Questions about Full auto Mini 14's

Jamie Young · December 26, 2000, 09:03 PM

How similar are these guns to the Ruger Mini 14's made today. It didn't look any different to me other than the finish on the stock. Do they have heavier barrels since there full auto? Did they have select fire or just full auto? I came across one a few weeks ago for around $2500. Sounds more resonable than an M16A2.

glockten · December 26, 2000, 10:54 PM

The AC-556 has the following external differences from the Mini-14:

Flash suppressor.

Selector switch on the right rear of the receiver.

AC-556 stamped on top of rear receiver instead of MINI-14.

Some variants had 13-inch barrels and tubular folding stocks. AC stocks have different inlet cuts to allow for the selector mechanism. I don't think the barrels are any heavier than Mini-14 barrels.

ACs have 3-position selectors for semi-auto, 3-shot burst, and full-auto.

Jamie Young · December 26, 2000, 10:58 PM

Thats the gun! I forgot what the full auto version was called. Anyone want to say anything bad about it? Seems like a decent Full Auto gun price was?

glockten · December 26, 2000, 11:13 PM

The only bad thing I ever found about the AC was that it ate up ammo too fast.

They're very good buys for an automatic weapon; about the only thing you'll find for less money are the MACs and the Reisings.

Jamie Young · December 26, 2000, 11:22 PM

What are Reisings?

glockten · December 26, 2000, 11:35 PM

The Reising was a .45ACP submachine gun made by H&R during WWII. They were issued to the USMC, where they went over like a lead balloon. They proved unsuitable for combat use; the mechanism was easily jammed by dirt or grit.

That said, for civilian recreational purposes they're probably fine.

tankertom · December 27, 2000, 10:07 PM

$2500 for an AC556 is a pretty good deal at today's prices. They have crept up over $3K recently.

My shooting buddy and Class 3 dealer has one and is quite happy with it.

TT

**4V50 Gary** · December 28, 2000, 10:51 PM

How so? For one thing, in terms of dimension, the receiver is completely different. The AC556 receiver not only has the external selector switch, but in length is slightly longer than the Mini14. Thus, with the exception of a few parts (safety, safety spring, hammer plunger and hammer spring), the trigger group of an AC556 will not even fit on a Mini14.

The AC556 trigger group has additional parts not only for the full auto feature but for the 3 shot burst feature. On the three shot burst, if you only fire two shots and then stop, your next burst will only be one shot.

While the barrel isn't necessarily heavier on the AC556, the gas port may vary in size depending on the barrel length with the general rule being the shorter the barrel, the bigger the port.

flusher · January 20, 2001, 09:41 AM

I bought a near new blue AC556K with 10" barrel and folding stock in 1984 for $625 from a dealer. A great weapon. Sold it in 1993 for $1250.

Jamie Young · January 20, 2001, 05:11 PM

Wow thats a pretty good cash in! They seem like one of the most resonable Full auto guns out there. I already have a Mini 14 and plenty of mags and Someday I'll get a AC556.

December 28, 2000, 10:51 PM	#8
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,840	The AC556 is different from the Mini14 How so? For one thing, in terms of dimension, the receiver is completely different. The AC556 receiver not only has the external selector switch, but in length is slightly longer than the Mini14. Thus, with the exception of a few parts (safety, safety spring, hammer plunger and hammer spring), the trigger group of an AC556 will not even fit on a Mini14. The AC556 trigger group has additional parts not only for the full auto feature but for the 3 shot burst feature. On the three shot burst, if you only fire two shots and then stop, your next burst will only be one shot. While the barrel isn't necessarily heavier on the AC556, the gas port may vary in size depending on the barrel length with the general rule being the shorter the barrel, the bigger the port.

December 26, 2000, 09:03 PM	#1
Jamie Young Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2000 Location: SE/PA Posts: 4,834	How similar are these guns to the Ruger Mini 14's made today. It didn't look any different to me other than the finish on the stock. Do they have heavier barrels since there full auto? Did they have select fire or just full auto? I came across one a few weeks ago for around $2500. Sounds more resonable than an M16A2.

December 26, 2000, 10:54 PM	#2
glockten Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 2000 Location: Tennessee Posts: 524	The AC-556 has the following external differences from the Mini-14: Flash suppressor. Selector switch on the right rear of the receiver. AC-556 stamped on top of rear receiver instead of MINI-14. Some variants had 13-inch barrels and tubular folding stocks. AC stocks have different inlet cuts to allow for the selector mechanism. I don't think the barrels are any heavier than Mini-14 barrels. ACs have 3-position selectors for semi-auto, 3-shot burst, and full-auto.

December 26, 2000, 10:58 PM	#3
Jamie Young Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2000 Location: SE/PA Posts: 4,834	Thats the gun! I forgot what the full auto version was called. Anyone want to say anything bad about it? Seems like a decent Full Auto gun price was?

December 26, 2000, 11:13 PM	#4
glockten Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 2000 Location: Tennessee Posts: 524	The only bad thing I ever found about the AC was that it ate up ammo too fast. They're very good buys for an automatic weapon; about the only thing you'll find for less money are the MACs and the Reisings.

December 26, 2000, 11:22 PM	#5
Jamie Young Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2000 Location: SE/PA Posts: 4,834	What are Reisings?

December 26, 2000, 11:35 PM	#6
glockten Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 2000 Location: Tennessee Posts: 524	The Reising was a .45ACP submachine gun made by H&R during WWII. They were issued to the USMC, where they went over like a lead balloon. They proved unsuitable for combat use; the mechanism was easily jammed by dirt or grit. That said, for civilian recreational purposes they're probably fine.

December 27, 2000, 10:07 PM	#7
tankertom Senior Member Join Date: December 27, 1998 Location: Northern Virginia, USA Posts: 199	$2500 for an AC556 is a pretty good deal at today's prices. They have crept up over $3K recently. My shooting buddy and Class 3 dealer has one and is quite happy with it. TT

January 20, 2001, 09:41 AM	#9
flusher Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2001 Location: Connecticut Posts: 219	I bought a near new blue AC556K with 10" barrel and folding stock in 1984 for $625 from a dealer. A great weapon. Sold it in 1993 for $1250.

January 20, 2001, 05:11 PM	#10
Jamie Young Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2000 Location: SE/PA Posts: 4,834	Wow thats a pretty good cash in! They seem like one of the most resonable Full auto guns out there. I already have a Mini 14 and plenty of mags and Someday I'll get a AC556.