How to: Red-Dot on Mini-14

[targettarget]

I have a Mini-14 .223 project that I'm just about to finish with and I need some help regarding mounting a red-dot sight on it.

The gun is a 185###xx serial number (1992 - IIRC).

So here's the deal. I know about the equivalent of jack when it comes to rifles. Handguns, I'm not bad at. Rifles, not so much.

As I said above, I want to mount a red-dot sight on the gun. I just went and had a look at it and am confused as to how I'm supposed to do this. The gun didn't come with any scope rings and even if they did, I have no idea where the rings would screw into. There are no threaded holes (forget that, there are no holes period) anywhere on the top of this gun.

So, bear with me here, but if I get a red-dot, does it screw into the gun somehow? And if so, where do the screws go? I took some pictures to illustrate the problem I think I have.

I found this picture on the web of a red-dot mounted on a Mini-14, but mine doesn't have any holes tapped where it looks like this red-dot is secured to. Does this mean I have to drill and tap my own holes??

 

[ckid]

It looks to me that you will have to get some drilling and tapping done. IIRC the mount screws to the flat portion on the left side of the receiver just ahead of the bolt hold open button. The last picture is of a Mini-14 Ranch Rifle (yours is just a plain Mini-14) that has built in attachment points for Ruger rings.

 

[slicknick]

You seem to have three options:

1) get drillin' and tappin'. However, that seems awful rash so let's wait a few.
2) get a new railed upper hand guard. They are available from a few places
3) there are mounts from B-Square, S&K and other that attach via that hole on the side of the rifle

 

[targettarget]

O.K., so as I understand it, all of the "red-dot" sights that are available have to attach to a weaver style rail, yes?

If that's the case then I would need to mount a weaver style rail to the gun BEFORE I could mount a red-dot?

Hmm.....this is more complex then I thought it was going to be.

 

[Juster]

Google M14 scope mounts. There are various no gunsmithing and scout mounts.

 

[hfp75]

OK,

Don't drill into your receiver it wrecks the gun.

For MOST red-dots there is no problem with eye releif. Get the UltiMak Mini-14 scount mount - it replaces the front handguard. Order it from Brownells.

This item will give you a 1913 rail and will mount to the barrel and gas port. It will help the Mini-14 barrel from stringing or a changing POI.

This is what I did and it works like a charm. It was simple to install and does what you need.

If indeed you want a normal scope on that Mini - Trade It for a Ranch Rifle. The Ranch rifle comes with mounting points on the receiver. By the time you drill & tap and order parts... jsut sell it and get a ranch rifle. It is the simple way.