I see Ruger has brought it back. I’ve owned two mini’s before and sold them, but may have to own a third.

Is everyone tired of going to the range and seeing 10 rifles that look exactly like yours. Ruger hopes so.

A Team retro. I'm not seeing this one as a huge seller. Looks cool though.

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That's just somebody talkin.

You can also just buy the folding stock, it came available a year or two ago. It’s pricey, I think I paid $299 for mine.

These guys seemed to like them....

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SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS

I see Ruger is actually making a GB model again with the 18” barrel and the bayonet lug under the front sight. I still think the folding stock looks best under a 16” tactical. I bought one a couple of months after the initial hype wore off, back 3 or 4 years ago. The stocks are a little pricey, but they are very well made.

When the stocks came out I put one on just for grins.

I owned a Ruger AC556-FSS (factory full auto mini-14,folder,stainless steel) and it was not as dependable as I expected, even after multiple tries to get it there. So,I sold it after 10 years of ownership and quadrupled my "investment".

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My Daddy was a pistol..

If you ever watched the A-Team and own a Mini, then you must purchase one of these Samson stocks. I pre-ordered mine back in early 2020 and I think I could have tripled my money the day after it arrived. They've finally worked through the back log of orders and now they can be found for MSRP or a little under. Considering that used factory Ruger folding stocks were selling for nearly the price of a new Mini before Samson started making them, I don't think sub $300 is too much cash for one, especially for the quality. I agree that they look best on shorter barrels, but I've currently only got 1 Mini, a 182 series GB. Until Ruger comes out with a 16" 6.8 or 350 legend model, the GB will just have to do. The stocks aren't the most comfortable to shoot, but they aren't as uncomfortable as say an underfolder AK. Coolness factor is however completely off the charts!

This has always been by far the coolest model, IMO. I'm glad they brought it back.

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

After Samson started selling the folding stock (and after the prices came down to MSRP), I put one on a series 184 Mini 14 I acquired with a 16” barrel.

One of any number of firearms have never shot. While i have read they are not match accurate, there are legitimate/very real advantages to having open sights right over the bore and a reliable/sturdy action.

I added a Samson stock to mine. Lots of fun!

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Jim

I did Butler Creek decades before Sampson came out... compact and uncomfortable... lol... but was only 49 bucks...

The 580's are 3 MOA. At least mine is. Reliable and sturdy is accurate. 500 rds through mine and never an issue. They just run. Realize that the action is a copy of M1 and M14. Not a bad pedigree.

If you don't want to go to the range and see a dozen rifles that look exactly like yours, this is the one you shoot....or maybe a Russian AK-47. Make sure you wear one of these when you shoot it.

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That's just somebody talkin.

This thread brings back good memories. Thank you.

Bought my stainless folder early to mid 80s on a whim.. Fun but not too practical. It still rests quietly in orig box but of course not for sale.

Q: Why didn't the bad guys ever die in the "A Team" tv shows?

A: Because the A team only used Ruger Mini 14's

An FYI - the folder doesn't fit 180 Series Mini 14s. Lower GB is different. The folder does fit the Mini 30.

I don't have a photo handy, but I lop off the barrel to 16" and thread on the Ruger FH. Replace the upper GB with one from Arms Room that has an XS ramp sight.

Shorter barrel seems to help accuracy. A bit anyway.

I was issued a stainless folder. I took off the folder and put on a regular wood stock with an extended rubber butt pad. A big improvement and still very compact. The folder really isn't very good for shooting. On the factory folder models the gas block and sling attachment was different with the sling point being on the side rather than bottom. I still have an original blue folding stock still in the box I've never used. I also have an NIB older blue GB. I also have a regular older mini 14 that's a good shooter so I never bothered with the other one.

I own a lot of AR15s, but I really rather have one of those Mini14s with the folding stock for a home defense and trunk gun. The only problem is I think Ruger and their management are smoking crack. They need to go to rehab ASAP. Asking $1000-$1600 for a Mini14 is outrageous IMHO.

A few years ago, there were some Mini14 GBs, factory flash hider, and bayonet lug, that were LE trades. They were IIRC $800+. I thought about buying one, but I waited too long and they disappeared.

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Thread Killer.

I agree. I just picked up one of their SFARs in 6.5 CM for $850.
Had 3 minis in the early to mid 80s, two 14s and a 30. Apparently Ruger installed skeet chokes in them, because they patterned like a clays gun. Never had an interest in a mini since.

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213th FBINA

I couldn’t hit much with the folding stock model I shot.

It may look cool, but it’s no good on a rifle.

Ruger must be pretty proud of their new folder Mini-14. Pricey.

I remember when the Mini-14 was cheaper than the Colt SP-1.

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BTDT, Got The T-Shirt

I don't have a Mini 14, but agree that sometimes it is fun to bring a less common firearm to an outdoor range, where there are more open shooting stations. Garands, M1 carbines, Sharps Buffalo rifle and the like. It is fun to offer less common weapons to others to shoot guns they have only heard about. Once, I let some shooters shoot my '44 Inland 30 cal, and then drove off forgetting it. But they caught up with me, to give it back to me. Close....

While I have always liked the Mini 14's I just don't need another rifle, esp one with a reputation for poor accuracy. I am always tryng to make my firearms, esp my rifles, more accurate with greater or lesser success. A perpetual endeavor.

Any of you older Vets remember the CAR short barrel M16's from that war? Now that was a really cool rifle. Enjoy your Mini 14's. SF VET

Just saw an old repeat on "Cops Reloaded", and lo and behold there was one of the officers with a stainless Mini-14 and folding stock. Definitely an 80's vibe.

And I didn't post in the "worst gun you've ever owned" thread, but an early Mini-14 Ranch Rifle would be right up there. 6" 'patterns' at 50 yards were not inspiring.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

To be fair to Ruger, the reputation for inaccuracy stems from early models of the Mini14. Ruger has loooooong sense made changes to fix that issue. It's not a target rifle, and it's not meant to be. That's not the role it was created for or is supposed to fulfill. It's more of a ranch and self-defense rifle, and it's plenty accurate and capable of fulfilling that role.......



If it weren't for the exorbitant cost Ruger wants for them, they'd be selling like hot cakes. There are just better options once you get into the $1000-$1600 ballpark. For what it is, the Mini14 should only cost $700-$900 at most IMHO. If AR15 and AR10 barrels regularly sell for $150-$250 and the BCG are $80-$200, there is no reason why the Mini14 with the synthetic drop in stock, receiver, and barrel should be $800-$900.

Just put a Samson on my 1989 Mini-30 this afternoon.

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Which is why I drive the Tacoma (Hilux Americanized) and have an AK47. Terrorists worldwide can't be wrong

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Forum consigliere

In the 1970s Oklahoma Highway Patrol had three troopers that were killed by escaped convicts with rifles and they then became one of the first State Police forces to give rifles and training to every trooper. The folding stock came out later and they started using those guns and I remember seeing them carried upside down on crudely made aluminum U brackets on the bottom of the drivers door. Car doors were BIG back then!