Ruger Mini 14-Ranch Rifle .223

[Brow Tine]

I am looking at buying a new Ruger Mini 14-Rancher.
Are there any other owners out there?
Do you like the gun? How does it shoot?

And the the real question for discussion....

Is this round (.223 5.56) effective on whitetails?

[NYBuckhunter]

I have one, its an awesome little rifle. It is very accurate and could drive tacks at 150 yards easily. Thats the furthest that I have shot mine so far, but it would easily go alot further. The caliber is just fine for deer. Here is mine...

[Brow Tine]

Very nice. Thanks NYB. Its just what im looking for and the price is right.

[Bowhunters]

.223 kills deer very well, not legal in some states like here in Kansas.

It has to be at least a .230 and the magazine would have to go also, it can't hold more than 5 rounds including the chamber here.

Dang state is still living in the stone ages. LOL

[ironhead]

Mini 14 is an OUTSTANDING rifle. You would not regret it at all, plus you can get all the little accessories that go with them. I personally love them. Excellent for varmints, while not a fan of the .20 cal rifles for deer hunting, they are legal in Missouri,,just have to make certain you have a legal clip.

[NYBuckhunter]

Thats just one of the clips I have, theres a nice variety in my safe. If I remember right, thats the 20 round clip, and it is certainly NOT legal to hunt with here either. I have 5 round clips for if I ever take it hunting. If you are going to hunt with it, just make sure its legal there and that you make a good shot on the deer, which you should be making sure of with any gun or bow of course.

[Brow Tine]

Thanks guys. I shot good friends last weekend and it has suddenly come up for sale at a good price. I may do some hunting with it but I have my eyes on a new Mossberg 30-06 also

[Brow Tine]

I decided to go with this one. Im very excited to get it.

[NYBuckhunter]

Very nice, love those type of tactical stocks. Im considering changing the stock on my SKS to one of those.

[Brow Tine]

Theres alot you can do with the SKS's

[NYBuckhunter]

Oh yeah, mines pretty much custom front to back at this point, I just like those stocks better than the one I bought years ago. I think I posted my SKS on here before.

[ridgerunner1965]

the mini is a awesum rifle to say the least. i have about 3 of them. however much as i hate be a kiiljoy the 223 is only a deer round in the hands of a totally competent marksman who piks and chooses his shots.with most common bullets its sometimes hard to get a exit wound unless yu have a perfect side lung shot.without a exit wound its hard to trail a deer in the brush .if you are goin to use it for deer, use a premium bullet as heavy as your rifle will shoot accurately.with a well constructed bullet and a perfect shot yu should put that deer down easily.

[RICHARDCatdaddy]

Sweet mini,looks great.

[Brow Tine]

I think that I will use this more for plinking and leave the 30-06 and the Thunderheads to take the deer down.

[ironhead]

I myself was more of a fan of the Mini 30. Shoots the 7.63X39 it was a pretty good brush gun. I dont know if they are still making it or not, they billed it as a whitetail killer extrodinaire.