I fixed my Mini-14 with a torch and mig welder

targettarget

targettarget

BANNED
BANNED
BANNED
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
31   0   0
Location
Calgary
Well, here's the story.

I bought this gun used on the EE for a steal. It came with a flash hider that was just pressed onto the barrel with nothing more than normal human force. Every time I shot the gun, the flash hider would fly off, annoying the hell out of me. I looked for the proper extended pin, but on all the websites I found one on, they never shipped to Canada.

So, this is what I did. *Note* before anyone with gunsmithing skills calls me a hack, This gun is not an heirloom piece. It's a banger and it needs to work, plain and simple. So I fixed it ;)

I went out and got my torches and mig welder (good start, hey?) I grabbed a pair of pliers and heated the flash hider up, than I stuck it on the barrel and pried the ****er on. HOORAY! It actually went on all the way and it wasn't that hard to get on either.

Than I took my mig welder and tacked the thing on to the original sight, right in the same hole that the pin is supposed to go through. Than I took my file and ground her down. This is the result. I don't think it's going anywhere now.

A little bit of gun blue and she's good to go....forever this time.

p1040311ng5.jpg


p1040317kb6.jpg





What is the easiest way to re-blue this piece now? Like I said, it's not heirloom, so it doesn't have to be ultra-professional looking.

Thanks
 
Are you sure you dont make watches? lol just kidding....theres more than one way to skin a cat.
You do know you could have bought a roll pin for under $0.10 at any automotive store.
 
Touch it up with the Dremel cutoff, and you'll be posting your 0.5 MOA groups tomorrow :).
I have a muzzle break for my SKS I'm scared to fire, but I'll probably sell it instead.

"SEMPER DREMELATUS"
 
Maybe it's not a good time to mention this, but - before anyone else decides that this looks like a good idea - I'll remind you of Ruger's warranty.

If the firearm is unmodified, Ruger will fix it.

I hope you never want a new barrel.
 
double gun said:
Are you sure you dont make watches? lol just kidding....theres more than one way to skin a cat.
You do know you could have bought a roll pin for under $0.10 at any automotive store.
Click to expand...

Me and pins don't have a great reputation. The pins on my Glock tend to walk around quite a bit.

Welding works for me.
 
Wendell said:
Maybe it's not a good time to mention this, but - before anyone else decides that this looks like a good idea - I'll remind you of Ruger's warranty.

If the firearm is unmodified, Ruger will fix it.

I hope you never want a new barrel.
Click to expand...

I didn't post as a suggestion to other people who have flash hiders on Mini 14s to weld it to the sight. It was done out of necessity.

I've never dealt with Ruger with a warranty issue, but chances are if something happens I can get the parts at a minimum of cost from Brownells (for now) and fix it myself.
 
Do you know why we have welders?



because monkeys are afraid of fire. :)


Question: How do you know you have "fixed" that rifle? Have you shot it yet? It is entirely possible that all the welding and banging of bits on the end of the barrel has in fact destroyed the barrel by making it even more inaccurate than it was before. Of course it will still go "bang" but if it can't group better than a 4' group did you really "fix" anything?

There is a reason gunsmiths learn to use machine tools.
 
Last edited:
Suputin said:
Do you know why we have welders?



because monkeys are afraid of fire. :)


Question: How do you know you have "fixed" that rifle? Have you shot it yet? It is entirely possible that all the welding and banging of bits on the end of the barrel has in fact destroyed the barrel by making it even more inaccurate than it was before. Of course it will still go "bang" but if it can't group better than a 4' group did you really "fix" anything?

There is a reason gunsmiths learn to use machine tools.
Click to expand...

I "fixed" it by melting hot magma (not the right term, I know, but it sounds cool) in between two pieces of steel.

Its not coming off, therefore, it's "fixed".
 
Wow....it's fix it job's like that that keep me in business.

Ahhh....I'd say screw the cold blue and keep consistent with the rest of the job...I'd recomend some BBQ paint or a Jiffy marker to make that baby shine!!!!
 
Welding fix?

.
Perhaps someone should point out the advantages of silver solder. If it holds on sights, it should hold on flash hiders!

And without a lot of ugly welding marks, splatter and rust waiting to happen.
 
#1bcshooter said:
LOL ! Thats all I have to say about that !
Click to expand...

Suputin said:
Yeah, not unlike the way I had my dog "fixed".
Click to expand...

Suputin said:
Do you know why we have welders?



because monkeys are afraid of fire. :)


Question: How do you know you have "fixed" that rifle? Have you shot it yet? It is entirely possible that all the welding and banging of bits on the end of the barrel has in fact destroyed the barrel by making it even more inaccurate than it was before. Of course it will still go "bang" but if it can't group better than a 4' group did you really "fix" anything?

There is a reason gunsmiths learn to use machine tools.
Click to expand...

castanza7.jpg
 
Taggs said:
Wow....it's fix it job's like that that keep me in business.

Ahhh....I'd say screw the cold blue and keep consistent with the rest of the job...I'd recomend some BBQ paint or a Jiffy marker to make that baby shine!!!!
Click to expand...

And you? You used one of your 6 posts ever to insult my masterwork.

Whatever you say, Hass.
 
seriously..who cares if he welded it..its a mini-14...clearly in rough shape since it gets used to shoot...

I figure as long as it works for you, just take a dremel to it, clean it up and give it a coat of something like armacoat to keep it from rusting.
Doesnt always have to look like a million bucks.

Just take it out to the range, loader up with amo.. and just let er' buck!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom