5.56 in a Mini 14?

[Duelist]

OK, here is the situation... I may be getting a Mini 14 (for free) from a relative who doesn't shoot any more. It's probably a late 70s or early to mid 80s model. I have a SIG556 already, so in the interest of ammunition compatibility, is it safe to shoot 5.56x45mm out of a Mini 14?

 

[Dr.Rob]

Yep.

 

[Maverick223]

Yes, and will likely eat up any ammo you can throw at it...take the stuff that the SIG doesn't like and feed it to the mini...you may not be able to hit anything with it, but not due to malfunctions.

 

[Colton White]

I feed my mini-14 EVERYTHING my AR wont shoot or whatever i dont want to put in it. old rusty dusty nasty steel case 5.56 or .223 dont matter

 

[jim in Anchorage]

Gun barrel city? For real? I like it.

 

[Rob1109]

Rugers manual states: 5.56 NATO or .225

 

[Maverick223]

Rugers manual states: 5.56 NATO or .225

I don't doubt it...but I'd not shoot .225, and stick with .223Rem instead.

 

[loadedround]

225 was propably just a typo

 

[Maverick223]

225 was propably just a typo

I'm sure that it was...just givin' him a hard time.

FWIW, there actually is a .225...the .225Win. which is obsolete and long forgotten.

 

[Mal H]

Duelist - when you get your Mini-14 and go to the range, always remember to bring a friend and a bucket with you. You station the friend about 30 feet to your right and instruct him to catch the cases with the bucket. That saves having to search all over the place for your empties.

(They throw brass into the next zip code!)

 

[Maverick223]

Funny, but oh so true...I have noticed that most of the rifles that have a good reputation for reliability also tend to chunk brass across the county line (Mini, G3, AK, et al).

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Depends on the Mini---a std Mini will throw em close like an AR--------a Ranch Rifle will throw em to the 4 corners.

 

[EvanWilliams]

I have a mini from the early 80s. Never jams no matter what I put in it. After testing many loads I found it loves the WWB 45 gr JHP (comes in a value box at wallyworld 40 rounds 22 bucks). It will shoot less than an inch with that (back when I shot it 3 times a week). Congratulations, you are getting a great gun.

 

[trane fan]

I picked up this Mini-14 Tactical last weekend. Here's what it did using Remington 55gr. labeled 5.56

 

[arizona98tj]

Distance to target?

 

[Nicky Santoro]

5.56 in a Mini 14?

With the exception of the new Target Model which specifies .223 only, 5.56 is fine. See page 12.
http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/PDF/InstructionManuals/55.pdf

 

[trane fan]

arizona98tj the distance was 25 yards (max distance at the indoor range). BTW, nice TJ site. I own a 2005 TJ, Rocky Mountain Edition.

 

[GRIZ22]

With the exception of the new Target Model which specifies .223 only, 5.56 is fine. See page 12.


I'd check with Ruger on that> The wat I read it:

The RUGER® MINI-14® RANCH RIFLES are offered in two calibers: the
.223 Remington (5.56mm) cartridge and the 6.8mm Remington SPC cartridge.
The Target Model uses .223 Remington cartridges only.

they are saying the Target Model is not available in 6.8.

 

[Clipper]

they are saying the Target Model is not available in 6.8.

No one said it was...

 

[cedjunior]

No one said it was...

GRIZ22 was referring to what Nicky Santoro said about the Target model only being chambered in .223 and not 5.56 per the manual. GRIZ22 was pointing out that he believes the manual refers to the Target model only being available in .223/5.56 and not 6.8.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

the distance was 25 yards (max distance at the indoor range).

Just from eyeballing your target that looks like about a 6" group at 25 yards. That would mean about a 24" group at 100 yards. I hope if anyone ever comes after me with a rifle, its you and that Mini.

 

[trane fan]

Lone_Gunman,

The target is 18 X 12 and discounting the "fly away" at the top left it's about a 3" (25 rounds). I know there's room for improvement but it's the first time I had shot the gun.

 

[Al Thompson]

TF, good response. For the record, please don't shoot at me with that Mini or anything else.

 

[Art Eatman]

I am much easier to get along with when there is an absence of snark.

Teasing's fine, as long as it's obviously in fun. But I don't give out awards for "Nasty of the Day".

 

[AH-1]

nothing wrong with mini's.1985 RR with my handloads first time to the range.
so it your taller than 3" you have a serious problem.rifle action is stone stock.
pete