benEzra
Moderator Emeritus
Last few range trips, I have gotten really disgusted with my mini-14's lack of accuracy. I'm talking 12" groups and worse at 100 yards, with the zero completely nonrepeatable from range session to range session.
I have been using the Ruger wooden stock it came with, but thanks to a case of black-rifle-itis (e.g., AR envy), I dug the Choate pistol-grip (E2 style) stock out of the closet and, presto, a black rifle. I also ditched the Simmons 3-9x scope since it wasn't exactly doing anything for accuracy. And, having run out of UMC ammunition, I grabbed a couple of magazines of Winchester white box.
Well, lo and behold, I got a 5.5-inch group at 100 yards, perfectly centered, using the stock iron sights off of sandbags. Not stellar, but much better.
At 40 yards, I had a 2.5-inch group, perfectly centered (6 shots).
Looks like the cheap variable scope was much of the problem; it was probably getting beat up by the action cycling (mini's are notorious for this) and shifting the zero around. The UMC ammo might also have been part of the problem; comparing the UMC and Winchester white box (Wal-Mart value pack), the UMC bullets sometimes look a little deformed to me, while the Winchester bullets are more symmetrical. The Choate stock may have also helped.
I also experimented with folding down the rear sight (this is a Ranch Rifle) and using cheek weld and front sight only on closer targets (say 15-40 yd). This is very fast, but also amazingly accurate. In multiple presentations and fast shots from low ready, I had all A-zone hits. I'd say that beyond 15 yards, I get faster A-zone hits with the rifle than with a handgun.
Now I'll have to try some more expensive ammo at 100 yd with the iron sights to see if it does any better. When finances permit, I want to get a gas bushing kit and trigger job from Mike Knifong, which should also help tighten things up.
I have been using the Ruger wooden stock it came with, but thanks to a case of black-rifle-itis (e.g., AR envy), I dug the Choate pistol-grip (E2 style) stock out of the closet and, presto, a black rifle. I also ditched the Simmons 3-9x scope since it wasn't exactly doing anything for accuracy. And, having run out of UMC ammunition, I grabbed a couple of magazines of Winchester white box.
Well, lo and behold, I got a 5.5-inch group at 100 yards, perfectly centered, using the stock iron sights off of sandbags. Not stellar, but much better.
At 40 yards, I had a 2.5-inch group, perfectly centered (6 shots).
Looks like the cheap variable scope was much of the problem; it was probably getting beat up by the action cycling (mini's are notorious for this) and shifting the zero around. The UMC ammo might also have been part of the problem; comparing the UMC and Winchester white box (Wal-Mart value pack), the UMC bullets sometimes look a little deformed to me, while the Winchester bullets are more symmetrical. The Choate stock may have also helped.
I also experimented with folding down the rear sight (this is a Ranch Rifle) and using cheek weld and front sight only on closer targets (say 15-40 yd). This is very fast, but also amazingly accurate. In multiple presentations and fast shots from low ready, I had all A-zone hits. I'd say that beyond 15 yards, I get faster A-zone hits with the rifle than with a handgun.
Now I'll have to try some more expensive ammo at 100 yd with the iron sights to see if it does any better. When finances permit, I want to get a gas bushing kit and trigger job from Mike Knifong, which should also help tighten things up.
