6.8spc ruger
still undecided on buying a ruger mini-14 in 6.8spc.I am not after extreme accuracy.what i am looking for is reliability and being able to consistently hold 3 inch groupings or less at 100 yards(with scope).can anyone out there tell me from their experience if i can expect this from a current model? Im not interested in how the older pencil barrel models shoot.only a scoped newer mini-14 in the 6.8 caliber.
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Might be beneficial to post your question(s) on the Ruger forum, if are responses don't meet your criteria. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by tone59
still undecided on buying a ruger mini-14 in 6.8spc.I am not after extreme accuracy.what i am looking for is reliability and being able to consistently hold 3 inch groupings or less at 100 yards(with scope).can anyone out there tell me from their experience if i can expect this from a current model? Im not interested in how the older pencil barrel models shoot.only a scoped newer mini-14 in the 6.8 caliber.
I think you had some good discussion on this here:
http://forums.gunbroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=515708
Trying to add something that hasn't yet been said, the platform is generally reliable with the caveat that some individual guns aren't out of the box and sometimes break-in is required.
If you "Google" "mini 14 6.8 accuracy" and scroll through the "hits" you'll get all sorts of anecdotal reports on accuracy here.
Lots of them describe 4-5 MOA (or in some cases worse) out of the box, and some better. Many also describe some reduction in group size after running a few boxes of ammo through the gun, so break-in likely can help a bit.
This author claims a sub 1" group AFTER a number of rounds of "break in" with the gun, and includes a picture to "prove" it: http://www.gunblast.com/Ruger-RanchRifle68.htm
Personally, I wouldn't bank on sub 1" groups (ever. . under any circumstance), but I've seen enough reports of under 3" groups witht the 6.8 guns that I believe its possible. Whether you're going to get them with any gun randomly pulled off the shelf with factory ammo, is a different matter.
Also, supposedly the guns are amenable to improvements in accuracy by adjusting the gas block and other measures like adding a barrel strut to reduce vibration. Again, whether or not you'd actually want to do these things to your gun (or should have to) being separate matters.
Here's a few examples of aftermarket barrel clamps to improve accuracy. I'm not endorsing any of these products, just be aware that they exist:
http://www.accu-strut.com/index.htm
http://www.har-bar.com/whatistheharbar.html
http://www.mo-rod.com/0 -
IMHO You'd be better served to just buy an AR in 6.8. You'd spend about the same amount of money either way. Just can't see any reason to buy a gun that only has so much accuracy potential. 0 -
kill the body and the head will follow(smokin joe frazier) 0 -
quote:Originally posted by tone59
kill the body and the head will follow(smokin joe frazier)
Huh? ...is that a vote for or against the Ruger mini-14 in 6.8SPC?
I would vote for the AR because it's more accurate. But, as far as abuse goes the mini will take more of it in a dirtier world. Accurate enough bouncing around in a truck all day. I've known mini's weren't all that accurate due to the choices of the manufacturer. That doesn't mean if they were built with tighter specs they couldn't be more accurate. The choice of system though is more conducive to reliability than accuracy. An AR can be reliable until they get nasty-dirty, They then need a full breakdown to get them clean to work right. I packed an M16A1 for four years and I feel with the amount of live fires and the training I did with blanks I can speak with some authority on that.0 -
I purchased a RRA in 6.8
and they guarantee 3/4 MOa
at 100.
My range isn't cleared out for 100 yds yet
(knee replacement) so I can't confirm this.
ronny0 -
I feel the most concise piece of advice on this one came from armalite1015:
quote:IMHO You'd be better served to just buy an AR in 6.8. You'd spend about the same amount of money either way. Just can't see any reason to buy a gun that only has so much accuracy potential.
The Ruger Mini-14 in .223 should be good out to 100 yards with a maximum grouping of 6", and that is on the outside. With a 3x-4x scope, I would expect groups to be 3" or smaller. If they are not, then you have issues with your shooting ability (probably not) or more likely, something is amiss with the weapon, even the Mini, which is not known for its accuracy.
Something you can do to tighten the groups is to polish the bore. Get some Kroil and som JB bore paste (good gun shop or from Brownells) and mix it into a slimy mess and polish the devil out of the bore, 3 inches at a time with a new bore brush, twenty strokes for each 3", then repeat with a patch. Use plenty of the mixture. Then clean per normal, finishing with a clean patch. This does a very noticeable job of improving barrel accuracy. There are other tricks you can do without getting too technical, however, messing with the gas block is not something for a beginner. "Just don't do it," is my advice to that.
Ammo costs enough as it is, and the 6.8 round is not something I am enamored with, either for its accuracy or its cost. .223 will certainly do anything the 6.8 will do with the Ruger Mini-14 at your stated range of 100 yards. If you want the best accuracy, the AR platform is a better choice and the .223 is good out to about 400 yards for sure with a decent AR.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Wolf.
I feel the most concise piece of advice on this one came from armalite1015:
quote:IMHO You'd be better served to just buy an AR in 6.8. You'd spend about the same amount of money either way. Just can't see any reason to buy a gun that only has so much accuracy potential.
To be clear here, the 6.8 SPC round was specifically designed to run through AR-15 platform guns. That's pretty much the whole point of it, to get .243-like ballistics from a gun designed for .223.
While I agree with the advice about AR-15s being preferable for this round. . . .
quote:beantownshootah Posted - 04/29/2011 : 4:27:42 PM
My personal take on these is that they're accurate "enough" for use as a defensive arm out to 150 yards or so, which is basically all they're meant for.
If you really want sub minute-of-angle match-type accuracy, you're probably going to have an easier time getting it starting with an AR-15 type gun.
. . .the original poster indicated that he wanted something OTHER than an AR-15, and that accuracy wasn't his primary concern.
While AR-15s have a lot of advantages (accuracy and modularity being the biggest two) I think there are a few legitimate reasons why you might want a mini-14 instead. Best one is that AR-15s are banned in some places. Some stores will stock mini-14s but not AR-15s and being able to buy locally is potentially a big advantage. You might come across a really good deal on a mini-14. One might prefer a more conventional, less "military" looking rifle.
On accuracy, lets face it, lots of people love their Kalashnikovs, and those aren't any more accurate on average than mini-14s. It never hurts to have more accuracy, but realistically, 3-4 MOA is still probably fine for shooting things dog-sized or larger out to 150 yards or so.
My take on mini-14s is just that they're overpriced for the level of performance they deliver. Even tricked out with upgrades, an SKS, Saiga, or Kalashnikov will give you similar accuracy and reliability as a mini-14 for quite a bit less cost. If mini-14s cost what those other guns cost, people would be raving about how awesome they are!0 -
quote:beantownshootah
Advanced Member
USA
11122 Posts
Posted - 05/06/2011 : 09:59:29 AM Show Profile Email Poster Reply with Quote
quote:Originally posted by Wolf.
I feel the most concise piece of advice on this one came from armalite1015:
quote:IMHO You'd be better served to just buy an AR in 6.8. You'd spend about the same amount of money either way. Just can't see any reason to buy a gun that only has so much accuracy potential.
To be clear here, the 6.8 SPC round was specifically designed to run through AR-15 platform guns. That's pretty much the whole point of it, to get .243-like ballistics from a gun designed for .223.
While I agree with the advice about AR-15s being preferable for this round. . . .
quote:beantownshootah Posted - 04/29/2011 : 4:27:42 PM
My personal take on these is that they're accurate "enough" for use as a defensive arm out to 150 yards or so, which is basically all they're meant for.
If you really want sub minute-of-angle match-type accuracy, you're probably going to have an easier time getting it starting with an AR-15 type gun.
. . .the original poster indicated that he wanted something OTHER than an AR-15, and that accuracy wasn't his primary concern.
While AR-15s have a lot of advantages (accuracy and modularity being the biggest two) I think there are a few legitimate reasons why you might want a mini-14 instead. Best one is that AR-15s are banned in some places. Some stores will stock mini-14s but not AR-15s and being able to buy locally is potentially a big advantage. You might come across a really good deal on a mini-14. One might prefer a more conventional, less "military" looking rifle.
On accuracy, lets face it, lots of people love their Kalashnikovs, and those aren't any more accurate on average than mini-14s. It never hurts to have more accuracy, but realistically, 3-4 MOA is still probably fine for shooting things dog-sized or larger out to 150 yards or so.
My take on mini-14s is just that they're overpriced for the level of performance they deliver. Even tricked out with upgrades, an SKS, Saiga, or Kalashnikov will give you similar accuracy and reliability as a mini-14 for quite a bit less cost. If mini-14s cost what those other guns cost, people would be raving about how awesome they are!
So if that was the main problem I still wouldn't buy the Ruger I'd go out and look for one in a bolt action rifle say a Remington 700.
Still much cheaper then the Ruger and more accurate then probably the AR15 as well. Just can't fathom buying anything that's gonna shoot a 3" plus sized group at a 100 yards, unless your buying an artillery piece.0 -
+1 on the Rem 700...
Thats getting some groups.0
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