Mini-14 is incrementally getting better?

[Ranger99]

It was never a hardship ( to me) to
have to "rock" magazines into the
mag well of any Mini or AK or
modified SKS I've shot

 

[CoalTrain49]

Factory triggers are still awful and the gas block has to be replaced. Both of those things need immediate attention. They shoot well enough now. I'd say after the Garand and M-14 they had the reliability fine tuned. One other nit pick is magazines. They don't drop free and take some practice locking in. All minor details and a shallow learning curve.

The prices for new, and used, Mini's keeps going up and the prices for AR's keep going down. Probably has something to do with economy of scale and nothing to do with the different gas systems and reliability. AK-47 has an op rod system similar to a Mini. Probably more of those around in the world than the AR. Just a guess.

 

[CoalTrain49]

Yeah, it’s a mini14. It was never expected to hit better than minute of coyote or maybe zombie out to about ~100 yards. It’s adequate for what is expected of it.

Exactly.

The new 580 and beyond will shoot sub 3 MOA. That's what mine will do after some trigger work. Lots of AR's will do 2 MOA out-of-box. I saw one do 1 MOA. Unusual I think.

Consider for a moment that the M-1 carbine was regulated for 4 MOA. Lots of WW2 GI's went into combat with those.

Now lets move into the world of drones, armored vehicles and artillery in combat. Seems almost irrelevant to me.

AR or Mini, neither one is a bolt action sniper rifle.

 

[jdh]

Why is it that Zastava can put AR magazine on an AK, and IWI can put AR magazine on a Galil, but Ruger cannot put AR magazine on the Mini?

Bill wouldn't let them. Bill didn't believe the "common" man needed any more than five rounds. So he wanted a propitiatory system to keep the great unwashed from being able to access high capacity magazines for his rifle. Back in the dark ages to order a ruger factory 20 round magazine for a personal Mini we had to submit a letter signed by the COP on department letterhead or the department had to buy them. They came with instructions that they could not be sold or given to anyone outside of law enforcement.

I eventually traded my Mini to a Game Warden for a Colt SP-1.

 

[Riomouse911]

Agree, as that is how I do it as well.

But the front pin is no longer part of the mag-well, and is now the rear of the RSA guide, and beveled.

So was under the impression that a "slam home" capacity was added, maybe even for an emergency action drill.

Will investigate that the next time it's out, one way or the other.


And 200 yards is just where I accept that the round drops off, as a personal preference.

Feel pretty good about anything inside of that, moving or still, but would shoot past that on a bigger target, if needed.

I haven’t tried slamming a mag home AR style in either a newer or older Mini. With my luck, either the mag would be irreparably bent at the top, or worse yet the magwell pin would get sheared off. Either one of these things would effectively make my Mini into a canoe paddle.

I believe Marines have set a 300 yd zero for their rifles. (?) It’s a faaaar poke with open sights for sure, but good shots can hit man-torsos to 400+ with a bit of holdover and practice.

I follow the 50 yd zero doctrine with my 5.56 Minis-AR’s shooting 55-62 gr bullets. IF, and that is a big IF, I can do my part, with a 50 yd zero an effective hit from 0-250+ yds can be made with a AR using basically a center of mass hold.



YMMV depending on bullet type, weight, velocity, etc.

Stay safe.

 

[Speedo66]

I’ve got a couple of Mini-14 magazines that are straight, not curved, I guess to give a M-14 look to the Mini. I think the brand name itself was “Original Equipment”.

They function well, but still have to be rocked in, despite the look.

 

[JohnB-40]

I think the brand name itself was “Original Equipment”.

I have a couple of those OEM mags. They didn't work too well until I purchased Ruger followers from Midway,now they are 100%. For around the ranch I usually use a 5 or 10 round mag. With the rock and insert,I know the mag is solidly in the mag well.

 

[Gun-Reck]

I haven’t tried slamming a mag home AR style in either a newer or older Mini. With my luck, either the mag would be irreparably bent at the top, or worse yet the magwell pin would get sheared off.

Stay safe.

The 181 Series is fixed, so, no.

But the 580 Series has the beveled RSA guide rod end sticking through a hole.

Will try the latter.