581 mini owners suggested ammo

[Aix sponsa]

I love my 581 tactical mini 14. It's a lot of fun to shoot, and I would like to know what ammo other satisfied mini owners like to shoot in their guns. 62 gr bullets seem to work great for me, but I want to know about what "off the shelf loads" you all seem to like. I just picked up some Winchester Supreme 55gr, and I can't wait to try them this weekend. Thanks in advance!

 

[medalguy]

I have a 581 and I find 55 gr FMJ works very well for me. I use any military style ammo I find and I reload most of it. PMC is always a favorite if I can find it at a decent price, and any Federal/Lake City is good. I don't shoot anything steel cased in any of my guns. Just my preference.

 

[Aix sponsa]

I really like pmc, too. The only pmc that I've been shooting has been the x-tac LAP with the green tip. Today I picked up some pmc bronze 55 gr fmj to try with the rest of the ammo I've picked up recently. When I first got the gun, I stocked up on Herter's steel case from cabela's for 3.99 a box. I was surprised with them. Don't get me wrong, there is much better ammo to be had, but, for 3.99, it's hard to go wrong.

Today I went to a local gunshop for the pmcs, and the guy asked about what gun I was using. He was quick to use the kind of talk -SOME- ar owners use when talking about the mini. I had to tell him that I can't speak for older minis, but the new minis are great. I'd love to have an AR, heck, I'd love to get any gun, but I will never get rid of my mini. It shoots well, and it's a lot of fun!

 

[M1key]

580

Winchester Q3131 or Fed XM193 and Priv Partizan 55 SP



M

 

[SGW42]

M855 (the 62 grn green tippers) performs the best in my 581 DLX Mini by far. 2 MOA with open sights. It's cheap right now too. Leaves a lot of copper in my bore, only problem I have with it.

55 grn anything performs poorly in my rifle. It runs okay but makes for loose groups. Steel-cased ammo seems to do a tad bit worse.

Very eager to try 69 grn BTHP. When I finally find a box of them I'll try them out.

 

[dagger dog]

The one I owned would function with just about round that would fit the magazine.

A lot of people have an aversion to Wolf steel case fmj, but try a few 20 rnd boxes and see if your rifle likes them, that is accuracy wise, there is no doubt it will shoot them, but just see if they are as accurate as the twice the price Boxer primed brass cas stuff.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

I shoot 55 grain PSPs out of my 581 mini tactical and get 1 1/2 groupings with a 2x7x33 Redfield, I am thinking of going up to 62 grain for hogs, what kind of 62 grain you shoot for hunting Aix? hogs are tough and I got lots of em.

 

[LoonWulf]

My current load is a 69gr hrndy over imr 4895 1.5 is pretty easy to get for 10rnds. Off the shelf i use pmc fmjs and win white box 5.56 (the win load is seriously hot). 2-3 inch groups are the norm for both

 

[Aix sponsa]

I haven't hunted with my mini, yet. I plan on using it for pigs and coyotes, first chance I get. I do quite a bit of duck and goose hunting. I deer hunt 2-15 times a season (usually depending on my duck season). Deer hunting I really like to hunt with 3" 00 buck or my .308.

This is my first .223, I'm not really sure if I'm going to deer hunt with it. Anyone have anything to say about the round for deer or pigs? I know it's a light bullet, but which bullet types and grains seem to work best?

-thanks

 

[LoonWulf]

First im not suggesting this load as a deer round, but i killed alot of deer with my old ADL .223 and 40grn balistic tips pushed with 4895. Most were lung shot, and i didnt get much more then 6"s of penetration. I didnt know anybetter and it worked for me, now id shoot something much heavier and or tougher. I was shooting Axis deer who weigh 150-200lbs avg, not the largest deer out there.
I wouldnt hesitate to take a good shot with the rounds im using now, or any of the good penetration oriented bullets. Placement is paramount with a small cal, good results are ONLY going to come with patiance and good bullet placement.

 

[Waywatcher]

When I had one I just bought the cheapest available brass cased ammo; 55 grain FMJ.

I did notice that Win Q3131 had a lot less muzzle flash than others, for low light.

 

[Aix sponsa]

I have 0 experience with reloading. I am fortunate enough to have a place I can shoot anytime that I want. I usually shoot at least once a week. Sometimes, it's 4 .308 shots at turtles in the pond from the porch, sometimes it's 5-10 boxes of .223 or 5.56 nato. I only shoot off the shelf loads.

My question (maybe I should post this in another section) is : what is the main reason to reload? Is it really that much cheaper, or is it more about the joy and advantage of custom loading to one's specific needs?

 

[LoonWulf]

Some people enjoy reloading...me i dont realy lol. I load because i can get the exact bullet i want for any gun i shoot lol, for alot less then factory ammo...if i can even find factory ammo with what i want. Another reason is you CAN tailor rounds to guns, get better accuracy etc. Also you have the ability to supply your own ammo if you cant find rounds in the store, an issue i have out here in hawaii from time to time.

 

[Skyshot]

23.5 grains of Varget with the Barns 62 grn TSX shoots 1MOA in my 581 and most factory 55 gr. bullets will shoot 1 1/2 to 2 MOA the Green tip 62 grain SS109 pills will shoot 3MOA.

 

[BP Hunter]

My brand new 581 shoots 55 gr cheapy PMC ammo very well. I know the rifle is not a tack driver so I do not go for extreme accuracy. But I am comfortable shooting soda cans with this ammo at 10 yard with open stock sights.

 

[Aix sponsa]

I fill up a gallon milk jug to the very top. If its not a threaded lid, I tape it on. On the side of the driveway, I have a 16 acre pasture... I set up 2-3 jugs on a piece of firewood at different ranges. When it comes to shooting, I'll drive or walk to different places in the yard or driveway, I sit down with my sticks, guess the range, and shoot. If I hit the jug, it explodes.

I like this way of practicing because it gets a person ready for a real run in with pigs or coyotes. You don't know the exact range, but you can get close, and the target is a good size. Most of the time the jugs are between 175-250 yards.

I use a nikon coyote special scope and several different types of ammo