Reloading for the 223 mini 14 186 series

[baltz526]

1-9" twist 18" barrel, Full length sizing with crimps by lee crimp die. I have best luck using midweight bullets 60gr - 69gr. Being a hunting rifle, i'm using mostly hunting bullets. 64gr winchester power points and 70gr speer semi pointed have shown the most consistant accuracy. With the load for both using varget powder and CCI400 primers. WW brass and RP. I have loaded the 60gr Partition but it is 4th in accuracy in my rifle. 64gr power points OAL 2.230" 26gr varget. 70Gr speer 25gr varget OAL 2.185. Loading for a mini is a bit different than loading for a bolt gun. You almost have to try to make less accurate ammo, full length sizing and seating the bullet for tight magazine restrictions. Trying to get book velocitys over the crongraph is a waste of time. Expect 200fps - 400fps under book speeds due in part to the 18" barrel and gas operation.

 

[PGJPJ]

I'm finding it hard to take an interest in loading for the mini. I also have a 223 bolt gun w/ 1:9 twist, so I could probably use the same load in the mini (except for crimping), I just don't want to waist good ammo on it. And I'm just not interested in loading cheap bullets just for blasting stuff.

Kind of like I've never gotten into loading for my SKS, although I've thought about it.

 

[baltz526]

The mini 14 223 can shoot well enough for coyote hunting with some factory ammo, But They sure are hit or miss with accuracy right out of the box. With the 186 series i get under 5" groups at 100yds using 55gr military ball ammo. With reloads of 64gr power points and 70gr speer semi pointed i get under 2 1/2' groups. With 69gr hpbt match i have shot under 1 1/2" groups. Using the 5rd clips i get a two group 5 shot pattern. A very common issue with the mini-14. If i was to load the rifle single shot I may be able to get the target to look better. But i would still get the same types of 5 shot groups in the field. My mini is a 150yrd coyote rifle on the best day. With the best reload. If i had to buy hunting ammo for the mini-14 i would buy winchester 64gr power point ammo.

 

[baltz526]

The 70gr speer shoots 1.6" groups. In a 5 round clip it shoots 2 into 1.6" at point of aim 100yds, 3 into 1.6" 2" high 1" right. Very consistant in this pattern, same with 64gr power points. :lol: so it is a 1.6" load in a 1.6" rifle out of a 2+" clip.