Ruger Mini-14 Rebarrel

28 June 2001, 14:37

I just finished test firing a Ruger Mini-14 that I rebarreled this week. I used a chrome moly Douglas Premium Air Guaged blank, I threaded and chambered it to original caliber .223, contour is .900 for 2.5 inches, then a quick taper to .750 inches all the way to the muzzle, total length is 21.5 inches with a square recessed target crown.

I have rebarreled many rifles but this is the first gas operated rifle I have rebarreled. It functions 100 percent, I am looking forward to a trip to the range at the end of this week for accuracy tests.

Does anyone else have experience in this area? I would like to compare notes.

28 June 2001, 15:19

<migra>

I sent a mini 14 to a shop a few years ago. He "guaranteed" 1/2 inch accuracy after rebarreling etc. His claims were a bit, how should I put this, optimistic. Bottom line it shot little groups if you didn't count the fliers. It was sent back to him various times for functioning problems etc. I finally gave up on it. I am very interested in how your project turns out. I suspect that my bad experience had a lot to do with poor workmanship rather than an undoable proposition. I have my lathe up and running now and if yours turns out I may have to dig that one out of the closet and have at it myself.

01 July 2001, 13:23

Gatehouse

I'm interested in how this turns out as well. I've always said- to the point of being redundant- that Ruger would have a excellent product if the Mini 14 could shoot well.

Currently, mine is very little used and for sale. If yours works out, I might hang on to it and see what can be done to it.

03 July 2001, 04:45

<migra>

The weekend has come and gone. What's the verdict? Keeper or junker? Come on out with it we need to know.

03 July 2001, 05:02

<MC>

I had a mini 14 years ago functioned well but did not shoot so hot. The fault I found was the rear sight apature being a loose fit on the adjustment screw.

03 July 2001, 06:53

Craftsman

I have not made it to the gun range yet, we've had some high winds this week-end.

I hope to test some time this week after shop hours if the wind will just cooperate.

03 July 2001, 18:15

<sormi>

Craftsman,

Yea keep us posted about that mini14. Heck next time I visit it inlaws in Bowie Texas it would be a great excuse to get out of the house and come see your rifle.. Anything to get out of the house.... even a 3 legged or 1 eyed dog would be a good excuse!!!!!!!!!!!

04 July 2001, 13:39

Craftsman

Just got back from the gun range

This was partly a barrel break in session, so I only used two differant factory loads.
The barrel has a 1 in 7 inch twist so I shot Hornady Match with 70 HP and just for break in I shot Winchester USA 55 gr FMJ cheap stuff.

With the Winchester ammo largest groups were up to 4 inches and smallest was 1.25 inch

With Hornady 70 gr Match the largest group was 3 inches and smallest was .75 inch.

This was with a factory stock that hasn't been bedded yet (I knew better but just couldn't wait). The groups clearly indicated poor bedding as it would shoot a small group of 2 or 3 and then group in another spot. Or it would print a small group with a very wild flier. All groups were 5 shot. All groups shot with the Winchester ammo was cleaned between each shot.

Sometime in the up coming week I will steel bed the stock and tune the trigger to around 4 lbs. (currntly at 6 pounds). When I take it back to the range I'll have some heavy bullet hand loads of known accuracy to test.

Sormi, e mail me if youre coming this way and I'll give you directions to the shop, I am full time Mon thru Fri and youre welcome to drop in. This a customer's gun and I'll probably have it another two or three weeks.

04 July 2001, 20:49

<migra>

Sounds like this rifle shows some real potential. How do you plan on bedding this? I've bedded a few dozen bolt guns but nothing gas operated. (lots of moving parts in the forend etc.) I would like more details on this if possible.

05 July 2001, 09:55

<goneballistic>

Here is a good article on bedding the mini-14.
http://www.netside.com/~lcoble/dir10/excs71.txt

16 July 2001, 04:13

Craftsman

I finished bedding the Mini-14 with Brownells steel bed.

Test fired again at the range Friday. Conditions were not good. 102 degrees and windy.

Wild fliers in the groups were greatly reduced if not eliminated. However I did not post any bragging sized groups. I did not do any load development, do to time limitation I only fired some known accuatate loads.

Factory Hornady Match with 75 grain moly coated bullets 1.1 inch and 1.4 inch group.

69 gr Sierra Match King, 22 grains IMR 3031, GI brass, 1.25 inch and 1.520 inch.

69 gr Sierra Match King, 24 grains Hogdon 4895, GI brass, 2.5 inch group.

I'm turning it over to the customer, I think the gun can be tuned to consistant 1 minute of angle if the customer does some detailed load development.

From a practical standpoint if you were wanting a semi auto 223 to accurize it would be less work to go the AR 15 route. There is an unlimited amount of accesories and components, plus so much of the modifications to it is bolt together stuff instead of machine work required with the Mini 14. The Mini 14 with 5 shot magazine has much more of a sporting type rifle look, where as the AR 15 looks so military it is hard for me to warm up to one.

I would like to acquire a Mini 30 and rebarrel to 22 PPC or go with the 7.62 X 39 in a quality barrel.

Migra
The shop that modified your Mini 14, were they located in Odessa, Texas?

Interested in selling or trading yours?

Good Shooting,
Craftsman

16 July 2001, 16:26

TomP

Hello

I think I'd be satisfied with the Mini-14 if it delivered one inch groups, particularly with the 60-grain Nosler Partition Bullet.

Tom

17 July 2001, 14:37

Craftsman

TomP

I think the Mini-14 project will make consistant 1 min of angle after a little fine tuning.

This fellow was interested in shooting high power competition so we went with a 7 inch twist for 69 through 80 gr bullets.

If you barreled one with a 9 or 10 inch twist I bet it would shoot the new Nosler 60 partition bullet very well. I plan on shooting whitetails and small hogs with that bullet this year, I have read a few articles saying it is a very good performer.

Good Shooting,
Craftsman

29 July 2001, 04:40

<migra>

Craftsman,

The shop that did my mini wasn't the one in Odessa. I am sort of interested in trading it. Do you have any bolt guns in .223 that you could stand to part with?

quote:
Originally posted by Craftsman:
I finished bedding the Mini-14 with Brownells steel bed.
Test fired again at the range Friday. Conditions were not good. 102 degrees and windy.
Wild fliers in the groups were greatly reduced if not eliminated. However I did not post any bragging sized groups. I did not do any load development, do to time limitation I only fired some known accuatate loads.
Factory Hornady Match with 75 grain moly coated bullets 1.1 inch and 1.4 inch group.
69 gr Sierra Match King, 22 grains IMR 3031, GI brass, 1.25 inch and 1.520 inch.
69 gr Sierra Match King, 24 grains Hogdon 4895, GI brass, 2.5 inch group.
I'm turning it over to the customer, I think the gun can be tuned to consistant 1 minute of angle if the customer does some detailed load development.
From a practical standpoint if you were wanting a semi auto 223 to accurize it would be less work to go the AR 15 route. There is an unlimited amount of accesories and components, plus so much of the modifications to it is bolt together stuff instead of machine work required with the Mini 14. The Mini 14 with 5 shot magazine has much more of a sporting type rifle look, where as the AR 15 looks so military it is hard for me to warm up to one.
I would like to acquire a Mini 30 and rebarrel to 22 PPC or go with the 7.62 X 39 in a quality barrel.
Migra
The shop that modified your Mini 14, were they located in Odessa, Texas?
Interested in selling or trading yours?
Good Shooting,
Craftsman

29 July 2001, 05:50

<sormi>

Craftsman,

Thanks for the offer. Right now it's pretty hot up your way. My father in law said the heat index was around 112 last week when they went fishing. I love to fish but 112 weather is a nice cold beer and some NASCAR racing on the tube weather.

I bet those Cowboy's are hating it up there!

29 July 2001, 08:35

Longbob

"Heck next time I visit it inlaws in Bowie Texas it would be a great excuse to get out of the house and come see your rifle.."

Sormi, what a small world. I'm from Bowie and I have family from Turkey, TX.

30 July 2001, 17:36

<sormi>

Longbob,

I try to go to Bowie on the second Monday of every month. They have that flea market at the edge of town. I picked up a JC higgins (High Standard) for about $150.00. It shoots ok.
But anyway, I can get out of the house and away from all the yacking.
Hey have you ever been to Norman's for catfish?

31 July 2001, 01:14

Longbob

Sormi, yes I have been to Norman's. The best catfish is at "Doug's Peach Orchard" on the other side of the river in OK. I haven't been to 2nd Monday in years. I'll try to go soon and look you up.

31 July 2001, 16:14

Craftsman

Long Bob,

I went through Turkey many times last year. I had a Mule Deer lease on the cap rock near Quitaque. Rugged country, tough on hunters and the 4 wheel drive stuff.

Everyone here went to Bills Catfish just accross the Red River for years. Now the best catfish you will ever eat in your life is in Wichita Falls at Kickapoo Catfish.

Good Shooting
Craftsman