Mini-14 Lock Up

[film495]

I pickup up a Mini-14 and have not fired it as of yet. I have gone over it and stripped it and serviced and gone over it a few times though. I've never had one before or fired one so, interesting to check it out and see how it works.

When I got to checking function with snap caps, I noticed when I pull the trigger the bolt actually moves a bit - and I thought that was a bit odd. I messed around with it and with a mag out, when in battery - I can put my finger in there and the bolt is not locked up very tight. Is it supposed to be tight and I have a problem, or is that by design? I also check it after the trigger is pulled, and the bolt still has a little play in it, though it would be tight, but it can still wiggle a little.

 

[Tommygunn]

Be a little leery about snap caps. They are useful for dry firing, and to a limited degree, checking weapon functions. The real proof is how the gun cycles with real ammo by shooting it. If you feel the bolt isn't functioning correctly, perhaps you might be well advised to have a gunsmith or weapons expert examine it.

I have an M-1 Carbine which the bolt as a very tiny movement when empty ..... How this translates to your gun is anyone's guess. When I got my carbine it needed a sight adjusted and a gunsmith worked on it and later commented the bolt lockup was better than most he'd seen.
I have never bothered to test the bolt "looseness" while loaded.

 

[film495]

I think it is normal and I'm just new to it and picking up on nuances. The bolt has zero forwad and back play chambered or not. With a snap cab chambered, there is less wiggle so to speak, and looking at how the bolt rotates, not sure how that mechanism would ever lock up completely tight.

 

[vzenmn]

It's normal. It should tight up when loaded.Go out and shoot the the thing. If you can find ammo.

 

[daniel craig]

100% absolutely normal.

 

[Riomouse911]

As the guys have said, the hammer fall does cause a tiny bit of bolt wiggle. Our office issues dozens of them and it is something they all seem to have when I first function check them.

Let us know how it shoots for you when you get a chance to take it to the range.

Stay safe.

 

[film495]

Thanks for the info/tips guys. I'm going to try to get out and test it at a range this weekend, or monday.

 

[1KPerDay]

Normal. Mine does the same thing.

 

[792mauser]

Normal. I wondered the same thing 20 years ago when I traded for a 181 mini14.
Ran across several more at a show 2 weeks later and they all did it. From the NIB ones I looked at to the neighbors 6.8 a years ago.

I think its part of the design. The M1/M1a/M14 were designed to work with a bit of filth. The Mini 14 generally apes the design so you get the same wiggle.

 

[film495]

anyone know why they made the face of the hammer that strikes the firing pin and back of the bolt, angular and not a flat impact? seems to be already peening the back fo the bolt and the firing pin is not sticking yet, but it is not 100% free floating anymore either, the hole for the firing pin is starting to close up a touch where - I assume the firing pin strikes it, odd, just seems odd.

 

[MAKster]

The Mini 14 is a solid design built upon the Garand and M14. You can complain about mediocre accuracy caused by thin barrels and the op rod slamming back and forth but the overall design is reliable.

 

[daniel craig]

anyone know why they made the face of the hammer that strikes the firing pin and back of the bolt, angular and not a flat impact? seems to be already peening the back fo the bolt and the firing pin is not sticking yet, but it is not 100% free floating anymore either, the hole for the firing pin is starting to close up a touch where - I assume the firing pin strikes it, odd, just seems odd.

Don’t worry about it. Mine did the same thing and I NEVER had a problem.

 

[film495]

Don’t worry about it. Mine did the same thing and I NEVER had a problem.

thanks, good to hear - going to go shoot it later today. Just never noticed a hammer being shaped like that before, sure they did it for a reason, but I don't know what it is. Looks like the Garand and others of that samy type of action, all have a hammer shaped like an anvil. Most of the hammers I'm familiar with are more square to the bolt when then impact. Maybe it was done to affect rebound or something, don't know - just curious. If anyone knows feel free to enlighten me - am curious and came up empty searching the internet.

 

[stevekozak]

Quit playing with it and go shoot the dang thing.

 

[daniel craig]

thanks, good to hear - going to go shoot it later today. Just never noticed a hammer being shaped like that before, sure they did it for a reason, but I don't know what it is. Looks like the Garand and others of that samy type of action, all have a hammer shaped like an anvil. Most of the hammers I'm familiar with are more square to the bolt when then impact. Maybe it was done to affect rebound or something, don't know - just curious. If anyone knows feel free to enlighten me - am curious and came up empty searching the internet.

I mean for all we know it was a cost cutting thing, a weight limiting thing, something that had to be done to make the action lighter....short of calling Ruger idk if anyone knows.

 

[Speedo66]

The Mini 14 is a solid design built upon the Garand and M14. You can complain about mediocre accuracy caused by thin barrels and the op rod slamming back and forth but the overall design is reliable.

The newer thicker barreled models have improved accuracy.

Wilson's 1911 recoil buffers fit nicely on both ends of the Mini-14 spring rod and reduce the.... buffeting.

 

[film495]

Quit playing with it and go shoot the dang thing.

right. almost shot it today, but we ran out of daylight. we just did some rifmire and pistol work, but haven't quite worked out the spot on the property yet for rifle rounds. it is just a big 140 acre lot with some good hills, but - there are trails that go through there - so, need to put some more thought into it and scout it better to make sure what's what and maybe clear some scrub to get a good line of sight - to set up for real rifle rounds.

 

[Scooter22]

Both my Mini 14 and 30 are the same. You have to have a little play there to get the bolt moving with the gas impulse so the action will cycle. If it was wedged tight like a bolt action it wouldn't open. Thats why bolt actions are "stronger" than semis. The bolt can be locked tight for the full pressure when its shot, then opened. The semi has to open, cycle a new cartridge into battery while theres still some pressure. A somewhat similar of all things are trains. Their couplers are very loose for a reason. If they were locked tight a train would never be able to move when stopped. The engines wheels would spin. The slack allows a small "jerk" that starts the cars rolling.

 

[lysanderxiii]

anyone know why they made the face of the hammer that strikes the firing pin and back of the bolt, angular and not a flat impact? seems to be already peening the back fo the bolt and the firing pin is not sticking yet, but it is not 100% free floating anymore either, the hole for the firing pin is starting to close up a touch where - I assume the firing pin strikes it, odd, just seems odd.

The angle is a helix and when the hammer falls if the bolt is not fully locked the angle on the hammer will rotate the bolt to locked before hitting the firing pin. It prevents out-of-battery fire.

 

[Crosshair]

The angle is a helix and when the hammer falls if the bolt is not fully locked the angle on the hammer will rotate the bolt to locked before hitting the firing pin. It prevents out-of-battery fire.

You beat me to it. I waited to get home so I could look at mine to make sure I understood the question. You are absolutely correct, it's there to prevent the rifle from firing out of battery.