Ruger Mini-14

[Bawanna]

I dug my 183 series (wood stock with tupperware handguard) out last night with thoughts of offering it up but after holding it again I'm not sure I can do it. I too never warmed to the AR even though I ride herd on 45 of them at work. Had my own Match Target Colt for a long time, seldom shot it. A cool rifle for sure but still didn't gel with me.
Been pondering an M4 carbine size but it's still a 223. Really want a Scout Squad M1. Should have bought when I first got the want right before the big scare last election when they doubled in price.

[mcbowflex]

I have a mini 14 that came with the ATI collapsible folding stock. As far as the rifle goes, I like it. Reliable, it can handle 5.56 ammo(except one model. Target, I think), you can feed it cheap ammo. I do have a few issues with it, though. The ATI stock will eventually be replaced with either a Tapco, or a Hogue traditional rifle stock. The ATI stock is kinda cheapy, and the picatinny rail on the top pretty much makes the iron sights useless. The other two issues are optics mounting, and magazines. Optics are possible, and if you get one Ruger should provide scope rings, but if you want to put a red dot on there you'll have to buy a mount made just for the mini. My stock will allow for a red dot to be mounted up top, but it is pretty far away from your face which I think would be awkward. Mags are as much as an issue as they had been. Fortunately, Tapco has made reliable and cheap mags. It used to be paying full price for factory mags was the only reliable option.

[jeepster09]

Using this scope mount iron sights stillwork.On a Hougue stock.

[Micha2u]

For years I wanted to get a Mini-14.

A few months ago I saw a video that Hickok45 put out on the internet and he commented that he decided to buy the Mini-14 Tactical that he was shooting/testing from Ruger.

After thinking about it, I decided to purchase a new 582 series Mini-14 and I really like it. It is the tactical version with high capacity magazine, black synthetic stock and flash hider. Using the iron sights, the factory trigger and my older eyes, I am getting about 2-3 m.o.a. groups at 100 yds.

I agree that the Tapco 30 round mags work great and I have a few of the more expensive Ruger factory mags for backup.

My Mini-14 shoots the same ammo as the AR but it is cleaner because of the gas system and it's a lot of fun to shoot. It seems to work with any ammo that I throw at it no matter if it is steel from Russia, brass factory loads from the USA or my own reloads.

I'm glad that I got it.

[Popeye]

I didn't much care for the plastic upper handguard so I reconfigured one from an M1a.
rifles 012 (800x600).jpg

[jeepster09]

Looks very nice,good job!

[nmkahrshooter]

The mini-14 would be and is a great rifle! I own one of the newer ones and have never had a problem.

[Chief Joseph]

After seeing what's going on in Sydney, I may have to buckle and get one soon. We can't be far behind.

[Popeye]

Looks very nice,good job!

Thank You jeepster it was a fair amount of work to get it to fit properly, but I like it. Some of the older mini's used to come with the wooden upper hand guard but ruger doesn't make them anymore. I looked all over to buy a used one without much luck. A friend gave me a plastic one from and M1a to see if I could reconfigure one to fit my mini.
rifles 001.jpg
That turned out to be no problem. The wooden one turned out to be a lot more work than I originally thought. I like it though and without the scope on it at first glance many people think it's a M1 carbine until they take a longer look at it.
The Mini gets a bad rap and maybe rightfully so with the older models. I can't speak for them, but these newer models with the thicker barrels and refined recievers and bolts are fine with me.

[Bawanna]

I was looking on gunbroker the other day and was surprised to see so many with the wood forearm. That was the 180 series, some pretty nice ones too.

I have the one like yours, mine is a 183 with the plastic. Still great guns but they look better with wood.

[Popeye]

Those woooden upper hand guards are harder to find then a local GS that wants to sell High Point Pistols. I was hoping to find one as I thought it would been easier to fit to the newer 580 model then trying to converting an M1a upper. All things considered it was a nice little project and I think it turned out pretty well. It did take a little experimenting with a couple different colors of stains to come up with a color that was close to the Ruger stock. Saving the cut off pieces from the M1a hanguard came in handy to use as test pieces for the stain. Mounting the clip that holds it on the barrel took a little thought but a little creative thinking and a 3/8" poprivit took care of that. The plastic M1A plastic handguard in that second pic doesn't look to bad either but the mini 14 plastic cover is god awful and does nothing for the classic looks of what is a fairly nice looking rifle otherwise.

Getsome --If you are having shoulder pain from recoil and you like classic looking wood and blue steel rifles I think you'll be pretty happy with the Mini 14. The weight (about 7 lbs empty for the ranch rifle.) is not bad the overall balance is good and reciever doesn't seem to get to dirty even after shooting say 50+ rounds through it do to the fact that the burnt gases that cycle the action never make it back to the reciever. I'm a big fan of the M1 Garand, M1a,and the M1 carbine, so the mini14 was something I knew I'd like from the start. Good Luck.

[xb12s]

After seeing what's going on in Sydney, I may have to buckle and get one soon. We can't be far behind.

What's going on in Sydney?

I also have a mini-14. Just picked it up new a month ago. My sights need a bit of adjustment, but otherwise I'm happy with it. It took brass, russian, steel, whatever. A Texas DPS friend had recommended the 20 round magazines (Ruger brand) and only load with 18. They found issues with 30 rd mags more often than the 20s. They also found less issues when only loaded to 18 than fully loaded.

[Chief Joseph]

What's going on in Sydney?

I also have a mini-14. Just picked it up new a month ago. My sights need a bit of adjustment, but otherwise I'm happy with it. It took brass, russian, steel, whatever. A Texas DPS friend had recommended the 20 round magazines (Ruger brand) and only load with 18. They found issues with 30 rd mags more often than the 20s. They also found less issues when only loaded to 18 than fully loaded.

The muslims are raging there. They're out of control.

[xb12s]

The muslims are raging there. They're out of control.

I can't understand them at all. Their hatred is so misdirected and insane. I don't understand whey their insanity and violence is tolerated by governments anywhere.

I hadn't seen any news about Sydney. I'll look for it.

[Goldstar225]

I carried an M-16 for almost 20 years, an AR on patrol for a few more. I know that the AR is more accurate ( though the Mini is accrate enough for my purpose). I still prefer the handling of the Mini-14. Dunno, it just feels more natural to me.