New Mini-14

stu925 · March 4, 2011, 01:13 PM

Picked up my new Ruger Mini-14/5 today. Very happy with the purchase and got a great deal from my buddy with the FFL. Went with the Blued steel with the wood stock and 5 round magazine since a)I'll need a 5 round magazine for hunting since this will be my coyote gun and b)they didn't have the Mini-14/20's in stock at his supplier. I'll have to pick up a couple of 20 round Ruger mags myself. As an added bonus he threw in an RCBS primer pocket swager since he upgraded to a Dillon swager. Now I'll be able to use all the Lake City brass I've got in a 5 gallon bucket. Now I've got 2 new rifles to shoot, it better be nice out next week when I'm off from work

Stu

38superhero · March 4, 2011, 01:17 PM

nice

Crosshair · March 4, 2011, 02:14 PM

FYI: CDNN has the best prices on factory Mini-14 magazines.

Nice gun.

stu925 · March 4, 2011, 06:33 PM

Quote:

FYI: CDNN has the best prices on factory Mini-14 magazines.

Thank you for that info, Midway's got 'em for 29.99 and I see CDNN is $5 cheaper for factory mags, going to have to stock up. As an update, I threw an old Simmons 3.5-10x40 scope on it today using factory rings so I can evaluate accuracy and work up loads without thinking me using the irons is the problem. I will eventually pick up a set of Warne quick release rings for it and maybe a bit better of a scope. Will post a range report after I get there next week.

Stu

dgludwig · March 4, 2011, 07:18 PM

The Mini-14 configured like yours, makes for the perfect "ranch" rifle. Wait, isn't that what Ruger calls it? I like mine sans scope, with the factory peep sight in play.

NESHOOTER · March 4, 2011, 07:28 PM

looks good enjoy, do the rifles still come with scope rings...

Bamashooter · March 4, 2011, 07:33 PM

Look around for a sale on the 20rd. mags. Midwayusa had a sale awhile back and I bought 4 20rd. ruger mags for $23 per mag.

stu925 · March 4, 2011, 07:58 PM

Quote:

do the rifles still come with scope rings...

Yep they still come with the rings, I'm using them now but will probably upgrade them on down the road since I'd like to be able to use the irons as well as a scope. Warne Quick Release look about right I think.

Stu

ep2621 · March 4, 2011, 09:18 PM

Congratulations on your new Ruger.
I've been wanting a mini 14 forever. Just never got around to getting one.

rugerfreak · March 4, 2011, 09:43 PM

Are 20 rounders even legal in NY?

stu925 · March 4, 2011, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Are 20 rounders even legal in NY?

To the general public, no. To me, yes. High capacity magazines are legal for Law Enforcement Personnel.

Stu

Art Eatman · March 4, 2011, 11:59 PM

I used to mess around with Minis a lot, back in the early years. I did like a lot of guys, messing with the 20- and 30-round mags. Not worth it. Doesn't matter how well they work, they're mostly just a PITA for anything but playing.

My preference came to be for the factory ten-round mags. They don't stick out so far that I couldn't carry the rifle at the balance point. For casual walk-around hunting, ten's a-plenty, I've always felt. Okay, eleven with one in the chamber.

Still have a tenner; maybe one of these days I'll trade into another Mini.

Willis83 · March 5, 2011, 02:36 AM

I agree with you Art. The ten rounders are about perfect for the Mini. Now Ruger just needs to make a ten rounder for the Mini-30.

Magog · March 5, 2011, 03:35 AM

I am jellos. That is fricken awesome. Someday I will have one.

Ignition Override · March 5, 2011, 03:44 AM

It's beautiful.
These have better sights than the older types, but also thicker, better barrels.

Back in '08 I bought one built in '90, and was the most reliable gun I've owned, including bolt-actions, some having old WW2 magazine springs.

kd7sgm · March 5, 2011, 04:59 AM

very nice. The wood stocked minis have a look that is hard to beat

stu925 · March 5, 2011, 06:22 PM

Thanks guys, I'm very happy with the purchase so far although I still haven't gotten to the range with it (this is killing me by the way). I just recently got bitten by the Mini bug, was looking at semi auto .223 Rem rifles and really liked the lines of it. I've also always had an affinity towards the Garand/M-14 type action, so the Mini was a no brainer. Especially since I've never been a fan of the AR design. Started looking around in November and had 1 deal (trade) fall through. Finally got the funds together and decided to do it. Spent yesterday afternon giving it thorough cleaning and mounting the scope to be used for load evaluation, thrilled to finally have it.

Stu

skoro · March 5, 2011, 08:10 PM

stu -

I predict you'll be very happy with your new Mini. I've had mine for 2 years now. I've found that the 10 round magazines work best for me. The 20 rounders make for clumsy handling. They get in the way when shooting from a rest, too.

TPAW · March 6, 2011, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Are 20 rounders even legal in NY?

Not 100% sure, but if they are pre-ban, I believe yes.

March 4, 2011, 01:13 PM	#1
stu925 Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2010 Location: New York Posts: 953	New Mini-14 Picked up my new Ruger Mini-14/5 today. Very happy with the purchase and got a great deal from my buddy with the FFL. Went with the Blued steel with the wood stock and 5 round magazine since a)I'll need a 5 round magazine for hunting since this will be my coyote gun and b)they didn't have the Mini-14/20's in stock at his supplier. I'll have to pick up a couple of 20 round Ruger mags myself. As an added bonus he threw in an RCBS primer pocket swager since he upgraded to a Dillon swager. Now I'll be able to use all the Lake City brass I've got in a 5 gallon bucket. Now I've got 2 new rifles to shoot, it better be nice out next week when I'm off from work Stu

March 4, 2011, 02:14 PM	#3
Crosshair Senior Member Join Date: December 16, 2004 Location: Grand Forks, ND Posts: 5,333	FYI: CDNN has the best prices on factory Mini-14 magazines. Nice gun. __________________ I don't carry a gun to go looking for trouble, I carry a gun in case trouble finds me.

March 4, 2011, 07:18 PM	#5
dgludwig Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2005 Location: North central Ohio Posts: 7,486	The Mini-14 configured like yours, makes for the perfect "ranch" rifle. Wait, isn't that what Ruger calls it? I like mine sans scope, with the factory peep sight in play. __________________ ONLY AN ARMED PEOPLE CAN BE TRULY FREE ; ONLY AN UNARMED PEOPLE CAN EVER BE ENSLAVED ...Aristotle NRA Benefactor Life Member

March 4, 2011, 09:18 PM	#9
ep2621 Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2010 Location: East Texas Posts: 199	Congratulations on your new Ruger. I've been wanting a mini 14 forever. Just never got around to getting one. __________________ When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished by how much he'd learned in seven years. ~Mark Twain

March 5, 2011, 04:59 AM	#16
kd7sgm Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 2010 Location: Rupert, Idaho Posts: 223	very nice. The wood stocked minis have a look that is hard to beat __________________ I would like either less corruption or more opportunity to participate in it.

March 4, 2011, 01:17 PM	#2
38superhero Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2007 Posts: 561	nice

March 4, 2011, 07:28 PM	#6
NESHOOTER Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 2009 Posts: 517	looks good enjoy, do the rifles still come with scope rings...

March 4, 2011, 07:33 PM	#7
Bamashooter Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2010 Posts: 1,860	Look around for a sale on the 20rd. mags. Midwayusa had a sale awhile back and I bought 4 20rd. ruger mags for $23 per mag.

March 4, 2011, 09:43 PM	#10
rugerfreak Senior Member Join Date: March 26, 2001 Posts: 819	Are 20 rounders even legal in NY?

March 4, 2011, 11:59 PM	#12
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	I used to mess around with Minis a lot, back in the early years. I did like a lot of guys, messing with the 20- and 30-round mags. Not worth it. Doesn't matter how well they work, they're mostly just a PITA for anything but playing. My preference came to be for the factory ten-round mags. They don't stick out so far that I couldn't carry the rifle at the balance point. For casual walk-around hunting, ten's a-plenty, I've always felt. Okay, eleven with one in the chamber. Still have a tenner; maybe one of these days I'll trade into another Mini.

March 5, 2011, 02:36 AM	#13
Willis83 Member Join Date: August 28, 2008 Location: Kansas Posts: 42	I agree with you Art. The ten rounders are about perfect for the Mini. Now Ruger just needs to make a ten rounder for the Mini-30.

March 5, 2011, 03:35 AM	#14
Magog Junior member Join Date: January 7, 2011 Posts: 222	I am jellos. That is fricken awesome. Someday I will have one.

March 5, 2011, 03:44 AM	#15
Ignition Override Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2008 Location: About 20 nm from the Big Muddy Posts: 2,884	It's beautiful. These have better sights than the older types, but also thicker, better barrels. Back in '08 I bought one built in '90, and was the most reliable gun I've owned, including bolt-actions, some having old WW2 magazine springs.

March 5, 2011, 06:22 PM	#17
stu925 Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2010 Location: New York Posts: 953	Thanks guys, I'm very happy with the purchase so far although I still haven't gotten to the range with it (this is killing me by the way). I just recently got bitten by the Mini bug, was looking at semi auto .223 Rem rifles and really liked the lines of it. I've also always had an affinity towards the Garand/M-14 type action, so the Mini was a no brainer. Especially since I've never been a fan of the AR design. Started looking around in November and had 1 deal (trade) fall through. Finally got the funds together and decided to do it. Spent yesterday afternon giving it thorough cleaning and mounting the scope to be used for load evaluation, thrilled to finally have it. Stu

March 5, 2011, 08:10 PM	#18
skoro Senior Member Join Date: April 30, 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 1,952	stu - I predict you'll be very happy with your new Mini. I've had mine for 2 years now. I've found that the 10 round magazines work best for me. The 20 rounders make for clumsy handling. They get in the way when shooting from a rest, too.

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