Ruger Mini-14 Models

hfp75

hfp75

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Does anyone know the specific information on the Ruger Mini-14? Interrested in the information on the Folding stocks and the "GB" variant.

The Folding stocks are nice if you are trying to save space. The GB model has a collectable value and if you were to have a GB with a folding stock.......

Does anyone know when the folders disappeared from the stock sales? AND also anyone know when the GB model went to Government sales contract only?

I know they are not sniper rifles, but they are a good all a round gun.

Hans
 
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I don't know a ton about the Mini 14's, there's probably some experts out there, but the GB models were government models with a bayonet lug and flash hider directly from the factory. GB models were also made in a full auto version called the 556, though the GB's and 556's were never officially adopted by any military... other than the A Team. Lots of police adopted the GB versions and hence they were stamped LE and had 2 serial numbers, one 18X, and one 550. The GB is the exact same gun, just for "LE", no more accurate than the others. If you're into sentimental and historic values then you may be willing to pay more for them.

The factory wooden stocks were sold by Ruger to people who could provide the correct pre ban serial numbers as recently as 2002, maybe they still do but I'm not sure. They fit series 181 to 186, meaning guns produced from 1978 to 1999. They were offered from the factory to civilians at least until the 94 assault weapons ban, but since Ruger's infamous "high cap mag" letter in 1989 I have a feeling they may have stopped selling them to civ's before 94.

The stocks are worth a pretty penny, here and in the USA. The last factory stock was sold retail in Canada three months ago... to me! For... drum roll please... $275! I know because I contacted almost every store coast to coast. They sell on Ebay for upwards of $500US, as you've seen the complete guns will sell upwards of $1100.

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In my opinion they're just plain cool, ugly as hell, but friggin sweet. The top SS one with the Leopold scope and sling was my old man's, mine now, series 184, 1985 produced, with a factory 20 round mag, the bottom blue one was acquired by me, series 183, 1983 produced, with an aftermarket 30 round mag. They both sport aftermarket flash hiders. I've got a thing for the factory folders, I don't think I'll ever sell them, I have a dream of having a whole rack of them one day!

People who complain about the accuracy problems don't realize the gun was made to be a die hard trooper, modeled not only after the M-14, but the SKS and AK-47's gas systems too. The gun's are reliable, no doubt about it, go bury it in the back yard and dig it up a year later and shoot away. It shoots accurately enough out to 200, you can accurize it if you want, but people are under the impression Ruger is advertising them as sniper rifles, which they're not. They're supposed to be economical assault rifles that aren't "scary" looking and won't fall apart on you, which is why they're not restricted in the People Republik of Kanada, unlike the precious AR-15's...
 
Mini 14's

The Ruger Mini 14's won't shoot worth a dam in any of the series below 188. Ruger changed the barrels three times from series 180 to 188. Part way through series 187 the newer barrels showed up and then they begin to shoot. I talked to a Ruger rep one day a few years ago and that is what he told me. I couldn't get a Ruger to shoot under 4" at 150 yards until I got to the 188's.

I have a couple of friends that went on the Ruger Armourers course through Corrections Canada, and they came back with GB models one blue, and the other stainless with folder. They sold them a few years later. The folders on the Rugers are nice to look at but they bite if you don't watch what you are doing. I would rather put one in a Choate folder stock than a Ruger folder.

Before the Colt AR15 was restricted my best friend and I used to hunt with 223's. I carried an AR15 and he carried a Ruger Mini 14 SS with folder. He had to go back to the straight stock because of the weight. We would come out of the bush with these things slung over the shoulder and a passing car would go by and the brake lights would come on when they could see what we were carrying.
Now I carry a Ruger but it is in 7 X 57 and it's a No1.
Try the newer Mini 14's I think you will be surprised in the better accuracy. I still think a Colt AR will out perform any Mini 14.

Albayo
 
I checked the freebore of my Mini 14 and found that I would have to seat the bullet out .180" past the standard .223 OAL to keep it .007" from the bore. Best group I shot was 1 1/4" with handloads loaded one at a time since they didn't fit into the mag. 184 series I believe. Nothing else was/is done to it.
 
Has anyone out there ever shot one of the new series (188?) rifles for accuracy? I've always loved the looks of these rifles, but been kept away by tales of poor accuracy. I'd really like to get one, but not if its going to shoot minute of dumptruck......., and I'll second the ranch rifle question, anyone out there tried one of them for accuracy with good ammo?
 
I have a recently acquired 184 model that has not been shot out and it is "ok". I have not shot it too much but one good example is this - We set out a row of pop cans at 75 yards and three of us took turns with the gun and none of us missed with open sights, probably 25 pop cans.

I also have a SS 197 model with a synthetic stock. It is about 4 years old and I bought it new. I have shot this rifle alot. This gun really makes you guys whining look like a bunch of lousy shots. It is a ranch model but I have never put a scope on it. It still has the barrel that is not even as large of a diameter as my 10/22's but it hits where it is aimed. If you get the barrel hot it does start to shoot some strays. I have shot a bunch of Wolf shells through it - it does not like the 62 grain ones as much but is very consistant with the 55 grain bullets. It hates Winchester varmint (45 grain) ammo. I have shot some Hornaday and Black Hills through it with decent results too (55 grains). I tried some 68 grain Hornadays in it too but they were not hitting anything either. Someday I will mount a cheap scope on it for a day and take some pictures of my groups for you guys. I will likey wait until I am a little further into my reloading so I can have a variety of test shells.

I will say that I have a freind that has a '70s age Mini-14. It does shoot like a turd. I do not know the series of the gun. It probably has at least 20000 down the barrel and still even gets the odd coyote. He wants to re-barrel the gun as he is getting more frusterated with it every season. We both wish Ruger would come up with the heavy barrel version they have been teasing us with for years. I would gladly carry a Ruger Mini-14 around that weighed an extra 1/2 to 1 lb for the increased accuracy.
 
I can't defend a gun that costs 100% more than a Norinco M14 copy yet shoots 3 times worse. Cummon somethings out of wack and they should have fixed it long time ago. I agree it's a neat little gun but you should be able to hit something with it.
 
I have an M-305 and an M-14S. 3x worse??? I am sure Gunslinger has two of each model to compare them side by side with results like that. I can not even get a scope to sit on the M-14S square or stable and the M-305 was a jammer out of the box. You get what you pay for. How about you compare a Ruger Mini-14 to an AR-180b or something else in the same caliber and maybe even a gun with the same barrel length??? Think about that.
 
Learn to Read

I want to point out that "I DID NOT ASK FOR PERSONAL OPINION" you Loosers USP, Ljungman, Luqid_snake, Hitzy, Chris7_62, Gunslunger).

I have some help here for you it is a "LEARN TO READ WEBSITE"

http://www.starfall.com/

I was inquiring about facts on specific models!

If I asked "What do you think about Ruger Minis" you would be right on.

Egocentrism - attempting to get personal recognition for yourself.

I dont care what you think about Ruger Minis - start another POST for opinions... I asked for facts! I dont care if you bought an old rifle and got ripped off.

IF I RECALL RIGHT I EVEN MADE MENTION THAT THE MINI IS NOT A SNIPER RIFLE!!!!!!!! I know this already........

Keep your 2-bits to your self.

Hans

ps-Now watch... these ^)#$*(@)%$'ing people are going to cry like babys.....
 
Ok, that was a good laugh hfp75 and Ljungman. hfp75, I own a Mini 14 HBar and it shoots 1.5" groups all day. It is not the standard barrel but rather an aftermarket jobby. I have been playing with the Mini for sometimes now - about 25 years and originally made all the mistakes Ljungman made by buying all the wrong accessories for the look cool factor rather than accuracy and sold my 181 because the accuracy did suck in the stock rifle but I learned a few tricks about accurizing the Mini over the years. I bought a SS 186 series and bedded my hogue overmolded stock, did a trigger job then barrel job, added a scope mount/scope and did a lot of little mods to get the most out of her. I learned a lot from this forum from the USA which is dedicated to accurizing the Mini-14.

I also own an AR which is restricted but enjoy the freedom of shooting and hunting with the Mini. I find the Mini very reliable once tuned up a little. The Mini can be tuned fairly cheaply by doing a few basic mods to the rifle and you should be able to get respectable 2 - 2.5" groups out of it with the factory barrel - some guys are getting 1.5". So rather than list all the mods, just go here http://www.perfectunion.com/vb/ and learn what the guys stateside are doing to accurize their Mini's. Good luck.
 
It was "dead on"....for a mini. Unfortuneatly, though, only with FMJ's and a muzzle break/new front site. I STILL couldn't get it under 2" and never claimed that I could. Nice try Hans, but there was nothing false about that ad and the buyer was pleased.

Now stop the mud slinging, child, before another good thread gets locked down. I'd like this left open as yet another testiment to how much the Mini 14 sucks.

Have a nice day now.
 
Well since this topic is way off base anyhow, I don't mind wading in.....

2" groups with iron sights @ 100m? I think thats actually quite good, regardless what it is being fired from.
I used to have a mini 14. I actually traded a Norinco AK for one years ago, and never felt cheated in the least.
They are cheap (or at least should be -depending on who you buy from), easy to maintain, and it never had a problem digesting anything I gave it.
They are definately not worth what people ask for them, and magazine prices are over the top.
As with anything, individual mileage will vary from user to user. -just keep in mind, some opinions may be slightly more biased than others.
 
the minis with bad groups are you using ranch or non ranch models?
are you using the factory sights or aftermarket scope mounts such as b-square for non ranch?(not a stable system for long range imho)
on mine my inaccurate non-ranch mini became palm sized groups or less again at 100m when i put on more solid millet sights (the elevation screw cracked though and i am waiting for new one; i already contacted millet); the factory rear peep sight developed play and definitely did not help accuracy;
anyway for a accurate non-restricted service rifle swiss arms pe90 is the way to go!
 
And I'd like to point out in general, too: The original poster asked for information on different models of Ruger Mini-14's.

Like: What is the difference between a 181 series and a later series? What is the difference between a AC556 and a GB?

Not: Is the Ruger Mini-14 a POS?

I'm surprised with all of the people of long experience and great knowledge on this board that we don't have more of the former and less of the latter.
 
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