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Hypothetical but probably dumb question

NOTPARS
Ruger mini-14's aren't typically discussed in the same sentence with words like "accurate." I was looking over a new Ruger catalogue at their mini-14 rifles with the adjustable harmonic balancers that are supposed to make them more accurate. The problem, as I understand it, is that the thin barrel tends to whip causing stringing of rounds which obviously won't present an accurate group. Vibration and heat are other problems. I already have some minis and was wondering, if a stainless steel ring with a hole drilled and tapped for an allen head screw tipped with protective rubber could be applied to the barrel (somehow getting past the front sight) could it accomplish the same goal as the harmonic deal? Yeah, I know, why not get an AR? I already have the mini.
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • tsr1965
    There was more done to the new mini-14's than screwing a harmonic dampener on the end of the barrel...the price reflects that.

    Best
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  • iwannausername
    Possibly. But the key for accuracy is consistiency. Doesn't matter if the barrel whips around like a wet spaghetti noodle, as long as it does it the exact same way each and every time.
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  • beantownshootah
    The question is "how can I make my mini-14 more accurate", and I don't think its dumb.

    See here for a little more insight on how Ruger did it:

    http://www.rifleshootermag.com/featured_rifles/rugranch_071807/
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  • rsnyder55
    There is a product called accu-strut that supposedly reduces and/or eliminates barrel whip. Supposedly this increases that accuracy.
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  • NOTPARS
    Thanks for all the excellent replies. On some forums if you even mention mini-14's, the abuse follows. I have AR's but always liked the mini's for what they are. Years ago I wanted a more accurate mini and ended up paying for an ARS (Texas) mini with a Walther-Lothar barrel and so forth. It weighs around 9 pounds and will flat out shoot half inch groups, sometimes less, all day long. But I paid a boatload of money for it and now I don't know what to do with it. I wanted a mini for residential defense and so forth. I only needed one a little more accurate than the originals, not a custom piece. What was I thinking. Anyway, Beentownshootah, that is an excellent article and explained a great deal that I didn't understand before. I copied it to share with a friend who is also wanting to make slight mods to his mini. I bought one of the newest versions a few years ago for $590 out the door so its worth it to have a little work done. My friend has an older one but he paid $425 for his his. Again, thanks for all the great reponses. This really helps.
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  • Mr. Perfect
    when Ruger retooled for the Mini-14 a few years back they were supposedly addressing a lot of the loss in accuracy that people were seeing, since they hadn't implemented new tooling on their production line for many years. As I understand it, their retooling efforts were successful. As for other ways to make your rifle more accurate, there a literally hundreds of things you could adjust and tweak. This site has some pretty good ideas and they apply to more than just the mini:

    http://www.answers.com/topic/accurizing

    Good luck!
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  • partisan
    All I can say about the mini-14 is that in the late 70's and early 80's they were really crappie rifles!
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  • Hawkster
    I own and shoot two Mini's. I have posted about them before! If you can get it, there is a video of just how devistating the Mini 14 can be in trained hands! The name of the video is "Firestorm." It is the FBI training video about the Platt & Mattix felony stop in FLA. These two were nasty guys, but one made sure to train with his favorite weapon, a Mini with folding stock! What he did with this weapon to those FBI agents was awful, and thankfully their trining carried them through! He was ultimately killed like the dog he was, but not before doing way too much damage! I worked with a S.E.R.T. team that primarily utilized MP 5's & AR-15's! But, one member chose to use a Mini-14! He trained with it, and it served him well. Enough said!
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  • cpermd
    I buy Ruger No 1s because some are gorgeous.
    I buy old model Ruger single actions cause I love em

    I buy ARs when I want an accurate .223.

    CP
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  • iwannausername
    I'd skip the Ruger and get a Saiga in one of the 5.xmm chamberings - ammo is still relatively cheap and plentiful for the x39 variation...
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