Upgraded my Mini 14

[GatorFarmer]

The pawn shop find in an ATI folder that I bought a while back shot well enough for what it was. But for the first time amongst the Minis that I have owned, the fragile folding rear sight sheared off.

I have had a going on 20 year affair with the Mini 14, getting my first one circa 1998. I thought I had finally broken the habit a ways back when I sold my last one.

But....It is a hard habit to break. Anyway...I traded in the folder at a loss and added some other problem children and walked out with a new stainless model. The sort with better sights, a shorter heavy bbl and that shipped with two 20rd mags.

For some reason the Picatinny rail mount, that I thought was supposed to be included was absent. I guess that I will try my luck with Ruger customer service Monday.

I like this one better. It feels solid, more so than in the past. The sights are good and seem sturdy. There is even a factory mounted flash hider.

I am sure the Mini 14 is dying out, thanks to the AR15, but they had a good run and these last ones seem to have finally got it right.

I still have the ubiquitous AR mind you. But...I give in. I will just get more mags again and keep this one. Always mindful of the "you should have got an AR" scorn.

 

[BAM-BAM]

With Factory 10,20 and 5round magazines...... I have one Mini14; an early NRA model with the short heavy barrel..........w/ a 1-3x20 Weaver scope it's a great shooter out to 100-150 on varmint size targets ( can't hunt with a semi in Pa.)

With a factory 10 rd mag and now a Hogue Gillie green stock it's a very low profile semi.... compared to an AR platform that the average person ID's as an military/assault rifle.........

 

[F75gunslinger]

i don't think the Mini-14 has a chance of dying out anytime soon. It's a whole different platform than an AR, and it still sells well. I've wanted one to add to the collection for years, but rifles are way down the list for me, as I don't have a good place to stretch them out enough to be fun.

 

[KLYDE]

Gator,
Your post on the pawn shop folder find a month or so ago rekindled my desire for a mini. Like you I have bought and sold a few over the years. I love the platform and have always missed them when sold. No way the Mini is dying out. It has a cult following. Many advantages as previously stated. Light, compact, low profile and a solid shooter. With the new 1x9 twist, heavy, tapered barrel, mediocre accuracy has been addressed. No more hot barrel issues either. Rugers best offering yet. Is it an AR....the answer is no. I have AR's. It is a Mini and that's what we like. Congrats on your purchase. Post some pics when you get a chance.

The pic rail should have been included.

Picked up this #5816 last week. This one is staying.

 

[eveled]

I don't and won't own an AR, I own several Mini's. They have a spot in my heart that I can't really explain.

The best I can come up with is that I like the traditional styling, and the low profile that Bam-Bam mentioned.

I suspect they may have been imprinted on my young mind, by watching the A-team in my youth.

 

[GF]

Back in the mid to late 80's I owned standard & ranch rifles in both stainless & blue. I guess you could say I was a "fanboy" of those Mini-14's!

I even bought a Ruger AC 556 with a folding stock from the F. J. Volmer Co. in the early 90's. It was my first machine gun and Ruger would still work on them for an individual. Good times and a great gun with single, full & three shot burst.

I've sold that one & most of the others off over the years, but I kept a couple back and held onto most all the factory mags.

GF

 

[BAM-BAM]

I held back on a mini for years.... a couple came and went.... because all you could get (with any ease and without paying big bucks) were 5rd factory magazines .......... which always left me ....."really is that it!!!!!!"

when the new generation; with the short heavy barrel came out and factory magazines became plentiful; I decided to give the Mini another chance......

I find the combination of a 10rd mag with a small 1-3 or 1-4x20 scope ideal for the Mini-14.......

.... the 20 is good but unless its a big SHTF or TEOTWAWKI can't find a good use for one; thou I have several

30rd magazine...... just doesn't look right to me.... and "ifin" I'm going to need 30 rds..... I'm going AR w/ an Aimpoint.

 

[Black_Sheep]

I'm a fan of the Mini-14. Mine has been a solid performer and reasonably accurate too.

 

[Goldstar225]

I picked up a mini ranch rifle about 3-4 months ago, a 583 series. The accuracy is much better than the one I owned 15 years ago and meets my "needs". IMO it's much more fun to carry and shoot than an AR (which I also own).

 

[GatorFarmer]

A call to Ruger seems to have solved the issue of the missing rail, they are going to send me one. I picked up a clearance red dot during Walmarts AR clearance and will try mounting that. My rifle has the factory flash hider, black synthetic stock, an oddly thick recoil pad, and matte stainless finish.

 

[CATI1835]

I am sure the Mini 14 is dying out, thanks to the AR15, but they had a good run

I firmly believe that if Ruger had simply made the Mini14 compatible with the AR magazines the platform would be around forever. The same could be said for the Mini30 and AK magazines. I almost bought a Mini14 many years ago until the sales guy told the magazines were proprietary and not the same as ARs.

 

[getoff]

i too am an A-team guy... i have a 1976 production, 200 yr sorta commerative mini. my wife won't shoot ARs 'cause they have to much recoil? she'll shoot the mini all day long. for those of you who don't know, tapco has mini mags out now. they have a steel band around the front of the mag where the pin goes into it. have a bunch, all reliable as can be. also a heck a lot cheaper at like 15-20 each. they are my range mags. the factory 20 & 30 rounders are like gold to me and everyone else...

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

The Mini 14 is to the .223 as the AK 47 is to the 7.62 x 39
totally bullet proof-a peasants gun standing at the ready for the revolution
Mine is a 1990's vintage-I wonder if Ruger would retro fit one of those new heavy barrels

 

[turnerriver]

I have a mini 30 which earns me double scorn from my buddy Charlie- not an AR-15 and the wrong caliber too.
Regards,
turnerriver

 

[Rubone]

I have both a 14 and a 30. I like them both for different reasons. I do have an AK and an AR so I understand the differences. They are fun to shoot, low maintenance, and have a class all their own.
They'll stay...

 

[GatorFarmer]

I do not know if Ruger will retrofit old rifles or not. It may be cost prohibitive if they will. The semi accepted tinkering magic for older ones involved various means of stiffening the lighter bbl - Amega rails, cutting them in size, Accustruts, etc. Then adding a flash hider.

A bit of additional commentary on mine, I think it may be a somewhat less common variant. It is a tactical model with the black synthetic stock but in stainless. I do not see this listed on Ruger`s web page. I only see the stainless ranch listed. The normal 18.5 inch bbl is shortened to a hair over 16" on the tactical model and the flash hider comes mounted from the factory. I subsequently, i.e. this morning, painted my stock olive drab which I prefer the look of.

Though accuracy improvements are said to be less pronounced, I believe that I will add the shorter "SOCOM" Accu Strut at some point and complete the look of having a small scale M14. The only other additions I want to make are a Specter gear sling and buttstock ammo pouch. I currently have an unknown make stock pouch that fits a ten round magazine, but the Specter product will allow carrying a spare 20rd.

 

[Rule3]

My Mini 14 Tactical (16" barrel) is extremely accurate and no issues at all. Ruger mags are expensive. I want the same in a Mini 30 but really have no need for it.

 

[eveled]

I wish they made one in .308

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Gator, picture?

 

[GatorFarmer]

Here is a photo as it is now.