Ruger Mini 14 --- is it really black?

I don't think the mini-14 would be considered a black rifle as to my understanding it references rifles designed specifically for military/police use.

The Ruger ACC556 ..which differs in a few ways from the mini was designed for police use but was basically a modified ranch rifle.

You can ### it up to look more tactical but it was never initially designed to be a combat rifle.

My 2cents for what its worth
 
Putting a rifle in a bunch of plastic crap or rails doesn't make it a black rifle anymore than putting a Ferrari body kit on a Fiero makes it a Ferrari.
 
The Mini originates from the AC556 (select fire) - which was to compete with the M16 when it was having development problems. It never 'happened' but it was Rugers plan. Anyone that says the Mini-14 was first is wrong.. same with the Ranch rifle. The SN 180 seriese Mini-14s are really an AC556 receiver that is not fully machined. Starting with the 181 seriese the receiver is actually narrower and shorter... this new receiver was used until the 580 seriese. The 'Ranch' rifle was merely a gimic to validate the mini as a Ranch gun or a scope-able rifle....

Ruger hoped the AC566 would be destined for the die-hard M14/M1A military units. It never materialized. But the public loved the design.... evidenced by the millions that have sold under the title Mini-14 or Ranch Rifle.

It is an affordable & practical Semi-Auto 5.56 rifle.

To credit the design, Ruger at one point had redone the Mini in 7.62x51/308 called the XR1 or something like that. There was and still is a devoted following to that type/style of action. Hence all the M1As that are circulating.

Remember - Non-Restricted and will never jam....
 
Still not a black rifle.

It's a throwback to the battle rifle. IE M14.

The SVT-40 isn't a black rifle either. Yet has all the same features. A full auto version (AMT), detachable 10 round mag (20 round AK style for the AMT), gas piston system, semi auto and even has a built in muzzle break. But.. it's still a conventional receiver in a stock.
 
Black or not. All I know i can legally carry it here on the Rock for coyotes 10 months of the year for a $4 licence fee. Yeehaw.
 
The Mini originates from the AC556 (select fire) - which was to compete with the M16 when it was having development problems. It never 'happened' but it was Rugers plan. Anyone that says the Mini-14 was first is wrong.. same with the Ranch rifle. The SN 180 seriese Mini-14s are really an AC556 receiver that is not fully machined. Starting with the 181 seriese the receiver is actually narrower and shorter... this new receiver was used until the 580 seriese. The 'Ranch' rifle was merely a gimic to validate the mini as a Ranch gun or a scope-able rifle....

Ruger hoped the AC566 would be destined for the die-hard M14/M1A military units. It never materialized. But the public loved the design.... evidenced by the millions that have sold under the title Mini-14 or Ranch Rifle.

It is an affordable & practical Semi-Auto 5.56 rifle.

To credit the design, Ruger at one point had redone the Mini in 7.62x51/308 called the XR1 or something like that. There was and still is a devoted following to that type/style of action. Hence all the M1As that are circulating.

Remember - Non-Restricted and will never jam....

Okay I am not positive, but I think this came out before the AC-556, and this article is from 1975, by a guy named Jeff cooper
jcmini-14Custom2.jpg

jcmini-14p2bCustom.jpg


Mini's are absolute garbage anyway, I know this personally
and remember They might not jam, but the bolt might break!!!
S5004712.jpg
 
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No, the whole black rifle started when black rifles (M16s) replaced brown rifles (M14). The Mini-14 is a brown rifle when it comes from the factory in most cases and is only black after you put a black plastic stock on it. As for a military connection, it was based on a military rifle (at least in looks) hence the name Mini-14 aka a smaller M14.

It really only became expensive after Bill-68 when every rifle suddenly became expensive.

Steve, you took old school brown and made it modern tactical black; that thing is ###y!

Polytechnique: a needless tragedy that could have been prevented if the 14 women had guns.
 
On the one that broke?? It was a mini-30, 189 series, I was shooting sellior and belliot When It broke, and the new ones that didn't feed or eject were new ones with heavier barrels, I think 581 series


Thanks for the info.
I wonder if it had something to do with using .310 military ammo in a .308 bore.
Maybe it couldn't handle the notched up pressure
 
Thanks for the info.
I wonder if it had something to do with using .310 military ammo in a .308 bore.
Maybe it couldn't handle the notched up pressure
There is no extra pressure as Ruger uses a longer throat and the bullet has already left the case before engaging the rifling. I've built several bolt actions and own a Ruger M77 MKII in 7.62x39 all with .308 barrels and shoot Czech surplus all the time with a reamer similar to Ruger's.

Ruger does use die cast investments in all their firearms. That includes bolts, firing pins, trigger parts and actions. That's not a bad thing necessarily. It does cut costs and saves machining, but sometimes a flaw gets out there undetected. It's not common to see a broken Mini bolt as in Steve's case.
 
but sometimes a flaw gets out there undetected.

This would suggest that there is some "Detecting" going on at the Ruger factory........

Ruger does not inspect there firearms, the two BRAND NEW malfunctional rifles I received prove this beyond a doubt IMO. There cheap and it's a real bummer. They could be a fine rifle

Still not black though
 
Thanks for the info.It is highly unusual for mini 14 to brake a bolt or have feeding problems, don't own one but know three individuals who do and they like it for what it is,
a ranch rifle.
 
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