Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles Mini 14?

Yeah - the system is excessively lively and robust, for sure.

If you're a little bit handy, you can tame it down pretty easily.

https://www.ruger-mini-14-firearms.com/Gas-Reduction-Bushing-Kit.php

You also need an inch-lb driver and feeler guages to re-install the gas block evenly.

The skinny barrel models benefit greatly with a barrel strut installed.
They do throw brass into the next zip code, but, the gas bushing is an easy fix.

Making them in the new 350 or one of the 45 ar cartridges, would help endear the mini to woods hunters and others I’d think. A 3-5” grouping 223 needs to be a 7.62, 35, or such...JMO. Mini 30s and 6.8s were maybe the best thing they did for the mini.

It isn't just the gas volume, it's the heavy slide (op rod) banging against the gas block. This is as opposed to an M1 or M14 style where the op rod isn't stopped by the gas block.

I had a GB series and it shot about 3/4 with factory loads. Sold it years back and most shoot the AR's I built. Easier platform to scope or put optics on.

Yes. That is what it is.

I meant by doing what DirtFarmer did and put a bull barrel on it. I've not seen any proof that the new ones are what I'd consider accurate and for the money, I'd rather send an old one off like he did.

My Ranch Rifle was a truck gun my ranch hands carried for years, killed a few truck loads of ‘yotes.

So, when I got it back, it was “fully depreciated” so to speak. So, sending it off for full house re-do was a no brainer.

Great handling and shooting rifle.

DF

The best things about the older ss minis is that they were both stainless and fit wonderfully under the center console of my boat. When I began running charters back in 1985, I bought three stainless folders at Woolworth’s for about $300 each. They were awesome anti-pirate/drug dealer weapons and could hold potential unwanted boarders at stand off distance until the cavalry had a chance to show up. Luckily they only had to be deployed a couple of times, but they were worth their weight in gold. ARs without an sbr stamp would not fit in the same space. Still have one of the originals with the box and packing materials. Almost sold it during the ban, but kept one for sentimental reasons.

That's the odd thing about them, they wouldn't shoot groups for crap but everything still died that I tried to kill with them.

If only they would bring out a synthetic version of that stock!

I'd like to hear those stories some time!

I've always wanted one just to have one. Buddy just picked one up during at a local auction for 270 otd. Late 80s model, blued/wood almost like new. Got a heck of a deal. He's already turned down 650 for it.

That's why I picked up the one I have. Just to have one. Because I'm an evil rich American, I can do that sort of thing. The funny part is that it turned out to not be the piece of crap that everyone warned me about, and I enjoy shooting it.

Have had (7) and all sucked.

A sub $300 Peezer will smoke 'em,in ALL regards.

Hint................

I got an AR and it won't shoot worth a crap... my Mini shoots just a bit better, but not by much... like others have said... it is not the most accurate shooter, but with that said, when I shoot at things that need killing... the Mini gets 'em killed.

I have had several optics mounted on the top... I'm still looking for the just right optic. I want to find a red dot of some kind. With that said, if it didn't have an optic on it... I wouldn't know about it's relative inaccuracy.

A different thought on the Mini... It came along just a little too late... What if the gun was invented in the 1930's ?? What if the Army had the Mini in hand during the Pacific Island campaign ? Would it have performed better than the 30 carbine ? What if the Chinese would have adopted the Mini before the Japanese invaded... what a perfect gun for and rifle company made up of smaller solders like the Chinese had. If the Chinese would have had the Mini in their hands at the beginning of the 1935... The rape of Nanjing would have never happened. Just a thought.

I have a newer SS with the plastic stock... and if an unwanted fight came to me.... I would not hesitate to grab the Mini

How come so many?

Liking the Sig Romeo 5 sight so far. Time will tell if it holds up to the slamming. Must be something wrong with your AR that needs fixin'.

I see you're from Wisconsin.