We had a Mini-14. It was a POS. Very inaccurate. Maybe we just got a lemon but I have heard the same thing from a lot of other folks. We gave it away and got a Bulgarian AK 74. Accurate to 200 yards right out of the box.
See post # 98. One can even start a flame war and be called a liar even here over the Mini 14! (not you).
I’ve seen crappy guns from S&W, Colt, Sig, Need I say Century Arms? I don’t doubt that you had a bad one.
I’ve only shot a dozen or so and they were all owned by serious shooters who knew what to look for so that can’t be considered a random sample.
One thing that a lot of folks don’t know to do is match the twist rate to bullet weight. Can make a huge difference.
I’ve heard all kinds of stories about thin barrels. My Mini has a barrel that measures .559 with a .178 wall. My Romanian SAR 1 has a .550 diameter with a .135 wall. My Win Model 70 30-06 has tapered barrel of .596 dis with a .154 wall.
They’re called the American AK 47 and I judge it in the same class. I’m very happy with it and if you knew what I paid for it you’d cry.
Some of the most vociferous critics that I’ve met have never even shot them.
OOPS! Those were the measurements before the canoeing accident.
Ruger rifles are kind of sloppy.
Some are good, but most are trash, and you never know until you fire them.