorry about the smart aleck remark.

I would like to check out your bench rest. Is it like the usual frame with upholstered cradles and adjustable feet? It seems that some kind of vise would help lock down the rifle.

Did you put the rifle to shoulder when you fire? Do you pull it into your shoulder as if you were standing?

Thanks, KC

 

[cajungeo]

Sorry about the picture posting problems guys, Bill is working very hard to negotiate us some more space. I would like to see a mini-14 gallery, so everyone can post a picture of their mini in the gallery. I know there are some real beauties out there!