ohiobuckeye
Member
Sure have...whatever happened to him? Swapping stories with him used to be one of the high points of going to the gun shows before he just disappeared a few years ago. Anybody know if he's still around?
Ruger Mini-14, Mini-30
- Thread starter palmetto99
- Start date
Sure have...whatever happened to him? Swapping stories with him used to be one of the high points of going to the gun shows before he just disappeared a few years ago. Anybody know if he's still around?
Snapping Twig
Member
FWIW, you can get adjustable gas blocks or as in my case, an inexpensive packet of gas tubes (3) of various internal diameter.
I found the right one for my loads and now it cycles smoothly and tosses the brass @ 6'.
The old joke about a mini is that with every pull of the trigger you get two projectiles, one out the front and the other out the side.
Shortly before my FIL passed, I showed him my mini 30. He carried a 30 carbine in the Pacific Theater - hated it! Not enough knock down power. He should know, he used it enough.
He said that the mini 30 was the gun they should have had. Same basic idea with enough power to do the job.
I found the right one for my loads and now it cycles smoothly and tosses the brass @ 6'.
The old joke about a mini is that with every pull of the trigger you get two projectiles, one out the front and the other out the side.
Shortly before my FIL passed, I showed him my mini 30. He carried a 30 carbine in the Pacific Theater - hated it! Not enough knock down power. He should know, he used it enough.
He said that the mini 30 was the gun they should have had. Same basic idea with enough power to do the job.
cowboy117
Member
A ranch gun throws empties to the right[3:00 position] to miss hitting the scope.My standard[197] throws the empties up and slightly to the rignt[1:00 position and in front].Lots better at the range.
OP
palmetto99
Member
I knew if I threw that out, I would get good feedback.
Thank you all.
Thank you all.
4330Inroute
Member
I have a Ranch Rifle in .223 with a Weaver K-3. Shoots 1/2 inch (5 shot) groups at 100yrds (from a rest) and opens up to about +/- 2 inch group at 300. It will only do so with Winchester 55gr. factory rds. Everything else will open up to 1 1/2 to 2 inch group at 100yrds. and about 4-5 inches at 300. I bought it as a trunk rifle in 1985 and traded it for a like NIB 14-3 and some cash in 1992 to my partner. Bought it back in 2001 when he retired. I cleaned it up and mounted the K-3 back on it and it shot as good as when it was new.
I wonder if the Mini 14 were available in the early 60's to compete with the AR 15 for military use would it have come out ahead?
I wonder if the Mini 14 were available in the early 60's to compete with the AR 15 for military use would it have come out ahead?
cass
Member
I use mine for coyote/hog control. They have never complained that they were hit off target. I love it. The bad side, is that when I took it to the range, the range officer would let me shoot only from the end station , the brass is not bystander friendly, as previously mentioned.
Google him. Last I heard he is selling modified Red Ryder B-B guns with a lesson in point and shoot accuracy.
Don't laugh too hard...it works.
The story I got was got in trouble with the Feds...got some free rent. Was working for another gunsmith in Alaska when I lost track of him. He was a genius with a Ruger. 14s and 30s, and 10-22s. I had him do one of each for me. I kept the mini 14.
He was a real story teller wasn't he? I also have a Chief AJ hat. ha ha ha ha from the last shot show he worked in Vegas.
Colorful guy, part of gun history. A real character.
I treasure the Indian Head etched on the barrel of my mini 14
Lord help us old folks.
GatorFarmer
Member
I have owned four Mini 14s and briefly had a Mini 30. I actually bought my first one (a Ranch model) from my college ethics professor. Anyway, I still have one Mini 14, a 580 series, purchased in 2007.
Long story short. Prior to the recent changes (heavier barrel, sometimes a shorter barrel ala the NRA special edition, different sights, etc) Mini 14s had a reputation for poor accuracy. Cold barrel accuracy was often acceptable, the real problems started when you heated one up. Many, though not all, guns would then begin to deliver shotgun like patterns and go from being a 3 or 4 MOA rifle to being an 8 MOA rifle. The GBs and full auto ones which had flash hiders (and the current tactical ones) often suffered less from this problem, causing many to believe that it was barrel harmonics that played a role. Thus there developed a cottage industry of voodoo fixes for Mini 14 accuracy. These involved muzzle attachments, shortening the barrel, changing the gas block, etc (I had an Amega rail that was another claimed fix). Some people had good results with a certain voodoo cure, others would swear the same one was bunk.
Until recently good mags were a problem, but Ruger now sells 20 and 30 (back in production at last) round mags to the general public. Though they are still easily double what a quality AR mag runs.
Parts are harder to come by for Mini 14s. Whereas AR and AK parts are all over the place, it's problematic to even get things like spare firing pins for a Mini 14. Most people are happier getting an AR, though a Mini will be somewhat lighter and handier in stock form than even a relatively basic M4 clone.
Sights are better on the ARs when it comes to irons, and the ARs are easier to scope - more options.
Long story short. Prior to the recent changes (heavier barrel, sometimes a shorter barrel ala the NRA special edition, different sights, etc) Mini 14s had a reputation for poor accuracy. Cold barrel accuracy was often acceptable, the real problems started when you heated one up. Many, though not all, guns would then begin to deliver shotgun like patterns and go from being a 3 or 4 MOA rifle to being an 8 MOA rifle. The GBs and full auto ones which had flash hiders (and the current tactical ones) often suffered less from this problem, causing many to believe that it was barrel harmonics that played a role. Thus there developed a cottage industry of voodoo fixes for Mini 14 accuracy. These involved muzzle attachments, shortening the barrel, changing the gas block, etc (I had an Amega rail that was another claimed fix). Some people had good results with a certain voodoo cure, others would swear the same one was bunk.
Until recently good mags were a problem, but Ruger now sells 20 and 30 (back in production at last) round mags to the general public. Though they are still easily double what a quality AR mag runs.
Parts are harder to come by for Mini 14s. Whereas AR and AK parts are all over the place, it's problematic to even get things like spare firing pins for a Mini 14. Most people are happier getting an AR, though a Mini will be somewhat lighter and handier in stock form than even a relatively basic M4 clone.
Sights are better on the ARs when it comes to irons, and the ARs are easier to scope - more options.
Similar threads
