Mini 14 loads

[pumpguy]

I have about 3000 rounds of .223 55 grain soft point reloads. I don't know what powder they have or even the exact velocity. These are Black Hills manufactured. My question is how much risk is there in pulling these bullets and loading a heavier, say 60 or 65 grain bullet in its place. I have heard mini 14s shoot a lot better if I have a heavier bullet. Any suggestions?

[Scrounger]

The risk is in spinning your wheels. Some (most?) Mini-14s won't shoot good with anything. Put a sign up at your range and sell them, then buy what you want. Note the posts about shortages; there may be some difficulty in finding heavier bullets or loaded ammo. But I'd try to sell them (break them down into lots of 500) rather than rebuild them. Unless you're a card-carrying masochist, in which case just go ahead.

[dubber123]

10 grains of bullet weight is actually a pretty big percentage increase in this small of a bore. The .223 is loaded to pretty high pressures too. I would be more inclined to pull the bullets, collect the powder after weighing a few of the charges, and reduce it a couple of grains, and reload it with the heavier bullets. I'm sure many will disagree, and they might be right. It's just what I would do.

[felix]

Black Hills Ammo is made with the highest spec brass that I know of. I would find an older H&R 223 with the 14 twist and have fun. ... felix

[Bullshop]

I think the reason for that was that at least the early mini 14 had a 1/9" twist and so did the #1 and #3 in 223.
BIC/BS

[Ricochet]

My 1976 or thereabouts Mini has 1:9" twist.

[Scrounger]

The early ones had a 1 in 12, like the first issue M-16s had (M-16A1 ?). When the military converted over to the M-16A2 with the 7-1/2" twist, Ruger changed the Mini-14 to 1 in 10 or 1 in 9, I've heard it both ways.

[Scrounger]

Pumpguy, perhaps I'd better explain the whys on my comments. I never had enough money to have or do all the things I wanted, so I had to figure out a low dollar way to do things. I'll use your project as an example.
How much money do you have in your 3000 rounds, or more to the point, what can you sell it for? If we say $10 a hundred, your ammo is worth $300. Now you spend 50-60 hours pulling the bullets and re-seating the 60 grain bullets; what are they costing you? I'd guess $15 a hundred at least with shipping or tax. That's another $450! Now your 3000 rounds loaded the way you want, is costing you $750 or $0.25 a round. Versus selling your ammo for $300 or $400 and buying what you want. Enough money saved to buy another gun!

[pumpguy]

Maybe I should be a little more clear. Most of these bullets are going to be shot through my Savage 110 as soon as I find someone out here that will let me shoot prairie dogs. People in Denver think they're something that should be protected. Anyway, I only want to pull down maybe 100-200 for the mini. I inherited all these rounds and also 1000 sixty grain soft point Hornady rejects. If the mini shoots worth a darn with the heavier bullet, I will go ahead and work up some loads for it. If it doesn't shoot any better, I will probably just use up the 55s and not worry about it. I would not be out anything but my time.


Felix,
What do you mean by highest spec brass. Most of it is LC or WCC 5.56 brass.

[felix]

OK, then, you got the reloads. They made virgin rounds years ago. I typically trade folks around here for BH indicated brass, giving two cases for their one, no matter what the caliber. Their cases were made to very close tolerances, either by them or others. Perfect anneal, perfect neck thickness, and each case weighed almost exactly the same from lot to lot that I have gotten. The brass slugs were prolly supplied by the normal suppliers, like Olin, and maybe even imported from Norma, or IMI. ... felix

[Scrounger]

I've shot 'dogs in Colorado, think it was near Junta. Better is going on into Wyoming, ranchers are more cooperative and you don't even have to buy a license. Montana and Utah are that way too.

[pumpguy]

I could go to Wyoming. It is just so discouraging seeing fields full of them that you can't shoot. I have actually seen people taking pics of them!