I don’t like Ruger Mini 14s…

[6string]

Nobody ever called the Mini-14 an example of "the gunmakers art". But, it is nice to see some blued steel and walnut.

I've never owned, nor wanted, a Mini-14, SKS, AR, or AK.
From my vantage point on the range, be it as a target shooter or working range officer, they all serve pretty much the same purpose. That is, blasting away through large quantities of cheap ammo while (hopefully) keeping the bullet impacts within the general area of the range backstop.
Funny thing, all these guns, in their own time, have attracted the same array of cheesy, aftermarket plastic accessories and attachments.
One of the constancies of the American mass consumer marketplace, I guess?

Still, the OP made a nice score. Great condition and great price.
(Cue soundtrack to The A-Team!)

 

[djohns6]

My AR collects dust . I would love to have a Mini - 14 .

 

[Hoosierville IRN]

I've owned three Mini's over the years. Tried everything I could think of to get them to be accurate. Finally wrote a letter to Ruger detailing the ammo types (including Federal Match), ranges, etc. Got a nice reply back from them stating the factory standard for the Mini-14 was 4MOA. Four inches at 100 yards, 8 inches at 200 yards? No way. Traded the Mini immediately for an AR and never looked back.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Had a Ranch model(shark fin front sight)one years ago......It shot "buckshot patterns" instead of groups.......Sold it and got my first AR....It shoots tiny groups with no problems.

 

[AJ]

Same here had a couple of different Mini-14's about 30-40 years ago. Never as accurate as I was looking for so off they went to other homes.

Was the Tasco a Japanese made scope? If so was probably a good scope.

Nobody ever called the Mini-14 an example of "the gunmakers art". But, it is nice to see some blued steel and walnut.

I've never owned, nor wanted, a Mini-14, SKS, AR, or AK.
From my vantage point on the range, be it as a target shooter or working range officer, they all serve pretty much the same purpose. That is, blasting away through large quantities of cheap ammo while (hopefully) keeping the bullet impacts within the general area of the range backstop.
Funny thing, all these guns, in their own time, have attracted the same array of cheesy, aftermarket plastic accessories and attachments.
One of the constancies of the American mass consumer marketplace, I guess?

Still, the OP made a nice score. Great condition and great price.
(Cue soundtrack to The A-Team!)

As stated I had a couple of Mini's and sold them. I do have an AR, but that was our primary weapon for 20 of my 24 years in the Corps. I had a M1A (also a primary weapon for 4 years)for a while, then someone offered me stupid money for it. I do own an SKS, but it only cost me $100 NIB(and it is more accurate than a Mini), For a heavy hitter I have an M! Garand, and it will do the job.

 

[murphydog]

Same here. In the late 80s I had three, two 14s and a 30. All three came with skeet chokes; I don't expect this one to shoot any better. Will likely end up as trading fodder at the next show.

I'd give it a try at the range if it is a 180- or higher SN prefix. By report those and later guns were more accurate than earlier versions.

I also recall seeing an aftermarket part called the Accu-Strut, which (I gather) changed the barrel harmonics and improved even the earlier guns.

 

[CH4]

Thanks
I'll give it a shot. 187-

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I've owned my Mini-30 for nearly 40 years. It's 10 times more accurate than the 14.........It would take several pickups to holds the deer I've killed with it.

 

[greenmachine]

"180- or higher SN prefix. By report those and later guns were more accurate than earlier versions."

Mine is a 181-070xxx. It is a 4-incher at best. Was there a heavy barreled Mini at some point that was supposed to be more accurate?

 

[Rodan]

Finally wrote a letter to Ruger detailing the ammo types (including Federal Match), ranges, etc. Got a nice reply back from them stating the factory standard for the Mini-14 was 4MOA.

That sounds about right.

My agency issued Minis in the 90s because we were too cheap to buy ARs, and most deputies couldn't afford to buy their own AR. As instructors the Minis had us pulling our hair out at qual time because of the accuracy issues (our qual included 100yd shots). Add a 4 moa shooter to a 4 moa gun, and it's pretty much impossible.

I was very happy when we finally transitioned to ARs... made my life as an instructor MUCH easier!

Interesting side note... at that time, our policy was pretty open on rifles. We had deputies carrying everything from lever guns to SKSs...

 

[cracker57]

I love the mini I picked up 25 yrs ago for 600 bucks, It shoots bug holes.
It was used and has an aftermarket krieger barrel and some other modes done to it. so the original owner had some serious money stuck in it. great coyote gun topped with a bushnell firefly retical.
it does sit in a tupperware stock and need to find a nice wood stock.

 

[NYlakesider]

My Mini has always done what I asked of it. Way back when I got the first SS Mini to arrive in northern NY.

Gun was reasonably accurate and the one mod I did to it was open up the peep sight aperture a couple drill sizes. Could get a faster target acquisition that way and it did not hurt accuracy.

I still have it but hardly shoot it. Of course I'm limited to only a 10 round magazine of which I have a few.

 

[pharmer]

I have owned several, they were quite good sellers when they were $250 back in the early 1980's. I sold my last one during the 1994-'04 ban for 5X what I paid. Currently I can build a serviceable AR for $400 so I can't justify a $4 digit expenditure for one. I like them though. Joe

 

[AJ]

I have owned several, they were quite good sellers when they were $250 back in the early 1980's. I sold my last one during the 1994-'04 ban for 5X what I paid. Currently I can build a serviceable AR for $400 so I can't justify a $4 digit expenditure for one. I like them though. Joe

I too, sold mine for a profit. I own an AR (easier to buy it, than build it), it is a early mil-spec DPMS with a Nikon 3-9X on it for $750. My NIB SKS cost me $100 OTD. My Garand (Service Grade) cost me $575. So I am glad I sold the Mini's rather than trying to throw money at them to make them shoot better.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

I like the Mini-14. It is a good solid practical design and fits me. A nice, accurate (now), reliable semiautomatic rifle under $1,000.

 

[Ameshawki]

I like the mini. It's a fun 100 yard rifle. Mine has always been completely reliable.

 

[jughed440]

Nice! $600 OTD? I would have hurt my self getting my wallet out.

I would have too. I haven't seen either a 14 or a 30, new or used, priced under $950 in the last few years. If I ever spot a 14 or 30 for anything close to $600 I'd buy it. Gladly pay a little more for the newer 'heavy barrel' series.
Used to have a 182 series stainless 14 w. wood. Sold it for $350 back when that price was the norm.

 

[WardenRoss]

That sounds about right.

My agency issued Minis in the 90s because we were too cheap to buy ARs, and most deputies couldn't afford to buy their own AR. As instructors the Minis had us pulling our hair out at qual time because of the accuracy issues (our qual included 100yd shots). Add a 4 moa shooter to a 4 moa gun, and it's pretty much impossible.

I was very happy when we finally transitioned to ARs... made my life as an instructor MUCH easier!

Interesting side note... at that time, our policy was pretty open on rifles. We had deputies carrying everything from lever guns to SKSs...

You took the words right out of my keyboard as I was about to post the same story about my old department.

Back in the day the minis from our armory probably would only average a 6" group at 50 yards, unsupported. One or two examples could/might do a 3" group.

They were very reliable though, if the magazines were taken care of.


,

 

[Faulkner]

I've owned my Mini-30 for nearly 40 years. It's 10 times more accurate than the 14.........It would take several pickups to holds the deer I've killed with it.

I've never had an attraction for a Mini 14 but a Mini 30 has peaked my interest many times.

 

[biku324]

Carried a standard Mini from '81 to '87; when purchased, it was about 60% of the cost of an AR-15. It would shoot 2"-4" 100 yard groups depending more on it's mood than any discoverable reason. It was fine for what I needed at the time, but the agency began issuing AR-15 HBARs to supplement shotguns, so I sold it.

Never had a malfunfunction with it except with an occasional Soft Point reload.