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  #1  
Old 11-18-2012, 05:09 PM
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New .223 not a Smith but a Ruger Mini 14 New .223 not a Smith but a Ruger Mini 14 New .223 not a Smith but a Ruger Mini 14 New .223 not a Smith but a Ruger Mini 14 New .223 not a Smith but a Ruger Mini 14  
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Default New .223 not a Smith but a Ruger Mini 14

I am not sure where to post this so I'm choosing here. I have been looking for a .223/5.56mm nato rifle for quite awhile. I am pretty old school having fired/ carried the M16's of the 1970s. So all the black AR type guns just don't do much for me. So I decided on a Ruger Mini 14, the older style from 1976 with a wood top fore stock. It's a Bi- centennial edition and I took it out today to shoot. It's has the "out of date peep sights" that I prefer. It is quite a nice little firearm and I was very happy with it's performance and accuracy. There is just something I really like about wood on a firearm.







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Old 11-18-2012, 05:15 PM
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I prefer the mini to a AR also. It is a nice look with the all wood stock. I would like to have one with the factory folding stock but big $$. I have a older ranch rifle but would like to have a older mini in stainless and wood.
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Old 11-18-2012, 05:23 PM
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I have a Mini Stainless, got the gun as soon as it hit the gun shop way back when they first came out.

I took an electrical drill and opened up the peep hole a couple of drill sizes. As you eye naturally sees the center of the aperture you have hurt nothing (accuracy wise) and it’s a bit easier & faster!
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Old 11-18-2012, 06:01 PM
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New .223 not a Smith but a Ruger Mini 14 New .223 not a Smith but a Ruger Mini 14 New .223 not a Smith but a Ruger Mini 14 New .223 not a Smith but a Ruger Mini 14 New .223 not a Smith but a Ruger Mini 14  
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Good little truck rifles.
Just hard to find certain parts for the 180 seires anymore.
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Old 11-18-2012, 08:30 PM
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The Mini 14 gets my vote too.

I picked up a hardly used 184 series at the gun show last month with 3 mags for $525. It came with a B Square scope mount, which I like.

I may put some type of scope on it in the future but the iron peep sights are fine out to 100 yds for me.

It looks good in the rack next to it's little brother 10-22.

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Old 11-18-2012, 09:44 PM
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Love my Ranch Rifle. Its a newer 582 but it rocks the wood stock.
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Old 11-18-2012, 09:53 PM
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Congrats! The Ruger Mini-14 is one heck of a nice rifle.
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Old 11-18-2012, 10:02 PM
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I have them and love them. The are light, easy to clean and extremely dependable. They make a great SHTF rifle, you can carry them comfortably all day long, unlike a 10 lb tricked out black gun.
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Old 11-18-2012, 10:09 PM
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Very nice older mini. I have a 181 series from about 1978

It has a birchwood stock and I replaced the peep sight with a Burris fourplex mini scope

I tried a polymer hand guard but found I couldn't stand to look at it on the gun. Gave that away to the BIL.

I have never warmed up to the EBR's that are so popular.

A wood stock makes a great club in a pinch.

Enjoy your mini for the metal and wood that makes it a pleasure to look at, hold and shoot.

Bruce
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Old 11-18-2012, 10:14 PM
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If it was good enough for Hannibal Smith, it's good enough for me...




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  #11  
Old 11-18-2012, 10:17 PM
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Congrats on the Mini-14! Looks like you got a nice one.
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Old 11-18-2012, 10:27 PM
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If you reload I have the one recipe that worked the best in my mini.
I've posted it before, but a long time ago.

I have tried many powder and bullet combinations but only one gave me a one inch group at 100 yards. It was and still is my go to load. Just have to keep the barrel clean of copper residue.

Bruce
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  #13  
Old 11-19-2012, 01:14 AM
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OK Bruce Lee, what is the load?
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Old 11-19-2012, 07:01 AM
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I like my mini. I found a very good instructional video on youtube showing how to do a trigger job on them. Doing that made a big difference.

Bruce Lee M, What is the load?
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  #15  
Old 11-19-2012, 09:02 AM
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The guys on the A Team added an unintentional bit of realism to their Mini 14 use. Once one heats up - particulary the old thinner bbl ones - shots start to string out and hitting the target can become a problem.

But... I have had three or four and still have a 580 series. They are good utility guns and the mags are now readily available.
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Old 11-19-2012, 11:20 AM
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FWIW Here is the load that works the best in my gun.
You are responsible for determining if this load is safe in your gun.

No other case,bullet,powder or primer combo has ever produced a one inch group.

My mini is one with the thin barrel. If you have the thicker barrel and try this load please let us know how it works for you.

PMC 5.56 case once fired
CCI primer
Remington 55gr FMJBT
22 grains IMR 4198
Velocity 2,955 3,069 2,992 fps

For comparison the PMC 5.56 ammo velocity.
3,280 3,227 3,263 fps

Almost all combinations I have tried have been just at or under 3,000 fps.

Bruce
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Old 11-19-2012, 11:25 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by StatesRightist View Post
I have them and love them. The are light, easy to clean and extremely dependable. They make a great SHTF rifle, you can carry them comfortably all day long, unlike a 10 lb tricked out black gun.
More like a ton if you don't expect it. Friend showed me his custom AR and I went "Umph" when I grabbed it. I said "Nice!" when I really meant "You can put it where the sun don't shine"

I got my Mini new 2 1/2 years ago and haven't fired it yet.
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  #18  
Old 11-20-2012, 10:44 AM
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I LOVE the Mini 14. it is the American Kalashnikov. It will stand up to benign neglect and still shoot-impossible to jam-the minute man rifle Mine is a stainless ranch with upgraded Williams peep sight. It is also fitted with an old Ruger factory folding stock that I got from an LEO who owed me a favor. I can shoot 4" groups offhand at 100 yards ( at least until the barrel heats up then it's around 10"). The gun works for what it is made for. Period.
Got 5 30 round Ruger mags and 4 20 round ruger mags so I'm set there.
Every so often I get the urge to get an AR but then the voices in my head ask "why?" and it soon passes.
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Old 11-20-2012, 12:46 PM
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My old Mini is my only zombie apocalypse gun. It is 100% reliable and as accurate as it needs to be.

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Old 11-20-2012, 01:22 PM
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Best thing I ever did to mine was to add a Choate rubber butt pad.

Sticks to your shoulder.
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Old 11-20-2012, 01:28 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by StatesRightist View Post
I have them and love them. The are light, easy to clean and extremely dependable. They make a great SHTF rifle, you can carry them comfortably all day long, unlike a 10 lb tricked out black gun.
You know all that added stuff on a black gun is optional . Most of the people I know do not have all that **** on them.
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Old 11-20-2012, 01:46 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bruce Lee M View Post
FWIW Here is the load that works the best in my gun.
You are responsible for determining if this load is safe in your gun.

No other case,bullet,powder or primer combo has ever produced a one inch group.

My mini is one with the thin barrel. If you have the thicker barrel and try this load please let us know how it works for you.

PMC 5.56 case once fired
CCI primer
Remington 55gr FMJBT
22 grains IMR 4198
Velocity 2,955 3,069 2,992 fps

For comparison the PMC 5.56 ammo velocity.
3,280 3,227 3,263 fps

Almost all combinations I have tried have been just at or under 3,000 fps.

Bruce
My Sierra manual says it's safe. I'm excited to try it once I collect the components. Thanks for sharing.
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Old 11-20-2012, 04:26 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chaosrob View Post
You know all that added stuff on a black gun is optional . Most of the people I know do not have all that **** on them.
What you are suggesting is borderline black rifle heresy, you do realize that don't you? Are you saying I can own an AR w/o all the cool things they sell at the mall for them?

Walks away shaking his head......now I'm confused.
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Old 11-20-2012, 06:22 PM
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I have owned a mini 14 for a long time and like it fine. I never owned an AR. For my intended use the mini does me fine. I added aftermarket folding stock but I switch it back and forth with the factory wood at times.
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Old 11-20-2012, 10:00 PM
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Nice one Mike!
After many years of being issued one form of Stoner's "black rifle" I grew tired of it. So upon re-entry to civie life I bought one if the first 580 series Minis that came out. In a word RELIABLE!! And it's just a neat little knockoff of the M-14 I started with in the Navy, loads the same, works the same, cares not wether you've cleaned it lately, and feels like a real rifle!
Accuracy is all one could want for its intended roles, and factory mags are finally available!!
While I also have a SIG 556, I tend to tote the Mini more, since it just looks right. As John "Hannibal" Smith might say:"I love it when a plan comes together!" Dale
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Old 11-20-2012, 10:18 PM
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i have one and never have figured out what model it is... all i know its a LEO model and dosn't not have the mounts for the scope rail. its a wood stock with barrel cooler, flash suppressor and lug.
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Old 11-20-2012, 10:21 PM
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A few years back my local Walmart decided to dump all their Mini-14s fast because of the negative image of assault weapons. They marked them down from $509 to $240 bucks so out came my credit card and I wish I would have bought all they had! They later got rid of ALL their guns and sold their brand new revolving glass gun display cases. Now they recently have installed new gun cases full of Mini-14s and AR-15s.
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Old 11-20-2012, 10:29 PM
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Congrats...thanks for the pics.
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Old 11-21-2012, 10:14 AM
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I cropped the pic of mine, showing the pinch guard that the previous owner
had installed.

I had fired quite a few minis over the years and got bit a couple of times.

Anyone else seen or have one of these on theirs?

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