28 replies to this topic

[bruce_ventura]

I noticed during the last deer season that I hesitate when a shot at game presents itself. It occurred to me that hunting jackrabbits during the deer off-season would help me sharpen my hunting skills. Of the rifles in my safe, which one is the best for jackrabbits? I bought a mini-14 over a decade ago that has become something of safe queen. It’s light, fast and accurate enough for this purpose. Long ago I installed a Bushnell red dot sight on that rifle and now that combination seems perfect for jacks. Done!Next, I need a cheap handload for small game. Since I’m only going after small game I can use lead bullets and I have some 40 grain Hornady VMAX’s. For this application, velocity doesn’t matter and I can use charges near the safe starting load to minimize dispersion. I want a powder that fills the case. I quick look at the Lee Handloading Manual tells me that, of the powders in my locker, H4895 has the lowest velocity. Max safe loads are compressed. Handloaded cost: $0.27 per round, including shipping and hazmat costs. Done!I put together a series of handloads, ten each of 25.0, 25.3, 25.6, 26.0 and 26.3 grains of H4895, with Lake City cases and CCI BR-4 primers. I headed out to the range today - it was a nice day in the high desert north of Ventura. First, I messed around getting the red dot sight sighted in. That took a lot longer than I care to confess. Then I checked group sizes at 50 yards for 5-shot groups. A few loads gave decent groups from a rest using a red dot sight. My best load was 25.3 gr. (1.25” group). Not great, but adequate for a small game rifle.Then I headed out to my favorite rabbit area, adjacent to a barley field in the Cuyama Valley. It’s on private land and I have permission to hunt there. I parked my truck at about 6:00 pm on an access road and loaded the mini-14 with left-over rounds from load development. As dusk approached, I walked East toward the adjacent BLM land. Within about 15 minutes of slow, quiet steps I saw movement about 30 yards ahead of me. Three rabbits were crossing from right to left across a break in the brush. I was too slow for the first two rabbits (typical of me). I stepped right for a better view of the small clearing and saw the third rabbit moving more slowly further downrange. Up goes the rifle and I fired. I know I hit it because it starts to do cartwheels. Then one of the first two rabbits turns around and goes left to right across the open area. I fire again and that one goes down. He is still moving so I fire a third time, and the motion stops. So, the mini-14 performed admirably. I think I finally found it’s calling. Here are the pics of the two jacks. The first one got hit high and spasms drove it into cartwheels (two, I recall). The second one has hit with one or two body shots.

[rude robert]

nice, u mean u can use lead rounds up there in the condor range as long as u shoot non game??

[bruce_ventura]

No, it's the other way around. AFAIK, I can use lead bullets as long as I'm hunting small game.

[Braz]

Dang, this place is becoming more and more difficult with all the lazy people not willing to hit shift to get a capitol letter, putting in punctuation and not being willing to type words out. Just too into doing the text stuff I guess.

[Baxter]

Nice shooting, looks like fun. Braz this isn't grammer school.

[Braz]

Just my rant about the laziness of folks to not fully type stuff out.

[rude robert]

sorry your offended

[Braz]

Not offended, just have no respect for folks that have no respect for themselves. It makes you look like an idiot to sit at a keyboard and not even be able to take the time necessary to write properly.

[rude robert]

u really dont know me enough braz, hard physical work, injuries to my hands, ill take any short cuts that i can. sorry your offended and limited in understanding

[Braz]

Your typing, you can do it right. You just look for an excuse. Sorry, but that's the way I feel about it.

[Thumper Dunker]

NICE SHOOTING . I HERE YOU BRAZ GETS TO ME ALL SO. I do good to hit the right key. So wheres the picture of the rifle ?

[rude robert]

Is the period correct before the smiley face?? or is that too many ??? marks

[rude robert]

rant - 3 dictionary resultsAngry, frustrated, mad?Need to rant? Let it all out!furiousrants.comrant   [rant] Show IPA–verb (used without object)1.to speak or declaim extravagantly or violently; talk in a wild or vehement way; rave: The demagogue ranted for hours.–verb (used with object)2.to utter or declaim in a ranting manner.–noun3.ranting, extravagant, or violent declamation.4.a ranting utterance.Origin: 1590–1600; < D ranten (obs.) to talk foolishly—Related formsranter, nounrant·ing·ly, adverboutrant, verb (used with object)un·rant·ing, adjective—Synonyms 3. bombast, extravagance.Dict

[rude robert]

Notice the synonyms #3Your not going to go Postal are You Braz? Really, there isn't really any reason to do this, there is help out there for you lol hehe

[Locnload]

Nice shooting, looks like fun. Braz this isn't grammer school.

"grammer" ---- too funny.

[Rob]

Bruce...your posting got High-Jacked. You described an interesting process about an old rifle finding a new use. I liked your entire posting...what happend after that was a big bowl of alphabet soup fell off the table.My dog can spell now after eating the bowl!

[bruce_ventura]

High-jacked is right! Maybe I can get it back on topic with some rifle porn. The mini-14:

[1shot_1kill]

i agree braz I love you, but you need to get with it. I mean it is 2010 FGS.

[BC9696]

Nice rifle, I like the scope too. I'm not such a Mary that I feel compelled to complain about typos, grammar and/or punctuation errors...for me photos tell the story better than words. I particularly like the bloody pics so thank you!

[c_matt92]

That gun sure seems to do a good job for you. All the jacks I have shot around here have been with a .22LR. I plan on getting me a .22 Hornet, though, for things like jacks and coons.

[rude robert]

That is a nice looking rifle, it reminds me of my ruger 10/22 for which I like the style

[A17Shooter]

Load development - B+Splatt Pics - A-English Grammar - D ( if it was graded by Dr. Smith, my HS English teacher )Psychiatric reveals - C-Off hand head shot on moving jack - A+++JMHO

[zippy1970]

Nice Bruce . it looks like you got it dialed in . just wondering what was the weather up there like ? I have been thinking about making a run up there but am wondering about the weather . Thanx , Andy

[acousticmood]

Wow - that's a great looking rifle - I would have thought it a bit much for Jacks but the way you 've got it set up seems just right.That's the kind of fun we all wish we could have!

[sum-rifle]

sorry your offended

Sorry his offended what?Oh did you mean, "Sorry you're offended"?

[msand951]

nIcE sEtUp I also have a mini 14 sitting around. I dont take it out because back in the 80s my pops had a flash hider installed. So i have to find the old sight to make it legal again. But i cant find it , so i might have to settle on a brake. I was thinking of adding a scope but i have a older type rifle 183 serial so i have to use the side mounted type rails and ive heard of people having trouble keeping zero. Does yours have the rails installed on top of your receiver? Also did you install a different gas cover with rails for your sight? I might look into that.Im also thinking of having a gunsmith drill and tap my receiver for top mounts.

[Marino]

Braz' comments here remind me of my ex. :-)

[Braz]

Obviously, she is very bright. She is your ex.

[bruce_ventura]

I would have thought it a bit much for Jacks but the way you 've got it set up seems just right.

I'm using starting loads to keep the velocity low - ~3300 fps. Still fast enough for the VMAX to take apart a jack. I can't count on making head shots all the time. I think I'll switch to Midway 50 gr soft points.

just wondering what was the weather up there like ? I have been thinking about making a run up there but am wondering about the weather .

The weather's great. You should come up for a day of hunting.

Does yours have the rails installed on top of your receiver? Also did you install a different gas cover with rails for your sight? I might look into that.

I installed a new handguard made by Ultimak that turns the mini-14 into a scout rifle. Pricey, but it works pretty well - probably about as expensive as having a gunsmitth install a rail. The screws loosen easily so I had to use locktite. I like this set-up because it lets me install the red dot sight lower than I could with the Ruger scope mounts on the receiver. Some time ago I also had the trigger adjusted to 4.5 lbs, I shimmed the stock inlet to get a tighter receiver fit and I added a thick recoil pad to increase the length of pull.