I’ve been really impressed with this book, and have returned to it often when trying to “think things out”. The author writes in a good style that seems to be missing from a lot of the shooting literature. I don’t get the impression he wants to spend a lot of time telling me how good he is, and why he’s an expert, and I appreciate that the book focuses on the shotguns instead.

I’m a bit surprised about a section I read regarding birdshot penetration (basically saying that two sheets of drywall should soak up most of the shot), which doesn’t match up with the video work we’ve done here so far. I’ll have to get through the rest of the book and see what it says, and then maybe I’ll have to send the author a letter to see if that’s what he actually meant. Definitely worth the money, and I was happy to see an endorsement by Col. Cooper in the foreword, which convinced me that I hadn’t ill spent my cash.

Firearms

• Hi Point 9mm 995 Carbine
• Howa 1500
• Ruger GP100
• Ruger Mini-14

Targets

• Pistol Cube Review

Accessories

• J. Dewey Mini-14 Muzzle Guide
• ProMag 20 Round Steel Magazine for the Mini-14

Editorial Review

By Ike

I purchased the M-1500 Hunter Lightning chambered in .30-06 5 years ago. I have been very happy with the gun itself. The gun came with a scope that I have been less than impressed with. If you haven’t specifically heard of Howa don’t dismiss it. Many larger name manufactures have bought Howa manufactured firearms. The gun is an excellent shooter.

Pros

• The gun is very light weight and accurate.

Cons

• As far as I can tell the gun really has no cons. I might enjoy the varmint version for shooting a little more, but I certainly would not enjoy lugging the heavier gun around the mountains of Colorado!

Summary

This is a great gun for hunting. It is accurate, and cost effective. If you buy this gun you won’t be afraid to carry it through the brush and ruin the stock (you also won’t display it in your collectors case either). Now that you can purchase it with a stainless barrel snow and sleet should be less of a concern as well.

The Ruger Mini-14 is a popular and reliable semi-automatic carbine chambered to shoot .223 Remington or 5.56x45mm NATO.  The design shows influences from the Garand and M-14, particularly with its rotating bolt and trigger/safety setup. The action is driven by a gas piston system with a fixed-piston and moving gas cylinder. Ammunition is fed via a box magazine similar to the AR-15/M-16′s (although not quite interchangeable). Factory magazines for civilians have a capacity of 5 rounds although 3rd party magazines have capacities of 10, 20, 30 or more rounds. Higher capacity factory magazines have been made available to law enforcement.

Variations have been made on the Mini-14 in chamberings (7.62x39mm and 6.8mm Rem. SPC) and even a target version in .223 has been produced. Next, are the latest specifications of the traditional ranch rifle.

Specs

Ruger Mini-14 Ranch Rifle, 580 Series
Caliber: .223 Rem
Capacity: 5-40 round magazines*
Finishes: Blued/Matte Stainless (aka All-Weather)
Stocks: Hardwood/Synthetic
Barrel Length: 18 1/2″
Grooves: 6
Twist: 1:9″ RH
Overall Length: 37 1/4″
Weight: 6 3/4 lbs
Front Sight(s): Protected Blade
Rear Sight(s): Ghost Ring Adjustable Aperture

* For civilians, Ruger only supplies 5 round magazines. Aftermarket magazines of higher capacity are available.

Reviews

• 580 Series Mini-14 Ranch Rifle Review
• J. Dewey Muzzle Guide Review
• ProMag 20 Round Steel Magazine Review
• Gunblast.com Review
• AR-15 vs. Mini-14 (PDF)
• Rifle Shooter Review

Off-site Links

• Manufacturer Sturm Ruger
• Mini-14 Manual
• Ruger Website

Forums

• Ruger Forums
• Perfect Union Forums

Parts/Accessories

• Accessories at Accuracy Systems Inc.

Ruger GP 100

The pistol was the last firearm that I picked up to round out my collection. It’s a hard decision – semi-auto or reolver? I have a Winchester 1894 in .357 Magnum so I was interested in getting another gun that shot that round. So that immediately narrows it down to a revolver (lots of choices) or a Desert Eagle (which is about the only semi-auto on the market chambered in .357 Magnum). While the Desert Eagle guns are nice, they’re also pretty pricey, running on average about $1,000 US. If I went the revolver route, I had a lot of choices basically starting at $300 and on up, with $500 being the price on average.

Going with a revolver wasn’t such a bad deal for me. I have a lot of interest in single-action revolvers, and considered getting a Ruger Blackhawk for a really long time. In all honestly, I thought I’d get that Ruger up until a day or so before the purchase. What held me back was the fact that this was the first revolver I was going to purchase. I had the goals of:

1. Get good at shooting with a handgun
2. Have a handgun I could take hunting (elk) and camping

I specifically wasn’t interested in (at least for this gun/purchase):

1. Concealed carry
2. Home defense (I prefer the shotgun)

Given the goals I had, I focused in on guns that offered a 6” barrel, and at least 6 shots. Given the supply at the local Sportsman’s Warehouse, I held and researched a Smith and Wesson 686, a Taurus 627, and a Ruger GP100. There are plenty of reviews on the web, and all the guns are considered good by many. These are just my thoughts and impressions:

Price

I start off with price, because it’s the main thing that controls what guns I can think about getting at a given time. Sure, you can read plenty of articles on tricked out race guns, and while they are cool and accurate, they’re also generally beyond the reach of a lot of buyers.

The S&W was out of the running right away, because it was nearly $150 more than either the Taurus or the Ruger (which cost about $450).

Capacity

The Taurus held seven rounds, and the Ruger only holds 6. While there is a Taurus out there that holds 8 rounds of .357 Magnum, it wasn’t available locally. Frankly, I don’t think that 7 is that much of an advantage over 6, and I specifically wasn’t worried about defense uses. I have bought 3 speed loaders over time, and while it’s certainly not as fast as popping in a new magazine, it’s fast enough for me at this time. That means I can get 24 shots (6 in plus 3*6 speed loads) in less than a minute, assuming double action shooting. Of course with .357 Magnum loads, I’d say my ability to hit drops to 75% (paper plate at 10 yards) right now and there’s not much use racing it like that. If you assume that I’ll be shooting slower than that for better accuracy (and precision), then 24 rounds spread out over several (3-5) minutes seems fine.

Grip

Taurus makes a really big deal about their flex grip, custom molding on their pistols. I really liked it too, but the overall width of the grip seemed too narrow for my hands. I’m sure this is something specific to me, and everyone has to try it out on their own.

The Ruger grip felt extremely nice in my hand. It has a much wider width than the Taurus, and the inlaid wood looked nicer in my opinion.

Weight

Both the Taurus and the Ruger weigh in at the 50+ ounce range, but that didn’t really bother me. I lift fairly regularly, so this may be less of an issue for me than others. Again, you’ll just have to try it out.

Other

For better or worse, there’s a lot of pages you can find on the net about problems with the Taurus revolvers. I couldn’t find much negative said about Ruger, but sometimes I think that’s just North American bias (maybe not?). That being said, I figured that if the pistol didn’t work out, the Ruger would have higher resale value in the long haul. I’m still interested in Taurus, as their Judge revolver in .410/.45LC seems like an interesting proposition.

Shooting the GP100

I’ve really enjoyed shooting the GP100. By now, I’ve put nearly 500 rounds through it, and I’ve never had a problem. Of course it’s a revolver, and I’d expect fewer issues than a semi-automatic pistol, but it’s still nice to say “problem free”.

I did eventually pick up a shoulder holster for it, as it’s much nicer to keep track of it that way at the range. I went with a simple “Old Mike’s Cross draw shoulder holster”, which I find is easier to carry a large 6” barrel gun like the GP100.

-  Frank

Videos on the Ruger GP100

Review: ProMag 20-Round Steel Blue Magazine for the Ruger Mini-14

[[image:Promag20-locked.jpg|thumb|200px|right|ProMag's 20 Rounder]]

Magazines are always an issue for mini-14 owners, at least those who are after more than 5 rounds. Unfortunately, Ruger won’t sell higher capacity magazines to civilians. Research the web and you’ll see that Ruger and PMI are about the only magazines without some controversy regarding their reliability. Unfortunately, these magazines are pricey and hard to come by. Since I was mainly looking for something for plinking, I was open to cheaper possibilities. I settled on ProMag’s 20 round steel magazine at Midway USA

The magazine itself is sturdy and has a nice blued finish. It is constructed of welded steel with a polymer follower.

[[image:Promag20-compare.jpg|thumb|120px|right|ProMag 20 vs. Ruger 5 Round]] || [[image:Promag20-front.jpg|thumb|120px|right|Front View]] || [[image:Promag20-bottom.jpg|thumb|120px|right|Bottom/Back View]]

Loading the gazine presents no problems and there are no noticeable differences from loading a factory 5 rounder. As with the factory 5 round, loading this magazine is far easier than the pistol magazines that shooters might be used to. Even on the 20th round, resistance is reasonable.

[[image:Promag20-top.jpg|thumb|120px|right|]] || [[image:Promag20-boltstop.jpg|thumb|120px|right|]]

Inserting the magazine is arguably easier than the factory 5-round due to its added length, at least on the 580 series ranch rifle the magazine was tested with. Fit is slightly loose. Holding the rifle in firmly one hand, the magazine can be moved a little side to side and and front to back. However, when just shaking the rifle itself, the magazine does not rattle or appear to move.

Reliability was flawless with the first 200+rounds.

I see no reason not to buy the magazine for plinking or any other use, for that matter. The magazine appears to be of quality construction, it has done everything this shooter has asked of it, and at $20, the price is right. While one magazine is not a significant sample, I’m now open to the possibility that mini owners do not have to buy PMI or Ruger mags. Hopefully, potential buyers play close attention to the fine details when researching magazines and don’t blacklist entire companies based on vague complaints. In conclusion, Promag’s steel 20 rounder and the 580 series mini-14 make a fine combination.

For further information on the Mini-14, visit our  Mini-14 page.

==Review: Just Shoot Me’s Pistol Training Cube==

[[image:PistolCubeSide-small.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Pistol Cube Side View]]

In short, I was looking for a close-range target for pistols and carbines for unsupported, open-sight shooting. When a hit was scored, it needed to be obvious and hopefully more satisfying than punching paper. While cans and clays have worked in a pinch, they don’t last long and sometimes it isn’t obvious that they took a hit.

Enter [http://www.justshootmeproducts.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=45 Just Shoot Me Product's "Pistol Training Cube"].

The pistol cube is essentially a cube of ballistic polymer where each face has had a pyramid shaped chunk cut out. I’m guessing this is to reduce the weight and rigidity of the cube and to improve how violently it reacts to a hit. The polymer itself is definitely sturdy stuff. It’s dense and pretty strong. In fact, the cube managed to catch a [[.45|.45 ACP]] bullet so tightly that we had to knock out with a hammer [[1911_45_PistolTrainingCube|(see video)]].

[[image:PistolCubeTop-small.jpg|thumb|200px|center|Pistol Cube Top View]]

The Pistol Training Cube is specifically designed for centerfire pistol cartridges, and in that respect, the cube delivers. With a M1911 shooting 230 grain [[FMJ]], the cube reacted well to hits. Hits typically caused the cube to fly one to four feet into the air as well as move down range several yards. In this respect the cube delivers a challenging target for taking quick second shots. Shooters can also expect the target to quickly move out to more a more difficult range.

While not designed for these rounds, I was interested in using the target with [[.22|.22 LR]] and .223 Rem. In the case of .22, the cube reacted but not nearly as strongly as with the large caliber handguns. In the case of .223 (55 grain, FMJ) , there was more of a reaction, but again not as violent as with the handguns. Also, the [[.223]] bullets seemed to be fairly tough on the polymer, leaving noticeable holes and gouges. The .223 also seemed to fragment and leave jacket fragments in the cube on occasion.

Overall, the cube seems to work as designed. As a large caliber pistol target it delivers good action and appears to be able to be able to handle the punishment. Our group put around 200 rounds into the cube and it appeared to hold up well. However, I would advise using the cube as designed. For .22, it appears usable but certainly the action is not nearly as satisfying as with the big pistol rounds. In the case of .223, the action is decent, but the round appears to be rough on the cube and may limit longevity.

Go look at the videos:

{{:PistolCube_Videos}}

Really, only time will tell, and I plan on giving an update as we put more rounds into the target.

In conclusion, I would recommend this cube as an interesting alternative to typical pistol targets. Due to its action, it provides a moving target as well as giving you a variety of ranges to shoot at. Feedback on hits is guaranteed, and it appears tough enough to survive the punishment pistols dish out. My only reservation with the cube is the $50 price tag, but despite the price, I’m happy enough with the target, that I may just grab the Sniper Training Cube for some long range fun with my .308.

[[User:Jon|Jon]]

[[Category:Reviews]]
[[Category:Pistol Training Cube]]

Review: Ruger Mini-14 Ranch Rifle

Plinking is something I’ve always enjoyed and it was really the one niche left that I needed to fill. Well, that’s not entirely true. I do have a .22 rifle, but I was looking for a nice, iron-sights plinker with some more punch. I’d considered a variety of rifles, including AR-15s, AK-47, SKS, and even some carbines fed off of pistol rounds. I was leaning towards picking up a 16″ Bushmaster in .223, but with all the controversy over the reliability of the direct impingement gas system, I was having a hard time shelling out $900+. Gas piston ARs are available, but then prices jump to $1400+.

Basically, what I wanted, boiled down to:

• Reliable
• Good warranty
• Good bang for the buck
• At least as much punch as a 9x19mm pistol round
• Rounds no more expensive than .223 Rem or 7.62x39mm
• Reasonable recoil (easy on the shoulder)
• 20+ round capacity
• Suitable for iron-sight plinking
• “Interesting”

For me, the Ruger Mini-14 fit the bill, even on the interesting part. I’m a bit of a WW2 buff and the action and stock reminded me of the days when soldiers were issued rifles with wood instead of plastic. The rotary bolt and safety, similar to that of the M14 and the Garand, also caught my eye, and I must admit, that I counted the gas piston system of the Mini-14 to be an advantage.

The Rifle

The exact model I went with was a blued, 580 series,  Ruger Mini-14 Ranch Rifle. The rifle comes with a lock, 5 round magazine, and a set of 24mm scope rings which are designed to clamp on to the mini’s receiver. The carbine is chambered for .223 Remington and the 18 1/2″ barrel has a twist rate of 1:9″. It weighs in at 6 and 3/4 lbs.

The rifle fit well and felt balanced. The forward grip was fine and the shooter is protected well enough from the heat caused by vented gases from the gas system. The rubber pad on the stock is nice and helps to prevent slippage against clothing.

The wood grain stock is well done even if a little plain and it fits the hands well. Synthetic stocks are also an option. Also, sling rings are an integral part of the rifle, appearing near the butt of the stock and underneath the gas block (just ahead of the stock’s fore-end).

Action

There have been lots of comparisons and confusion between the Mini-14′s action and the M-14/M1A. While, clearly there are similarities, especially externally, internally, there are some differences. While both rifles use a gas piston system, the Mini-14 uses a fixed piston with no real piston rod, while the M1A has a moving piston rod through a guide ring. With the Mini-14, the fixed piston blows into a gas cylinder which is an integral part of the slide handle which is slotted to drive and guide the bolt.

The “Garand-style” rotating bolt is quite similar to the M1A’s. As the bolt recoils, it quickly rotates counterclockwise from about 4 o’clock to 2 o’clock. I suspect this flipping motion helped earn Garands and M14s their reputation as reliable combat rifles as I imagine it would do a good job of slinging off mud and dirt.

Externally, the receiver as a whole is certainly reminiscent of Garands, M14s, and M1 carbines. Lefties should keep in mind that the slide handle is on the right.

Magazine

Unfortunately, the rifle ships with only a 5 round magazine. In fact, that’s the only capacity you are going to get directly from Ruger. This magazine isn’t useless, though. The 5 rounder is useful as a hunting magazine due to laws in some areas and the fact that it fits nice and flush with the rifle which makes carrying easier.

Loading of the magazine is quick and easy, much easier than loading my pistol magazines or loading my Remington 700. Resistance is reasonable from the first to the last round. No failures were experienced while shooting with the magazine.

See Reloading for ease of use when changing magazines.

Trigger

The trigger is decent on the Mini-14, although there’s room for improvement depending on your purpose. Trigger pull was measured at 6.25 lbs with an RCBS trigger gauge. The trigger mechanism is very accessible when removed from the rifle, which is very simple to do.

When pulling the trigger, there is about 1/16th of an inch of slack before you hit resistance. After that, there is just the slightest bit of creep before the trigger breaks crisply, cleany and consistently. Overall, I’m fairly happy with the trigger: the slack is annoying, the trigger is a tad heavy, but I’m happy with how the trigger breaks.

Safety

The Mini-14 has a safety similar to that of the M1 Garand and M14. It is a lever that crosses the trigger guard. Outside the trigger guard, you can push the lever inside to safe; inside the trigger guard, you can push the lever out to fire. When the bolt is locked forward, the safety offers a decent amount of resistance to set it on fire (which is arguably a good thing). The the bolt is open, the safety moves more freely.

I’m ambivalent on the safety, since it is simply different than what I’m used to. It does the job and beyond that, how a person rates it will be a matter of personal taste.

Sights

The sights on the Mini-14 are a ghost ring in the rear and a protected blade up front. Your tuning will be done on the rear sight, which isn’t hard to work with. The rifle also came with 24mm rings that are specifically designed for the mini’s receiver. I intend to see if I can’t trade those out for the 30mm version so I can test accuracy with my scope.

As for functionality, the provided sights are excellent for open-sight plinking. If supported target shooting is your purpose, then the rear aperture might be too big for you.

[smartads]

Care and Maintenance

Stripping the Mini-14 is almost a breeze. To start things, you need to pop open the trigger guard which doesn’t require anything more than a screwdriver (I usually wind up using an allen wrench). After that, no tools are need to take the rifle apart, and the process is quick and easy up until you’re ready to remove the bolt. At that point, the Mini-14 is very finicky about the angle and rotation on the bolt. Removing the bolt can take some practice, patience, and “jiggling” as the manual says. Installing the bolt is even a little trickier, and I advise removing the bolt stop (which is easy) to help things along.

Cleaning the rifle is pretty easy. Once stripped, most everything it pretty accessible and there really aren’t any nooks or crannies that are tough to get at. The only problem is that you must clean the gun muzzle first. Muzzle guides are available, though, and I’ve been happy with the one made by J. Dewey.

Performance

Overall, the rifle is great in the plinker role. It’s a blast to shoot and easy on the shoulder. In the middle of all that fun though, it’s important to watch that barrel because it will definitely get hot.

Reliability

To this point, I’ve had zero malfunctions with the gun over the course of about 200 rounds. All ammunition was 55 grain with 80% being Remington UMC, 10% being Federal American Eagle, and 10% being Wolf. About 4/5ths of the ammunition was fired from a 20 round, Pro-Mag, steel magazine, and 1/5th from the factory 5 round mag.

Between each trip to the range (50 – 150 rounds), the rifle was cleaned and then lubed with Break Free CLP on most parts and Tetra Gun Grease on the slide/rail.

Accuracy

I hate to say much about accuracy at this point other than the gun is more than accurate enough for unsupported, iron-sight plinking. If I can trade out my 24mm rings for 30mm rings, I intend to do some bench-rested tests on accuracy, including after really heating up the barrel. Check back at Stopping Power for updates.

Reloading

When empty, the action is locked open as the magazine pushes up the boltstop. Locking open on empty is definitely a plus in my book. After loading a fresh magazine, a new round is chambered by simply pulling back on the slide handle and letting it snap forward.

Changing magazines on the Mini-14 is not difficult. A lever between the trigger-guard and magazine is pushed to release the magazine, which then falls out unassisted. Inserting a fresh magazine requires the forward-facing corner of the magazine to be inserted first, as the magazine is pushed in. This isn’t hard, but the carbine does care a little about the orientation of the magazine – it isn’t as simple as just slapping it in.

As for loading the cartridges themselves, the factory magazine and the ProMag are a real pleasure compared to the pistol magazines I’ve used or loading my Remington 700. Every cartridge snaps in easily and at most, a little care is needed to be sure the ends aren’t overlapping the magazine.

Conclusion

Pros

• Maneuverable, not awkward.
• Reliable (Zero failures in 200+ rounds).
• Quality construction and craftsmanship.
• Easy to clean and strip (with a couple of caveats).
• Good sights.

Cons

• Bolt removal requires some finesse and practice.
• Barrel must be cleaned from the muzzle.
• Quality high capacity rounds are expensive (although my $20 Pro-Mag has been flawless).
• Inserting a magazine could be a little easier; can’t simply “slap” it in.
• Harder to accessorize than say an AR-15.

Overall, the Mini-14 fills a nice niche, in terms of price and quality. If you’re looking to put together a hot, high-speed rifle, pay the extra money and go with a quality AR-15. The AR-15 has a wealth of ways to enhance and accessorise the rifle, not to mention its ergonomics are a generation ahead of the mini. If you’re looking for any ol’ junkyard dog, certainly a Highpoint or an AK is a cheaper option than a mini. However, if you’re looking for a good compromise between the two extremes, the mini-14 is a strong contender.

In short, mini-14 is a well-made and reliable carbine that is an excellent open-sight rifle.

For further information on the Mini-14, visit our Mini-14 page.

Insert “The muzzle guide” image

One problem with the mini-14 is that you have to clean the barrel through the muzzle. Since a rifle’s accuracy is sensitive to the condition of its muzzle, it is important to protect the muzzle when cleaning. For the mini-14, I chose to look at a muzzle guide offered by J. Dewey (at  MidwayUSA] and at J. Dewey).

First off, be aware that there are two versions of the guide – one for the new 580 series rifles and one for older rifles. The guide that was evaluated was for a 580 series ranch rifle.

Using the guide is very straightforward. The notch cut out of the guide is aligned with the front sight and then simply slid over the muzzle. The guide slides on easily and is a fairly loose fit. When pulling out a brush, you can expect the guide to come off the rifle unless you hold it. The guide does not harm the finish of a blued barrel.

Insert sight view image

Muzzle condition was unaffected by cleaning when using the guide. Cleaning involved a bronze brush and a brass jag for pushing patches. While the guide will occasionally come off, the extra hassle is really minimal.

Insert muzzle closeup image

Overall, it’s hard not to recommend the muzzle guide. It does the job, is fairly easy to use, and spending $13 to help protect a $600 rifle seems to make sense to me.

For further information on the Mini-14, visit our Ruger Mini-14.

[- Jon

Ike’s Review, Featured Contributor to StoppingPower.Info
I purchased the 995 almost a year ago. I shoot it fairly regularly (about every other week or so) and always put a minimum of 100 rds. through it. The price for this gun was right excellent. I was able to get a brand new gun, second mag, a cheap reflex sight (it is an OEM sight right now under the name “Sightmark Sure Shot Reflex Sight” this is reviewed here) and a box of ammo for ~$300. I have really enjoyed this gun.

Pros:

This gun has been very reliable. I had one jam and the was one of the first 10 shots the gun took. The accuracy of the gun is pretty good (reflex sight..ehh not so much) i easily clear out clay pigeons at 50 yds. 9mm ammo is a big plus. It is about as cheap as ammo comes, minus of course .22 but comes with a lot more bang . The gun comes with a lifetime warranty to any owner of the gun, original or second-hand.

Cons:

In my opinion there is really 1 major con with this gun. That is that the mag doesn’t lock in place until it is just past the end of the grip. This means that you have to press on it with you thumb to make sure you have a positive placement of the magazine. I would have preferred a slightly longer mag so that it could be positively locked with the heal of my hand. This counts as a con for me because I want the magazine to be easy, fast and reliable to load…every time, period. I have to make an extra concerted effort properly set the mag. At the range when you don’t, your mag falls out and your friends laugh . During other more stressful and important times you might be unable to take the necessary actions.

Annoyances:

Because the gun is very inexpensive I can’t in good conscious call these “cons”, but they are things that you should be aware of as they can be a bit…well…annoying. First, I wish they made a high capacity mag for this gun. Limiting the mag cap to 10 is pretty disappointing. I have seen pics on the net where guys have welded the mag to a 50 rnd. drum but that seems like more trouble than it is worth. Second, to change out the stock peep for the rail you have to remove the cover that surrounds the chamber/bolt assembly. I noticed that the screws had a hard time staying set after lots of shots. I fixed this with a little lock-tight and now it isn’t a problem. It would be better if this entire design were revisited.

Summary:

Overall I would give this gun a very good rating. Reason? Simply stated, for an inexpensive good shooting gun this is a great way to go. Throw some lock-tight on the screws and you are set. I have shot other comparable guns ( Beretta CX4 Storm) and I have to say it is a comparable shooter.