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September 15, 2019, 06:01 AM | #1 |
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Join Date: December 11, 2001
Location: Maryland
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Finally bought a Ruger Mini-14
So, I've had my eye on the Mini-14 since I bought my first gun around 20 years ago. For the past decade or so I have been thinking a wood-stocked 10 round Mini-14 with a reload nearby would be a perfect home defense gun for MD (.223/5.56 is about perfect for home defense, better combo of stopping power and lower over penetration than most other rounds, pc looking wood stock which is less likely to prejudice a MD jury after a self defense shoot than an AR would, quick reloads, etc). Well, I finally did it.
Last week, I was in Delaware for a 3 day training class for work and decided it was as good a time as ever. I hope to be able to shoot it for the first time either this weekend or early next week, but it definitely handles well and seems the perfect size for what I want. It is small and light enough for in-home self defense, and the long sight radius is much superior for accuracy over a handgun (even at short range). I'll still use my SIG P290 and Taurus 856 when I need something I can drop in my pocket before checking the door, and one of my larger revolvers, SIG P250 Compact (.45acp) or one of my CZs when I need something at hand/to get me to my rifle. Now, I just need to order some 10 round mags, get to a VA or PA gun show to pick up some 20 round mags (can't buy "high capacity" mags in MD but you can own and possess them), and figure out what other accessories (if any) I want. |
September 15, 2019, 06:52 AM | #2 |
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Finally bought a Ruger Mini-14
I really enjoy my older 188 series 14 .... I tossed a scope on mine and its minute of man at 100 yards :-)
Look at the accustrut stabilizer ... helped mine with horizontal stringing and looks really cool. |
September 15, 2019, 09:00 AM | #3 |
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Good for you for finally checking that box. Congrats on the new rifle.
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September 15, 2019, 09:25 AM | #4 |
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The Minis, especially the newer 58X series with the thicker barrels, are great guns. A compact, well balanced, traditional styled, carbine that is just a fun shooter. While I also have a couple of ARs, they are not my favorite platforms as I really am drawn to the traditional 'walnut and steel' style of the M1, M1 Carbine, and M14 so the Mini for me is a natural.
The longer, two clamp Accu-Stut is a good addition to the older 'pencil barreled' Series 180 through 197 Minis made up until 2004 while the newer 580 - 584 Series Minis currently made have a thicker barrel and don't suffer from barrel whip like the old ones do so the longer Accu-Strut isn't needed on them. Out of the box, Minis are about 2 MOA capable shooters with good ammo. But with some easy to do tweaks (reduced gas bushing to tame cycling, torqued gas block, shimmed receiver, 1911 buffers on op rod, trigger job, TechSight's Mini200 target aperture rear and thinned front blade 'NM' like sights, Choate HG and SOCOM Accu-Strut for cooling) and my 62grn Hornady fmj handloads, my Mini M14 is an honest sub 1¼ MOA shooter which is what my M1A with NM sights will do as well. (I sorta went all out on the Mini M14 thing as you can see what with a SOCOM strut mimicking the gas system, a real walnut stock, painted Choate's hand guard and front sight/FH combo, straight OE brand 20rd mags, 'lightening' hole in the safety lever, and M1 Carbine sling.) |
September 15, 2019, 12:47 PM | #5 |
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@chaim: There have always been some critics of the Ruger mini-14, but I think you made a good choice. The ruger is pretty much indestructible and totally reliable. I can understand your desire for some 20 and 30 round high capacity magazines, and I have some myself, but lately I've been buying only 10 round magazines. Sadly, I think we are not that far away from a national high capacity magazine ban, and moreover, I find that I like the 10 round magazines better. I think the smaller magazines improve the handling and aesthetics of the rifle, and 10 rounds in a easily detachable box magazine should prove enough for any likely situation of mine.
@COSteve: I love your modifications. I've looked at the choate handguard, but didn't like the black color, and then I find that you painted yours! I assume you used a "rattle can". What color and brand did you use and was there a special technique? Also with the choate handguard, have you had any problems with your hand getting hit by the operating rod? Secondly, I live in Temple TX and Waco TX is a bout 30 miles north from the range which I use. If I stand just right, I can hit Baylor University's campus in Waco with my empty brass. If I shoot in a strong, almost tornadic wind, I can usually hit Dallas/Ft. Worth with the brass (If not the city proper, then at least one of Dallas's southern suburbs.) So...Where or from what vender did you get the smaller gas bushing? And what diameter bushing hole did you install. Where does your brass now hit and is it still reliable for extracting and ejecting? Last edited by hammie; September 15, 2019 at 01:48 PM. |
September 16, 2019, 12:10 AM | #6 |
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Here ya go. It's a picture of my Mini before I sprung for the walnut stock showing the paint.
As to the Choate handguard not covering the op rod, there is no need for it to cover it. The Lawyers at Ruger neglected to take into account that almost 6 Million M1 Garands, over 6 Million M1 Carbines, and over 1.5 Million M14s; a total of almost 14 Million rifle were produced for the military and not a single one was ever made with a handguard that covers the op rod. No one has ever hurt their hand on it either. Last edited by COSteve; September 16, 2019 at 12:15 AM. |
September 16, 2019, 10:08 AM | #7 |
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Sure is handsome with the M-14 style handguard and accustrut.
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September 16, 2019, 08:00 PM | #8 |
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COSteve, I love what you did with yours. It's about $280 for a Accuracy Systems (and most other brand) wood stock and handguard. I'd love to get the walnut, but I'd rather use that towards a Mini-30 or a Mini-14 in 300BLK (before I bought this, I thought I just wanted a wood stock blued Mini-14, now I "need" a black stock/stainless metal .300 Blackout or Mini-30). Your spray paint finish looks good though, so I may try just the handguard and use a can of good walnut colored spray paint to paint (and hopefully mostly match up) the handguard and OEM wood stock. I'm not going to do all the work to try to get the accuracy up, it is a home defense and plinking rifle for me, but I do like the looks with the Accustrut so I may have to do that and the flash hider (though the flash hider may wait for the future Mini-30 or .30blk Mini-14 since I do want this to look as PC as possible in case I ever have to use it in a self-defense shoot here in MD). Is that the SOCOM sized Accustrut on the full sized Mini-14?
hammie, I will mostly buy 10 round mags since they are easier to buy- I can buy them online, while it is illegal to transfer "high cap" mags in MD, though legal to own, so I'd have to drive to other states to hunt them down. Also, since 10 round mags are more accepted here, and 20 round and 30 round mags are "assault rifle" mags, and I want a PC looking rifle for home defense, I want a few 10 rounders for home defense (1 in the gun, 1 or 2 in a mag holder on the stock, and 1 or 2 more easily accessible on the shelf in the gun safe above the gun). However, I'd like a couple 20 rounders for fun at the range (and I think the gun looks better with a 20 round mag as well). Edit: On second thought, the Choate handguards are plastic and thus take paint just fine. I'm not sure painting the stock a deeper walnut color will work out very well. Though I suppose I could try a darker stain instead of paint, and even the paint might work on the wood stock, and if it didn't I'd simply have to replace the stock (which I'd do anyway if I bought a walnut stock) and potentially save a lot of money if it did work out. Last edited by chaim; September 16, 2019 at 08:12 PM. |
September 16, 2019, 08:54 PM | #9 |
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I’ve had my current Mini14 for ten years now and it’s still my favorite of all time.
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September 17, 2019, 08:34 PM | #10 |
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I'm going to be the naysayer here. After years of trying different loads to improve it's 3-4 MOA accuracy and watching reloadable brass disappear into the twilight zone, all the while looking at a growing group of more-accurate AR's that each cost less, finally I one day asked myself why I was trying so hard to save it. And didn't have a good answer. So I sold it and haven't looked back. Just about any AR will outshoot a 185 series Mini and be just as reliable..and I'll be able to find the brass.
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September 17, 2019, 08:38 PM | #11 |
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I have both a 181 series and a 182 series Mini-14 that I have been shooting for nearly 40 years. I love them both and with quality magazines they have functioned flawlessly. If the newer models are anywhere near as good as the old ones I'm sure you will be pleased.
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September 18, 2019, 01:46 PM | #12 |
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You will like your Mini-14. And you don't need to do a single thing to it to make it work better. They work fine right out of the box. I have a 580 series Mini and even with the factory gas bushing it only throws brass about 10ft away all in a close pile.
Even shooting cheap Monarch steel case 223 I get around 2.5" groups at 100 yards with open sights and 62 year old eyes. Thats about all I can do with any open sights at that range. I did add a smaller gas bushing just because I had one but haven't test fired it yet. But I doubt it will change the gun much. I also have an AR. I could sell the AR if I had to but the Mini is not going anywhere. I have 8 Pro-Mag 20 round magazines and they work just as well as the one 20 round factory mag I have. I wish I had a few 10 round mags. About the only complaint I have is that with a 20 round mag installed it pokes me in the back when carried over the shoulder. I wish the sling could be side mounted like the sling set up on an M-1 Carbine so it way lay flat. Some complain about having to use an Allen Wrench to adjust the windage on the rear sight. I have mine adjusted for 55gr loads and its close enough for all the ammo in that weight that I don't need to tweak it any. Sort of a generic sight setting. I have read that some will replace the set screws on the rear sight with thumb screws that are used for holding glass globes in light fixtures. They are the same size thread. So if having to use an Allen Wrench to adjust the rear sight bugs you then thats an alternative option. My Mini is wood and stainless steel. I like it better than a plastic stock but thats just a personal choice. When the wood gets dinged and scratched I will strip it and refinish it darker. I have read that brown shoe dye works well on hardwood. |
September 18, 2019, 08:26 PM | #13 |
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Man, I wish I hadn’t read this thread right now. I’ve always wanted a Mini, but I couldn’t justify it. There’s nothing it can do that my ARs can’t do as well or better. But I’ve always liked the looks and the feel of the Mini, plus the fact that I can hold it next to an AR and show the ridiculousness of “assault weapons” bans. It’s always been on my list, but I may have to move it higher up...
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September 18, 2019, 09:03 PM | #14 |
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Displaying my ignorance here, but will the magazines for a .223 AR-15 fit in a .223 Mini?
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September 18, 2019, 09:14 PM | #15 |
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September 19, 2019, 06:12 AM | #16 | |
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I have an AR but would rather have the Mini. I like the looks of them and I enjoy shooting them more than the AR.
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September 19, 2019, 04:15 PM | #17 |
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I always wanted the Mini-30 so I bought one a few years ago.
I love the way it shoots and have never really thought much about changing it, but I really like the way that Min-14 looks with the walnut stock and the painted hand guard. I looked at Midway for their wood stocks for a Mini but they only offer it for the 14. Forgive my lack of knowledge, but will the 14 stock also work for the 30??
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September 20, 2019, 11:38 AM | #18 |
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@TXpipeliner: I don't know about interchangeability between the mini 14 and mini 30 stocks, but boyds (boydsgunstocks.com) has stocks specifically for the mini 30, offering many laminate versions, or solid walnut or solid maple. I priced out a standard walnut for one stock design at around 180$. The laminates are usually cheaper.
@Ratshooter: The pro-mag brand has always been troublesome for me. However, the one mini 14 pro-mag, that I have, has performed flawlessly. Since my experience in this case, mirrors yours, I guess I can't criticize pro-mag in this instance. Most other mini 14 users seem to differ on this, but various other non ruger brand magazines have always worked well for me. I just tried some 10 round, "John Masen" ruger mini 14 magazines (item #386240 from midway). They were 25$, available and work fine. |
September 20, 2019, 02:48 PM | #19 | |
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Quote:
After adjusting they work perfectly. some complain about the price of factory mags but they are also hardened steel and should last a lifetime. They sure feel like much better made mags than the aluminum mags I have for my AR. I know AR mags are cheap but I like quality when I can get it. And if you think $30 for a 30 round Mini-14 mag is expensive price a 5 round mag for a CZ 22 rifle. |
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September 20, 2019, 07:15 PM | #20 |
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@ratshooter: Yes. Yes. I had the same problem with a couple of mini 14 mags. A little fitting of the catch on the magazine, followed by a few passes on the buffing wheel and they work fine. I did the same thing as you. I live by your words (and frankenmauser's, and bob wright, and cheapshooter, and kraigwy, and many others here).
As for COSteve's modifications, I found these sources: accu-strut from sunflower outdoor sports in Lawrence KS, tech sights mini 14 receiver sight directly from tech-sights, and the reduced bushings from accuracy systems inc. It appears the reducing the inside gas bushing diameter from .080 to .045 to .050 seem to tame the ejection but still give reliability. I'm for sure going to do the bushings and receiver sights. |
September 21, 2019, 11:07 AM | #21 |
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Hammie depending on which gun you have you may not need all those after market parts. The Accustrut is really for the straight taper barrels found on the older guns. The new tapered barrel guns don't need it. That new barrel adds 3/4 of a pound to the rifle just because of the extra steel.
If your gun throws brass more than 15 feet then yes on the bushings. I have had two of the 580 series guns. My first was a very early 580 with the straight taper barrel and it threw brass across the range. Gas bushings fixed that. But my newer 580 has a much smaller hole in the barrel than the first gun. I added a bushing but it really wasn't needed. On the Tech Sights I'll leave that choice up to you. You may like them. I am happy with the factory sights. And yes they are a pain to adjust in the field but once sighted in they don't move. Most of my handguns have adjustable sights but once set I rarely ever move them. Same with the Mini's sights. For those that have never heard of it this is the go to site for all things Mini-14/30. Go to the forums tab at the top. https://www.perfectunion.com/ |
September 21, 2019, 06:21 PM | #22 |
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@ratshooter: Hey! Thanks for the link to "perfectunion". I'm sure there's much to learn. My mini 14 is a 184 series, but I haven't been disappointed in its accuracy, and so I'll probably omit the accu-strut but do the rest of COSteve's modifications. Of course, when I said that my mini 14 threw it's empty brass 30 miles away to the Baylor campus in Waco, I was exaggerating...but not by much.
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September 22, 2019, 12:47 PM | #23 |
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You can really control the brass throwing by getting a smaller gas bushing for your gun. You can also add a stronger recoil spring and a buffer if you want. But stock the older Minis killed in front and maimed to the side with ejected brass.
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September 25, 2019, 12:42 AM | #24 |
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Minis
I've always had a soft spot for the Mini family. Managed to scare up an early, wood handguard for my Mini30, and that early, retro appearance looks good to me.
The Mini14 was the approved patrol carbine for the Nat. Park Service for about a decade or so, but they were not common. Ultra conservative ( I used to joke we took the guns from the museum's for patrol at night) and always image conscious, not many parks/park administrators bought of the 1980's into the idea of a mag fed semiauto carbine for their revolver toting, happy, dopey, friendly ranger staff. Nowadays, the system/policy has changed, perspective has changed (at least a bit) and the AR is common with the agency. The AR is "the Way", present and future. There are usually a lot of Mini bashers that surface on these type threads. I'm not one of them, and have always had a soft spot for those carbines. But I cannot see for the life of me how Ruger can afford to make them and sell them at the current asking price. Especially now that Ruger makes their own AR platform. Despite my affections, I think the days of the Mini are numbered. |
September 25, 2019, 01:51 PM | #25 | |
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Quote:
I like the one AR I own but I'm not in the market for a second one. I like the easy parts supply and the easy interchange of calibers but just don't like the way it feels in my hands. The Mini just feels like I think a rifle should feel. And thats all subjective and just my personal taste. But Ruger has made and sold so many that they will be around for a long time. And if you think they are expensive now just wait and see what they sell for if Ruger drops them. |
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