I have a question about the Ruger Mini 14 Target Model that has the harmonic dampener on the end of the barrel. Has anyone shot one enought to know if it works and worth the extra cost. If you found a fair deal on one would you buy it??

It would be equivalent to the B.O.S.S. system on Brownings and some Winnys.....

I am asuming it works as a harmonic balancer.

People swear by/at the BOSS system.

I have one. I traded for it, took it to the range one time, came home, and sold my AR. I've posted it before but here's a pic of a 5 shot 100 yard group using Monarch Brass SP ammo and a cheap scope. The harmonic dampener is touchy so very little adjustment makes a big difference. I turned it about 3/4 turn and the whole pattern moved about 6" across the target and opened up to about 2".

The Mini (in general) has a bad rap. Having never owned a standard one, I can't speak to that. I can say that with this rifle, you can probably pick any ammo you want to shoot and just tune the rifle to it. Name one other rifle with that versatility. Plus, it has almost zero recoil. I can lay it on a bag, touch off a round touching nothing but the trigger (gun not to my shoulder) and it scoots straight back about 1/4". Zero muzzle rise.

I know most people say to go with an AR but I've yet to see one shoot this group right out of the box with crappy ammo and a cheap scope; no modifications or improvements to the rifle.

I have owned minis for years and I love em cause of the M14 look. they never were tack drivers, but fun to shoot, currently I got an older mini 14 and mini 30, but my new mini 14 tactical with the heavier barrel and good Redfield scope will do 1 1/2" groups at 100 yards no problem, I can imagine what the target model will do.

i have had several minis they are fun guns but not great for accuracy the target model will group much better but is not really worth it if you ask me its not even a true bull barrel and it will heat up fast like all minis here is a pic of the target barrel its the one in the middle

Not everyone is a "spray and pray" shooter that runs rounds so fast that barrel heat is an issue. IMO, you have the AR that's somewhat accurate and fun to burn ammo with while you pretend to be GI Joe. Then there is the Target Mini that is very accurate and is fun to shoot tight groups with. I don't fire my Mini any faster than I fire my Win Mod 70 so if barrel heat is your concern, maybe you're looking at the wrong rifle.

BTW, a bull barrel takes longer to heat up...and longer to cool down. After ~10 rounds fired without some cool-down time, it's going to be hot too. And then you're right there in the same boat except it takes longer to cool. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to understand that whatever takes longer to heat, also takes longer to cool. A lot of people whip out the old "bull barrels don't heat up as fast" arguement but that's not the reason to shoot one. The reason to shoot a bull barrel is to reduce barrel whip and to add weight to the rifle. Barrel heat is inevitable and the only way to control it is rate of fire.