Red Dot sight for Mini 14

[Jibs]

Hi all, brand new to the forum but have been watching a while. I just purchased a Ruger Mini 14, and want to mount a red dot sight DIRECTLY to the integrated rails on the mini, without adding any new mounts. I would like to keep the RD sight under 60 dollars. Sorry if this has been asked before.

Thanks

 

[john5036]

https://www.primaryarms.com/Primary_Arms_30mm_Red_Dot_p/primary%20arms%2030mm%20red%20dot.htm

For your price range, this'll be your best bargain that'll probably be more than it's worth.

 

[awgrizzly]

Oh dear, you no doubt have the dovetail mount slots fore and aft of the receiver. The problem is that a single point mount can't be sturdy on just one dove tail mount point, and if it spans the receiver you can as well have a rail installed. I had a GG&G rail for my ranch rifle that worked quite well and it raised the mount to provide more room over the receiver. GG&G also has a mini 14 mount specifically for red dot scopes that looks to be lower. Here's a link: http://swfa.com/GGG-Mounts-C661.aspx

 

[LoonWulf]

There are some long tube red dots that will work with the stock ruger rings. Have to look around a bit, but i BELIVE tosco makes atleast one model that should work.

 

[Jibs]

After closer inspection, the integrated mount isn't a rail. There is a small crescent shaped "divot" on either side, which accepts the Ruger ring base. I thought it was a normal dovetail rail. Looks like I will need a rail anyway I think? If anyone knows different let me know. Thanks again.

 

[LoonWulf]

Unless you go looking for long tube red dots your going to need a rail....i think you might WANT a rail any way just to give you better options for adjustment of you sight.

 

[Jibs]

I agree. Can anyone recommend a decent rail that doesnt break the bank?

 

[dogmush]

GG&G's are pretty solid.

http://swfa.com/GGG-Ruger-Mini-14-Ranch-Rifle-Accessories-C1832.aspx

 

[briansmithwins]

For the Ruger I'd recommend the Ultimak. Gets the red dot forward and out opf the way and sits very low.

https://www.primaryarms.com/UltiMAK_Optic_Mount_for_new_production_Ruger_p/m4-s.htm

BSW

 

[wnycollector]

+1 on the Ultimak recommendation.

A buddy of mine has an Eotech mounted on his Mini-14 via an Ultimak. It has been there for several years and several thousand rounds without missing a beat.

As far as the RDS, I have a Primary Arms Microdot and a Bushnell TRS-25. I like the position of the on/off/brightness settings on the TRS-25, but the dot on the Primary arms is much brighter. Either will serve you well.

 

[Jibs]

sorry, I just cant spend 140 bucks on a rail. Maybe fifty for the GGG. At that cost I would probably just use the iron sights. Does anyone have any experience with the weigand mounts?:



http://www.jackweigand.com/ranch.html

 

[Lee D]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=647091

 

[awgrizzly]

That Weigand mount you show there seems a bit imposing. I bought the GG&G mount and was very satisfied. It seems some other mounts don't cant the mount bolts correctly and don't make proper purchase with the dovetails. The GG&G do... they make top quality products.

There is another option on the long tube red dot. If you get one with a 1" diameter tube and it's long enough you may be able to use the scope rings that came with the Mini 14. Here's an UltraDot that Natchez carries for example:

http://www.natchezss.com/Optics.cfm...dID=UZULDT0000B&prodTitle=UltraDot 25 Sight 1
(Cut and paste the link if it is broken)

It's spendy but you may find cheaper. But on this you may wish to be careful. The normal red dot has a 30mm or greater tube, and is much shorter. Since the whole idea of a red dot is fast aiming, a smaller/longer tube might make it less so. The proprietary mount system that Ruger uses on the Mini is a hassle. Putting a rail on the gun will totally free up your options.

 

[Jibs]

Maybe I am blind, but I don't see whether it is weaver or picatinny? Looks like picatinny to me, but does anyone know for sure?

 

[Jibs]

Thanks for the help guys. I went with the GG&G mount (the top one):

and a leapers red dot:

the sight comes with both a high profile mount (so you can still use iron sights) and a low profile mount. It god good reviews from optics planet. Thanks again to you all for the help.

 

[tuj]

You asked about a dot. Depends on what type of shooting you are going to do, but in general, I have found that the best dot for price/performance is the Ultradot. The cheaper reflex-style sights tend to not have very defined dots; they are fuzzy or they won't hold zero or they won't have enough adjustment. The Ultradots can be slide-mounted on a 1911 and stand up to years of shooting and recoil. You can find them for around $100 used. Above that, the aimpoint dots are nice.

I would recommend a 4MOA dot for 50-yards and under shooting, and a 2MOA dot for over 50 yards. Note: the cheaper dots often appear much larger than a comparable high-quality dot even though they advertise '3MOA', etc.

 

[Jibs]

Well tuj, what I want is a reliable scope that can get me a 4-6" group at about 50-75yds quickly. I do not want to put bullet after bullet through a 1" bullseye (although it would be nice). I want to kill an adversary if they are after me, or an animal if I am hungry.

 

[stormspotter]

On an impluse I took a Bushnell Trophy Red Dot off my 10/22 and put it on my Mini 14. I just used a set of 30mm Ruger rings and so far it has held up well. Later I my get a Vortex Strikefire and mount it with just the front 30mm ring.

I have a Strikefire on my S&W MP15 and have had no problems with it, so I may just switch the Bushnell for a Vortex.

The below groups were shot at 50 yards using Winchester Q3131.

One thing I did to my Mini was to add ACE brand anti-slip tape to the stock. Works as well as checkering and heat it with a hair dryer for 8-10 seconds and peel it off if you don't want it anymore.

 

[DANNY-L]

That tape makes it stand out and looks nice.