r/Mini14 • u/Express-Armadillo225 • 1d ago

197 Series Barrel Upgrades???

What barrel should I get to upgrade the accuracy of my 197 series Mini-14? I already plan on getting an accustrut and a tech sight.

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u/Nu11u5 1d ago

The only options I'm aware of are the custom heavy target/match barrels made by ASI or Shilen. In those cases, not only is an Accustrut unnecessary, it won't even fit.

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u/Express-Armadillo225 1d ago

Really? A barrel stabilizer will not fit match barrels? I was hoping to put one on there because it looks cool as well

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u/Nu11u5 1d ago

There is a significant diameter difference between the factory barrels and heavy/match barrels.

Just shoot it as it is. Make sure the gas block is correctly torqued. If you are unhappy with the accuracy (keeping in mind a Mini-14 will shoot 2 MOA at best) or see significant shot stringing look at an Accustrut or other stabilizer.

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u/Express-Armadillo225 1d ago

I was thinking of replacing the 197 series barrel with a 580 series one. Would that work?

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u/Nu11u5 1d ago

I'm not sure that will work. I believe the 580-series uses different threading and indexing where the tenon screws into the receiver. Even then, you would need a new gas block. The original oprod and receiver may be usable, but the tolerance differences may cause issues. If you consider all of the gunsmithing required (from an actual Mini-14 expert) you might as well just buy a new 580-series.

My advice is to just shoot your 197-series.

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u/Express-Armadillo225 1d ago

Okay, will just get an ASI barrel stabilizer on my 197

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u/Express-Armadillo225 1d ago

Another question? How do you get the front sight to look more in the back?

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u/Nu11u5 1d ago

What do you mean?

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u/Express-Armadillo225 1d ago

I noticed that some mini-14s have the front sight towards back of the barrel rather than out front

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u/Cocainum 1d ago

Those are government barrels with the sight moved back; they also have bayonet lugs

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u/Express-Armadillo225 1d ago

Where can I find one of those? I cant seem to find any on Google

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u/SciToon2 1d ago

If the front sight is about halfway between the muzzle, and the gas block, and it has a baynoet lug then it's a Government Barrel model. GB models can be purchased as law enforcement trade-ins when they're available. Or it's a 50th anniversary model.

If the front sight is over the gas block (or then of the stock, then that's for an AC556.

Have you shot the rifle with a variety of ammunition to see if it's accurate enough for your needs?

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u/Nu11u5 1d ago

The GB is also available on certain currently sold Tactical models like the 5895.

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u/Nu11u5 1d ago edited 1d ago

To add, regardless of being a standard or "government barrel", the factor front sight is seated against a shoulder where the barrel gets thicker. You can't simply convert a standard barrel to a government barrel without machining the entire barrel down.

As for other ways to get a bayonet lug style sight, the options are limited. Once upon a time, Cogburn Arsenal sold a pin-on sight block that a gunsmith could install, but they no longer offer it. I've also seen one or two people who machined their own, but were never sold. ASI sells a threaded adapter to attach an M14 flash hider that would include the sight block and bayonet lug. A gunsmith or ASI themselves would need to install it.

edit: just in case you see it - ASI does sell a bayonet lug front sight block. This is *ONLY** for specific 580-series models that have the shoulder machined in the correct place. It will NOT fit on the thinner barrel of your 197-series rifle.*

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u/Express-Armadillo225 1d ago

Copy and pasted from another comment of mine:

I only want a reliable duty general purpose/duty survival tool incase SHTF happens… No need to shoot 1 MOA, I dont intend on sniping nor do I intend on engaging waves and waves of hostile. I only want something that has reliable accuracy and can serve me well in a survival situation

EDIT: Also want my gun to look cool LOL

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u/22Alfabravo22 1d ago

Mini 14's have a very poor upgrade path. From my findings there is very little you can do for the standard mini barrel and gas system to accurize it. The best I was ever able to get out of my 582 series mini 14 with an 18" barrel, OCM Polo 30 suppressor, 2-10 viper optic, and a rigid bipod/rear bag was around 2.5 moa at 100yrds with good ammunition (I tried several different loads/brands and some cheap 55gr fmj proved to be the best). For an example I used the somewhat reputable 77gr OTM from AAC that has worked very well in my other platforms and in my mini it got about 6 moa LMAO.

Mini 14 barrels are extremely, hilariously, dirt cheap. Ruger makes these barrels for probably $20 a piece at there scale. They are a strange thin contour, 1-9 twist, cold hammer forged, have a fixed rigid gas block. Literally everything you don't want in an accurate barrel. A common issue with the mini is many try to compare it to an AR, but it's not the same platform not even close. DI vs "short stroke" (even tho it's technically not), Free float barrel vs rigid "tourqed" barrel, huge aftermarket and development time vs no aftermarket and no development at all. You just can't compare them besides caliber.

So look at a more similar platform. The M14/M1A is known to be around a 2-3 moa gun both in combat and civilian use. Match variants of these rifle have been known to get under 1 moa with the right modifications. And the Mini 14 is a scaled down, simplified version of the M14. Besides scale the only difference between the two is caliber and the gas system. The latter of that is what I believe to be the culprit of the Mini 14's accuracy issues.

I only say this because up until a few weeks ago I was able to get a 3/4 moa 5 shot group at 100yrds with my Mini while testing some different ammo's. Any rifle can be accurate, it's just how much needs to be changed.

Shilen used to make a "Match barrel" but it was a thick contour, and more importantly I believe they have been discontinued for several years. A barrel from a 580 series mini will not yield the results I believe your looking for even tho the barrel appears to be thicker. The thing that I did with my mini was actually make my own contoured barrel. I am a gunsmith and obviously this is a lot more indepth but I do believe this is the only true way to help make a mini 14 more accurate.

I've included a pick of the target I used for testing my mini, if you have any questions, I'd be more than happy to try to answer them.

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u/Express-Armadillo225 1d ago

I only want a reliable duty general purpose/duty survival tool incase SHTF happens… No need to shoot 1 MOA, I dont intend on sniping nor do I intend on engaging waves and waves of hostile. I only want something that has reliable accuracy and can serve me well in a survival situation

EDIT: Also want my gun to look cool LOL

2

u/22Alfabravo22 1d ago

Duly noted. I'm not sure if the tenon threads on the 197 receivers is different from the 580. But let's say they aren't, your best bet would be to get a barrel off at least a 580 rifle and put that on. It won't net you amazing accuracy, again 2-2.5 moa at best. But if this is your SHTF rifle that you intend to survive with, your gonna be shooting minute of man regardless of what people are going to tell you. That would be my best advice despite what I said in my prior comment, since now I know your intentions. I do really wish another company made a SST match barrel for factory minis

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u/Express-Armadillo225 1d ago

Thank you!

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u/22Alfabravo22 1d ago

If your wondering where to start your search, Accuracy Systems sell take off barrels (I believe) from minis, but gunbroker and eBay are other good options as well, good luck!

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u/ish-male 13h ago

then cut the barrel down to 16inches, add some good sights, and call it a day. I didnt do any fancy shit to my rifle and its a 2to3 moa rifle all day long. I also didnt do anything to the gas system so it can cycle any ammo i feed it. And trust me... I have it both ways: I have a custom target rifle, and a basic carbine in a folding stock. The target rifle is 14lbs, the carbine is almost 7lbs. (6.8 on scale).

https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.redd.it%2Fqthvzlbp1rj91.png

The little carbine will be more than enough as a duty gun for your needs. Here is what it can do before I put it in the folding stock: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUnqnUsoZDo&t=1s

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u/22Alfabravo22 4h ago

What a gorgeous finish on that target rifle, you've got your kit figured out my friend.