Mini 14 short stroking ***update*solved***

BrotherRockeye

BrotherRockeye

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I have a 187 series that is short stroking. I understand this is usually a symptom of a gas system problem. Cycling it by hand it works fine and if anything is easier to cycle than my 581 series. For that reason I don't believe the issue is related to the "action" itself.
As well, the gas tube on the 187 has some "wiggle" to it and can be rotated a bit as well as being "corroded" to a degree. There is what looks like black carbon buildup on it and the surface of the gas block. I suspect corrosive ammo was used at some point in it's history, but am just guessing. I have yet to take it apart but I'm guessing the gas tube and bushing need to be replaced.
I know there are some Mini 14 gurus in the crowd here so my questions are:
Does it sound like I'm on the right path?
Brownells lists a stainless gas tube but no bushings that I saw. Is there a dealer in Canada that can supply both or is there a preferred retailer in Canada/USA that the long time mini folks buy from?
Any other thoughts on the matter are appreciated.
Much obliged.
 
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There wasn't much if any 223 corrosive ever made.
Clean it well then try it out.Don't forget to lube the bolt and charging handle.
Reload's or factory?
 
Take the cover off the gas block and clean your bushing and entire gas system. If you see a lot of carbon on the outside of your gasblock it may also be leaking. Reassemble the gasblock torquing the screws to 24 in/lbs while making sure the gap between the cover and the gasblock is even on both sides. Then lube the mini like an M14 and see what she does. If you're using mostly lighter .223 rounds instead of 5.56mm you may want to drill your gas bushing out a little larger. If the leak is between the gasblock and the cover you can torque the screws down to 36 in/lbs to hopefully stop the leak.
 
Thanks for the replies Gents


zuke said:
There wasn't much if any 223 corrosive ever made.
Clean it well then try it out.Don't forget to lube the bolt and charging handle.
Reload's or factory?
Click to expand...

It's been cleaned and lubed to death. All factory ammo and surplus. Brass and steel.


Turkinator said:
Take the cover off the gas block and clean your bushing and entire gas system. If you see a lot of carbon on the outside of your gasblock it may also be leaking. Reassemble the gasblock torquing the screws to 24 in/lbs while making sure the gap between the cover and the gasblock is even on both sides. Then lube the mini like an M14 and see what she does. If you're using mostly lighter .223 rounds instead of 5.56mm you may want to drill your gas bushing out a little larger. If the leak is between the gasblock and the cover you can torque the screws down to 36 in/lbs to hopefully stop the leak.
Click to expand...

I suspect that it's leaking around the gas pipe. The gas pipe itself is rough like it's corroded and can be rotated a few degrees...it feels loose like the bushing isn't seated in the gas tube. I was gonna pop the stock off my 581 to compare but haven't yet.
I want to replace the gas pipe regardless. I was hoping to find bushings as well so I can tune it.
I want parts before I disassemble it. I use it single shot a bit because I don't like to run steel cased in my 581.
The 187 is my beater :)
Same ammo cycles my 581 np.
What do you mean by "lube it like an M14"?
Best place for parts?
 
No such thing as corrosive .223. Rusty gas systems, on the other hand, aren't always primer related. Not cleaning the thing will do it.
Ruger will not sell gas blocks to anyone. They want to factory fit 'em. Like Turkinator says, give it a really good bath before you do anything.
CANADIAN REPAIR STATION
650 Rang Roy
Sainte Martine, Quebec J0S 1V0
Email: snapshots@videotron.ca
Tel. # 450-427-0052
Or.
Inland Pacific, a Division of Big Rock Sports
Tel # 1.800.666.7576
Email: custserv.help@bigrocksports.com
Fax # 450-427-0498
 
well since all respondents said clean and lube, and since I inherited this issue with the rifle...I went and found an M14 lube guide and my gun grease.
The action cycles intermittently now where it was a single shot stove piper before.
I think taking the gas block apart and cleaning it too might get me another step in the right direction, there's still something wonky there, I know it.

just a FYI...I for sure, and likely the previous owner as well, had no idea grease was the main lube used on these irons, as it appeared to be freshly cleaned and oiled when I got it.

Hope my kids won't mind that I pinched one of their little paint brushes...

Thanks for the education Gents. :cheers:
 
mine was short-stroking,turned out metal fouling in the bore was restricting the flow thru the gas port,running the proper size drill thru the port solved the problem.
 
I'll be looking at that when I take the gas block apart.

edit: it's apart
what is the "proper size bit"?

The gas port in the barrel is a helluva lot smaller than the gas port bushing

the gas port screw weren't very tight, that's why the wiggle in the gas tube.

wonder if it had been apart and not tightened down to spec.
 
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I must have done something right...after giving it a proper lube and cleaning the gas block, tube and bushing, I ran a 1/16" drill bit through the gas port. it's now running better. I had one FTF in the first mag and just ran one mag no problem. 4 of the brass within a foot of each other and 1 flyer :)

sure would be nice to run 20 through without changing mags...

looks like I got er beat with a little tinkering.

Thanks for all the helpful suggestions folks.
 
thought I should update for the sake of others and reaffirm that persistence pays off...

Not sure if I mentioned it before, but I picked up this Mini 14 with the short stroking issue.
It came with a new trigger group and the original in a bag, with some loose pieces.
The short stroking, I learned from this thread and many on the net is generally a symptom of a gas system problem. So...
I took the gas block apart and cleaned and inspected it and put it back together having read a pile of info on the subject...hoping to rule that out as the cause...no change...
Next I cleaned the action within an inch of it's life and gun greased it like an M14 as so many folks suggested. This smoothed out the action considerably and I thought it was solved...but no. It only ran a couple of mags without issue before it started happening regularly again.
Now I'm gonna skip a half a days farting around as I tested, read and followed what was likely the original owners path...trigger group...nope,new... bla bla bla...
I chased my tail until I read 1 post on a forum from the US where the fella stated, "if you've been shooting steel cased ammo, that could explain it all right there. Clean your chamber!"
So I did...and guess what...the old Mini has emptied several mags without issue and all the brass within a 2ft circle about 8ft away.
I can live with that.
As a bonus...I put the original trigger group back together with parts I had on hand and am using it.
I wanna thank everyone that offered their help with this.
Much appreciated.
 
The coating on the steel cased ammo builds up in the chamber and starts to make extraction more difficult.
I can't say for certain that was "it" because I went through the gas system and did a proper lube as well, but it was a major contributing factor, and the final "fix" before it started running properly.
In truth it was a good experience tracking down the issue.
I know this Mini inside out now, having gone through the rifle end to end several times.
I had a Mini 14 30 yrs ago but it shot so I never had it apart.
I built a cheek riser/mag holder for it and it shoots much better than I would have guessed..the accu-strut maybe...or a proper cheek weld for using the scope?
My as new 581, and my fancy bolt .223 are put away because I'm liking this little iron so much. Damn handy to throw in the gun boot on my sled and no worries about banging it around.
Every now and then, there's a happy ending.

MyMini_zpsf3dbdf72.jpg
 
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