Ruger minis

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jim in Anchorage said:
Kame-When you say your gunsmith set the gas block did he bore it to fit the larger barrel?
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Oh no, nothing like that, The new barrels do not come with the exhaust hole drilled in them. Once he twisted the new barrel on, the gas exhaust hole had to be measured and drilled so the gas bock will be at the right length for the stock to fit. The barrel contours back down into the original gas block. You just have to specify if you have a pre 580 series or newer when ordering from Shilen. Head spacing on mine was good to go but Shilen did say it may need to be adjusted, and they come crowned. So dont let a gunsmith get the best of you, its twist on, drill the gas block hole, and check head spacing. None of those things are extensive work to a good gunsmith.
 
It never fails to amaze me how any time someone asks a question about a mini 14 here the "buy a AR" posts automatically come in.
Have any of you AR guys ever considered that many people prefer the looks and feel of the mini and don't want or care about extra uppers or lowers or if the gun will function after spending a week in a mud hole?

There's a reason Ruger has been making them for 40 years. People like and buy them.
 
[QUOTEOh no, nothing like that, The new barrels do not come with the exhaust hole drilled in them. Once he twisted the new barrel on, the gas exhaust hole had to be measured and drilled so the gas bock will be at the right length for the stock to fit. The barrel contours back down into the original gas block. You just have to specify if you have a pre 580 series or newer when ordering from Shilen. Head spacing on mine was good to go but Shilen did say it may need to be adjusted, and they come crowned. So dont let a gunsmith get the best of you, its twist on, drill the gas block hole, and check head spacing. None of those things are extensive work to a good gunsmith.][/QUOTE]

So the barrel is the original contour from the gas block back?
 
Interesting the way they do that. I have know gun smiths who fit a heavy contour barrel to the mini, then turn down just the part where the gas block fits. Or leave the heavy barrel as is, and make a new larger gas block.
Ether way, the operating rod must be modified to work with the heavy barrel.
$90 yeah I'd say you got a deal. Sharp looking gun BTW.
 
Bought my first Mini back in 85-86, shortly after buying my first AR. I think I paid $275 for the Mini (used). And it came with a folding stock in addition to the original wood. And three or four mags. All in all, not a bad deal at the time.

Only had it out a couple times, and was satisfied with the accuracy--probably 2-3 inches at 100 yards, iron sights (with much younger eyes).
Sold it several years later and regretted it almost immediately.

Picked up a (lightly used) Mini-30 in 91-92--paid $475. First time out I was shooting 5-6 inches at 200 yards with iron sights and ComBloc ammo. More than satisfactory, considering I am not God's Gift to Riflemen (and that's an understatement). :)

Found a barely-used stainless Mini 14 in 2001--paid $500 (used) with a couple extra mags. Not sure I have got the chance to fire it. Lent it to a friend (Jim) who had an 11-ish year old son (Kevin) who wasn't ready for a .243 but was ready to step up from a .22LR.

Guess what...I haven't seen it since :)

But Kevin has gotten some pretty good use from it, and Kevin's Boy Scout Troop had some good times with it, under Jim's supervision.

I'm pretty sure it is still getting exercise from some of Jim's latest round of Boy Scouts, and I'm fine with that. I'll get it back one of these days. :)

They are very charismatic rifles. Much like owning an old hot rod or a vintage motorcycle. Are there more practical alternatives? Sure.

Any of the above may be hard to justify if you (or your wife) is an accountant, but owning any of them brings a smile to your face every time you take it out of the safe (or garage).

However, unlike an old car/bike that you don't use, the Mini doesn't require expensive insurance/registration/maintenance every year, and the battery doesn't go dead from lack of use, and the tires and other rubber pieces don't deteriorate.

Will it out-shoot an AR?
Nope.

Will it give you enjoyment and a pride of ownership that few if any ARs will?
Perhaps.

If that appeals to you, and if money is not too big an obstacle, then grab one and enjoy. No law against owning one of each.

At least, not yet. :rolleyes:
 
jim in Anchorage said:
It never fails to amaze me how any time someone asks a question about a mini 14 here the "buy a AR" posts automatically come in.
Have any of you AR guys ever considered that many people prefer the looks and feel of the mini and don't want or care about extra uppers or lowers or if the gun will function after spending a week in a mud hole?

There's a reason Ruger has been making them for 40 years. People like and buy them.
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I'm with you on that one. If someone wants to buy a Mini-14, he's met with a chorus of "buy an AR"; the same for the guy who wants an M1A ("get a AR-10"), or even a thread about scout rifles, which are, by definition, bolt guns--someone will chime in with "buy an AR". The chorus is deafening--one of the reasons why I traded my AR off for a CZ-527 carbine in 7.62 x 39mm.
 
i like my Mini 14.:) I got my Ranch Rifle during the bad old days of the " Assault rifle" ban:barf: at that time,a Mini 14 was cheaper than a AR15 and,I sort of like having something just a bit different than what all my buddies are bringing out to the range:D I can use the same ammo as the AR dudes and the Ruger will do anything I ask of it:cool:
 
jim in Anchorage said:
Interesting the way they do that. I have know gun smiths who fit a heavy contour barrel to the mini, then turn down just the part where the gas block fits. Or leave the heavy barrel as is, and make a new larger gas block.
Ether way, the operating rod must be modified to work with the heavy barrel.
$90 yeah I'd say you got a deal. Sharp looking gun BTW.
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You are 100% correct about the operating rod. Just like with ASI(http://www.ruger-mini-14-firearms.com/ruger_mini_prices.php), they have over sized gas blocks to fit the full diameter of there bull barrel, and the rod has to be cut down and re-beveled to ride to new bigger barrel. Even on ASI's web site they call the Ruger target minis and the Shilen heavy barrels inferior, because they shrink back down to fit the original gas block. But I think they are just going over the top for accuracy. The barrel really doesn't receive the full compression of the bullet till it passes the gas block, and that's when the rifle experiences whip. And a 7/8's of an inch thick barrel really stiffened it up. An ASI barrel would have to be crazy accurate after seeing what the Shilen can do.

This is one of my favorite 200 yard targets. My first 4 shots hit high of the middle bulls eye. I made adjustments, and shot five in the the middle and one shot each in the outer 4 bulls eyes... Well I missed on the lower left bulls eye and had to take a second shot.

20150628_154851_HDR_zpswgnmsnm5.jpg
 
Kame- that 200 yard target is fantastic, Don't know why anyone would want better from a .223 semi-auto.
$220 Barrel+$90 fitting. I like it. what's the twist on that barrel? What bullet are you using?
Oh and I just noticed your join date. Welcome on board to THR! I think you'll be a valuable member here:)
 
jim in Anchorage said:
Kame- that 200 yard target is fantastic, Don't know why anyone would want better from a .223 semi-auto.
$220 Barrel+$90 fitting. I like it. what's the twist on that barrel? What bullet are you using?
Oh and I just noticed your join date. Welcome on board to THR! I think you'll be a valuable member here:)
Click to expand...

It is a 20 inch barrel weighs in at 3 pounds with a 1 and 9 twist. And it seems to like 55 grain ammo. for 100 yard shots I just usually use tulammo or wolf steel case ammo and get good results. But when I want to reach out to 200 and 300 yards I use American Eagle 55 grain .223's that comes in the red box. And thanks for the welcome. I've been around the ruger forums and perfect union, but I'm looking for a gun forum that receives more traffic and is more versed in firearms. I have more firearms than just a mini, I just find that I have to defend her a little more often than my other rifles.
 
To me, the AR suggestion is appropriate these days as AR-15's can be had for very very cheap. If you don't want an AR, other alternatives are the Keltec SU-16, and 223 AK's. For 30 caliber, the price you are paying for a Mini-30 will get you an AK with reasonable accuracy also.

If you just like the Mini-14 action and looks, that is fine also. If fully expect suggestions like that. Adds life to the discussion. :)
 
MechAg94 said:
To me, the AR suggestion is appropriate these days as AR-15's can be had for very very cheap.
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AR's can be found cheap, but I can find new mini 14's for 600 to 700 bucks at my local wal-mart. They come with scope rings and a couple of mags, and one hell of a customer service to back it up. People like to talk big about there 500 dollar home build AR and talk down about the mini but they seem to forget the perks that comes with the mini 14, it will about even out. Plus I seen plenty of people at the range that took there 500 dollar AR and dumped another grand into it for more rails, flat top gas blocks, better barrels, better uppers, different butt stock, trigger jobs, better grips, better fore arms, the list just goes on. So yeah the AR argument will pop up, but it can be ludicrous if you really think about it. ;)
 
I have both now, Smith&Wesson M&P sport and a 580 series Mini-14. I do like the traditional wood and steel on the mini-14 and the bulletproof action. My Mini has 3000 rounds through it, without being field stripped, still runs like a clock. I have my doubts the AR is capable of doing that.

However, the AR is a blast to shoot, extremely easy to modify, upgrade and maintain. I'm completely satisfied with the M&P sport as it sits....paid $640 out the door for it.

I also like the ergonomics with the pistol grip and collapsible stock.
 
Great thread. Enjoyed following it.
The part that bothered me about the heavier barrel route was that it retains the original contour from the receiver to the gas block. Because of Ruger's original design's close proximity of the barrel to the operating rod (slide), it is an almost impossible hurdle to overcome in trying to install an overall larger barrel diameter to reduce muzzle whip. I've looked and measured it from every angle (I can think of) and can't see a way to get a barrel over 5/8" in there. Which by the way seems to be what Ruger did to correct the original whip problem.
I did notice in my load workups that best accuracy seemed to occur when the load was too light to cycle the action and hence not set up a moving mass as the gun cycled. But then it is an auto, not a single shot shot so that is not part of the equation.
I've enjoyed experimenting with mine and look forward to finishing the project this winter. I've achieved moa so far with my 9/16" barrel and just want to see how small of groups I can get on a very tight budget
Catpop
 
Random thoughts on the Minis.

  • I've shot and/or owned almost every variant over the decades. I like'em for what they: a light handling, traditionally styled, Garand-ish, semi-automatic in good cartridges (.223, 6.8, 7.62mm Soviet)
  • Most I've shot are not nearly as accurate as other offerings, but are good enough for the intended purposes at the intended ranges. You can throw money at them to make the more so. In the current landscape, this is not likely worth the bother.
  • Factory standard capacity magazines (20 and 30 rounders) have been available from Ruger for a decade now. There are some after market mags that run fine and there are some that are absolute garbage. Few are as cheap as AR or AK mags, but they aren't prohibitively expensive either. As example, for my present Mini, I've got around 20, or so, mags that all run flawlessly; about half are Rugers and half after market.
  • Service and parts from Ruger, in my experience, has been simply outstanding.
  • At the current price point, they are not nearly as attractive as they once were. But it isn't bad either.
  • Is it "better" than a [insert alternative]? Maybe, maybe not. If you want an AR, buy an AR. You're not saving anything in today's market. If you want a Mini, well, they're out there. ;)

Cheers.
 
dvdcrr said:
Sometimes I wish ruger still made the 6.8 mini
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As much as I like Ruger, they have made quite a few blunders with discontinuing calibers and models. I have never shot the 6.8 mini, but I also never heard anything bad about it. In fact I always hear the comments like the one you just made. I know they dropped the ball when Ruger discontinued the P series pistols. I hope they dont discontinue the little 14 from all the bad press the AR community gives it. :uhoh:
 
Catpop said:
Great thread. Enjoyed following it.
The part that bothered me about the heavier barrel route was that it retains the original contour from the receiver to the gas block. Because of Ruger's original design's close proximity of the barrel to the operating rod (slide), it is an almost impossible hurdle to overcome in trying to install an overall larger barrel diameter to reduce muzzle whip. I've looked and measured it from every angle (I can think of) and can't see a way to get a barrel over 5/8" in there. Which by the way seems to be what Ruger did to correct the original whip problem.
I did notice in my load workups that best accuracy seemed to occur when the load was too light to cycle the action and hence not set up a moving mass as the gun cycled. But then it is an auto, not a single shot shot so that is not part of the equation.
I've enjoyed experimenting with mine and look forward to finishing the project this winter. I've achieved moa so far with my 9/16" barrel and just want to see how small of groups I can get on a very tight budget
Catpop
Click to expand...
Catpop-That skinny/heavy barrel thing aways bothered me to. But kame b's 200 yard target speaks for it's self.
 
kame very impressive. Why are you single loading?
That brings up a question I forgot to ask. How long is the throat on that new barrel? On my factory mini the throat is so long even the longest, heaviest bullets I can buy, seated out as far as possible fail to touch the rifling.
You may not know if you're using factory.
 
The typical path of firearms discussions:

Post: "So, I booked a hunt for the Big Five in Africa...."
Response: "Buy an AR!!"

Post: "I'll be moving to Kodiak Island and was wondering what rifle..."
Response: "Buy an AR!!"

Post: "I'm going elk hunting and will be taking cross canyon shots..."
Response: "Buy an AR!!"

Post: "I'm having a problem with mice under the kitchen sink..."
Response: "Buy an AR!!"

Post: "I'm going to go dove hunting next week and wanted opinions on...."
Response: "Buy an AR!!"

Post: "My wife and I are expecting our first child, a girl, and I was wanting suggestions...."
Response: "Buy an AR!!"

SHEESH!! He didn't ask about AR's. He asked about Mini's.

IWAC I've owned a couple of Mini's so have a little insight.

The first was one of the newer, skinny barreled models (580 Series)and it was a very frustrating rifle to say the least. Like others have said, they scatter shots as the barrel heats up. I tried bedding, an Accu-Strut, fiddling with the gas port...you name it. Finally I traded it and $50 for a 581 Series. Night and day difference.

I did bed the rifle which was probably not necessary and did a trigger job which helped immensely. I installed a Tech Sight aperture sight, again probably not necessary, but I like them.

I very recently parted with mine simply because it was too nice for the use I had in mind and that is as a utility rifle bouncing around the pickup and the tractor. Here's the post where I listed it and you can see just how well it shot.

Regarding caliber choice, the two you mention are a study in contrasts. We have a small caliber firing a bullet at relatively high velocity that makes for easier long range hits but lacks in its ability to incapacitate due to the small bullet. Then we have a larger caliber firing a heavier bullet that will incapacitate better, yet due to its lower velocity makes long(er) range hits more difficult. You have to decide what's more important to you.

To the AR fans, understand not everyone wants or likes the AR platform. We all know how accurate the rifles are, how easy parts are to come by, that magazines can be purchased anywhere, etc. Still, some of us like to shoot something different. FWIW, I have an AR in the safe, 8 stripped lowers and 3 or 4 kits, just can't get interested in the platform, BUT I don't begrudge those that are, just sometimes get annoyed!

35W
 
jim in Anchorage said:
kame very impressive. Why are you single loading?
That brings up a question I forgot to ask. How long is the throat on that new barrel? On my factory mini the throat is so long even the longest, heaviest bullets I can buy, seated out as far as possible fail to touch the rifling.
You may not know if you're using factory.
Click to expand...

Oh, the barrel throat, I am really not sure on that. I cant really see where the free bore ends and the throat begins. And my gunsmith didnt tell me. I have yet to experiment with different loads as it shot fantastic out the door with wolf 55 grain .223's. Oh and does very well with basic American Eagle ammo in 55 grain.

As far as single loading goes i just wanted to see if there was a difference in accuracy between the charging handle locking back after being fired and a full cycle.
 
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