Mini-14: rate of twist?
Friend has early mini-14, serial 181-66xxx. I know the twist rates in various .223 / 5.56 weapons have varied over the years, don't know if that applies to Ruger, but he was thinking of loading some rounds with heavier bullets and I suggested I find out if the rate of twist in the weapon was fast enough before he invested time and money in the project.
Any ideas?
Any ideas?
0
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Colt AR-15's are notorious for their different "twists" in their .223 barrels. They first came with 1 in 12, then 1 in 9, then 1 in 7....etc., and so forth
I have been told Ruger uses a right hand 1 in 9 inch twist in the Mini 14 and Ranch Rifles. It is my understanding this is what they have always been and are......for whatever that's worth. I would think this twist rate would pretty much be a middle of the road type. I do get 1 1/2 inch groups at 100 yards with my Ranch Rifle using 62 grain jacketed non hollow point ammo. I have been told this is not what they normally do, but mine does. I can't remember what kind of accuracy I get with the 52/55 grain hollow points, but it must have been similar or I would have noticed the difference and made a mental note of it.....Hope this helps!
Fish Shudder at the sound of my Name!0 -
Correct,.....1:9
I'm a man,....but I can change,.....If I have to,......I guess.0 -
Dang it yet another lucky fekker whose Mini-14 Ranch shoots less then 2 MOA.. My buddies does around 2 MOA too. Mine is like 4-6 MOA... gack!! 0 -
When working up new loads that will not group I check the ratio by inserting a tight dry wad on a cleaning rod with a handle that allows the rod to spiral with the lands as it is incerted into the bbl then put a mark on the top of the cleaning rod with a sharpie and count the revolutions. It's not perfect but you can tell what you got. 0 -
SilverBox,...if you want it to shoot better, MUCH better, check out www.accuracysystemsinc.com, if that doesn't work, do a search for Accuracy Systems inc. Hold on to your wallet
I'm a man,....but I can change,.....If I have to,......I guess.0 -
SilverBox.....
I have found that if I keep the barrel "impeccably cleaned" right after shooting, I am able to maintain good accuracy. If the barrel is not cleaned after use for a couple of days, anything I shoot can go anywhere. Also, I find that choice of ammo makes a great difference. You might want to try several different brands and types one day....I'd bet you will find one that shoots much better and consistently. These guns are a little picky about their diet. Give it some "good stuff" and hide and watch......it'll tighten right up!
Fish Shudder at the sound of my Name!
Edited by - RancheroPaul on 11/20/2002 20:07:140 -
Thanks for the help, guys. 0 -
JustC,
I've looked at that site before, I deceided I'd buy a M1A instead of trying to get my Mini working good.
Ranchero Paul,
You may have something their, I do notice a bit of an improvement in accuracy when I fire from a freshly cleaned barrel.. Around 4MOA or so.. If its dirty its more like 6-8 MOA, hehehe.
However, I don't think it will tighten right up. I've taken it all apart and examined how it works and the gas block gets slammed pretty hard when each shell is loaded. I'm pretty sure thats the problem and why some Mini's shoot good and some don't. You just have to get lucky and have one where when that gas block gets slammed it doesn't mess up your accuracy each time. I have tried all the tricks I read about on the web, like evenly tightening and measuring the gap on each side of the gas block. I read about the trick of milling the end of the push rod that bangs the gas block (so it doesn't bang the gas block but catches on the reciever) but after looking at it I realized that the people advising against that were correct, because of where it will then hit is a very small metal piece that will get damaged quite quickly. I did mill off about .030" from the face of the rod that bangs the gas block and apply a very thin layer of RTV silicon and that seemed to help a bit, also I noticed that the upper portion of the gas block did not seem to contact the barrel completely uniformly and I very lightly sanded it and used some RTV silicone under that as well. With a freshly cleaned barrel after these mods sometimes I can get 3MOA groupings.. I don't want to spend 4-700 on accuracy work when I know I'd rather have the M1A.0 -
SilverBox
Try this forum for a little inexpensive easy upgrade on the mini
http://www.perfectunion.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=8
You should find it interesting
AN ARMED SOCIETY IS A POLITE SOCIETY0 -
It appears we made the same choice. I will buy an M1A in the next several years instead of spending big $$$ on the mini. However, I may go ahead and have her done up in say 4-5yrs, just for a project. I just can't stop building the bolt rifles right now.
I'm a man,....but I can change,.....If I have to,......I guess.0 -
Thanks for the link punchie I haven't checked out that forum before 
. I'll give a good look over when I have a lil more free time.0
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