Mini 14 Problems

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cote_b

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Hi guys

I have a 580 series Mini 14 in .223, blued with wood stock. This has been a very reliable and decently accurrate rifle. I was bored last night so I watched some Ruger Tech Tips videos on youtube on how to disassemble and reassemble it. I ended up taking it apart and giving it a thorough clean and oil. I re-assembled it according to the video with no problem, but after putting it together again I can tell it is not right anymore.

Firstly,when I cycle the action now, it opens about half way and then stops, but will open fully if you apply a bit more pull.

Secondly, there are a few parts that seem loose now. The actual bolt itself seems to wiggle around in the action just a little bit. The charging handle is a bit loose too.

Lastly, before I reassembled it, i was moving the bolt back and forth in the action ( with the chargind handle removed) and it does not seem to tilt into the locked position without pushing it down a bit.

I plan to try again, but now I feel like I should have just left the damn thing alone since it was working just fine.

Any ideas of whats causing these issues now?
 
I would take it all back apart clean, lube and reassemble. The mini 14 is easy to take apart but sometimes it is tricky with the bolt putting it back together. I don't see why it would be binding though unless it could use some old or something is caked in there. Just disassemble and reassemble to make sure you put everything back correctly aswell as give you an even better understanding of the gun. If it is still not acting right take some pictures of what and where the bolt is sticking. Anyways good luck and hopefully it is just something simple like a loose screw or something not entirely seated although its kind of hard to tell from the description and not seeing the gun.
 
take it apart again.

Sounds like your bolt is not running in the slide very well. I bet your slide is binding just a bit and is off on one side. Check your recoil rod and spring to make sure it is correctly installed. That can cause mild binding as well.
 
Took it apart and re assembled it again. Still the same issues. Slide seems a bit loose still. Is it normal for the bolt to open half way easily and then require a bit more pull to completely open it?
 
stang said:
Yes, because you're cocking the hammer.
Click to expand...

x2.(if you dryfired it. It shouldn't be doing that every time though. maybe there is something broke? Did you dissasemble the trigger group? maybe you put it together wrong? Also, it is supposed to be a bit loose, for reliability. Maybe you have shot it so much that it was all caked up with stuff and when you cleaned it, it would be looser.)
 
Hmm I only put about 100 rounds through it, and the previous owner only put 200 ( supposidly). I did not dry fire it in between cycling, so I dont see why it should be stiffer at the end of the bolt travel.

Frig, I shouldnt have screwed with it in the first place. It was working just fine before I took it apart.
 
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