damaged brass from Mini-14

[tarheelreloader]

I'm curious to know if anyone has experienced a problem with the Ruger Mini-14 causing damage to brass. I have a Mini-14 which is a 582 series that I purchased new about a year ago. I use almost exclusively Federal Lake City ammo. The rifle is chambered in 5.56 and that is what I shoot out of it. I'm not interested in shooting the eye out of a gnat at 250 yds., just fun plinking and poking holes in paper with friends. Problem is that I want to reload my brass and SOMEHOW about 15 to 20 per cent wind up with the case mouths so badly bent I wouldn't even think about trying to reload them. I called Ruger and the tech there said this is not uncommon for the Mini-14. Said it was "the nature of the beast" because the mini ejects cases so forcefully. What do you guys say?

 

[Catpop]

Not had a problem with my 581 and i reload all my cases from the mini 14. If it is forceful ejection, then a smaller gas bushing may be the answer. Or an adjustable gas block.

 

[Driftertank]

I say "pics." If the mouth is just flattened off on one side, I'd personally get a steel taper punch, press it into the case mouth til its roughly round, then reload as usual.

If it's pinching them shut or pushing in the shoulder.....I dunno. Guess it's just Tango Sierra.....

 

[orionengnr]

I have owned four Minis in the past 25 years.
Aside from tossing the brass into the next county, I have not had any problems with the brass.

 

[tarheelreloader]

Not sure if I'm doing this right but here goes. Driftertank I have pics but I'm not sure how to post them yet. The cases are basically winding up with a flat sided mouth or a "V" shaped dent. And I'm wanting to know if there is something wrong with the rifle that is causing this

 

[tarheelreloader]

Driftertank, I have pics but not sure how to post them yet. The case mouths are winding up with either a small flat spot or a "V" shaped dent.

 

[rcmodel]

It's normal.

Straighten them with a tapered punch enough to get them in your sizing die.

Once sized, they will be perfectly round again, and fine to reload.

rc

 

[tarheelreloader]

Thanks rcmodel. I appreciate your reply. In the back of my mind I was thinking there might be a problem with the rifle.

 

[dullone]

Mine is a 581 series and does what yours does to the brass. Don't know if it does it to all the brass, but at least to the brass I can find

 

[tarheelreloader]

Thanks dullone. It's usually about 15 to 20 percent as I have said. Have done some other research online and I'm pretty much convinced that this IS normal for the mini 14.

 

[PJSprog]

tarheelreloader, if memory serves me correctly, I think you can't post pics until you have attained a certain number of posts here. (I could be wrong)

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

my newest is also a 581 series and like all minis ejects like crazy....I would blame it on weak brass.

 

[W.E.G.]

I've reloaded many a case with a dented case mouth or case body.

I've even reloaded brass that was so badly dented that it looked like the brass was nearly TORN at the point of the dent. I've reloaded well over 1000 such pieces.

Not one failure yet.

If the case mouth has a chunk torn out of it, or if the brass is folded back over itself at the case mouth, I will discard that case.

Otherwise, unless the case mouth is so badly collapsed that the expander ball cannot enter the case, you are wasting your time if you are trying to straighten every case mouth before running it in the sizing die.

 

[M1key]

I'm with Catpop...smaller gas bushing. Should reduce violent ejection. Or at least avoid 5.56 Nato loadings and stick with tamer 223 Win loads (if that helps).

M

 

[TJohn]

Every factory stock Mini 14 I have ever shot dimpled the brass somewhat, so it appears normal for them. Like others have said, perhaps installing a smaller gas bushing will reduce the dimples and the distance the brass is thrown. I have seen the bushings sold in sets containing three different sizes, so that you can adjust it to what works for you.

 

[stoky]

I use a pair of needle nose pliers, with both jaws inside the case mouth, just enough to get it where the neck expander can get to it. Semi autos rifles are hard on brass. Have you seen what an H&K does to it?

 

[Reloadron]

Start with a Google of "ruger mini 14 slow motion" and check out some of the videos out there like this one for example. They pretty much show the whole violent operation and why case mouths are frequently slammed. When they are real bad just do as RC suggested and open them up a little and then resize and load. So really, yes, it is normal.

Ron

 

[Sunray]

"...the case mouths so badly bent..." M1 Rifles do the same thing. Open 'em with needle nosed pliers and reload as per normal. The case is whacking the receiver on the way out. No big deal. Rifle's fine too.

 

[dh1633pm]

There is an active Mini forum at the PU. Gas bushings or an adjustable gas block should do the trick. There are a few out there that will make them for you. Gun Doc used to be the guy, but he has retired. There are still video on his website for lots of mini related things. I sent mine to ASI for their deluxe package.

Don't you hate it when you shoot and your brass goes four or five stations to the right every time? Try that with Mini 6.8 brass that you paid a bunch for.

 

[kwg020]

catpop gave you the answer you need in post #2. You need to tame down the ejection by changing to a smaller gas bushing. You can find more information at perfectunion.com. Unless the brass is permanently creased you brass is salvageable and reusable.

kwg