I use mine for target, and coyote hunting. I don't think of it much as a home defense weapon, unless my neighborhood was being invaded and I was shooting down the driveway. (not really very likely) It's a great short light rifle to have in the pickup, and really doesn't draw as much attention to itself as an AR.
lmmp brings up a great point, one of the many reasons I bought, in 1993, a Mini-14 Ranch S/S was that it attracts far less attention than the EBR, while using the same cartridge and doing the same job. At that time it was 1/3 less money that a AR-15!
I think of it as a anti-coyote all purpose defense zombie blaster and generally fun carbine rifle. It's also one of the four rifles using the John Garand design. And it's made of stainless steel and wood.
As to its range, I'm currently limited to only a 100 yard range. My scoped Mini will shoot a ten round group at 1 1/2" at that range with handloads. At 200 yards I would expect about 4" - 6" groups.
I've never measured any groups with it past 100. I've rolled more than one coyote out to 200, and dug it out at a bowling pin shoot and shot right around 50% at 300 yds. Neither of those speak to grouping, but it confirms that it'll do everything I want it for.
I bought mine for plinking and home defense although a 20 guage would probably be better suited here in suburbia. I picked the mini 14 because of the garand style action, the ease with which it can be brought to bear and the fact that I can't afford a m1a,
my 223 is zero at 200 yrds. I have a simmons 10x50 wa scope wrks ok for me.
it has a Eagle full mount and it is no trb when cleaning.
I have the 185 seriers.
All of the above except hunting. I can use the original stock and a scope for paper punching, switch to a tactical scope and a red-dot for defense. Plus I don't have to use an EBR.
Everything. Patrol rifle, varmint rifle (but I repeat myself) and deer rifle. In fact I rolled a button buck with my 580 at just about 170 yards this year.
I am issued one at work and after being involved in a shooting I realized I did not get enough trigger time to feel very well prepared. I bought my own and shoot it for training purposes mainly and plinking occasionally for fun.
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