The M1 Carbine concept fully developed

[imarangemaster]

I beg to differ. I have been shooting Minis almost as long as M1 Carbines (My first time shooting an M1 carbine was 1962 at 10, though I did not get one until about 1982, which is when I got my first Mini-14) . Rugers are as reliable (with Ruger factory magazines) as an M1 Carbine, and the current incarnations (post-580 series with their heavier, tapered hammer forged barrels) get 1.5 to 2 MOA in both Min-14 and Mini-30. I know because I have both. My Mini-14 shoots 1.6 MOA with MK262 MOD1 77s, and just under 2 MOA with M193 55s. My Mini-30 gets 2 MOA with Ulyanovsk 124 HP 8m3s, and close to 1 MOA with Nosler ballistic tip handloads. Early Ruger Mini-s had thin barrels like the 224 WLMR, and would string shots when hot. Current ones don't. 90% of aftermarket Ruger mags are junk. My Ruger factory 10s, 20s, and 30s feed 100%

Ruger Minis are victims of even more internet myths than even the M1 Carbine.

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[browningautorifle]

Ruger Minis are victims of even more internet myths than even the M1 Carbine.

I have to agree. I had only a few, less that half dozen. I was able to stand flat footed and bang whatever gong I wanted to hit or group as well as I could do. The guns aren't a problem. I've known lots of owners and they don't have problems either. The guns don't fall apart or fail...not from anything I've heard or seen...except on the internet.

If you want mags that work, use Ruger twenties as far as I've seen...the fives are nice but not big enough, and the thirties are too scarce to discuss properly...for me.

[Bruce McAskill]

The early year mini 14's have a problem with the rear sight too. It would not keep zero very well and would suddenly just shift. That was the main reason we rejected them for our department rifles and went with the Colt SP 1. AR 15's.

[browningautorifle]

went with the Colt SP 1. AR 15's.

I can't fault you there either.

[imarangemaster]

My first Mini-14 was a 180 series (bi-centennial model made in 1976), then I had a 181-series about 10 years later. I also had a Mini-30 Stainless 189 series in the mid-90s, another Mini-30 in about 2000. I never had a problem qualifying to use them as LEO trunk weapons, but we didn't do mag dumps enough to get them that hot. As far as sights go, the current ghost ring rear and post and wing M1 style front sight have the old flimsy rear and mile high unprotected front post beat by a mile.

All of my factory mags (5, 10 ,adn 20 for the Mini-30, and 5, 20, and 30 for the Mini-14 are 100%. They are built like tanks!

[INLAND44]

Great thread! I had a Mini-30 once and I wish I had a picture of it. I stained the stock, had it Parkerized, put a M14-type front sight/flash hider on it, modified a M1 Carbine adjustable rear sight to fit it, all to make it really look like a true Mini-14. I even found a hand guard shaped like the brown composite M14 one but it was black - no problem, I found the perfect shade of red-brown paint and even 'aluminized' the underside with silver paint! The problems were, this was during the AWB and 30-round factory mags were unavailable and/or sky high although there were after-market mags - but they didn't work. I spent many hours tweaking mags to work using every trick in the book plus making up new ones. Then I learned that Ruger would not sell you a bolt - you had to send the rifle in or something like that. Then I got suspicious about whether it was a .310 bore or .308, and of course they would void the warranty if you shot imported ammo. So I put it on the table for a few shows trying to get even on it which amounted to $692. Everybody loved it but not enough to cough up even a sizeable portion of that amount. Finally, one guy came up to it and fell in love. He was carrying something in a Walmart bag that he wanted to trade, so I said sure, may as well see what it is. In the bag was an HK Model 4 pistol with all the calibers; .22, .25., .32 and .380, slides and all. So, I did the trade. Over a year or two I fixed up an E. German military briefcase into a complete kit for it with holster, manual, cleaning kit for all calibers, correct cleaning rod - everything set into the foam. At another show I got my asking price of $692 for it. Some deals just take longer than others.
I did not know about the '580' - it sounds like a rifle I would like in 7.62x39 and although I'm sure the factory mags are still high, at least they're available now. Plus I have lots of 'Golden Tiger' 7.62x39 around which is pretty accurate for imported steel case.

[imarangemaster]

Great thread! I had a Mini-30 once and I wish I had a picture of it. I stained the stock, had it Parkerized, put a M14-type front sight/flash hider on it, modified a M1 Carbine adjustable rear sight to fit it, all to make it really look like a true Mini-14. I even found a hand guard shaped like the brown composite M14 one but it was black - no problem, I found the perfect shade of red-brown paint and even 'aluminized' the underside with silver paint! The problems were, this was during the AWB and 30-round factory mags were unavailable and/or sky high although there were after-market mags - but they didn't work. I spent many hours tweaking mags to work using every trick in the book plus making up new ones. Then I learned that Ruger would not sell you a bolt - you had to send the rifle in or something like that. Then I got suspicious about whether it was a .310 bore or .308, and of course they would void the warranty if you shot imported ammo. So I put it on the table for a few shows trying to get even on it which amounted to $692. Everybody loved it but not enough to cough up even a sizeable portion of that amount. Finally, one guy came up to it and fell in love. He was carrying something in a Walmart bag that he wanted to trade, so I said sure, may as well see what it is. In the bag was an HK Model 4 pistol with all the calibers; .22, .25., .32 and .380, slides and all. So, I did the trade. Over a year or two I fixed up an E. German military briefcase into a complete kit for it with holster, manual, cleaning kit for all calibers, correct cleaning rod - everything set into the foam. At another show I got my asking price of $692 for it. Some deals just take longer than others.
I did not know about the '580' - it sounds like a rifle I would like in 7.62x39 and although I'm sure the factory mags are still high, at least they're available now. Plus I have lots of 'Golden Tiger' 7.62x39 around which is pretty accurate for imported steel case.

I think I actually like the Mini-30 more than the Mini-14! The factory 20s (which can be found for around $30) feed flawlessly. It was 99.4% reliable with steel case, until I spent it $45 on a heavier, longer stainless steel firing pin. Now I get 100% ignition and feeding with Russian ammo. The 8M3 124 HP Ulyanovsk fragtastic in NASTY, as are my Nosler ballistic tip 123s I reload. I have about a dozen of the Ruger factory 20s for the Mini-30, as well as some aftermarket 30s from back in the day.

[imarangemaster]

Great thread! I had a Mini-30 once and I wish I had a picture of it. I stained the stock, had it Parkerized, put a M14-type front sight/flash hider on it, modified a M1 Carbine adjustable rear sight to fit it, all to make it really look like a true Mini-14. I even found a hand guard shaped like the brown composite M14 one but it was black - no problem, I found the perfect shade of red-brown paint and even 'aluminized' the underside with silver paint! The problems were, this was during the AWB and 30-round factory mags were unavailable and/or sky high although there were after-market mags - but they didn't work. I spent many hours tweaking mags to work using every trick in the book plus making up new ones. Then I learned that Ruger would not sell you a bolt - you had to send the rifle in or something like that. Then I got suspicious about whether it was a .310 bore or .308, and of course they would void the warranty if you shot imported ammo. So I put it on the table for a few shows trying to get even on it which amounted to $692. Everybody loved it but not enough to cough up even a sizeable portion of that amount. Finally, one guy came up to it and fell in love. He was carrying something in a Walmart bag that he wanted to trade, so I said sure, may as well see what it is. In the bag was an HK Model 4 pistol with all the calibers; .22, .25., .32 and .380, slides and all. So, I did the trade. Over a year or two I fixed up an E. German military briefcase into a complete kit for it with holster, manual, cleaning kit for all calibers, correct cleaning rod - everything set into the foam. At another show I got my asking price of $692 for it. Some deals just take longer than others.
I did not know about the '580' - it sounds like a rifle I would like in 7.62x39 and although I'm sure the factory mags are still high, at least they're available now. Plus I have lots of 'Golden Tiger' 7.62x39 around which is pretty accurate for imported steel case.

Haha! I would have traded for the HK also! Sweet little set up. Fired one that had .22 and .380. Almost bought it, but it was either that or groceries for the 5 kids, so you know which one won!

[Woodsy]

I first saw the Mini 14 in 1974 when they were released in New Zealand. The rifle had just been purchased by a NZ Forest Service deer culler and was brought to me, unfired, to rebarrel to .222 which was the NZFS issue ammunition at the time. I felt the standard barrel was too light and I made the new barrel a heavier profile. This involved machining a radius in the upper surface of the cocking slide to clear the barrel and boring out the gas block about .050" to suit the heavier barrel, making a scope base, and a trigger job. The end result was a very accurate set-up and gave years of good service. The Mini 14's are popular here but have a reputation for mediocre accuracy (usually about 3-4" groups at 100 metres) but adequate for bush hunting. AR's in all their various mutations are more popular, although many of the owners are guilty of the after-market 'improvement' syndrome, with many rifles looking like they are built from Lego!

[DaveHH]

I know a guy in London who is a target shooter and owns lots of rifles and shotguns and uses them at at his club. He has a Mini 14 in .223 which is scoped with good glass. he shoots 2" groups at 200m with this weapon. The French police use M14s.