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I believe there were some export in 222. They also had 6.8 SPC II for a couple years and currently do .300 BLK, besides 5.56 an 7.62x39. The new, heavier, tapered hammer forged barrels make most Minis 1.5 MOA to 2 MOA with good ammo. New Mini-30s get 1 MOA with handloads using Varmagedon of V-Max 123 grain bullets.
In researching, in 1984, they made the Mini-14/5R.222 for the European export market.
Bill Ruger also brought in Albert A. Cole who was the Engineer in Charge of the M14 Rifle at Springfield Armory. The Army was going to transfer Al to Picatinny Arsenal in about 76 and there was no way Al was going to New Jersey so he called Bill and Bill told him to come immediately.
I linked up with Al when I went to Ruger Armorer School as everybody I was working with at Army Small Cal Lab at Picatinny worked for Al at Rock Island. The head draftsman for the M14 was Julio Saviolli whose desk was across the isle from mine and he gave me a number of anecdotes about the M14 Program at Springfield Armory. Julio worked for Al at SA and RIA.
When I worked with him we were on the Dover Devil Cal 50 Special Projects Group.
What a treasure. Great vid. Thanks for posting.
We also had Ed Symasko who was on the M60 design team in our office. He was there from day 1. Last I talked with him he was a gov't tech rep at Command ????spelling aircraft around Springfield, Mass.