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Old 04-21-2018, 12:20 AM
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Default A black plastic Mini 14. Is it wrong?

I have always liked the way the Ruger Mini 14 feels and handles. It was near the top of my "must buy when I can" list for many years.

When my brother got one I was envious. Then he told me that someone had given him a 20 round mag for it.

In this country a semi-automatic rifle with a folding or telescopic butt, pistol grip, bayonet lug, flash suppressor or a magazine that holds more than 7 centrefire or 15 .22 RF cartridges is defined as a Military Style Semi Automatic (MSSA). It requires both an endorsement to a standard firearms license and enhanced security storage.

My brother has neither of these, although I do. And I told him that as a police officer it would not look good for him to be caught with the high cap mag, so he gave it to me and I put it on the top shelf of my rifle safe.

Sometime later my brother told me of a very nice second hand Mini 14 in a sports store about an hour from here. The next time I was passing I called in to look at it. It was a 183- serial number rifle in very good condition, topped off with a 4 X 40 scope and had had less than 100 rounds through it after being rebarelled.

I just by chance had enough money in the bank to take the rifle home with me. As I had the 20 round magazine I called into the arms officer a few days later and had it recorded against my MSSA endorsement.

Over a few months I managed to find another 20 round mag and a 30 round one. The gun is a great for shooting mobs of wild goats, although these days it is mainly used on the range. At one time I even joked about taking it to a club rifle day and using it to compete against the black plastic pistol gripped stock M4's etc that everyone else is using.

Then just before Christmas I saw an online ad for a black, plastic pistol grip Mini 14 stock. When I told my brother he said I should get it. I thought about it for a few days then thought "What the heck" and sent away my credit card number.

After it arrived I put the parts together and them put it back in the box intending to fit the action to it sometime. I then bought a neat little Chiappa .22 lever action that has a smooth action, is accurate but which has very course open sights on it. I decided that I would swap scopes around on a few of my rifles over the winter to put one on the Chiappa. And the rifle to sacrifice its scope for this would be the Ruger which I would use with the standard peep sights.

Yesterday I helped my brother move his rifles form the local police station where they have been stored temporarily back to his house. During the move I mentioned I needed to set aside a time to do the scope swaps and put the black stock on the Mini 14.

This afternoon I spent half an hour doing so.

I know it will not compete against the "better" semi auto rifles on the range, but it should be fun. But still, when I had finished I thought it just looked "wrong". It is no longer the neat handling little carbine I always loved. It is just another black plastic rifle.
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Old 04-21-2018, 12:26 AM
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I shot one in 223 sorry I don’t know much about them. It was fun to shoot.
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Old 04-21-2018, 12:45 AM
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I have both the Mini 14 and the Mini 30. I also like the rifles for the size and handiness. I also like the M1 carbine. Now that I think about it all my rifles are 16-18 inch barrels.
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Old 04-21-2018, 02:16 AM
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When we were authorized to carry personally owned rifles on patrol, one of our officers carried a mini 14 with same stock set up. He liked it better than the AR.

When I was on SWAT, all snipers were also issued Mini 14's with a collapsible stock & 3 round burst capability. Now that was a handy little set up.
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Old 04-21-2018, 10:04 AM
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I have a couple, have owned them since the 80’s. At one time I had an agency issued select fire version with the factory folding stock. My Mini’s are set up in the Choate folder ( black synthetic) with their M-14 flash suppressor. I have shot mine for several decades, they are plenty accurate for what they are. Ruger factory mags work best in them, understand your dilemma with hi cap mags. I have a long background with the AR, as well as the Mini 14, I don’t compare apples to oranges. I also have a long background with M-1 Garand and M-14, I consider the Mini a down sized version of those. The Mini has a place in my inventory and is another tool in my tool box. Enjoy yours.

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Old 04-21-2018, 10:30 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kiwi cop View Post
But still, when I had finished I thought it just looked "wrong". It is no longer the neat handling little carbine I always loved. It is just another black plastic rifle.
Have to agree with this statement 100%. To me the most attractive Mini-14's are those with a genuine Walnut stock, going in any other direction is sort of like wearing muddy waders with a Tuxedo. BTW, if you really want to go in a different direction I would look into re-barreling the Mini-14 with a premium accuracy grade barrel such as a Shilen or Kreiger and putting the original wood furniture back on the rifle. Yeah, you will have to clearance the stock for a heavier barrel profile but do a good job and only another Mini-14 fan will be able to spot the difference. Once you start shooting sub 1/2 MOA groups with that "pitiful Ruger" you will have all those AR shooters walking in circles wondering why their shooting skills have vanished.

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Old 04-21-2018, 10:53 AM
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I see nothing wrong with a plastic stock on a Mini.

Even though, as a general rule, I despise plastic guns.
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Old 04-26-2018, 05:01 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kiwi cop View Post
I have always liked the way the Ruger Mini 14 feels and handles. It was near the top of my "must buy when I can" list for many years.

When my brother got one I was envious. Then he told me that someone had given him a 20 round mag for it.

In this country a semi-automatic rifle with a folding or telescopic butt, pistol grip, bayonet lug, flash suppressor or a magazine that holds more than 7 centrefire or 15 .22 RF cartridges is defined as a Military Style Semi Automatic (MSSA). It requires both an endorsement to a standard firearms license and enhanced security storage.

My brother has neither of these, although I do. And I told him that as a police officer it would not look good for him to be caught with the high cap mag, so he gave it to me and I put it on the top shelf of my rifle safe.

Sometime later my brother told me of a very nice second hand Mini 14 in a sports store about an hour from here. The next time I was passing I called in to look at it. It was a 183- serial number rifle in very good condition, topped off with a 4 X 40 scope and had had less than 100 rounds through it after being rebarelled.

I just by chance had enough money in the bank to take the rifle home with me. As I had the 20 round magazine I called into the arms officer a few days later and had it recorded against my MSSA endorsement.

Over a few months I managed to find another 20 round mag and a 30 round one. The gun is a great for shooting mobs of wild goats, although these days it is mainly used on the range. At one time I even joked about taking it to a club rifle day and using it to compete against the black plastic pistol gripped stock M4's etc that everyone else is using.

Then just before Christmas I saw an online ad for a black, plastic pistol grip Mini 14 stock. When I told my brother he said I should get it. I thought about it for a few days then thought "What the heck" and sent away my credit card number.

After it arrived I put the parts together and them put it back in the box intending to fit the action to it sometime. I then bought a neat little Chiappa .22 lever action that has a smooth action, is accurate but which has very course open sights on it. I decided that I would swap scopes around on a few of my rifles over the winter to put one on the Chiappa. And the rifle to sacrifice its scope for this would be the Ruger which I would use with the standard peep sights.

Yesterday I helped my brother move his rifles form the local police station where they have been stored temporarily back to his house. During the move I mentioned I needed to set aside a time to do the scope swaps and put the black stock on the Mini 14.

This afternoon I spent half an hour doing so.

I know it will not compete against the "better" semi auto rifles on the range, but it should be fun. But still, when I had finished I thought it just looked "wrong". It is no longer the neat handling little carbine I always loved. It is just another black plastic rifle.
I'm not hard to please,I like the plastic looks, very nice.
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Old 04-26-2018, 05:11 PM
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I despise plastic handguns. Although I admit I have a couple for various, silly reasons. But my US Army basic training riled was an M-14 with a fiberglass stock so I have ALWAYS been a fan of plastic stocked rifles. Even a Mini-14 sounds cool to me with polymer and I like the look - have fun with that!
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Old 04-27-2018, 06:38 AM
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I don't have a problem with it...

Sent from my XT1710-02 using Tapatalk
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Old 04-27-2018, 07:09 AM
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I have a Mini 14 that I had given to one of my sons after switching the wooden stock and handguard out to plastic ones. It improved accuracy somewhat and the vented handguard helps cooling the barrel better than the original wooden ones.
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Old 04-27-2018, 07:34 AM
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I got one of the new heavy 16" barrel models (NRA) when they came out..... Hogue gillie green stock and a little Weaver 1-3x20 scope.......

Personally I like the factory 10 round mags for 99% of my use.....almost flush fit so it's a very low key utility/tactical set up......I do have some 20 rd factory mags if the SEverHTF .........
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Old 04-27-2018, 10:00 AM
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It's interesting here in the US, as the proposed semi-auto ban legislation lists the Mini 14 as "exempt" as long as it does not have a folding stock. That is a legacy of Bill Ruger, who was opposed to selling 30 round magazines to the general public (which Ruger does now that he is dead) and was ok with 10 round magazine limits in pistols.

I own two Mini 14s. A 181 series Mini 14 that was shortened to 16" and a 187 series Ranch Rifle. Both have improved tech sight rear sights, Accustruts, .045" gas port bushings, and Browning style Choate flash hider/front sight. Both will shoot 1.5 MOA 5 shot groups at 100 yards.

I like them just fine in blued steel and wood stocks,




The Ranch Rifle has acquired a 2-7x33 scope, which makes it very effective out to around 300 yards.



I've bought a half dozen or so surplus 20 round magazines in anticipation of a repeat of 1994, but to be honest I also really like the 5 round flush magazine for field use.
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Old 05-27-2018, 01:02 PM
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I like the wood stock on a mini. In fact, I'm looking for one now. Check out Tapco gen 2 mini mags. They function perfectly!
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Old 05-27-2018, 01:16 PM
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I painted my black synthetic stock to Match my M1-A.
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Old 05-27-2018, 01:57 PM
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Blued steel and nicely grained wood are real rifles, black plastic are either tools or toys.
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Old 05-27-2018, 07:17 PM
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Yeah, my future Mini-14 will have wood stocks, but your gun looks nice. If it is what you like, it cannot be "wrong". Happy shooting! I do have one "Black rifle" - a ruger 10/22.
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Old 05-27-2018, 07:31 PM
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The newer ones are typically more accurate than those from the days of yore. From what I read, they can be made very accurate though I think it usually takes a barrel swap.
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Old 05-27-2018, 07:44 PM
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In the mid 80's I ended up with 5 Mini-14's: 1 Standard Stainless, 1 Factory Folding Stainless, 1 Standard Blue, 1 Factory folding Blue and a cut up Blue. The Cut Up was reduced in length that with a welded on flash suppressor it had a 16.1 inch barrel, it was in a Choate black plastic folder and came with a single 5 round mag. The LGS I bought it from, said it belonged to an over the road coal hauler, during the big coal strike in the early 80's. In the winter he drove dressed warm and with both door windows open. He could hang the cut up mini out either window to protect his front tires! At night the ball of fire this gun produced was bigger than a large beach ball, and the noise was extra "exciting". At 50 yards it wouldn't hold a 10" group, but this was the belly gun incarnation!

BTW the full auto versions were AC556 models. The Ohio Highway Patrol has a folding stocked 8 or 10 inch version in every cruiser! A handy little room cleanser for that rowdy bar room brawl! (or prison riot!)

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Old 05-27-2018, 09:44 PM
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A friend of mine had a scoped one in 7.62x39. As the barrel heated up shots began to climb high and to the right so consistently you could Kentucky windage it and stay on bullseye. Was fun and cheap to shoot once you learned its secret.
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Old 08-18-2018, 02:00 AM
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So I finally got around to taking the Ruger to the range today with some generic 55 gn JHP ammo to shoot through the factory fitted peep sights.

First 3 rounds all hit low left on the ISSF pistol target at 25 meters. I gradually walked the bullet impact up and right.

The three round group in the photo were shots 28, 29 and 30 fired standing and unsupported. After firing this group I moved the sights 1 click down and 2 left but did not shoot any more.

The next step is to handload some ammo, sight it in and move the target back quite a bit.

I doubt I can get my duty M4 to group like this.
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Old 08-18-2018, 05:14 AM
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I have a mini14 ,the stainless version with a factory plastic stock . It is my hands down go to rifle and keep it in the bedroom with two twenty round clips and a case of Hornady varmint ommo .I own many rifles but it is the only semi I have .Good choice .
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Old 08-18-2018, 09:18 AM
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One advantage of wood other than you thinking it is prettier is that it is less offensive to some and less likely to attract attention. Put a short mag in a mini and it looks like a hunting rifle. May or may not be a factor to you. Not saying that it should matter but there are a lot of things in life that shouldn't matter but can usually at the worst possible time.
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Old 08-18-2018, 09:29 AM
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The wood looks nice, but you cannot deny the durability of polymer stocks. All a matter of preference, and if the polymer stock really bothers you, you can switch it with wood - probably even in the Kiwi Republic. If it is going to see significant "woods time" - I go with polymer. I too am looking at getting a Mini-14 when I get some things squared away, but expect it to be a range and home gun and will get wood, but there a dozens of them within an hours drive of my house available for sale on any given day. Best of Luck!

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Old 08-18-2018, 10:29 AM
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Wood has character but plastic is utilitarian.

I carried an M-16 every day at work for four years, no problem back in the day. I handle my son’s AR now and think, this thing is heavy. Either I’m just old and weaker or this thing has too many gadgets attached to it.
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Old 08-18-2018, 12:09 PM
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I have had a eye out for one for years. A 181 series came by our table at a gunshow 2 weeks ago, including a hand full of mags. Banged up a bit, but I was going to ride it around on the 4 wheeler, so no big deal. Before I could shoot it, I read that the later improved versions were more accurate, better triggers. The next weekend I found one like new , a 581, with 3 20 round factory mags, for not much more than the 181 and bought it. Shot both this week ... lik'em both but ones got to go. I like the earlier one with all wood, but will probably keep the 581. Hope to shoot them again this weekend to help decide. I too like the 5 round mags.
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Old 08-20-2018, 10:05 AM
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Shot both this week ... lik'em both but ones got to go. I like the earlier one with all wood, but will probably keep the 581. Hope to shoot them again this weekend to help decide. I too like the 5 round mags.
I still prefer the older series. I added some things to both my 181 and 187 series rifles and they both shoot 1.5 MOA 5 shot groups now. I added:

- an Accu Strut;
- a tech sights rear sight;
- an operating rod buffer;
- a .045" gas port bushing;
- a Choate hand guard; and
- a Choate browning style flash hider/front sight.

Those additions, make the Mini 14 what it should have been from the start and almost everyone I know whos made those mods has a Mini 14 that will shoot at least as well as the taper barreled 58x series rifles.

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Old 08-20-2018, 04:46 PM
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What is approx costs of these mods
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