Ruger Mini-14 FTEject back from Ruger

[briansmithwins]

Original thread here: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=748844

TLDR version: New 582 series Mini-14 had numerous FTEject. Rifle sent back to Ruger April 10th.

I received the rifle back on the 9th with the note 'replaced bolt lock and test fired'. I took it out yesterday after cleaning and greasing it and had zero malfunctions of any type with the factory magazines. New Thermold 30 round mags had failures to go into battery on the first round but after a few cycles they were trouble free too.

Now to decide what optic to run in it. The scope I was going to run doesn't clear the rear sight.

BSW

 

[1KPerDay]

Cool. Wonder what a bolt lock is.

 

[briansmithwins]

Wonder what a bolt lock is.

I'm pretty sure that's Rugerese for the ejector, since that part is both the ejector and bolt hold open.

BSW

 

[sappyg]

Congratulations on your adventure with Ruger.

What scope were you planning on using?

 

[briansmithwins]

I was going to use a 1-5 Leopold. Unfortunately the ocular lens hits the irons sight, and I'm not willing to only have a scope on a rifle.

Probably going to go with a Ultimak and Aimpoint.

BSW

 

[Art Eatman]

I've never had any problem with "scope only" rifles, and that goes back to when Truman was President.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Is yours a Mini-14 or a Ranch Rifle? The Mini-14 isn't designed to take a scope and the vibration from the receiver is transferred into the scope; causing many including Leupolds to break. To solve this, Ruger modified the bolt to make it side ejection, installed a buffer to damper the recoil and included scope rings.

 

[briansmithwins]

Ranch rifle. The bolt is side ejecting in theory, but in practice the cases fly about 20’ to the right. Generally 4 o'clock but some take off towards the front.

As far as buffers go, I'm not seeing anything that looks like that.

BSW

 

[Malamute]

Actually, they changed the ejector from a plunger on the standard guns to a fixed (sort of) that's also the bolt lock(hold open). They didn't really change the direction much.

The "buffer" was changing the seat of the recoil spring rod from sitting squarely against the receiver to one that angled somewhat, and changed the way the last bit if travel happened. It binds somewhat, and is supposed to redirect the operating handle momentum so it doesn't slap the receiver so sharply.

Did they change the rear sights on the ranch model so they don't fold? The earlier ones folded.

 

[briansmithwins]

The rear sight is now a little MIM piece that uses two set screws to hold the rear aperture. The screws adjust windage and are self loosening.

The stock rear sight has already been replaced with a Tech Sight unit (that came in while the rifle was at Ruger) as I never got the factory one to hold zero.

BSW

 

[stubbicatt]

Well, BSW, hope you enjoy your new acquisition. I think it would be a swell rifle to own. Perhaps one day I will buy one.

 

[ugaarguy]

Is yours a Mini-14 or a Ranch Rifle? The Mini-14 isn't designed to take a scope and the vibration from the receiver is transferred into the scope; causing many including Leupolds to break. To solve this, Ruger modified the bolt to make it side ejection, installed a buffer to damper the recoil and included scope rings.

Ruger discontinued the non-Ranch Rifle Minis several years ago. They're now all Ranch Rifles with Ruger's integral scope bases, whether they call it a "Ranch Rifle", "Tactical" model, "Target" model, or Mini-30.

 

[Gordon]

well Gary I don't want to dispute you but; I had a Ruger 180 with a 3 digit serial number a couple months after they were released in mid 70s. Within a couple years the Pachmyahr Low Swing mount became available and a 3x Leupold M3 was mounted. I shot the heck out of that until 1985 when it was stolen. It actually went thru an early API 223 class with no issues.My favorite handload was a 70 grain Speer semi spitzer over IMR3031 and that load proved death on the local Blacktail to almost 300 yards. Even shot a ton of pigs with it in Monterey county. Well sure nuff the old 180 DID have an M14 type bolt roller which was dropped but man it never gave the scope any trouble in almost 10 years hard use. It was only at 2moa gun at best but that was good enough for me at the time.