Replies

I do write for the lurkers out there just as much as the poster whom I'm addressing. I hope you don't offense to what I'm writing.

I have mounted 25 power varmint scopes on both the Mini and the AR. If you say that you have had equal accuracy out of both rifles, I can't disagree with that. In my experience, the Ruger is close to an embarrassement for an American gun company. There is nothing a shade tree mechanic can do to make them shoot close to what a normally built rifle should do. This is not to say the Colts, Bushmasters and Armalites are the most accurate firearms on the planet. It is saying the Rugers are horrible and the design should have been scrapped. The barrels are terrible and the mounting system is just plain wrong. The Mini-30's are even worse.

Mmm, perhaps my skill with firearms could be a factor? (no ego intended)

I consistently outshot everyone in the units I was assigned after basic training, where I had to literally hold the loose Vietnam-era passdown rifle forcefully against my shoulder well in order to qualify. My DI couldn't even hit the damn target when I passed it to him, but he wouldn't get me a better one. Hence I used a piece of crap to get Marksman where most would have washed out.

Upon realizing I had a real talent for it I found I was automatically disqualified because of needing corrective lenses (1984). It's not easy to learn that any soldier today who requests it can get radial keretonomy surgery at no cost and can therefore qualify in the field I so hoped to join (and yes, I was custom made for the tedium, discipline and hyper-awareness of the craft). Life be cruel but I cheer for our snipers whenever their great work is recognized. Their load is the hardest yet their work yields the highest results for the least material investment.