PART ONE (15:21 minutes)
PART TWO (15minutes)
-TW
Wednesday, December 07, 2022
Why Won't the Ruger Mini-14 Just Die?
For at least couple of decades, the Ruger Mini-14 was America's favorite semi-automatic rifle. But that time has passed. If you're seen with one today, The Internet is likely to label you either a Fudd or a snowflake. In spite of that, the Mini-14 is still in production today, and well loved by many shooters. But... why? In the first installment of a two-part series, we're looking at how the Mini-14 got to where it is today.
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The mini is an over developed BB gun...
ReplyDeleteSure it's got a few "cool" attributes, but the cons out weigh the pros.
Pros:
looks cool
detachable mag
light weight
somewhat reliable
Cons:
difficult to mount real optics
must remove optics to pull the rotating bolt
not as accurate as one would like
magazines are over priced
*The best way to over come the cons is to obtain the Samson folding stock and the Ultimak
for scope mounting...New pros are, once these improvements are accomplished you can sell it for far more than it's worth...and what you have in it.
What exactly is a 'real optic' on a rifle that was designed 50 years ago?
DeleteAnd what's so hard about pulling a scope off that's mounted in Ruger rings? I can't think of a system that's a more positive 'return to zero' than a set of Ruger rings. Thank you, Lenard Brownell.
Biggest con is the 40yd 20 gauge patterns it throws at 100.
DeleteMy biggest con is it's more difficult to disassemble and reassemble than an AR.
DeleteBack in the late '80s Ruger had some great ads about their Mini Thirty featuring an Arizona rancher and his daughter. I've been in love with them ever since.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.vintagepaperads.com/assets/images/BY0197.jpg
Both the gal and her dad were featured in that year's catalog, too.
They're still around and are real fine neighbors.
DeleteI'm pissed at Rugers for canceling their carbine in .40 after I was on a wait list for six months.
ReplyDeleteSame here with the Gold Label and the Red Label in 28 ga.
DeleteI've had two, both in the mid to late eighties. One blue, one stainless. The first was blue and was so-so in accuracy. I think the only thing it ever ate was issue 5.56. Sold it when I was low on cash. The SS one though, it shot groups that were actually patterns. Under eight inches bagged up on a bench was more than it was capable of. Ditched that one riki-tik and never looked at another one.
ReplyDeleteI generally like Ruger firearms. Had a 77V in .308 in the same time frame that everything not dead nutz on was my fault. A SS Security Six, six inch that would make anybody look like a good revolver shooter. That thing killed a LOT of 'yotes at White Sands.
I’ll never forgive myself for selling my security six and the marlin in 357 not to mention the collapsible stock .30 carbine with pistol grip!
DeleteI had a sweet, scoped Mini-14 for hunting after I had catarac surgery and iron sights didn't cut if for me anymore...it was a reliable rifle, took down a 350 pound wild boar with it and the only downside that I could see was, if you didn't have a Ruger magazine, any aftermarket one would jam up after the first round...sold it last year for $750, made a little money off it...
ReplyDeleteReally... no one mentions AR-15? Take a military round specified for groups smaller than an inch at 100 yards, put it in a mini14 and got 4 inch groups. Yes I wonder how it ever became popular. Sorry, but it is dead.
ReplyDelete4 inch groups, dang that is amazing for one of these turds. I worked at a gunsmithing shop here in middle TN for several years, these would show up regularly. Accuracy was the main issue, after that was feeding cause the only cycle well with stock mags.
DeleteGuys, one day a mad customer came in with a mini-30 ( 7.62x39) & the best it would do was 12 inch groups, multiple ammo, some with the table vise !
Stay away from the damn things
Don't know why I'm not a fan, it's an M1 carbine, M14 fusion clone (good things). I had a 70's stainless and a 70's blued Mimi, both did shotgun patterns. were turned into trading stock.
ReplyDeleteTree Mike
Because that’s what the A-Team used is why.
ReplyDeleteyep - correct
Deletethe 1980's stainless models with factory folding stock, yellow and black box - bring STUPID money on gunbroker
I prefer the mini-14 to the AR-15.
ReplyDeleteI could talk about the extractor, or the negatives of direct impingement, but really, it’s the wobble.
I HATE the fricking wobble.
I also have bad memories of toting a firearm closely related to the AR, and it was an unreliable piece of crap. I realize a large part of that was the military never throwing a magazine away, but the bad taste lingers.
No gripe about the mini-14. Have had one for years. Quick to the shoulder, peep sites are a plus and accurate to 150yds. Main attraction is that it isn't an ugly black gun. Beanos think superior firepower is a must. Okay, I'm not running anywhere.
ReplyDeleteI bought my Mini-14 about 15+ years ago. Made in 80's? It had a beautiful walnut stock and the pencil barrel. $350.00. It keyholed the target at 30 feet. Could not hit the barn. Always fired any ammo and was not loud like an AR. Light recoil. I checked closer and it looked like the breech and barrel had been cleaned with a grinding wheel. Disgusted with it I sold it for quite a bit more and bought my first AR. I still regret that sale because I could have re-barreled it or rebuilt it for less than a new one. And maybe hit the barn.
ReplyDeleteMy new one was always reliable and was reasonably accurate to boot. Scoped with a 2-7x Redfield it was a consistent 2 MOA rifle. Guess I got lucky.
ReplyDeleteReading these comments…
ReplyDeleteI am convinced there was NO ELECTION FRAUD.
Good God.
Bill Ruger could not be reached for comment..
ReplyDeleteCIII
I've had one since '92 and I still love it. It nicely bump fires from the shoulder, is accurate, and with the Ruger plastic cammo stock doesn't draw attention. I've been offered 4x what I paid for it and still won't sell it.
ReplyDeleteI have a Mini-14 Ranch 5855, and it will shoot a US Quarter at 100yds.
ReplyDeleteThey don't make muscle cars in the factory, and there's a laundry list of improvements necessary to make one a shooter. And then, there's finding the right ammo for best results. I shoot up to 1/4 mile with it.
There are better rifles. And they group on a US Dime at 100yds.
I put an Accu-Strut on mine and it did wonders for the accuracy.
Deletehttp://accu-strut.com/main-page.html
Stomp an AR and a mini-14 into mud and then see which one fires. My money on mini-14.
ReplyDeleteRuger has been making them for a long time. Ruger has sold a butt-load of them. Ruger continues to make them. I assume the reason they continue to make them is because people buy them which results in the company making money. If you don't like the Mini 14, or don't want a Mini 14, don't buy one.
ReplyDeleteI have a mini-14. My first gun was an M1 carbine. The Mini reminds me of it but in a more capable cartridge. It's a nostalgia thing for me.
ReplyDeleteMini owners can wander around here:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.accuracysystemsinc.com/index.php#