Ruger Mini-14 - Bonehead trade

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Savage3030

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So a few weeks ago I picked up a Ruger Mini-14. It was a rather spur of the moment decision but I figured I couldn't go wrong with a Ruger. Once I got home I did the research I should have done earlier. I ended up with a 180 model(1976) in a new ATI stock, it was much older then I thought but considering I wanted something to play with at the range and the farm the lack of accuracy doesn't bother me too much. I took it out to the range and after trekking through crotch high snow the 50 yards and back to put up my target and the gun would not fire, not a mark on the casing. When I got home and stripped it, it looked like it had been slapped together. I quickly ( okay.. Not so quickly..)realized that even though it seemed smooth the breech was not entering battery. I think the stock was for the 181model. I shaved it some to let the charging handle move freely and trimmed some of the upper where it slides(should slide) into the gas port as well as some material from the front most screws forward. But the stock is still not allowing the piston to line up with the gas port. And before I remove anymore material from the upper handguard( squishing it more doesn't seem like it will work anyway) I figured I should ask some people that actually know something about it as I am new to the carbines. I do like the adjustable stock and the pistol grip looks cool so before I completely mangle the ATI stock and have to find a wooden stock any suggestions? I really don't want to put more money into it unless I have to, so I would rather mangle the ATI stock first. it is just a heavy club at the moment and I am having a lot of buyers remorse. So any suggestions on what stocks,parts, hack, mods or fixes?? Would be greatly appreciated. Yes I know they can be expensive to repair but I shoot my guns.
 
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Did you get it from a store? If so they do have some responsibility to make sure they are selling you a safe rifle, hard to say that they met that standard if the thing can't cycle properly. I'd start by contacting whomever you purchased/traded it from, and ask (nicely) to fix it. I'm pretty sure you can remove the top part of the forearm, you may not be able to fire it that way (don't have one), but I expect that it would be no different than an ATI SKS stock, you should be able to leave the gas system and handgaurd as it came from the factory, and likely all you'll have to replace (again assuming you can use the factory parts with the ATI stock).
 
ht tps://www.samson-mfg.com/a-tm-folding-stock-for-the-ruger-mini-14.html?mc_cid=630153f7df&mc_eid=8764e63bfc

Remove the space.

Auggie D.
 
The 180 series mini-14 is quite different, compared with the later versions.
Maybe you will be able to alter the ATI stock to be usable.
Good luck trying to find a take-off original 180 series stock. I think the 180 was phased out and replaced by the 181 some 40 years ago.
 
Savage3030 said:
So a few weeks ago I picked up a Ruger Mini-14. It was a rather spur of the moment decision but I figured I couldn't go wrong with a Ruger. Once I got home I did the research I should have done earlier. I ended up with a 180 model(1976) in a new ATI stock, it was much older then I thought but considering I wanted something to play with at the range and the farm the lack of accuracy doesn't bother me too much. I took it out to the range and after trekking through crotch high snow the 50 yards and back to put up my target and the gun would not fire, not a mark on the casing. When I got home and stripped it, it looked like it had been slapped together. I quickly ( okay.. Not so quickly..)realized that even though it seemed smooth the breech was not entering battery. I think the stock was for the 181model. I shaved it some to let the charging handle move freely and trimmed some of the upper where it slides(should slide) into the gas port as well as some material from the front most screws forward. But the stock is still not allowing the piston to line up with the gas port. And before I remove anymore material from the upper handguard( squishing it more doesn't seem like it will work anyway) I figured I should ask some people that actually know something about it as I am new to the carbines. I do like the adjustable stock and the pistol grip looks cool so before I completely mangle the ATI stock and have to find a wooden stock any suggestions? I really don't want to put more money into it unless I have to, so I would rather mangle the ATI stock first. it is just a heavy club at the moment and I am having a lot of buyers remorse. So any suggestions on what stocks,parts, hack, mods or fixes?? Would be greatly appreciated. Yes I know they can be expensive to repair but I shoot my guns.
Click to expand...

i sent you a PM with a link to another forum where a fella compared them part for part side by side.
shows a lot of the differences between them.
i would think those pics would help you know where you need to do some channeling in the stock to make it work for you.
 
Dont lose hope in the mini. I know the 180s dont have as nice of a rep, but ive had 3x 580s and loved them all. They may not have a good rep for accuracy but i dont think they are as bad as people say. They are utterly reliable guns. Get an original wood stock and let her rip. Theyre one of my favorite rifles and i regret not keeping one. Do some research on the variations before buying a stock as early ones are not interchangable with later ones as youve learned with the aftermarket stock. Also check out the canadian warranty centre (snapshots i believe) they might have parts available.
 
Thank you all for the info and advice. After reading Redshooters comment I took a better look and I was able to shave off the section that slides into the gas block. I cut it flush and problem solved. I think I will probably looking at a Boyd stock in the future. I did get it out to the range today and put a few rounds down the barrel, someone forgot the magazine so it was not a true test. At 50 yards not bad... Tommorow I will take it out again and bring the magazine with me 😑.
 
Savage3030 said:
Thank you all for the info and advice. After reading Redshooters comment I took a better look and I was able to shave off the section that slides into the gas block. I cut it flush and problem solved. I think I will probably looking at a Boyd stock in the future. I did get it out to the range today and put a few rounds down the barrel, someone forgot the magazine so it was not a true test. At 50 yards not bad... Tommorow I will take it out again and bring the magazine with me ��.
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Glad you got it sorted out. Just in case you are unaware, single loading this rifle's Daddy, and Granddaddy can be a little hazardous due to "slam fires". I'm not sure if Ruger added a spring to the firing pin, or some other mechanism to prevent it, but be wary, unless someone with knowledge can confirm it's not a problem with the Mini 14.
 
Donrozon said:
Mini are awesome
View attachment 361115
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That looks like a Sage chassis

SAMINIALCS-30.jpg


http://www.sageinternationalltd.com/SIL/MINI-ALCS.html
 
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