well I visited the dark side yesterday...... bought a Ruger American Ranch Rifle in 5.56/223 that uses AR magazines. It came with a Magpul 10 rd AR mag.

I know there are several manufacturers that make 5 rd mags for hunting by blocking a 10 rd mag body.....

But I'd like to find a "super short" 5rd mag.that would be close to flush fit.

Any help ???????

I’ve never seen one. I use the Magpul 10 round mags when shooting from the bench. They are the only option I know about, but there may be something out there I’m missing.

Let us know how it goes with the new rifle. I’ve been toying with the idea of buying one in 7.62x39 but I too don’t care much for detachable magazines hanging out to bottom of a bolt-action rifle.

Look at MidwayUSA or Sportsman Guide.

Try Midway USA. That is where I got mine.
Russ

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US Veteran 1970-1974

I like the "cheap" AR magazine option......... I also have a Mini 14 which usually has a factory 10 round magazine in it. AR mags are about $11-15 while proprietary Ruger magazines tend to run $30 and up.

My "what size magazine" philosophy is..................

30 rd magazines are for combat or TEOTWAWKI

20 rd mags for SHTF.................................. and

flush (or close) fit magazines for 99.999% of my needs

what manufacturer?...... how short is the mag?

I am also interested in hearing "how it goes with the new rifle" as I am also interested in one (was just talking to the owner of one of my LGS yesterday about them) as I would like one in .308.

I totally understand the idea for using the AR mags, but I can't say I've ever seen a true, short 5 rd mag for them.

It's a shame they don't have one that takes the Mini-14 mags, as we know there are plenty of the short, 5 rd mags available for them.

Wish you the best of luck with your new rifle!

Congrats!

I dropped Magpul an email...... if these rifles catch on; and the RAR seem to be hitting a sweet spot in the market.....there could be a good market for a 'Short 5 or 6rd AR magazine.

Magpul currently is making the 10 round 5.56 mags for Ruger and several other ''short" (height 3.4-3.9") 5rd mags for other bolt action calibers.

When did the Mini start taking AR mags?

I saw no mention of it on their website.

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Un-Reconstructed Southerner

Not the Mini-14 the Ruger American Ranch Rifle; 5.56, 16.12" barrel takes AR mags..... shipped with 10 round Pmag.

My reference to the Mini-14 was related to my use of the factory 10rd magazine most of the time.

Oh okay. I misunderstood.

I could have sworn that at one time Colt was shipping the 6551 with 5 round aluminum mags. The upper portion was plastic but the body was USGI aluminum.

Maybe I'm thinking of the 10 rounders?

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Un-Reconstructed Southerner

Well did a quick trip to the range........ I mounted a 1-4x20 Leupold scope and added a extra flash-hider I had as a thread protector (added about an inch to the guns OAL but looks much better IMO but not to Tacticooool). My goal today was to get the gun/scope combo on paper.

FWIW with .223/5.56 I use an initial sight in/zero at 25yds. . Which in theory should keeps all the bullets within 6inch circle (+3 to-3") out to about 300 yds.

Anyway the Ruger Ranch Rifle.

First 2 shots (off a bag) were overlapping at 25yds...... walk it into a 25yd zero with the next 5 two shot groups...... of the 5 two shot groups I had 2 more one hole groups..........

I moved the target out to 50yds ( I was shooting in a "50yd pistol bay)...... first 2 shots were .36 center to center...... fired another two to shot group .... the 4 shot ''grouping" was .59 center to center.

For the record; I was using .55gr. Winchester white box and was shooting at a B-27 Target. Sighting in I had a 2" red dot over the X.

The last 4 shots were head shots on 4X with no firm/consistent point of aim on the target.

I think I'm going to like this handy little rifle.... today it made me


and got a couple nice compliments from other shooters.

A Mini14 that takes AR mags would sell so well Ruger wouldn’t keep up with demand.

Who knows what the future holds......

What did Lesb call it in another thread .........the "American AK"

Ruger now has the .223/5.56 Ranch rifle that uses AR mags and the 9mm Patrol carbine can be set up with Glock mags!!!!

To be honest I really like my 16 inch, "NRA" Mini-14 w/ factory 10 rd magazines and a little 1-3x20 Weaver scope..... low profile .... not tacticoool and 10 rounds of soft point .223.....2 more than the M-1 Grand......backed up with a couple of 20rd mags!!!!

Can't get too short, with mag catch and spring
requirements.

ASC is probably as 'short' as you'll find.

I can try and find them later but I bought a couple of 5 round mags a couple of years ago that had a base plate that was extended to make it more or a 10 round length. I just sawed the extra off and then sanded it smooth. I made them for my Mossberg.

oink..... I remember seeing those .... who made them????

Reliable in your Mossberg bolt gun??

I wonder if the straight insert of the AR mags compared to the rocking insert of the Mini 14 might make the concept problematical.

Here an assault rifle is called a Military Style Semi Automatic (MSSA) and is restricted to 7 rounds center Fire (15 rimfire). Originally the definition was a magazine that held, or appeared to hold more than 7 rounds, but with the rise in popularity of “sporting style AR’s” (no bayoneted lugs/flash suppressor, telescoping/folding stock and a non free standing pistol grip) they had to change the definition. It is now “holds no more than 7 rounds of centerfire ammunition and the magazine appears to hold no more than 10 rounds” because no-one here can find a 5 or 7 round AR mag that is not a blocked 10 rounder.

Best of luck in your search for a flush mounted mag and lots of fun with your new rifle.

My Mini 14 came with one 5 round mag. I also have two 20 round mags and a 30 round one. It is registered on my MSSA endorsement (my brother only holds a sporting rifle license so his is restricted to the 5 round mags), and I fitted it to a pistol grip stock. I also,removed the scope and just use the factory peep sight and post.

Almost as much fun as my new 15-22.

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View from down under

As I've thought about it as I've followed this/my thread.....

I do find it strange that Ruger didn't use the 5.56 Mini-14 magazines on this bolt rifle.... as they did with the 7.62x39 version which does use Mini-30 mags.

Then you would have factory 5,10 and 20 round mags .

Edit: the Ruger 10 round Mini-14 mag is 2.8 inches tall the Magpul 10 rd AR mag is 3.7 inches.

Can't believe I'm saying this but Pro Mag makes a "flush fit " 5 round AR magazine..... so I measured a mag well and it should be about 2.75 inches tall or about an inch shorter than the Magpul.


Normally I wouldn't touch a Pro Mag..... but this is a Bolt gun so I'll risk $18 +shipping.

Found one 5 star review....used his a a bench mag for his and son's DPMS,M&P and Bushmaster ARs.

Well the 5rd Promag arrived yesterday..... overall the magazine is about 1.25 inches shorter than the 10rd P-mag. It gives the Ruger kind of a .303 Enfield "Sporter carbine" look...........or kinda like a CZ 527 with it's 5rd magazine. As a CZ fan I like the look vs. the longer 10rd mag.

Super tight fit against the bolt w/ 5 rounds loaded...but the mag locks into the mag well........but it's really hard to cycle the bolt with a fully loaded mag. But seems to cycle fine with 4 or from an open bolt with 5.( will leave the mag fully loaded for a week or so to see if it loosens up.)

First impression is; this will be a good/OK mag for range or hunting use (maybe not for SHTF or risk your life or limb work)..... with AR mags as an option. Maybe carry a spare 10 round P-mag.in a Safariland belt clip mag pouch. Also added a tan braided paracord sling I got on Amazon for $16.

This will be my primary Penn's Woods Coyote rifle..... so 4 or 5 +10 should be good to "grab and go" out the door.


Off to the range either today or tomorrow.

Which mag part number did you order and from who? I just googled and seems to be more than one. Thanks.

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Hue 68 noli me tangere

Midsouth Shooter Supply..........item 00221COL21...... $18.57.

Just ordered another........ for a spare. Looks like shipping is the same if you get one or two....... $7.60 USPS or $10 UPS.... so I could have saved some $$s buying both a once. But who knew.

PS The Brownell 5rd mags are junk ; even their reviews say so ..... barely fit in the mag well and won't feed..... a wasted $11!!!!!!

Thanks for the reply!

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Hue 68 noli me tangere