[Livingstone]

I have seen alot of posts saying Mini 14's won't hold zero. I can tell you from experience that mine won't. Once I zero the scope, it will hold zero that day. I figure when I take it apart and put it back together it changes the zero. I don't no if you can really say a mini is bedded in its stock, but I figure it has something to do with the alum. inserts that be the stock. Are any of the after market stocks any better?

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[stangman]

Hi LD, this is the first I've heard of Mini's not holding zero. Ihave, let's say several, and have many others in the past. The only problem I've had with accuracy was caused by scope mount that was very dirty when I got it. The mount was tight when I started shooting but as I shoot it got loose. After an hour of shoot, tighten, shoot, tighten, I took the mount off and found an accumulation of oil, dust and what have you in the recesses of the frame for the mount. After I cleaned them, tightened it down snug and zeroed out again I didn't have any more problems. As for the abovr advertisement, thier claims of bent barrels is re-dick-ulous! and I'm surprised that Ruger hasn't sued them yet. A bent barrel isn't just inaccurate but also dangerous and Ruger would not allow a dangerous quality weapon out of the factory voluntarily. Not only would that affect the sales of their products, who would buy bent barreled rifle, but would also leave wide open for lawsuits. If you are having problems with zero start from the bottom up. Are making good contact with mount to receiver, are the threads of your base & screws good or loose. And have you tried another scope? Just some thoughts.

[colt45]

i had a mini 14 and a ranch rifle one i n 223 and one in 7.62 sighted them both in with a bushnel 3x9 and ruger rings ONCE and never had to touch either one again. shot them both for years and the guy i sold them both to last months says they both shoot very well and that he didn't even have to adjust the scopes, so as far as a reacurring problem with loss of zero, i'm afraid i can't help ya. i would guess that your scope is cranked to far one way or the other, or you are removing the scope for cleaning the removal of the action from the stock should not change your zero.

[Livingstone]

I don't take the scope off for cleaning and the scope has been on for several years and loctited on. It doesn't change zero alot, but it can be a few inches on a target from the bench.

[colt45]

if it has allways done it i would say to check the scope, sometimes if a scope is turned to its max in one direction or another it can bounce around a few inches from time to time. also a thing to concider when you set teh zero is the action and bbl hot meaning have you fired alot of rounds through it to get it back and then shooting it cold could change it. smaller bbls have a tendancy to change zero when they are hot and then change back when cold. if its only a few inches it could be diferent ammo as well. i would start with teh scope first. it takes a while but you can count the clicks and see if your at the max one way or the other. I'm afraid without out seeing it or doing some test fireing thats about as much help as i can offer.

[Popgun]

As far as the barrell being bent, I think this is a well used marketing ploy. It is a fact that in this world, NOTHING is perfect, and nothing is absolutely straight. I dont believe there has ever been a PERFECTLY straight barrell made by any one. We just sight in to compensate for point of impact. With your Mini, the barrell is pretty thin and I would sugest that while you are having a shooting session the barrell heats up and warps one way or the other. You compensate for this with your scope adjustments. Then at the next session with a cold barrell the POI has changed. Try this. Go out and shoot from the bench two shots only. No matter where they hit, as long as they are on paper, do not adjust the scope. Then put it aside until the barrell is completely cool, maby even another day, and fire two more shots. Do they go to the same POI? If so, your gun is not loosing zero. Then adjust your scope to zero, and repeat the same thing. With a cold gun your first few shots should go to the correct POI and maby change as the gun heats up. Resist the temptation th chase it by readjusting you scope. Remember with a hunting rifle, its the first one or two shots that count, and these will almost always be from a cold gun.
This is my $0.02 worth, and I hope it helps. It cant hurt to try. At least it is another excuse to go shooting, and as long as you are going, might as well take along a few other guns and make a day of it. :nod:

[G Hollingsworth]

Finally a thinking answer (in my opinion)from a popgun. Dang if he aint a southern boy.

[colt45]

Quote:       Originally Posted by G Hollingsworth

Finally a thinking answer (in my opinion)from a popgun. Dang if he aint a southern boy.

finally? isn't this just what i said other than giving him directions on the cold shooting?

[Popgun]

Cant argue with any man named Colt45. Great minds think alike. :nod:

[Livingstone]

Thanks Popgun, that makes alot of sense. I know its easy to get the barrel really hot, 10 or 15 rounds will do it and I most likely am not patient enough to let it cool. I will try your trick and see what I get. I don't think it a problem with the scope, I have had two different ones on the rifle and had the same results. I think maybe the worst thing to do is shoot a rifle off the bench that is not a benchrest rifle, but I would like to get it zeroed. Thanks for all the answers.