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Question: Can you shoot 5.56 mm ammo in Ruger Mini 14?

Answer:

Yes you can, the mini14 has always had a 5.56x45 chamber.

The mini14 receiver is marked “.223 CAL” not “.223 rem.”

The manual states this:
“AMMUNITION (580 series mini14 and above)

The RUGER® MINI-14® RANCH RIFLES are chambered for the .223 Remington (5.56mm) cartridge.

The Mini-14 Ranch Rifle is designed to use either standardized U.S. military, OR factory loaded sporting .223 (5.56mm) cartridges
manufactured in accordance with U.S. industry practice.”

The 180 series Mini 14 States this:
“ The Mini14 is designed to use EITHER U.S. Military, Commercial sporting, Or Other .223(5.56mm) caliber ammunition manufactured to U.S. industry standards.”
Here is the .pdfs for the 580 series and 180 series mini14s listed above for verification: 180 series: www.ruger.com/Firearms/PDF/InstructionManuals/43.pdf 580 series: www.ruger.com/Firearms/PDF/InstructionManuals/55.pdf

The above means that 5.56nato ammunition can be used safely in the rifle. The Ruger Mini-14 has a 5.56 chamber but can shoot .223 Remington ammuntion. It is a common myth that the mini14 is chambered in .223 Remington. While 5.56mm NATO ammunition is identical in external dimensions to .223 Remington, there are two important differences:

1) The chamber dimensions between the two cartridges are different. 5.56mm has a longer throat or leade (the the unrifled portion of the barrel between the end of the chamber and the beginning of the rifling). This longer throat reduces pressures as compared to the .223 Remington. Consequently, .223 Remington ammunition is loaded to a lower pressure.

2) The 5.56mm cartridge is loaded to higher pressures than the .223 Remington. Taking advantage of the longer throat, the 5.56mm can safely operate at a more powerful loading level.

Firing a 5.56mm cartridge (which is loaded to higher pressure) in a .223 Remington chambered rifle (which has a shorter throat causing a further boost in pressure), could exceed the safety margin in a .223 Remington rifle. It cannot be done with complete safety.
A .223 Remington cartridge can be safely fired in a 5.56mm chambered rifle, but NOT vice versa.

Always use safe, reliable, and quality ammunition. When buying surplus 5.56 ammo make sure you examine it closely before using it in the rifle. It is also suggested in the manual that you don’t use handloads in the mini-14. using handloads can be dangerous and will void the warranty if damage is caused as a result using improper ammunition.

Now, the next question: Will the Mini-14 hit the target?

Answer: Maybe; Sometimes; If the target is big; If the target is close; Perhaps on Tuesday; etc.