After I took off the strut and the Masen sight/brake on the 186, and replaced it with the 583 front sight, I took the Mini to the indoor 25 yard range just to check zero.  Dailed it in pretty well, and called it good.

Today was a break in the week of blessed rain in Nor Cal, so I decided to fine tune at the 25 & 100 yard outdoor range.  I can never get a good sight in with the indoor lighting and lead sled at the indoor.

First up was the MK262 MOD1 (IMI Razor).  It required one click to the left.  Nice little cluster on an M1 Carbine 25 yard target.  Then I tried my clone load: 77 grain Custom Competition Nosler over 25.2 grains BLC(2) WITH A CCI #41 primer in .223 federal cases. Bingo.  Correctly overlaid the same little group as the MK262 MOD1.



Then I switched to 100 yards, shooting clay pigeons and pop cans.  alternating MK262 and Clone loads every other shot.  Bingo again!  set the pop can or clay pigeon on the front sight with a 6 o'clock hold, and it was a solid hit on both pigeons and cans. (I never do paper with iron sights at 100 or more, as my eyes don't seem to do well. Hitting a pop can at 100 with iron sights would be a solid hit on a Goblin sized target at 200 or more!) The clay pigeon or can is instant gratification. Our 200 yard is closed because the "Friends of the Chipmunks " got an injunction against us.  (We can't use steel targets anymore, nor shoot past 100 yards).

Then I switched to M855 Lake City 62 grainers.  same hits at 100 as the 77s.  On a whim, I did some 55 grain M193 Lake City (which was lousy in the indoor range) and was totally surprised.  I was still hit cans and stuff at 100 yards.  Hmmmm.  Looks like this little baby likes everything.  Did about 200 rounds again, and did not notice any problems.  I was hitting cans at the end as well as the beginning.

Then I pulled out the PCC9 with Glock mag adapter. I had a problem with the red dot so I switched back to irons.  My load of choice for it is the Federal 9BPLE +P+ Illinois State Police load...about 1550 fps from the PCC9.  After a minor sight adjustment, I was actually hitting pop cans at 100 yards with iron sights.  At 25 yards I was hitting pieces of clay pigeons.

A great day at the range!

I picked up a PC9 at the last Rochester gun show, haven't even had a chance to clean it yet.  I've got both Ruger and glock mags to use with it.    Glad to hear the accuracy is good, probably better than I am.

I'm kinda curious what those little 50 grain copper 9x19mms would do out of a 16" bbl.

The PCC9 seems to do best with hot ammo at 75-100 yards.  I was shooting cans with the 115 +P+ Federal.  Every shot was a hit, or so close the can moved or rolled off the berm.  Standard velocity was that good at 25 to 75, but didn't cut it for 100.

The 186 Mini-14 was an absolute joy to shoot!  The front and rear buffers tamed the snap, the 583 M1 style post and wing front sight gave a consistent sight picture,  and the in bolt, M1 Carbine style ejector dumped the brass politely in a 2 ft diameter pile at 1-2 o'clock, about 8 feet away. If I took my time, it hit what I aimed at.

I do have to admit I had one of my better range days I have had in the last couple years! I don't always shoot that well, LOL.  It was an optimal day for shooting: clear sunny skies, no wind, no one next to me shooting a 7mm Mag, and I didn't have too much coffee before I went.

The Mini 14s switched from 1-10" barrels to 1-7 twist barrels in mid 1986 to ward the end of the 184 series.  They switched to 1-9 twist barrels in mid 1997, about 3/4 of the way thorough 186 series production.

The Ranch Rifles switched from 1-10" to 1-7" in barrels in mid 1986 as well, in the middle of the 187 series.  They switched to 1-9" barrels in 1997 as well, in the middle of 195 series production.

Knowing the barrel twist can help identify what will and won't shoot well in a Mini-14 or Ranch Rifle.

I was tickled when I discovered they had a 10 year run of 1/7 barrels, so I began my quest, and found the mint 186 (verified 1/7) for $650 on Gunbroker.  buffers, 583 front sight, and wood handguards is all I did.  It is awesome.  I just picked up another 2 lbs of PLC(2) so I can load another 500 rounds more of my KMK262 clone loads with Nosler Custom 77 grain OTMBTs.  I have 180 rounds of IMI MK262 MOD1 and 250 of my clone loads.

I took the same approach, but since I prefer the older mini14s to the newer 580+ series, and I don't like 1-7 twist since I prefer lighter bullets in a Mini-14, I selected a 184 series Mini-14 and a 187 series Ranch Rifle that were both made in 1985 with 1-10 twist barrels.

With an Accustrut, a Choate flash hider, .045" gas port bushings, and Tech sights,  they both give me 1 1/2 MOA accuracy with Hornady 55 gr FMJs.

After I move to Oregon, I have a goal to buy an old GB model with 1/10.  I have some good Nosler 55s that would be perfect in it!