Ruger Mini - 14

[Oldman]

I picked up a Ruger Mini 14. Looks just like the one below. 30 round clips and I'm have a site mounted. .223 (5.56) cal.

At 50 yards (no scope) I was grouping 4 inches. Nothing to brag about but not bad for an old man who has not shot a gun in years either.

After the scope is added we going to be accurizing it. One of the problems is the trigger is heavy. I'm guessing 7 pounds. Dam# the whole gun does not weight much more than that. Over all length is about 29".

A....  M-16 or an AR-15 she is not...but she is a fun gal to play with. Plus given the "killing" area I want it for (100 yards) she will do as well as the AR -15.

I'm also picking up two more Glock 9mm with lasers.  Also a 12 gauge pump. My double barrel 12 gauges (2)  we have wacked down to 18 1/4 inches.

A Chez I'm not... but this time I will be ready for the next storm that brings on the bad guys.

Do I like this..NO! However, after last year I know I need to look out for my family at all cost.

Olds.

[BigSmoker]

Too bad you must prepare like this Olds but I'd do the same.  Plus I just like to target practice ;D.

[Oldman]

Took her out today again and ran 3 - 30 round mags through her.  She did not jam, but that barrel was down right hot~~!

[iceman]

Too bad you must prepare like this Olds but I'd do the same. 

If things get real bad I'm going to visit Old's. Sounds like he's ready for anything. Yep the three B's of life.
Beef, Beer, and Bullets!  ;D ;D ;D

[Oldman]

I just ordered 10 Ruger mags 20s at a great price.

Ruger Mags

Next I'm looking for bulk ammo. 800 - 1000 rounds.  Just waiting on feed back from the gun board members. I've also order a vest that holds 6 -  Ruger 20s mags.

Olds

[icerat4]

Time to do some alligator hunting.Smoked alligator give it a try olds lol.

[Chez Bubba]

Olds,

If you want quantity ammo at a good price, milsurp is the way to go. Most of it packed for long-term storage in either sealed tins or really thick vacu-suck bags.

The nicest stuff I've found is Malysian, South African or Guatamalen. Just make sure it's non-corrosive. Stuff made back in the 60's, 70's & even 80's sometimes is not. The soviet-block countries continue today to use the corrosive stuff. Not that it will ruin your rifle, but the extra cleaning requiered after firing is APITA.

The biggest question in selecting your ammo is what is your rifling twist? If you have 1-in-7" or 1-in-9", you should be fine with 55 grain bullets. If it is higher, technically, you should buy the SS-109 62 grain stuff.

I say that with a grain of salt because my match rifle in 1-in-12" shoots 55 grain Malaysian to 1/2" MOA at 200 yards. From everyone I've ever spoke to about this theory, it basically boils down to test-driving the ammo with your particular rifle.

The biggest problem in ordering ammo is shipping cost because it's heavy. Here's a couple of links for good guys I do business with:

www.aimsurplus.com

www.centuryarms.com

At least with Century, any order over $500 is shipping free. That's probably more than you want, but thought I'd pass it along.

Kirk

[Oldman]

Thanks for the information Chez. At the moment I'm trying figure out the twist count. Nothing about it in the manual I have on the 180# model I have. I might have to write to Ruger to find out.

EDIT: Just called Ruger and mine is a 1:10 twist. Also I found out that my grouping at 50 yards of 4 inches is what that gun was designed to do and no more...

The lightest grain I should use is 55. Interesting.

Olds

[TomG]

Chez,
Just in case you posted to see if anyone was paying attention re: 1" groups at 200 yds. with surplus, Malaysian milspec, 5.56 fmj.  Was this a single 2 shot group or aggregate of 5-5 shot groups, off the bench with glass, and indoors? :) :) :)  Lock and load

[Chez Bubba]

Tom,

AR-15, 5-shot groups, sand-bagged bench, iron sights (M2). Admittedley, some groups were better than others & that's the best one I shot. But I attribute that to my lack of skill, not the ammo.

The range is outdoors but is kind of in a canyon (At least as much canyon as you can get in Indiana!) so wind isn't usually too much of a factor. Makes for really enjoyable shooting this time of year though. ::) :(

When in doubt, empty your magazine. ;)

Kirk

[TomG]

Chez,

I shot benchrest LV and HV with all of the bells and whistles for a couple of years before getting involved with highpower and if my fading memory serves me, a shooter who could consistently group under ½ MOA at 200 yds. would take home a lot of hardware. It sounds as if you've found a super combination of ammo, skill, and equipment.  Now your mission, if you choose to take it, is to help poor Olds and his Mini-14 to do better than 8 MOA.  That being said, I don't hold out much hope for any one who tries to control his BS's temp with a (choke) slide rheostat. :o  Maybe 10 20rd mags is the solution. Olds, as Chez said, 
"When in doubt, empty your magazines". ;D ;D ;D

[Chez Bubba]

Tom,

Consistancy is the key word. I shot highpower scores anywhere from 250 to 418, usually averaged in the high 300's. My problem is I rarely put together a good string of events, but have exceptional moments. I know what to do, but making myself do it is another story.

How else could you explain a 85-2X standing & a 82-0X prone slow? ??? :o :-[ (For those of you who haven't participated in these matches, you get 10 shots in the standing, 20 in the prone, which is why it's especially embarrasing.)

Kirk

[Oldman]

Chez
I order that ammo we talked about. It meets full M855 specs. For a while there I was concerned as in the 80's Radway Green ammo was not loaded to specs. However, that changed in 1990. I got 1,440 rounds. With shipping it worked out to 19.4 cents per round.

After the storm season I'm going to modify the gun's stock. The top of the forearm of the stock comes off, and I'm going to have made an slotted aluminum piece to replace it. This will in effect create a nice heat sink.  I'm also going to refinish the rest of the stock. I will darken some of the current wood stain. Then I plan on blending a white stain in the heavily sanded feed fibers to give me a contrast. The stock then will then fit more with the aluminum and the blue of the gun. When I'm done the finish will look like glass.

[TomG]

Olds,

Checkout this link, http://www.perfectunion.com/vb/archive/index.php/f-106.html

[Oldman]

Thanks Tom.  I've seen that list. You posting on that site?
Olds