Catpop
Member
No funds on mine, just a little time at the bench correcting Ruger’s basic design flaw.
The Ruger Mini-14 Truck/Camp Carbine
- Thread starter Garandimal
- Start date
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Which is?
I've accurized a number of M1's but haven't ever handled a mini.Regards,
hps
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Garandimal
member
Happier'n a pig in **** for < 3 MOA from field positions w/ bulk ammo and aperture sights.
It's a service carbine.
And 6" at 200 yards? Will fix any problem on my horizon.
GR
That's good enough if the target's big enough but I pick on little stuff.
How does it handle handloads? Had to quit shootin' irons about 20 years ago so would have to use a scope (only slight advantage over irons if you can see 'em.)
Regards,
hps
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Garandimal
member
That's good enough if the target's big enough but I pick on little stuff.
Had to quit shootin' irons about 20 years ago so would have to use a scope (only slight advantage over irons if you can see 'em.)
Regards,
hps
Truck/Camp carbine - not precision paper-puncher.
2.5 MOA w/ quality bulk ammo, chambered in a round all but useless outside 300 yards.
Solid, durable, light weight, and handy.
Field accurate and hammer reliable.
And, because it throws brass 15-20 feet?
...Exercise Equipment.
Speedo66
Member
I bought an AR just before the last election, but then decided it really wasn’t me. Sold it and replaced it with a new wood and SS Mini-14, very pleased.
My only gripe is magazines. Factory are on the pricy side, and most aftermarket don’t work well. So, buy once, cry once. I’m good now, and remain happy with the gun.
Due to design, the insides stay cleaner than the AR, and aside from crappy aftermarket mags, I’ve had zero problems with it. The action reminds me of the M-14 I humped in the Army, just a smaller version. Wonder why they call it the Mini-14?
CDNN every so often carried mags under the OE brand (not Ruger) that resemble M-14 mags, 20 rounds straight no curve. Heard they work well and really give the Mini the M-14 look. Love to find a couple.
My only gripe is magazines. Factory are on the pricy side, and most aftermarket don’t work well. So, buy once, cry once. I’m good now, and remain happy with the gun.
Due to design, the insides stay cleaner than the AR, and aside from crappy aftermarket mags, I’ve had zero problems with it. The action reminds me of the M-14 I humped in the Army, just a smaller version. Wonder why they call it the Mini-14?
CDNN every so often carried mags under the OE brand (not Ruger) that resemble M-14 mags, 20 rounds straight no curve. Heard they work well and really give the Mini the M-14 look. Love to find a couple.
FL-NC
Member
Definitely up for the task, but a bit spendy for me to keep in a truck.
jmorris
Member
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2005
- Messages
- 24,135
I have the Ranch with the mechanical ejector that chunks the brass into the next zip code. My friends regular mini 14 with the spring loaded ejector is better at keeping brass handy for pick up. The rear sight is also better IMO, whims is a good thing because they don’t have the good scope mounting points that he Ranch does.
Back when they were cheaper than AR’s they made more sense to me than they do now but as they say in the car business, there is a butt for every seat.
Back when they were cheaper than AR’s they made more sense to me than they do now but as they say in the car business, there is a butt for every seat.
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Garandimal
member
Have a 20-round, but just leave it loaded for zombies.
What gripes me is that the 10-round Ruger Factory mags, that I much prefer, are essentially the same price as the 20's - $29.
That gets me 272 rounds worth of enbloc clips.
GR
I've never felt a need for a bunch of mags, so my data pool is pretty small, but I've had 3 or 4 of the John Mason branded 10rnd mags that have been flawless.
Those were about 10 bucks.
My particular mini was capable of 1.5moa accuracy with little work and factory ammo.
Handloaders with 65gr sgks, and W748, I shot a decent pile of goats and sheep out to 250-300yds, and never needed a second shot. Took about as many pigs at 100 or less, again with no issues.
MOA accuracy is nice, all of my AR builds were capable of it, but the only Ar builds I ever actually used for more than plinking were my .458, 300aac, and ultralight Grendel. Ars are a great platform, and I enjoy building them, but there's just something I LIKE about shooting, and carrying a mini.
theotherwaldo
Member
I would consider using my Mini 14 for a truck gun if I wasn't already using an SKS folder for that purpose. After all, I functionally got the Mini for free - the purchase price of the rifle and accessories was less than the price of the scope that ir was wearing.
I feel Ruger took the Mini-14 in a bad direction years ago by trying to make it compete with AR's, slapping black plastic stocks on them, not to mention that God-awful plastic folding stock on some models, and then trying to stick rails on them. That, coupled with Ruger's inattention to accuracy concerns, and the inept methods of dealing with accuracy on the so-called target models that they used to produce, have led to diminishing sales, especially at a time when AR's can be bought in the $600 range.
Ruger, if you are listening, the Mini-14 is never going to be an AR, and it doesn't need to be. It is a derivative of the M1 Garand, the M14, and M1 Carbine. Stop with the plastic stocks and use nice wood. Work on the accuracy issues by using better barrels, better sights, and better triggers. Make a folding stock model that uses the old metal folding stock of the AC556. Don't market it as a tacticool AR competitor, but as the derivative of a historical rifle that can be used for ranch work, home defense, and plinking.
Ruger, if you are listening, the Mini-14 is never going to be an AR, and it doesn't need to be. It is a derivative of the M1 Garand, the M14, and M1 Carbine. Stop with the plastic stocks and use nice wood. Work on the accuracy issues by using better barrels, better sights, and better triggers. Make a folding stock model that uses the old metal folding stock of the AC556. Don't market it as a tacticool AR competitor, but as the derivative of a historical rifle that can be used for ranch work, home defense, and plinking.
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Garandimal
member
Shanghai McCoy
Member
Me too...
NIGHTLORD40K
Member
I wonder how much of the Mini's reputation for inaccuracy is thanks to Hannibal's gun- thousands of rounds downrange, and not a single hit on anything!Me too...
Shanghai McCoy
Member
ThomasT
Member
I have an AR,but still prefer my 5816. I have 3 of the Ruger 20 round mags,but recently purchased a 5 round mag. I really like it for shooting off-hand.
JonhB40 where did you get a wood handguard on a newer Mini at? I really need one of those.
ThomasT
Member
I have a 580 series wood and stainless and love it. I had an earlier 580 that still came with the pencil barrel. I screwed up by selling it after I bought a newer 580 with the tapered barrel. The pencil barrel shot just fine and was 3/4s of a pound lighter.
I have one 20 round factory mag and 3 five round factory mags. I also have 8-9 Pro-Mag 20 round mags and they have been ever bit as good as the factory mag. They are so close I thought maybe they made the mags for Ruger but I found out thats not the case. I did have to fit a couple of the PMs. They were a little hard to rock in and lock in place. The fix was simple. Just file a little off the bottom of the catch. Except these are hardened steel. They don't file very easy. But now they rock in place and lock up a little more solid than the factory mag.
My one and only gripe is that with a 20 round mag installed and you sling it over your shoulder the mag digs in your back. I wish there was a way to side sling it like an M1 Carbine. I need to get a couple of 10 round mags and that would solve the problem. But its a real small problem.
Even with cheap Monarch ammo from Academy I get around 2-2.5" groups with open sights and 60 year old eyes. Thats as good as I can do with open sights on my AR.
I can't believe this thread has made it two pages without any Mini bashing by the AR guys.
I have one 20 round factory mag and 3 five round factory mags. I also have 8-9 Pro-Mag 20 round mags and they have been ever bit as good as the factory mag. They are so close I thought maybe they made the mags for Ruger but I found out thats not the case. I did have to fit a couple of the PMs. They were a little hard to rock in and lock in place. The fix was simple. Just file a little off the bottom of the catch. Except these are hardened steel. They don't file very easy. But now they rock in place and lock up a little more solid than the factory mag.
My one and only gripe is that with a 20 round mag installed and you sling it over your shoulder the mag digs in your back. I wish there was a way to side sling it like an M1 Carbine. I need to get a couple of 10 round mags and that would solve the problem. But its a real small problem.
Even with cheap Monarch ammo from Academy I get around 2-2.5" groups with open sights and 60 year old eyes. Thats as good as I can do with open sights on my AR.
I can't believe this thread has made it two pages without any Mini bashing by the AR guys.
amd6547
Member
I had a stainless Mini years ago that was wildly inaccurate...it’s groups at 50yds were larger than the M1 Carbine it replaced did at 100yds. I still prefer a good M1 Carbine to any Mini 14 made.
I got the hand guard (and stock) from Accuracy Systems.........
https://www.ruger-mini-14-firearms.com/HandGuard.php
https://www.ruger-mini-14-firearms.com/HandGuard.php
Catpop
Member
Barrel whip due to insufficient diameter (9/16”)Which is?
Regards,
hps
RUGER improved it a little in later models with a 5/8” barrel, but it really needs a 3/4” minimum diameter.
I solved it with an 1 1/4” shaft bored to sleeve the barrel, but only from barrel band to muzzle. Others have tried a m14 looking strut.
Problem is the original design won’t allow a larger diameter barrel without extensive modifications.
ThomasT
Member
Well, the proof is in the pudding; it obviously works!
Thank you, sir, for sharing your solution. Now you got my interest up again in a mini.
Regards,
hps
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