Lament of a Left Handed Mini-14 Owner

[Speedo66]

So the new tactical Mini version comes from the factory with the cool looking Samson folding stock, an exact replica of the original Ruger stocks. Yeah, the ones the “A Team” used.

But folding stocks in general don’t work well for left handed shooters. The bulge at the joint and the slightly offset position of the stock itself tend to throw off sighting for lefties.

While I haven’t tried the Ruger version, I did buy, try, and reject those by Ramline, Choate, and another brand whose name escapes me at this point. All nice, but not for a lefty.

Finally found one, from a member here, that fits me well, sights line up, and looks good, too. It‘s a Federal Ordinance underfolder, unfortunately no longer in production.

But they’re out there on the used market, and if you’re a lefty, this folding stock can work for you and your Mini.

 

[1KPerDay]

Interesting. I shoot long guns lefty and have a Mini but never tried a folding stock so I didn't know about the issues. I have a couple SCARS and they work ok despite the hinge and the adjustment button/molding being right in the way. And I have a Vepr AK with a bonesteel folder that folds to the left so it's ok.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Being a lefty, that's something I never even considered. I remember the Butler Creek wire based folder. They were about $120 back in the '80s. The only thing I did to a factory folder was put heat wrap around the metal. I hated cold metal next to my face.

 

[Lennyjoe]

Which direction does the brass fly when shooting? Is it about the same direction as an AR? I’ve always wanted a mini

 

[berettaprofessor]

I have a side folding charger, had the side folding Butler creek, and others. I'm a lefty and never noticed a problem. But I have two similar underfolders for 10/22's and prefer them because of their lack of bulk. Also had a Law Tactical for an AR...and didn't really like it...heavy and bulky.

 

[berettaprofessor]

Which direction does the brass fly when shooting?

If it's like my former Mini-14, somewhere in the direction of the moon.....finding the brass was always impossible.

 

[Speedo66]

Yeah, they tend to be overgassed, throw the brass pretty far.

But, there are replacement parts, smaller gas orifices, that can bring that under control.

 

[Show Me]

Which direction does the brass fly when shooting? Is it about the same direction as an AR? I’ve always wanted a mini

They aren't bullseye shooters and they fling brass where ever they want. I love them.

 

[Varminterror]

Ya' know, if we just all agree to tell everyone online that Mini-14's don't work for left handed shooters, we'd be doing a huge favor to about 11% of Americans, and would save the souls of around new 300 people per day... Almost worthy of Saint-hood.

 

[1KPerDay]

Ya' know, if we just all agree to tell everyone online that Mini-14's don't work for left handed shooters, we'd be doing a huge favor to about 11% of Americans, and would save the souls of around new 300 people per day... Almost worthy of Saint-hood.

Standard minis (and garands and M14s) are almost like they were specifically designed for left-handed use. The safety is truly ambidextrous, the magazine release is truly ambidextrous, and the charging handle allows a firing grip to control the rifle while the right hand runs the bolt. It’s awesome.

Add a RH biased folding stock though… and things could get messy

 

[1KPerDay]

Which direction does the brass fly when shooting? Is it about the same direction as an AR? I’ve always wanted a mini

Generally up and to the right and about 4 parking spots over, minimum. The original Mini launched brass into orbit, but the Ranch Rifle was intended to have a scope mounted so they swapped some bits to move ejection sort of starboard to clear the optic. All modern minis are really “Ranch Rifles” with scope mounting points cast into the receiver, so they more or less throw brass to the right. Still launch it quite a ways though.

 

[Speedo66]

Ya' know, if we just all agree to tell everyone online that Mini-14's don't work for left handed shooters, we'd be doing a huge favor to about 11% of Americans, and would save the souls of around new 300 people per day... Almost worthy of Saint-hood.

Cute! But for those of us who enjoy Mini’s, despite their idiosyncrasies, lefties included, it doesn’t matter.

We know a precision shooter won’t be happy, but that’s not why we buy the gun. It’s a homage to several US service rifles, even if all the details aren’t exact. And it’s not an AR, and we don’t want it to be. In fact, that’s a plus. Wood and steel lovers unite!

As far as the folding stock, it’s not as accurate, it’s not as comfortable, the cheek weld is not as good, but damn, it is cool! lol
And it can be changed back to the original stock in less than 5 minutes, so who cares.

 

[Show Me]

Ya' know, if we just all agree to tell everyone online that Mini-14's don't work for left handed shooters, we'd be doing a huge favor to about 11% of Americans, and would save the souls of around new 300 people per day... Almost worthy of Saint-hood.

That's funny I think. Not true. But coming from an AR assembler that's job security.

 

[Show Me]

Generally up and to the right and about 4 parking spots over, minimum. The original Mini launched brass into orbit, but the Ranch Rifle was intended to have a scope mounted so they swapped some bits to move ejection sort of starboard to clear the optic. All modern minis are really “Ranch Rifles” with scope mounting points cast into the receiver, so they more or less throw brass to the right. Still launch it quite a ways though.

Well a ranch rifle needs to eject smartly. You don't want to hit your horse on the head. They launch brass from 1;30 to 4:00 depending load and mood. Scope on a mini is like a scope on a Garand. Good for testing but the real work is done with open sights. It's never a question of either or ,AR vs mini. It's everyone should have an AR and a mini is cool to have. They are like John Wayne toilet paper.

 

[Varminterror]

If another wish.com knockoff of an M1a were released today which struggled to hit the side of a barn from the inside, would the market be so forgiving?

 

[Varminterror]

That's funny I think. Not true. But coming from an AR assembler that's job security.

Nah, I love Mini’s - they need more work to shoot well, and I got to charge more to work on them. Win-win!

 

[Speedo66]

Nah, I love Mini’s - they need more work to shoot well, and I got to charge more to work on them. Win-win!

With your well documented disdain for Mini’s, I’m surprised you could even bring yourself to work on one.

 

[Varminterror]

With your well documented disdain for Mini’s, I’m surprised you could even bring yourself to work on one.

I don’t dislike minis. But I recognize their objective weaknesses, and I recognize market trends, and the Mini surviving in market remains a paradox. High price and low performance - no new model could be released and survive in market.

I DO dislike folks being mislead into spending good money on a poor performing gear buy phrases like, “the old ones had accuracy issues, but the new ones are good.” Because they’re not - they’re better, but they’re still abysmal. When someone brought a Mini to my bench and asked for a tack driver, my answer is never - “ok, no problem, it’s going to be awesome,” but rather, “you’re going to spend a lot and it still won’t shoot very well compared to a cheaper option, is that really what you want?” When the answer is yes, we work, when the answer is no, then I save them the frustration, but either way, I sleep well knowing I didn’t lie to someone just to take their money.

I like shooting Mini’s. I don’t like wasting money to buy them in 2024.

 

[Spats McGee]

@Speedo66 - are you actually looking for a folding stock? Are you set on it being a folding one? Or would collapsible work? Or are you just bringing us this information about a folding stock that works for left-handers?

 

[Malamute]

Format failure.....

 

[Speedo66]

@Speedo66 - are you actually looking for a folding stock? Are you set on it being a folding one? Or would collapsible work? Or are you just bringing us this information about a folding stock that works for left-handers?

I was looking for a folding stock, but the ones I was trying were not working for me. I didn’t care for the aesthetics of a collapsible.

When I found the Federal Ord. one did work, I wanted to share that info with other left handed Mini owners.

 

[Spats McGee]

I was looking for a folding stock, but the ones I was trying were not working for me. I didn’t care for the aesthetics of a collapsible.

When I found the Federal Ord. one did work, I wanted to share that info with other left handed Mini owners.

More than fair. I was just a little fuzzy on that.

 

[Show Me]

So the new tactical Mini version comes from the factory with the cool looking Samson folding stock, an exact replica of the original Ruger stocks. Yeah, the ones the “A Team” used.

But folding stocks in general don’t work well for left handed shooters. The bulge at the joint and the slightly offset position of the stock itself tend to throw off sighting for lefties.

While I haven’t tried the Ruger version, I did buy, try, and reject those by Ramline, Choate, and another brand whose name escapes me at this point. All nice, but not for a lefty.

Finally found one, from a member here, that fits me well, sights line up, and looks good, too. It‘s a Federal Ordinance underfolder, unfortunately no longer in production.

But they’re out there on the used market, and if you’re a lefty, this folding stock can work for you and your Mini.View attachment 1195663View attachment 1195664

Another example of when you find something that works they quit making it