Which third-party Mini-14 magazines are reliable?

[4506517]

I bought a Mini during the Ban. I purchased several Thermold 30 rounders that were sold to me as "pre-ban" magazines. They worked great and still do to this day. The only problem I encountered was tight fit at the mag catch. A few strokes with a file cleared that up no sweat.

 

[TTSH]

What do you have,....what do you want,....blue or stainless?

Excellent explanation Kaveman, thank you!

I'm not really up on the history/versions/generations of the Mini-14 at this point. I should be, but I'm not. I just bought a brand spanking new one last month and that's where I stand as of today.

Whatever you want to get rid of in terms of pre-ban hi-caps that will work on my new Mini-14, I'm all ears! PM me with the details and let's work something out!

 

[TTSH]

I bought a Mini during the Ban. I purchased several Thermold 30 rounders that were sold to me as "pre-ban" magazines. They worked great and still do to this day. The only problem I encountered was tight fit at the mag catch. A few strokes with a file cleared that up no sweat.

I have a few Thermold 30's myself... for my AR-15s. Didn't even know that they made them for the Mini-14. I'll keep an eye out for them at Saturday's show.

 

[sigp220.45]

I've got 8 30 rounders for my Mini-14, half factory and half unmarked. All work fine.

I feel for you, man. Couldn't you travel to a less restrictive state and stock up on pre-ban, unmarked mags? I wouldn't encourage anyone to break even a stupid law, but short of being stopped at the border and searched how would anyone know?

 

[TTSH]

I've got 8 30 rounders for my Mini-14, half factory and half unmarked. All work fine.

I feel for you, man. Couldn't you travel to a less restrictive state and stock up on pre-ban, unmarked mags? I wouldn't encourage anyone to break even a stupid law, but short of being stopped at the border and searched how would anyone know?

Oh, I can travel anywhere and buy anything... pre-ban or post-ban. But if I bring a post-ban back into this crazy state, I am facing a serious felony, loss of license and collection, likely bankruptcy... and a big prison sentence.

The thing is that adjacent free states like NH and RI and VT don't care a hoot about the pre-ban magazines that we here in MA cherish as the only hi-caps we are allowed to own. Same with nearby ME. So availability of pre-bans for sale in those adjacent and nearby free states is pretty much nil.

CT and NY and NJ are already just as screwed up as MA so no hope there either.

This weekend's show will be interesting for a lot of reasons. It is the first show since the tyrant AG lady's unilateral decree banning even neutered/compliant AR's and AK's (thus promoting the Ruger Mini-14 and Mini-30 to the very top of the MA-legal semi-auto food chain). No one knows what to expect... but we all want to see what our new oppressive reality is going to be like.

 

[kaaskop49]

Atttn: TTSH

I understand your frustration and your perfectly sensible explanation above about remaining in MA. Not easy to pull up stakes when one's life, family, and obligations are in one place. Happily, I left NYS before that situation fell off the cliff and relocated to Vegas. What could be better for this emphysema sufferer than the combo of dry desert climate and the smoky air of casinos?

One question: I'm not familiar with the Mini-14 or it's accessories. How does one tell the difference between a pre-ban and a post-ban magazine? Are they dated or marked in some manner? Thanks in advance.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[TTSH]

I understand your frustration and your perfectly sensible explanation above about remaining in MA. Not easy to pull up stakes when one's life, family, and obligations are in one place. Happily, I left NYS before that situation fell off the cliff and relocated to Vegas. What could be better for this emphysema sufferer than the combo of dry desert climate and the smoky air of casinos?

One question: I'm not familiar with the Mini-14 or it's accessories. How does one tell the difference between a pre-ban and a post-ban magazine? Are they dated or marked in some manner? Thanks in advance.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

Oh, I'll be the first to admit that I am damn close to clueless when it comes to pre-ban vs. post ban Mini-14 magazines. I hope to become much more educated on the topic so I can stay out of jail, but information on the Interwebs is both sketchy and often even contradictory. I've already spent at least 40 hours researching the topic and not just on-line. I've visited shops and talked with a gaggle of people who know (or should know) much more on the subject than I do. This is a very serious topic for me given what is going on right now in my loony moonbat tyrannical state.

At this point, I probably know enough to be dangerous but certainly not enough to give other people any advice. I trust the two that I've purchased so far mainly because I trust the source (a person I've known and trusted practically forever) and the fact that they came in the old cardboard packaging (which I must keep to prove they are pre-ban). In fact, a lot of this is likely to be about packaging since so many of the Mini-14 pre-ban magazines lack clear identifying characteristics.

It's going to be a challenge for sure given the very high demand (after the MA AG's decree) against very limited provable stock and crazy high prices. We had it relatively good with AR & AK pre-ban magazines. The Mini-14 pre-ban magazine thing will be quite the challenge in comparison.

 

[NYlakesider]

Oh, I'll be the first to admit that I am damn close to clueless when it comes to pre-ban vs. post ban Mini-14 magazines. I hope to become much more educated on the topic so I can stay out of jail, but information on the Interwebs is both sketchy and often even contradictory. I've already spent at least 40 hours researching the topic and not just on-line. I've visited shops and talked with a gaggle of people who know (or should know) much more on the subject than I do. This is a very serious topic for me given what is going on right now in my loony moonbat tyrannical state.

At this point, I probably know enough to be dangerous but certainly not enough to give other people any advice. I trust the two that I've purchased so far mainly because I trust the source (a person I've known and trusted practically forever) and the fact that they came in the old cardboard packaging (which I must keep to prove they are pre-ban). In fact, a lot of this is likely to be about packaging since so many of the Mini-14 pre-ban magazines lack clear identifying characteristics.

It's going to be a challenge for sure given the very high demand (after the MA AG's decree) against very limited provable stock and crazy high prices. We had it relatively good with AR & AK pre-ban magazines. The Mini-14 pre-ban magazine thing will be quite the challenge in comparison.

Very confusing and in many cases who really knows. It used to be here in the peoples republic if the magazine was from a older company and did not have "law enforcement only" on it it was OK. (That was in pre Safe Act times) Today the answer of what is the square root of PI is easier to come up with than the magazine question. Rest assured in this state the burden of proof is on you. I took the easy way out and all my biggies are gone but I do have a bunch of 10s and fast hands and can change em very quickly if needed!

 

[TTSH]

Very confusing and in many cases who really knows. It used to be here in the peoples republic if the magazine was from a older company and did not have "law enforcement only" on it, it was OK. (That was in pre Safe Act times) Today the answer of what is the square root of PI is easier to come up with than the magazine question.

Since several companies went out of business because of the original (Federal) AWB, that is a great way to prove pre-ban... provided you can prove that your magazine came from one of those companies. Unfortunately, with no names or dates on them, you must rely on original packaging (if still available) or telltale manufacturing markings which, apparently, very few people know.

Rest assured in this state the burden of proof is on you. I took the easy way out and all my biggies are gone but I do have a bunch of 10s and fast hands and can change em very quickly if needed!

Each moonbat state has its own special moonbat laws and they are all a little different. In our moonbat state (MA), the burden of proof is supposedly (ultimately) on the state... but you could still be in a world of hurt long before it ever got to trial. Because of that, some folks in MA have chosen not to take any cop or DA risk whatsoever and simply learn to live with 10-round magazines. I get that. Others (like yours truly), choose to use what little rights we've got left to the max. It's a costly pain in the butt at times like this, but if we don't use our last dwindling rights they'll likely disappear even faster.

 

[TTSH]

I'm going to see what happens at Saturday's show.

Well, I made it to the gun show and found at least some Mini-14 and Mini-30 pre-ban magazines. Quite an interesting eclectic and diverse collection! I don't think that any two of them came from the same manufacturer. Some were fairly priced... many were over-priced... some were crazy though the roof!

I ended up coming home with two pre-bans:

1) A 20-round Ruger original, old & rusty as heck (I'll sand and repaint it) and with a spring so weak that I'm sure will have to be replaced... maybe with an AR mag spring? - Price: $30.00

2) A 40-round "mystery magazine" with no markings, very used looking but no rust. Spring seems okay. - Price: $35.00

Those were the only two Mini-14 pre-bans that made any sense at all. The rest were pretty nasty, poorly made and/or wildly over-priced.

Mini-30 magazines were more plentiful, generally in better condition and not so over-priced. I guess I should have bought myself a Mini-30 first.

Right after the show, I bought a new (post-ban) Pro-Mag 10-rounder at Cabela's... mainly for test purposes. If I can live with the Pro-Mags, I'll save some money. Genuine Ruger 10-rounders at the show were sky high in price.

 

[TTSH]

Score!

I finally lucked out and scored four 30-round pre-ban Mini-14 magazines at something less than a king's ransom. One of them was one of those old plastic Ram-Line Mini-14/AR-15 combo magazines while the other three were what I call generic Mini-14 "mystery mags"... old for sure and a bit rusty, but with no discerning markings whatsoever.

While not as good (or legally safe) as the genuine NOS Ruger 20-round pre-bans that I bought complete with the original pre-ban boxes, the price was right for the bunch and I feel pretty good about where I stand as of today.

But the springs in the Ram-Line and in all of the "mystery mags" are pitifully weak and the followers in some are worn and questionable. Replacing the original followers may be a bridge too far (legally speaking), but I think that changing out the springs is essential and, hopefully, something I won't go to prison over.

I should probably just leave the rust so as to help convince any cop that they are not post-bans. The older and more used they appear, the better.

 

[Warren Sear]

Yep, I get it. If only they weren't so damned expensive and near impossible to find around here, even in post-ban 10-round. Pre-ban Ruger OEM 20's and 30's? Good luck with that! I paid a king's ransom for the two pre-ban 20's I was able to obtain... but that source is now out for good.

I'm going to see what happens at Saturday's show. I see three possibilities:

1) No one will have anything in a Ruger Mini-14 magazine at any price other than maybe some new post-ban 5-rounders.

2) There will be a few random pre-bans with incredible "sky-high" prices on them just like on that certain gun auction website. Someone will jump on them (but not me!).

3) It's always possible (unlikely, but possible) that some dealer has managed to come up with a batch of pre-bans and is willing to sell them at something slightly less than a King's ransom. If so, I'll be interested.

Chances are that I will come home from the show empty-handed... in which case I will turn to the Interwebs. Can't afford enough in genuine Ruger 10-rounders... so I may still be tempted to try a Pro-Mag or two and see how they run.

If I found those I would buy them all up and re-sell them at their current market value.

Well, it looks like Ol' Bills's mag ban scheme is slowly coming to fruition:

In his letter to members of the House and Senate on 30 March 1989, Bill Ruger stated in that which has come to be known as "The Ruger Letter":

"The best way to address the firepower concern is therefore not to try to outlaw or license many millions of older and perfectly legitimate firearms (which would be a licensing effort of staggering proportions) but to prohibit the possession of high capacity magazines. By a simple, complete, and unequivocal ban on large capacity magazines, all the difficulty of defining "assault rifles" and "semi-automatic rifles" is eliminated. The large capacity magazine itself, separate or attached to the firearm, becomes the prohibited item. A single amendment to Federal firearms laws could
prohibit their possession or sale and would effectively implement these objectives."

In addition to the furor amongst hunters, sportsmen and shooters caused by "The Ruger Letter", Mr. Ruger made additional comments during an interview with NBCs Tom Brokaw that angered 2nd Amendment proponents even further, by saying that "no honest man needs more than 10 rounds in any gun…" and, "I never meant for simple civilians to have my 20 and 30 round magazines…"

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Ol' Billuh has passed to his heavenly reward. He is gone, but never forgotten. His legacy of banning magazines continues.

 

[TTSH]

If I found those I would buy them all up and re-sell them at their current market value.

The ones at the show were kind of expensive for what they were IMHO. I believe I bought the best ones there, but they sure weren't any great bargain. In other words, I think the premium mark-up had already been applied.

Well, it looks like Ol' Bill's mag ban scheme is slowly coming to fruition...

Well, post-ban hi-caps have been illegal here in MA since 1994... hence, my search for pre-bans (even in nasty used condition).

The big question is: What can we expect in the future? Will there be another Federal AWB? Will they eventually ban all hi-caps regardless of vintage?

The only thing worse than paying the big bucks for crappy old pre-ban magazines would be losing those costly pre-bans to the next threat that comes along.

 

[MrJester]

If you have any more of those mags left you want to get rid of. I should would be interested in getting some off of you. Please let me know. Thanks for your time

 

[Az Dave]

Long time mini owner here. PMI and Federal Ordnance mags were the only mags to own in the 80's besides over priced Ruger mags. Saw a glowing review on Tapco gen 2 mags last year on youtube and decided to try them. I bought 2 at $15 each and couldn't be happier. I've ran hundreds of rounds through them with zero issues! They have a steel insert in front where they interface with the locking pin. I have since bought more but will continue to torture test the first 2. DDDave

 

[WR Moore]

The mags by John Masen are first class, but painted. On the other hand, the price isn't bad at all.

 

[Rastoff]

Believe it or not, the Pro Mag mags I have for my Mini-14 are the best I've used. I know a lot of people don't like the Pro Mags in general, but the ones I have for my Mini are great.

The mags by John Masen are first class,...

The ones I have are first class garbage. I have 4 of them and none will feed properly in my Mini.

 

[Univibe]

I had a Mini-14 for a long time and suffered during the AWB.

National magazines = suck.
USA = suck.
Pro Mag = suck.
Thermold = suck.

When the AWB expired I bought Ruger factory 30s. The 30s were mostly unreliable so 44mag.com took them back and traded for 20s. The factory 20s were completely reliable. There's a reason why new Mini-14 ship from the factory with the 20. People also report reliability with Tapco 2nd generation 30s but I have no experience.

 

[hoc9sw]

CDNN has 5 round ruger mags for $23. They also have the 10 listed on sale, but are out of stock.

NEVER ProMags, just don't.

I do have an old PMI 30 (I think, will have to dig it out). Supposedly they went out of business with the ban.

LGS had one of the plastic mags, $5 to try to get rid of it, but no one will bite.

I always use 5 or 10 because of the way I was trained to hold a rifle.

 

[hoc9sw]

I did find the 30 rounder.

Marked Precision Mag Industries (all caps, three different text sizes)with a pistol outline.
.223
-----
5.56mm

All on the baseplate, no date or other text anywhere on the mag