Following up on the selection of the Mini-14 Tactical as a standard carbine for my family, this is my review of the Mini-14 I put through its paces over Christmas 2010.
I’ve read that some rifles prefer certain types of bullets, so I had a selection of 55 grain FMJ, 55 grain HP, 62 grain FMJ, and 62 grain HP, in brass and steel cased (zinc plated, polymer coated, and lacquer coated) ammunition. Brands included Federal, (edit/add: Prvi Partizan PPU M855), Wolf, Silver Bear, Tula, and some no name Russian stuff.
Long story short, we noticed no significant differences in reliability or accuracy with these different types of ammunition – 100% cycled and was accurate out to 300 yards we shot to with this rifle.
The first 100 rounds were Federal XM193 55 grain shot mostly at targets within 50 yards for breaking in the rifle. After that my brothers and I took turns with it on our redneck range, which began in a corner of our parent’s yard with targets at 75, 100, 200, and 300 yards out into a field. The area goes out to 400 yards, which we’ll probably setup next time.
We used iron sights and a TruGlo red dot sight (review to follow) at 75 and 100 yards with identical results once sighted it; at or over 90% hits on soda cans and good groups on the targets. At 200 and 300 yards we used a Nikon Prostaff BDC 4-12x40mm scope. Due to my not adjusting the scope mount correctly (not factory rings), we had a hard time hitting the 300 yard target, but had consistent grouping at 12-16” between three shooters.
[Edit: The B-Square mount it must have been installed by my a little off kilter. When I sighted the scope in at 100 yards, had to adjust both windage/elevation a lot. At 300 yards it needed to be tweaked a bit but was out of range. So we picked spots on the upper left part of the old dryer the target was on, and got the grouping in the lower right of the dryer, which took awhile to figure out. This rifle is basically 2 MOA, maybe a bit better closer in.]
Rather than the Ruger rings provided with the Mini-14, I used a B-Square mount for the Mini-14 to mount both the red dot and scope. The B-Square mounts to the side and provides weaver rail to mount optics to. Testing showed the mount could be removed and reattached without loosing zero (review to follow).
We used 20 and 30 round factory magazines with zero problems. In addition to slow target shooting, we went through a few hundred rounds in rapid succession in order get the barrel hot to see if it would affect accuracy; it did not.
It wasn’t a torture test, but we shot 1,200 rounds over several days before cleaning the rifle. Yeah, I know, but I wanted to know. The barrel and chamber were amazingly clean, especially considering all the cheap Russian ammo that was used. Only the gas port was filthy, but not in a way that affected operation of the bolt. It cleaned up relatively easily.
The Good: The Ruger Mini-14 tactical is reliable and finally accurate. At 6.75 pounds and 36.75”, it’s light and compact. It does not require prompt cleaning and is not picky about the ammunition it shoots. Decades of use have shown the Ranch version to be durable and rugged, and Tactical version seems no different. For around $600, this rifle is outstanding.
The Bad: Options for mounting optics remain limited; Ruger rings for a scope, or an aftermarket solution for weaver/picatinny rail. Ruger needs to correct this. A second issue I had (but no one else in my group) was that I twice charged it in such a way as to pull the charging handle out of the take-down groove on the side (yellow arrow in photo), causing the bolt to be slightly misaligned an jamming. I’m used to charging AK and SKS rifles and sometimes pull a bit out as I pull down – don’t do this with the Mini-14. At the time I found in forums this had happened to a couple others.
Overall I was very pleased with this rifle, especially for the price, and can recommend it for a SHTF carbine on par with the AR-15 and AK-47.
Update: Forgot to mention that we tried the flash suppressor, at night of course. It works, really broke up the flash and would help maintain night vision.
Interesting writeup. Thanks.
On the 300 yard target- to what do you attribute the 12-16″ groups? Do you think that is indicative of the rifle’s abilities with varied ammo makers, or is it ‘common’ accuracy with the Mini?
The Red Dot I bought came with two mounts- one for Ruger and another for whatever other weapon it was going on- and the rings would only mount on that particular scope, so I feel your pain at mounting a scope on it. My thinking is that anything that will need a battery is not a good idea for a combat weapon in unsupported scenarios (YMMV), so I did away with the Red Dot and put a Plain Jane scope (TRW-4) on it.
Very interesting on the slide camming out and jamming on cocking- think maybe it’s a design flaw or something that can be remedied with use and familiarity?
Again, thanks-
Shy III
Google Har-bar and you will find an attachment that stabilizes the barrel and acts as a harmonic dampner. Every review I’ve seen says that accuracy was improved and groups were cut in half. I saw a review on the Gun Blast site that was very positive and thought I would check it out when I have a spare $150.
I mounted a Nikon Prostaff 4×32 fixed magnification scout scope on my Mini using medium rings and with the addition of a HarBar I think I would have a weapon (reliable, light, rugged, and very accurate) that might make me skip over my AR in a SHTF situation.
That Ruger looks like a sweet weapon system. Everyone loves that M1-type action!
Thanks for blowing away the myth about different makes / manufactures of 5.56mm / .223.
BTW, is it true that you can’t routinely shoot 5.56 NATO in a Mini-14? Or is this model pressured for that?
Jerry that is a myth. The owners manual provided by Ruger states 5.56 or .223 ammo may be fired in this gun. Nice review Suburban! Let us know how you do on the 400yd range.
China
III
Jim,
Part of the problem is that when I installed the B-Square mount it must have been a little off kilter. When I sighted the scope in at 100 yards, had to adjust both windage/elevation a lot. At 300 yards it needed to be tweaked but was out of range. So we picked spots on the upper left part of the old dryer the target was on, and got the grouping in the lower right of the dryer. But it was the end of the last day we had, so I decided I’d just have to adjust it next time. I don’t know what a lot of groupings were at 100 yards since we shot a lot of cans.
The B-Square mount is see-thru, so if the battery dies on a red dot, irons are there. A guy could get an Aimpoint with something like 3 continuous years of battery life (that’s what $600+ gets you).
Publius,
This is the newer 580 series Mini with a thicker barrel that eliminates the old accuracy problems. Hitting cans with iron sights most of the time at 100 yards, even after heating it up, is good enough for us. If I had an older Mini, would definitely get the Har-Bar or something like it.
Jerry,
I guess if a guy was shooting from a bench and going for super small groups, they might notice some differences in the ammo, but we weren’t shooting for that. To tell the truth I was surprised at the lack of drop at 300 yards, even with the cheap stuff. An experiment for warmer weather might be to setup ballistic gel at 300 yards and see what the good/cheap stuff does at that range.
And China nailed it on the chambering; also has 5.56mm stamped on the rifle.
Good review of the Mini-14, even though I still prefer the AR15 due to logistical reasons.
But, if I had to choose between the Mini and the AK, I’d chose the Mini, mostly due to the fact I could get reliable ammo during a major crisis or silly ban by our legislators on foreign ammo.
Michael,
I don’t know where you live but even during the darkest days of the post-2008 election ammo frenzy I could buy WWB 7.62×39 at every Wal Mart within 20 miles. Clean burning, reliable, reloadable and available. Sometimes it was one or two 20-rd. boxes, other times they had a dozen or more. In no way could that be said for .223.
7.62x39mm has been commercially loaded in the United States for something approaching twenty years. The former Soviet Bloc cartridge is well-entrenched in American society and is in no threat of disappearing. 5.45×39 is still an import-only proposition except for one semi-domestic choice but I guarantee you if there would be a ban on imported rounds, our own ammo factories would quickly put it into production.
In short, ammo availability is a poor reason for choosing the Ruger Mini over a Klashnikov.
I tried one of those b-square mounts years ago, on an eighties vintage mini and fiddled with it through an entire range session with no success.
I was getting reasonable groups (one or two inches), but they would wander all over the place between firing strings.
I took the thing off in disgust. I don’t know if I could have made it work with more patience, but I traded the mount off years ago.
Does anybody know the secret to making a b-square mount work and hold zero? Or any other mount for the Mini?
Michael,
Thanks. There are a lot of reasons to prefer an AR and if I was super familiar with them it might be different for me.
justbill,
In the Northern VA area, ammo was very scares – 5.56, 7.62×39, 9mm, .45, etc. – and in fact in could not be found at any Wal-Mart in the area, at least every time I tried. It was like that for months. Gun shows, however, were a good source of ammo, and I saw guys getting there early with dollys to haul it out with. While 7.62×39 is domestically produced, I think 5.56 is much more common. In a SHTF fan event I don’t think it will matter much as it will all dry up. Might matter depending on what’s in the stockpiles of those you hook up with.
hank,
I used blue Loc-tite and it didn’t move after that. First time I used it I didn’t use anything and it vibrated loose. the Loc-tite worked well.
Sub Surv,
I’ll respectfully disagree that .223/5.56 is “much more common” than 7.62 Commie Short but we are in agreement on an important point. Waiting for a crisis to occur before having an adequate stock of ammo* is an example of very poor planning, irregardless if it’s a hurricane, riot or overreaction to an election result. Depending on the outlook of your local or state government, you may not be permitted to buy ammo even if it’s available. It’s the whole “ounce of prevention” thing.
*Not believing in a coming zombie apocalypse or invasion by UN blue helmeted thugs, I’m disinclined to stock ammunition to the levels of some preppers. IMO most people would do just fine with ~200 rds. for their fighting rifle, 50 for their handgun, 50 mixed rounds for a shotgun and a brick of ammo for the .22LR. All will fit in a surplus .50 cal. can or daypack.
hank,
You might want to check out the Ultimak mount for the Mini. I can’t personally vouch for that particular item but think very highly of it for AK’s. Note there are two models, pre- and post-2008.
http://ultimak.com/m4.htm
justbill says: “IMO most people would do just fine with ~200 rds. for their fighting rifle, 50 for their handgun, 50 mixed rounds for a shotgun and a brick of ammo for the .22LR. All will fit in a surplus .50 cal. can or daypack.”
Those estimates are very low in my opinion. I advise people, whether they are preppers or not, that a minimum of 1000 rounds for each caliber should be stored away. When I drop below that b/c of my range time I re-stock. The last two or three years have been a nightmare for those trying to find ammo in the common calibers. There were months that I was unable to find more than a box or two at a time and what I did find was very expensive. It is not as bad now, but it is still difficult to find some brands of self-defense ammo. It’s better to have too much and not need it than to have too little and find yourself in a bad way.
Publius,
“Better to have and not need…” is a great way to approach things if you can. It takes a tremendous amount of money, space and security to protect your cache. Having several thousands of rounds of ammo is wonderful for a rural prepper who doesn’t plan to move from their well-defended homestead come hell or high water. But for most everyone else it isn’t an option.
A lot of SHTF scenarios will require people to leave their homes. Even your minimum recommended 1k per cartridge weighs a lot for anything beyond .22LR. The packaging will be bulky as well. Moving all that quickly, covertly and securely is tough. That’s weight and space that could be used for food, water, shelter, tools, etc. If you have a Suburban with lots of fuel you’ll probably be okay with a thousand rounds for 2-3 cartridges. But what happens when you run out of fuel? Or equally as bad, your vehicle breaks down or roads become impassable? You’ll never be able to carry more than a couple hundred total rounds and still be able to pack water, food and other essentials. Humping the hills with 100+ lbs. kicks the crap out of young men in the peak of physical condition…are you? I’m sure not and I’ll also have to worry about the needs of my family. While I’m encouraging my little ones to hike and enjoy the outdoors, it’s likely I’d have to carry the youngest after more than an hour or so on foot. She weighed 33lbs. at last check-up. How much ammo will I need to leave behind to accommodate my daughter’s lack of pre-schooler endurance?
But all of this assumes a bug out. Okay, let’s say we’re looking at something like a repeat of the Rodney King riots. You’re either stuck at home or choose not to leave. As bad as it was most survivors had to shoot very little even when facing a mob bent on their destruction. I don’t recall ever hearing of even one shop owner who needed more than a couple dozen rounds fired in anger. The same goes for Katrina, the NYC blackout, etc. Gun fights expending thousands of rounds may make for entertaining movies but have little to do with the real world.
Don’t get me wrong, having a quantity of ammo on-hand is smart if you can pull it off. It allows you to get the best possible prices and frees you of shortages like we’ve all seen in the past. It also allows you to practice and train without scrambling for rounds. But are more than a few hundred rounds practical when viewed from a transportation and “need” standpoint? IMO, probably not.
As for the availability of 5.56mm vs 7.62x39mm, I just have to go by what I’ve seen living in several states in the Midwest/plains (and what my friends/family still there tell me), on the east coast, travel to the west coast, and the consensus of what I’ve read. I’m sure there are pockets here and there that don’t conform to the norm.
For bugging out on foot, I think the amount of ammo suggested by justbill is fine, maybe even too much to carry. If I have to leave my vehicle, I have a jogging stroller that can carry a lot. If I have to leave that and go with the Bug Out Bag (BoB), I’ve decided to take only 9mm pistols and a .22 pistol/carbine combo (Neos) due to weight restrictions.
But under normal circumstances, I could (and do) shoot the amount suggested in one trip to the range, much more for the pistols.
If you would bug out in a SHTF scenario, I suggest storing ammo at the location you plan to go to, friends, family, etc. Even a storage facility if you have to, or buried at a place you’ll be able to find for sure. Even then I’d have many times more than the amount suggested at home; if we had to leave it’d go in the vehicle; then the stroller/trailer/wagon, etc. After that It’d have to be sold/traded/buried/or abandoned if on foot.
SS,
I purchased a Ruger AR piston-operated rifle a few months ago, and traded one of my Mini-14s in on it to soften the blow. The Ruger AR was $1200.
To tell you the truth, I would just as soon have my Mini-14 back. The AR is a good rifle, but I’m like you, I don’t think the AR justifies the added expense. The only complaint I’ve ever had with my Minis is the slight difficulty with magazine insertion, which is quickly mastered by practice. The AR is slightly more accurate, but I have a red dot sight on it, so I really can’t tell the difference tactically speaking. If I want to take a shot over 200 yds. I use my .308.
A thought of two, though, I would rather have the AK-47 if I lived in a city, both for its more powerful cartridge and its ruggedness. And I would carry as much ammo as possible. It goes quicker than one imagines when under hostile conditions, and your accuracy suffers as well, causing you to need more than you think. Just my 2 cents.
templar knight,
The only thing that kept us from the AK was accuracy – the vast majority just aren’t capable of the longer shots we want to take. IMO, I’d rather engage as far away as possible. With a 9x or 12x scope, I think the Mini-14 is fine out to ~300 yards.
That said, we do have a few SKSs floating around and are stocking up on that ammo as well as 5.56mm and various others.
Our longer shots are with 7.62x54R. Yeah, no where near as common as most other hi-powered cartridges, but so dirt cheap we can easily put away thousands of rounds.
Note: The latest (today) price from CDNN is $569 for the Mini-14, $20 less than what I paid. A real bargain.
I bought a Mini 14 a couple years ago and indeed it is a quality weapon. However something that really puzzles me, I’m a Ruger fan and have been for 40 years with a number of Ruger arms all of, in my opinion, excellent quality. What I don’t understand is why would Ruger continue to make firing pins for the mini 14s that will not withstand foreign ammo with hard primers that I understand will break. Why wouldn’t they simply solve the problem by making pins that would handle the foreign ammo?
Just an observation
I also am a fan of the mini-14 and it’s low recoil. Used .223 in the miltary with great success.
My Gun Club has what we call Sight-in Days every year around Deer Season opening day. This affords people without a practice range to use ours for sighting in their deer rifles.
What I have observed is that “Shooters rarely hunt, Hunters rarely shoot, and collectors do neither” is a true maxim.
Most people who hunt will have very few rounds for their weapons. If possible, they will shoot one or two rounds to sight-in and go home.
My point? Anyone with a few hundred rounds is going to be in very good shape if the non-prepper with his 12 to 15 rounds picks a fight. How many rounds will the average Gang-Banger have? My guess would be whatever is in the clip or chamber.
Draw your own conclusions.
I bought the Ruger Mini 14/30 , Im happy with it . It fits very nicely into my hunting pack holster . Not the most powerful but then again Im not lookin to assault a normandy gun emplacement . It is simple , reliable and the price is right . First thing I did after the weapon purchase was order some 20 round magazines from ruger before the government tries to take em from us .
I Love my mini14 NRA it has a tapico MIL TYPE STOCK and shoots well with any ammo I have tried. This is a really trustworthy rifle and will do much to keep me alive.
I gave my old stainless model to my grand son who now has a family to support and defend. I would say for the money the mini14 is a good rifle that you can depend on.
Steve
I am happy with both my rifles. I have a centerfire Mini14 5.56
and a rimfire Ruger 10/22 both with scopes and reddot on ruger rings allzeroed in and ready to go.
I notice a lack of discusion on the storage of ammo. As a Vietnam era veteran I learned about the care of the rifle and also the ammo. Store it in water-proof metal boxes, like military .50Cal boxes available on the web.
The founders had a saying, “keep your powder dry.” that is as important as keeping the rifle clean.
What do you know about the requirement by Ruger that only American Ammo be used? Ruger told me that foreign ammo, like Wolf, will break/bend the fireing pin. I wonder why Ruger doesn’t use a fireing pin that will not be damaged by foreign ammo.
Mini14 5.56 is fine in the city if you use flangable or subsonic. flangable disapes on contact, and the 100Gr. subsonic will work well, they hit hard but will not over penetrate. subsonic are expensive but will really do a job on a bad guy. I keep alot of Nato 5.56 penetrator ammo that is cheap and at 62Gr. and are what our soldiers use in Iraq.
Some incendary ammo might be nice too. The bulk of what I have is 49% penetrator 62Gr. and 49% hollow point 77Gr.
This stuff could dry up in a hurry under martial law, so no one knows how much I have of what. All my ammo is in army ammo boxes to keep it dry, and is all well hidden.
I read an article in 1983,that was actually an article on testing the “new” laser sights coming onto the market( think it was a “guns and ammo”). In this article the author stated that on testing a laser sight mounted to a Mini14 rifle he would not say the distance the rifle shot accuratly, because he didn’t want his readers writing back about the distance being “absurd”. The 223 caliber is way underrated for its lethality at long distances. I used the m-16 rifle in Vietnam, the wound capabilities were truly “gory” under 300 yds!
Does anyone know about the validity of the Ruger requirement to use only American manufactured Ammo? Ruger says that foreign ammo like Wolf will break the firing pin. What’s the story on this. I can’t imagine why Ruger would use a substandard firing pin in a sweet rifle….the Mini-14
Paul,
I’ve heard some say on forums that steel-cased ammo should not be used, but have read far more others speak of how they’ve put thousands of those rounds through their Minis with no issues. I put over 1,000 steel cased rounds through mind in December with no problem, and could not tell the difference in accuracy between that ammo and much more expensive brass-cased M195 and M855. That said, my plinking ammo is the cheap steel stuff; my SHTF ammo is brass as I’ve read multiple times the Russian product is under powered.
i´m planning on buying one mini, and I have some questions
how fast can you pull the trigger without jamming?
Yours ejects to the right?
is it possible to convert so it ejects to the left?
There is any left handed tactical version?
I was thinking in buying a “left handed” for a faster reloading and convert it so ejects to the right, but I don’t know if its possible…
i´m sorry for any error but my English isn’t the best…
GREAT POST THANKS
1K rounds of ammo for every weapon you own is the minimun I believe you should have on hand at any time. It’s easily transported via horse/mule/motorcycle/4wd truck and it can be hidden along the way of your bug-out paths and final destination when the police/UN MAGGOTS come for your gins after martial Law is enacted in the USSA. Anyone who thinks this will not happen is either stupid or living in denial/ignorance. Yes, you will be fighting a guerrila war against your government in the future. Sad but true, especially if you are a Veteran as they will try to disarm us first. LONG LIVE THE REPUBLIC!
I have a red dot and 4X scope with Ruger rings for both. I can switch scope to reddot in in less than a minute and still be close enough to Zeroed in to kill the target. I have done this many times and through my carefull handling of the scope and rings to be nearly perfectly zeroed in each time.
I always use caution in handling and have great results. The right scope and reddot on Ruger rings makes for a great system.
This is my simple but consinsent method and it works for me. I live in the city and my 4Xscope is good for my distances and makes for quick aquisition of target. I shoot the reddot with both eyes open and seldom miss aquireing or hitting the target.
Old Army Jan 1964- Dec 1969, I miss my M14 but my back can’t take the recoil in my old age.
MY mini14NRA is a great rifle please add that to my comment.
Steve Blickley Old army I forgot to say what I’m shooting. Thanks!.
OldArmy
We had to choose a 5.56/.223 rifle for the tactical team since the rounds were less likely to keep going through people / walls and would minimize collateral damage in an environment that had civilians around. Most of the group went to the AR, but I have liked the Mini 14 for awhile now and was able to find one at a gun show with the stock replaced with a TAPCO rail system.
I love the rail system and have put them on my AK as well. It makes mounting scopes / sites so much easier as well as any other attachment. You might find this an option to consider if you don’t like the Ruger rings.