So how does impact a Ruger Mini14? The military stuff is cheaper. Best not use it in that rifle?
No worries. You can safely fire the 5.56 round in the mini 14.
(Google Ruger_Mini-14)
.
As I recall Ruger’s manual, the warrantee is voided if you fire military 5.56 ammo in the Mini-14.
a Friend asked me that last week, I sent him this article.
Ruger makes the mini in a 5.56.
He has a mini-14 .223, saw a deal on one in 5.56, told him he could buy it, but he could only stock .223 in his stash, so as not to mix up the ammo.
I told him to either sell the .223 and get 2 5.56, or just look for another .223
Since I got the 6.8 spc, never shoot the original AR's much. I'm picking up a 338 fed AR-10 armalite soon as our road opens too. Luv all the new calibers for the AR platform.
Reading the Fine Manual, it says:
"RUGER® MINI-14® RANCH RIFLES are offered in two calibers: .223 Rem. (5.56mm) and 6.8mm Rem. SPC. The Target Model Mini-14 is chambered for .223 Remington ammunition only."So, if you have the Ranch model, you can shoot 5.56. If you have the Target model, you should not shoot 5.56.
According to my friend, his circa late 90’s Series 196 Ranch Rifle owner’s manual states it can digest either. Specifically, “The Ranch Rifle is designed to use either standariz(sic) U.S. military or factory loaded sporting .223 (5.56mm) cartridges manufactured in accordance with U.S. industry practice.”
Don’t know about the other series. YMMV, of course.
If you reload your own ammo and are careful to keep the charges out of the max muzzle velocity range and keep the overall length of the finished cartridge at the .223 Remington spec., using once fired 5.56 brass should not pose a problem.
What the article tells us is that using FACTORY loaded NATO 5.56 in a weapon — like the Mini-14 — chambered for .223 can cause a problem.