The Ruger Mini 14 - What is wrong with it?

In fact, there's the adjustable block!
http://www.mini14gasblock.com/

Hint!
Obtain new block screws before starting on this project.
The factory screws on my gun were tightened by Hercules himself.
Damage to the screws during removal is very possible.:p
 
Typically, guys will own precision bolt guns for which they reload carefully-crafted ammo using ultra-premium bullets and powder. They demand, and get, sub-MOA accuracy. Then they buy a Mini-14 along with a case of the cheapest crap imported ammo they can find, and immediately complain that accuracy is lacking. The Mini is a fun gun, and as stated above, it is a very practical farm or truck gun for moderate-range predators or varmints.

I now own the perfect Mini-14. It's a Target model with the barrel cut down to 18.5 inches, thus removing the ridiculous coarse threads and saying goodbye to the barrel stabilizer widgit while reducing weight. With a rubber-doughnut-type Limbsaver Deresonator installed just ahead of the gas block, it's about a one-and-a-quarter MOA gun out to at least 200 yards, with several inexpensive factory loads. It never shot quite that well in its stock configuration. It's still not quite the equal of one belonging to a friend, which is an honest MOA gun but weighs way too much. It's the best of the several Mini's I've owned over the years.
 
TACTICAL111 said:
That has become a gripe for me actually. I have to use the stall at the very right end of the range against the wall or I have to search like a squirrel for my brass.
Also pisses others off when the brass goes flying CLEAR across the range.

I can honestly comment that there are NO ejection issues :rolleyes:



Precisely. And it is a ton of fun. It has character, which is probably why many buy them over the AR platform. At least that's why I did.
Click to expand...

Tactical, I share your pain. I do two things to solve this:

1) I hang a curtain at my stall to catch the brass. Nobody complained yet, but does impede your sight if you have a need to see the RO or others on the line, or,
2) I built a catcher out of one of those plastic was basins. It is a bit of a pain, and depending on the angle of the rifle to the catcher, it will still fling brass past it.

I mostly use my mini out on a farm someplace or when I have the range to myself. Otherwise, it is "curtain" time.
 
sobo4303 said:
Tactical, I share your pain. I do two things to solve this:

1) I hang a curtain at my stall to catch the brass. Nobody complained yet, but does impede your sight if you have a need to see the RO or others on the line, or,
2) I built a catcher out of one of those plastic was basins. It is a bit of a pain, and depending on the angle of the rifle to the catcher, it will still fling brass past it.

I mostly use my mini out on a farm someplace or when I have the range to myself. Otherwise, it is "curtain" time.
Click to expand...

Interesting :D

Fortunately the far right stall is almost always open, and with a few of the RO "nazis" these days, it's not worth the issues ;)

It is a very MINOR gripe though, nothing that would stop me from buying one.

Someone the other day noted how "loud" it was. Interesting because it never really occurred to me. Don't think it's louder than any other AR out there.
Barring of course the hard core AR guys with muzzle breaks that would shame a 338 :rolleyes:
 
AWOL said:
Usually around $650 for an older pre-581 and go up depending on addons
Click to expand...

What is a pre-581?

When buying used mini-14's is there any vintages that are more desirable, or certain years a guy should stay away from?

I've been a bolt gun guy all my life, so this semi-auto stuff is all new and exciting for me.:D

Thanks to this thread I can see a new rifle in my near future.
 
coyoteking said:
What is a pre-581?

When buying used mini-14's is there any vintages that are more desirable, or certain years a guy should stay away from?

I've been a bolt gun guy all my life, so this semi-auto stuff is all new and exciting for me.:D

Thanks to this thread I can see a new rifle in my near future.
Click to expand...
The newer rifles are 580 series with a heaver tapered barrel from the gas block (.625" at the muzzle I think). The older rifles have a thinner barrel with no taper. The newer rifles are said to be more accurate do to the thicker barrel. In reading articles about the older rifles, 4 to 5 inch groups @ 100 yards are the norm. Some rifles were much worst than that, some better.
 
Jeff/1911 said:
Have the "new style" Mini 30's proved more accurate as well?
Click to expand...

I believe so. This group (10 rounds) was shot at 100 meters with a "new style" Mini 30. They were reloads using 123 gr. V-Max bullets. Group size was 2.044 inches. I am happy with that for a Mini. I have since put on a stabilizer bar (Mo Rod) which should shrink that group a bit. It's not a track driver but is quite adequate for what it was intended.

m30grp.jpg
 
Jeff/1911 said:
Thanks Guys...how do you find they shoot with surplus 7.62x39?
Click to expand...

Personally, I wouldn't do it. I like my minis too much to do that to them. I know, I know, lots of guys do it. Light strikes can occur, I don't want to be cleaning it after every shoot because of corrosive ammo, etc.. And yes, you can get aftermarket springs to deal with light strikes but there are issues with that as well.
Once you get set up with brass, bullets aren't hard to get and are relatively cheap. Henry at Budget Shooter Supply gets me 123 gr. V-Max bullets for $23/100. I can turn out a good bullet for $0.35 a piece using bulk powder like WC-735 or WW 748. It is more work than ripping one of those surplus boxes open and having at it for sure. And, yes, corrosive is cheaper but they don't shoot like those V Maxs do. But, that's just me!
 
Be careful. We are told all the time that the Mini-14 was designed to shoot people, so make sure no other people are around or it will shoot them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom