Best Ammo for Your Mini 14? | 6 Solid Choices

Having a classic rifle among your arsenal adds that distinct feeling of excitement and class. The Mini 14 is an excellent choice with its semi-wooden build, semi-pistol grip, and simple overall build. But if you’re planning to get yourself one, you also have to consider the ammunition you’ll be purchasing. 

Here is the list of best ammo for you Mini 14: 

1. Hornady .223 55 Gr V-Max
2. Federal American Eagle .223 Remington 55Gr FMJ 
3. .223 Winchester 64Gr Power Point
4. PMC Bronze .223 Remington Full Metal Jacket 
5. PMC X-Tac 5.56mm M855 62 Gr Green Tip FMJ 
6. Prvi Partizan 5.56mm M193 Ammo 55 Gr Full Metal Jacket 

Whether you are a seasoned or newbie gun enthusiast, learning about the various ammo you can use is an excellent way to expand your firearm knowledge. If you want to learn more about the list above, read on. In this article, I’ll discuss the different types of ammo you can use and the best for your Mini 14.

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1. Hornady .223 55 Gr V-MAX

This specific bullet from Hornady is like hitting two birds with one stone. It offers versatility to its users, having the right amount of grain or grain count to be as accurate as it can be. Having the accuracy for this bullet is one of the best selling since it can negate a large amount of wind that can cause an unforgiving trajectory change. 

2. Federal American Eagle .223 Remington 55Gr FMJ 

This .223 bullet can be your go-to bullet when you tend to use your Mini 14 in a shooting range. It does fair well with typical weather conditions, and more often than not, it offers good accuracy. Most users who have used this round had little to no problems, so it’s very considerable. 

3. .223 Winchester 64Gr Power Point

If you’re looking for one of the most if not the most accurate rounds available for your Mini 14, .223 Winchester 64Gr Power Point might be the one for you. Several users have already testified in gun forums how good this bullet is. 

It gives an optimal performance in the accuracy category, but it also offers good performance when hunting. Many users use this round for hunting hogs and deer, so if you’re looking for a bullet for hunting, you might want to consider this. 

4. PMC Bronze .223 Remington Full Metal Jacket

This is a recreational bullet for recreational shooters. While being amongst the cheaper variants, it still offers its users a high-performing accuracy. That’s why recreational shooters love these rounds because they are cost-effective. With current ammo prices, a day at the range can be costly. This bullet helps cushion the blow to your wallet.

5. PMC X-Tac 5.56mm M855 62 Gr Green Tip FMJ

If you want to get your hands on armor-piercing rounds, getting this specific bullet brand will be more than enough. Tested and used by the majority of law enforcement all over the world, having this bullet for your Mini 14 will help you pierce through car doors and armors. 

6. Prvi Partizan 5.56mm M193 Ammo 55 Gr Full Metal Jacket

If you’ve been into forums about this specific brand, it’s not surprising to see positive comments relating to the reloading efficiency. Picking up your brass and crimping the primers plays a vital role in the bullet’s life; Prvi provides efficiency for its users. 

Adding to the brass reloading is the accuracy and power it offers, so it’s really amongst the rounds you should keep in mind when eyeing for 5.56mm ammo.

Related When Is the Best Time to Buy Ammo? | What You Need to Know.

Can I Shoot 5.56 bullets in My Ruger Mini 14?

You can shoot 5.56 bullets using your Mini 14. However, you must first check what chamber your Mini 14 has. Newer models have compatible chambers, which enable them to shoot 5.56 bullets, unlike older versions. 

The rule of thumb is, you can shoot .223 ammo in a 5.56 chambered weapon, but you can not fire 5.56 in a .223 chamber. The only exception is if your chamber is a .223 Wylde chamber, then you can shoot both ammunition in it. 

Check what chamber your Mini 14 has; luckily, companies have included that information even before purchasing it. Newly manufactured Mini 14s have 5.56 chambers, so they can quickly shoot both ammunition, so if you have an older version, you might want to think twice before doing so. 

If you want to learn more about using 5.56 bullets in your Ruger Mini 14, check out this video from the Patriot Action Corner: 

To see the most popular recommended firearm accessories available on Amazon, just click here.

Best Grain Ammo for Mini 14

If you are using your Mini 14 for competitions, using lighter grain ammo, such as 45gr, is best. But if you need to have stronger penetration and forceful shots, you should consider using heavier ammo. 

If you just purchased your Mini 14 and tried to find the best bullet grain for it, you’ll be getting many answers in forums. But the most common one is you trying bullet grains from 45gr to 70 gr, and rightfully so. 

The best way to try which is best for your Mini 14 is by trying a variety of bullet grains. You must also know how you’ll be mainly using your Mini 14 since bullet grain plays a vital role on different occasions. 

Most Accurate Ammo for Mini 14

In choosing the most accurate ammo for Mini 14, here are the best options: 

• Hornady .223 55 Gr V-Max
• .223 Winchester 64Gr Power Point
• Hornady .223 53 Gr V-MAX

Hornady .223 55 Gr V-Max

Many users tend to use these rounds to capitalize on the accuracy it offers. Hornady manufactured their bullets to perfection, making every shot consistent and accurate. The company boasts the polymer tip that allows the bullet to negate a considerable percentage of wind draft, thus preventing loss of accuracy. 

.223 Winchester 64Gr Power Point

This bullet is famous for its outstanding accuracy. However, this point is applicable for newer Mini 14s since older versions had many limitations, making them underperforming for many cases. But ever since newer Mini 14s came out, this Winchester Power Point became a fan favorite due to the accuracy you obtain while shooting them. 

Hornady .223 53 Gr V-MAX

This bullet is another fan favorite due to the significant increase in velocity. The design of the bullet allows it to travel much faster, equating to an increased range and greater accuracy. The company boasts its 100-200 FPS more quickly than any conventional bullets available in the market, making it one of the best choices amongst other competition. 

Best Hunting Ammo for Mini 14

If you are looking forward to using your Mini 14 for hunting, here are the best ammo you can use: 

• .223 Winchester 64gr Power Point
• .223 Remington 55gr PSP
• .223 Remington 65gr BTHP Match Frontier

.223 Winchester 64gr Power Point

The .223 Winchester 64gr Power Point is an ideal choice for hunting. It is packed with force and speed, perfect for shooting deer and hogs at medium range. If you are looking for a combination of power and accuracy, you won’t go wrong with this bullet.  These will take care of any problem you are having with coyotes or other predators and varmints. 

.223 Remington 55gr PSP

The Remington 55gr PSP is slightly lighter than the 64gr Power Point, but this ammo proves to be more accurate. Using this ammo would be highly efficient in the hunting field, especially if you are shooting at your targets’ vital spots. The soft point expands upon impact and give these lighter bullets extra punch.

.223 Remington 65gr BTHP Match Frontier

The Remington 65 gr BTHP is the heaviest of the three hunting ammo. If you want to add more power to your shots, using this bullet is a perfect choice. With its 65 grain cartridge, you’ll be having more control of each shot.  A well placed shot with the 65gr BTHP Match Frontier will easily kill a hog or deer.

Thanks for reading!

For more, check out How Much Does Ammo Cost? | Detailed Price Analysis.