I've been shooting M193 55 grain 5.56x45 made in Singapore to NATO specifications with no problem. I ...heard... you could shoot 62 grain M855 but it won't be as accurate. I was told also to stay away from steel case ammo and stick to brass, but I also know people who shoot cases made of steel and brass. Does anybody else have any insight?
before I heard there was a difference in .223 & 5.56, I shot both out of my mini s. since after thousands of rounds of each out of them over the years, with no ill effects I still do it. the point of aim is different but that is about the only difference I have seen
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If the Ruger manual says 5.56 is OK then go for it, to tell the truth, I haven't seen one stamped .223, all the ones marketed in the UK are stamped 5.56.. I'm pretty sure that M855 ammo will be just as good if not better than the XM193, depending on the barrel twist rate. My buddy does OK at 300m with the 62gn nato RG in his Mini 14.
Yesterday I picked up my brand new Ranch Rifle Mini-14. The owner's manual which came in the box with it says:
"The Mini-14 Ranch Rifle is designed to use either standardized U.S. military, or factory loaded sporting .223 (5.56mm) cartridges manufactured with U.S. industry practice."
To me, that statement is pretty clear. It means to me that we can shoot either military 5.56mm or civilian .223 in the Mini-14. This is definitely not true of ALL makes and models of rifles chambered for .223.
NOTE: on the front cover of the manual, it says that the manual "Applies to Ranch Rifles Serial No.'s 580-00001 and above"
In other words, if your serial number is below the above number (older), do not be guided by the above statement about ammo. Be guided by whatever your manual says.
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Recent Rifle Mag article about the .223 they wrote about the Mini-14 as well, stated Ruger Mini-14 have a "military chamber" suppose that means for the 5.56? the also go on about the 3 different rifleing twist rates Ruger produced since the Mini's introduction.
Last edited by Rex in OTZ; 03-05-2009 at 05:58 PM.
Ruger says no problem. I have a 185 series stainless and have used all flavors of .223 along with M855, M193, Barnaul, Wolfe, many varieties of milsurp. No problems.
FWIW
YMMV
the only mini that will not safely shoot 5.56 nato is the target model it is .223 only also do not shoot 75 grain loads from the target model as the longer bullet resembles the lead on the 5.56. hope this helps
