Interesting Ruger Mini-14 Problem

Jeff Thomas · June 25, 2000, 01:27 PM

Well, I'm not a gunsmith, but I think I have reasonable engineering / mechanical aptitude. But, we were at the range the other day, and I was stumped.

A friend brought his Mini-14, and ran 5 shots through it, no problem. Then, nothing. You could hear the hammer fall, and there was a round in the chamber. Upon inspection, the primer wasn't even being hit by the firing pin.

So, my friend took it to a local 'smith I recommended. They fiddled with it for awhile, and finally ...

found that my friend had mixed in some .222 ammo, in the midst of his .223 rounds. Apparently bought the wrong box at one time. And, .222's are apparently a little shorter than .223's! Therefore, no primer strike.

So, I suppose the lesson here is ... first check the ammo before you suspect the firearm, eh?

Regards from AZ

Gunslinger · June 25, 2000, 02:12 PM

I wish I had a dime for every time someone at a CAS match attempted to load .44-40, .44 mag./spl., .45 LC into the wrong gun. Same with magazines. I've even seen one case where the shooter showed up at the range once with the wrong bolt for the rifle he had in tow.
I myself went to a CAS match with the .44-40 cylinders for my custom Vaqueros only to discover I had brought .44 mag. ammo.

It isn't always the guns fault.

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Gunslinger

jimmy · June 25, 2000, 10:15 PM

Yep, at the range one day I inadvertently loaded the magazine of my S&W Model 439 with .380s! And by golly, the first round fed and fired, leaving me to wonder why the slide didn't cycle. This was an important lesson that fortunately didn't cost me anything but some embarrassment.

VictorLouis · June 27, 2000, 12:52 PM

Yep, trying to load .40 cal. in my 9mm(both Kahrs) was a lesson.

**4V50 Gary** · June 27, 2000, 06:22 PM

And by accident I've fired a 9mm through my 45 Sig P220. Don't let anyone else load your magazines for you.

Ken in Iowa · June 28, 2000, 05:37 PM

I ran a cylinder full of 44 mags through my .45 Colt Blackhawk a while back. Very good accuracy at 25 yards but really hard on the cases. Kept them for a reminder.

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June 25, 2000, 01:27 PM	#1
Jeff Thomas Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 1998 Location: Texas Posts: 4,753	Well, I'm not a gunsmith, but I think I have reasonable engineering / mechanical aptitude. But, we were at the range the other day, and I was stumped. A friend brought his Mini-14, and ran 5 shots through it, no problem. Then, nothing. You could hear the hammer fall, and there was a round in the chamber. Upon inspection, the primer wasn't even being hit by the firing pin. So, my friend took it to a local 'smith I recommended. They fiddled with it for awhile, and finally ... found that my friend had mixed in some .222 ammo, in the midst of his .223 rounds. Apparently bought the wrong box at one time. And, .222's are apparently a little shorter than .223's! Therefore, no primer strike. So, I suppose the lesson here is ... first check the ammo before you suspect the firearm, eh? Regards from AZ

June 25, 2000, 02:12 PM	#2
Gunslinger Junior member Join Date: January 5, 1999 Location: Springfield, Missouri Posts: 2,105	I wish I had a dime for every time someone at a CAS match attempted to load .44-40, .44 mag./spl., .45 LC into the wrong gun. Same with magazines. I've even seen one case where the shooter showed up at the range once with the wrong bolt for the rifle he had in tow. I myself went to a CAS match with the .44-40 cylinders for my custom Vaqueros only to discover I had brought .44 mag. ammo. It isn't always the guns fault. ------------------ Gunslinger

June 25, 2000, 10:15 PM	#3
jimmy Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 1999 Location: Texas Posts: 1,796	Yep, at the range one day I inadvertently loaded the magazine of my S&W Model 439 with .380s! And by golly, the first round fed and fired, leaving me to wonder why the slide didn't cycle. This was an important lesson that fortunately didn't cost me anything but some embarrassment.

June 27, 2000, 12:52 PM	#4
VictorLouis Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2000 Location: Arizona Posts: 2,302	Yep, trying to load .40 cal. in my 9mm(both Kahrs) was a lesson.

June 27, 2000, 06:22 PM	#5
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,841	And by accident I've fired a 9mm through my 45 Sig P220. Don't let anyone else load your magazines for you.

June 28, 2000, 05:37 PM	#6
Ken in Iowa Member Join Date: November 18, 1999 Location: Montezuma, IA Posts: 70	I ran a cylinder full of 44 mags through my .45 Colt Blackhawk a while back. Very good accuracy at 25 yards but really hard on the cases. Kept them for a reminder. ------------------