[RohaWaha]

I am fairly new to Mini town, I made an excellent trade for a 186 series about six months ago. I stumbled onto this forum and your sinful mini porn has me doing my part in boosting the economy with a Mini 14 to M 14 transformation.
Here is the problem, my second time to the range was today with my completed project. Twice my trigger guard came unlatched after firing the rifle. I am using a Hogue rubber coated stock with no mods to the stock. I was certain the trigger latch was firmly in the locked down position when I began and after the first instance I re-locked it firmly and examined it carefully to see that it was fully seated. and it popped loose again after about 30 rounds. Is this a common problem with the Hogue stock. Is there a cure ? Help I like this rifle better than My AR

 

[40nascar]

This is a common mini problem whenever they change from factory to aftermarket stocks.

 

[wxl]

I have a Hogue and have had zero problems with it. The trigger group latches to the receiver not the stock. I've heard of issues with the trigger guard getting bent if you force the the trigger group out without cocking the hammer and setting the safety prior to removal. Take the trigger group out and bring the trigger guard up to the latch area. The guard should be just slightly rearward of the triangular shape ramp. If it is not touching the point of the ramp bend the guard forward until it's just slightly behind the point. This should give you the most tension when you latch it.

 

[bwraven]

Regarding your poll, my experiences with accuracy (and precision) improvements (on older series Mini-14s) are as follows, from most improvement to least:

1. Barrel cut to 16" and muzzle device added (improves barrel harmonics.)

2. Trigger job.

3. Re-torque gas black screws.

4. Tech Sights.


I have not tried a Mo Rod.

 

[Bolero]

Quote:

"1. Barrel cut to 16" and muzzle device added (improves barrel harmonics.)"

+1 on that as the best MOD.

Better yet, for any firearm, is handloading.

 

[Bam Bam]

I had the same thing with a Mini 30. I sent the rifle in and they fixed it at Ruger. I think if you are careful you can bend the latch a bit in a vise and fix it yourself. Not sure of it, never tried.

 

[RohaWaha]

I have a Hogue and have had zero problems with it. The trigger group latches to the receiver not the stock. I've heard of issues with the trigger guard getting bent if you force the the trigger group out without cocking the hammer and setting the safety prior to removal. Take the trigger group out and bring the trigger guard up to the latch area. The guard should be just slightly rearward of the triangular shape ramp. If it is not touching the point of the ramp bend the guard forward until it's just slightly behind the point. This should give you the most tension when you latch it.

As I often say , let the experience of others save you money, After your reply, I carefully
examined the trigger guard of my rifle and discovered it was indeed bent. I was able to determine that the trigger guard latch only contacted the angled ramp about mid way of the ramp. Using my magnifier I could see tool marks on the ramp where the catch had originally contacted it. I carefully bent it to the original point and the trigger guard snapped into place very solid Thank You Sir

 

[wxl]

Glad it was an easy fix. I've learned most of what I know about my Mini's from others on this site. Happy shooting and remember to set the safety before removing the trigger group.

 

[wxl]

On accuracy, I found the Hogue stock and an Accustrut helped the most. But one other important thing about Mini's is the twist rate went from 1:10 to 1:7 and then finally 1:9. The 186 could be a 1:7 twist which I've read from others prefer a much heavier bullet than the common 55g. The 1:9 twist prefer's a 55g or slightly heavier. I have a 1:10 and a 1:9 and they both shoot the 55g bullet very accurately. Here's an excerpt from one of BWRaven's post on twist rates. There's many more on here about bullet weights versus twist rate.

Mini-14
Thin barrel, ejector is in the bolt, no scope ring scallops cast into the receiver.
Beginning
Serial Nbr
181-07488--1978--1 in 10
181-48351--1979--1 in 10
181-84879--1980--1 in 10
182-45601--1981--1 in 10
183-03581--1982--1 in 10
183-40455--1983--1 in 10
184-17175--1984--1 in 10
184-26063--1985--1 in 10
184-95448--1986--1 in 10 and 1 in 7
185-14140--1987--1 in 7
185-50455--1988--1 in 7
185-56556--1989--1 in 7
185-81009--1990--1 in 7
186-05029--1991--1 in 7
186-18250--1992--1 in 7
186-20065--1993--1 in 7
186-31116--1994--1 in 7
186-42502--1995--1 in 7
186-58133--1996--1 in 7
186-66855--1997--1 in 7 and 1 in 9
186-81445--1998--1 in 9
186-87432--1999--1 in 9
*196-06325-2000--1 in 9
*196-44553-2001--1 in 9
*196-80982-2002--1 in 9
*196-99207-2003--1 in 9
*197-12180-2004--1 in 9
* Mini-14 serial numbers rollmarked with Mini-14 Ranch Rifles beginning in 2000

 

[RohaWaha]

My first Mini completed

That is great information that will help me with my quest for accuracy, I was bitten by the accuracy but many years ago and took it to the extreme. With the Mini I realize it is probably not going to be a tack driver, but I am just smitten by
the gun and its design. I read also on this forum that the mini prefers flat base bullets and I bought 400 Hornady 55 gr. flat base ballistic tips to reload and try
out. Have you noticed if your guns shoots more accurate with flat or boat tail bullets ?. I am now in search of heavier bullets to try, when you say heavier, can you suggest a bullet weight ? I have ordered some gas bushings a recoil buffer.

 

[tri70]

I reload with Nosler 55 gr bt with boat tail design for my best results.
I like 50 and 52 as well, experiment and what the gun likes. I do well with faster burning powders like H335, RL7, RL10, Varmint, AA2015 and IMR 8082BR.

50 - 59 Grain

 

[wxl]

That is great information that will help me with my quest for accuracy, I was bitten by the accuracy but many years ago and took it to the extreme. With the Mini I realize it is probably not going to be a tack driver, but I am just smitten by
the gun and its design. I read also on this forum that the mini prefers flat base bullets and I bought 400 Hornady 55 gr. flat base ballistic tips to reload and try
out. Have you noticed if your guns shoots more accurate with flat or boat tail bullets ?. I am now in search of heavier bullets to try, when you say heavier, can you suggest a bullet weight ? I have ordered some gas bushings a recoil buffer.

Wow! That's a nice looking set-up. Looks like you already did a lot of work with the Hogue, Accustrut, barrel cut and M-14 flash hider. If you haven't done a trigger job send it to Gundoc or do it yourself with his video. Have you re-torqued the gas block? On the gas bushing, you may not need it since the non-Ranch Mini-14 drops the casings about 5' to the 2 o'clock position. I have the factory rear sight on my 183 and I personally like it. I have a Techsight on my 582 and I like it also.

I've only shot about 200 rounds of a flat base bullet before my mods so I can't really say whether they are better or worse. I've reloaded about 10k of 55g Hornady boat tails and they shoot great out of both my Mini's with 21.5g of IMR4198. I use boat tails because they are so much easier to reload and the accuracy seems very good. If you have a 1:7 twist I can't help you much since I have no experience. But here's a couple threads that might help (or confuse) you.

http://www.perfectunion.com/vb/ruge...rifling-twist-minis-what-ammo-do-you-use.html

http://www.perfectunion.com/vb/ruger-mini-14-mini-30/82193-twist-rate-bullet-weight.html