I have always liked the Mini 14 and ranch rifle but sooooooo far from accurate its sad. This was my expensive solution:

Better description?

I've always wanted to do one of my minis like that. Just too rich for my blood. Post some groups. Nice looking gun for sure.

I sent it off to Accuracy Systems, they installed a new heavy barrel, gas block, did some trigger work, 3 point bedding, and new hand guard. It made a world of difference! I think I paid $900 and some change for my build.

My boss bought a mini 30 last year, and the sights are so far off it's not even funny. He had to move the rear sight as far left as possible to sight it in. With the sight all the way to the left, accuracy is decent. The only problem now is it is a jam-o-matic. He can't get through a 20 round mag without problems.

I have that problem when I shoot crappy ammo like wolf or something. Ive learned to only shoot Hornady ammo, never have a problem and super accurate!

I mounted a scope on the ranch neighbor's stainless ranch rifle and then zeroed it at 100 yards. It shot pretty nice, though I can't say that I was shooting for groups. I like the synthetic stock, and the trigger pull was pretty nice. I'm trying to get him to loan me the rifle for a week or two so I can reload for it and see what it'll really do accuracywise.

They really arent very good for accuracy as a stock rifle. It will definitely throw alot of lead in the vicinity of your target though.

Accuracy with Ruger Mini is like any other Ruger, depends on what day it was made. Nice Rifle you have there.

nice!
the place in west texas?

Day in day out an AR will shoot circles around a mini-14

Word. For less money. I have had my share of Mini's over the years, each time thinking "this one will be better than the last". Gave up on them years ago.

I know an Inupiat Eskimo in Alaska who uses a Mini-14 as his grizzly gun. I had a Mini-14 Ranch Rifle as my coyote gun.

He loves his; I sold mine.

A stock mini 14 yes, but mine is a different story

Your's is the exception, as you spent almost a grand to get it that way. They CAN be made to shoot, and personally I like the way they look, operate and carry. But there really is no sense to them being THAT sketchy out of the box. They have a new "Target" version from the factory that supposedly makes them more accurate, with an MSRP of like 1100 bucks. The "standard" Ranch Rifle carries an MSRP of around 875-900 dollars. For that kind of money I can have an AR that's more accurate and has tons more aftermarket support.

You have a nice rifle, BTW. It's different, and I like different.

Actually, there are TWO different guns now. The ORIGINAL was not very accurate. Bores rough, etc. Every one i had that would not shoot, i would season the barrel, and usually cut group size in half-from 12" to 6" or better. Still not that great.

Then old man ruger passed away. The company he founded had someone in charge that decided to change some things. High cap mags for one-both for the Mini series and the 10/22. The other main thing? ACTUALLY GET SOME BETTER BARREL MAKING EQUIPMENT!!!!! The NEW RANCH RIFLE as the Mini is still called, have much better barrels on them. These start at 580-xxxxx serial numbers if i remember correctly. Mine has a 16" barrel, and will shoot about 1 1/2 groups with good loads when scoped. The older 18x-xxxxx serial numbered guns would never shoot that good. Also, the sights are much better. i havent taken mine to the range lately due to not having time. But last time i shot it i was hitting the 14" gong at 300 yards with it with iron sights. Not too bad of accuracy for irons.

I have owned several minis, most of them in the 181 to 184 series. I love the actions and the balance of the guns but they caused me to never buy another Ruger. Rugers attitude about accuracy was to call a 5inch group at a 100 good hunting accuracy. BS. Most of their early rifles were in the same catagory. If it shoots 3 inches at a 100 it's good enough. I almost sent one of mine off to get the same accuracy job you did and I would love to have one. I was fixated. Until a buddy convinced me that a Rock River AR would shoot rings around a mini for less money than I was planning on spending. So, I have one mini left, and one ruger varmint m77 in 243 that accidently shoots like a lazer. NO MORE

Blancoman i used to be in the same boat as you. NONE of the original mini's i had would shoot accurately. When i could season a barrel and cut group size in half, then there is a problem with the manufacturing process. 10/22 barrels are only slightly better, but that is due more to the lack of pressure in 22lr vs 223/556. And when old man ruger helped get high capacity mags, flash hiders, pistol grips, etc banned all in order for his rifle to sell better, then he didnt improve it? Well, i quit buying ruger products as well. Now that he is rolling over in his grave, and the current products i've shot are MUCH more accurate, then i'm giving them another change. That, and the standard capacity mags (20 and 30 for 223, and 20 for 7.62x39, and the 25 round 10/22 mags) that are being manufactured by ruger, there has been a big change at the place.

I agree 100% with what everyone has said. The action is what I liked most about them, rugged and for the most part dependable. Ive never had a cycling issue. I knew when I bought it what my plans were, I knew it would cost me big time but just like everyone else on here, if you love something enough you will spend your left leg on it. Dont get me wrong, I like my AR also, but thats just my girlfriend on the side.

I got a mini 14 & a 30. I musta got lucky on the 14 cuz it shoots 1" groups all day with quality brass ammo. The 30 is another story. It hates steel cased ammo & wont cycle for poop. But I'm lucky to get 3" out brass.

I have read that one reason the old Mini 14's was the way the front sight was instanlled; as it turns out the front sight post was PRESSED in and so much pressure was used the process made the crown slightly oval.

That and the poor manner they were assembled

Hard to spend the money on a Ruger when even the cheapest of AR's does it better.

Mini 14s are minute of pie plate guns although i have heard rumors of the first ones made will shoot pretty decent groups

I would just get an AR parts, accessories are easy to come by and plentiful along with so many options

This isn't quite about the quality or accuracy of the minis, but when did the minis become $700-$800 guns? I don't know that they're selling at those prices but that seems to be what everyone wants for them an it blows my mind, think I'd buy the original Garand for that much. A $400 mini is more like it IMO. I actually almost got to trade a pair of acoustic guitars for a target mini a while back which I would have done since the guitars sat in the closet for 10+ years, but no thank you on one unless $400 or less. Oh and I wouldn't feel right trying to sell one for more than that either.

I use to have a mini about 12 years ago....i liked how handy it was carrying as my truck gun ....it was quick to shoulder to take a quick shot at coyote or pig.....accuracy was pretty bad i hated the aftermarket mags that were available....now that they have a thicker barrel,factory hi-cap Ruger mags and more choices on barrel lengths i'm looking at the again....by the way i have an AR,Sig 556 and M1A to compare it too...