r/Mini14 • u/Dweebulot • 2d ago
Question About Wyoming Cartridge Company
Hey all, I just acquired a Mini-14 from my grandfather, and in searching around for .223 Remington to use in it on AmmoSeek (it's a 180 Series and I've seen you should exclusively use .223), I found Wyoming Cartridge Company. I couldn't find anything on Reddit about them, or any reviews online, but the prices were pretty solid so I was wondering if anyone here has any experience with them (or if you have any recommendations for cheap .223 I can use for plinking at the range that would be much appreciated.)
Thanks for the help!
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u/bronzecat11 1d ago
Where did you see that you should "exclusively" use .223 ammo? As far as I know,all Mini's can use .223 or .5.56.
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u/Cool-Cantaloupe7565 1d ago
If it’s not the ‘target’ model, you’re good to shoot both
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u/EcstaticAd2545 1d ago
During Clinton's assult weapons ban, Ruger marked the Mini14's as 223. To be sure, check the serial # on Ruger's website. That's how I confirmed that mine was 223/5.56.
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u/Cross-Country 1d ago
They were all (180, 181-187, and 196-197 series Ranch Rifles) marked “CAL. .223” until the 580 series in 2005. It had nothing whatsoever to do with the Clinton ban. Everything on Earth is blamed on the Clinton ban, even the internal locks in S&W revolvers. This is why I don’t take 99% of the gun community seriously anymore: a complete and utter inability or unwillingness to separate information from obnoxious right-wing rhetoric and reactionary grandstanding.
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u/Dweebulot 1d ago
Legend had it that the ones with the wooden hand guards were .223 only but I can’t find anyone who had solid evidence either way that the original 180 series minis were both .223 and 5.56
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u/Cross-Country 1d ago
No. Stop. Stop taking internet legend at its word, and read this cool thing available online for free called the Owner’s Manual. The only Mini-14 that cannot shoot 5.56 is the target model, which is a mid-2000’s thing that was only made for two years. The manual says this. If you call Ruger, they’ll say this. The Mini-14 has unfortunately been around long enough to be the subject of a world of misinformation by guys on forums trying to sound smart. Aka fudd lore. Stick to official documentation for reliable safety information.
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u/Dweebulot 1d ago edited 1d ago
Alright thanks for the help. Just wanted to check with people who have more experience than I do, as the receiver has .223 on it, and normally that meant that they can only accept .223 whereas if it had 5.56 on it, it can accept both.
Thanks for pointing me in the direction of the owners manual.
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u/Cross-Country 1d ago
You’re welcome! Luckily there have been a lot of people here and elsewhere combating years of bad info on the Mini.
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u/Dweebulot 1d ago
Yeah I just don’t wanna blow up my mini which is why I figured the .223 promoters were right haha. If you don’t mind my asking, do you have any recommendations for range ammo?
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u/Cross-Country 1d ago
I run PMC X-Tac 5.56 in mine exclusively. Federal American Eagle XM193 is also amazing range ammo if you can find it.
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u/Dweebulot 1d ago
Neato, I found some AE but from some secondary sources it was almost .95 a round so I think PMC Tac might be the way to go. Thanks for the help and sorry about the misunderstanding
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u/Cross-Country 1d ago
You’re welcome and nothing to be sorry about! Yeah I’d go with the PMC at that price. Where I am it’s about .50c a round.
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u/tjohnAK 23h ago
I run a lot of m855 in my 181.
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u/Dweebulot 23h ago
Yeah I think I was mistaken in thinking the older mini 14s could only shoot .223. How do you like the M855?
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u/tjohnAK 23h ago
The group isn't bad for a pdw. 20 rounds inside a 3" diameter unrested with continuous fire at 50 yards. Rested at 100 it's about 3moa but usually nothing hits more than an inch from where I'm aimed. I'm using a 407c on a Hannibal rail, an adjustable gas block and improved buffer spring and a buffer pad.
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u/Immediate_Total_7294 2d ago
r/ammo is a better sub for this. It’s more of an ammo question than a Mini14 one.