Mini 14

Discussion in 'Firearms' started by roscoe, Nov 27, 2005.


  1. roscoe

    roscoe Monkey+++ Founding Member

    Am I the only one that likes them? They seem to get bashed frequently. :(
     
  2. E.L.

    E.L. Moderator of Lead Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    No, they are good rifles. They just aren't as inherently accurate as a lot of others. The other problem is that the hi-cap mags are a little high, not to mention Bill Ruger made a lot of customers mad when he made it obvious he was no friend of the 2nd Amendment.
     
  3. roscoe

    roscoe Monkey+++ Founding Member

    Yeah, I am a Ruger guy, but Bill Sr. didn't mind screwing us. Very convenient him pushing for a 15 rd. limit when his new (P85) pistol held exactly that many.
     
  4. monkeyman

    monkeyman Monkey+++ Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    I would like to get one of the mini 14s my self just havent had the $$$. As I understand they are pretty decent on accuracey and I know you can get match grade barrels for them pretty easy. I figure it is basicly a civilian form of an M16.
     
  5. ghostrider

    ghostrider Resident Poltergeist Founding Member

    My first Mini was a 182 series, and was more reliable than any M16A1 Uncle Sam ever issued me. I shot about 2000 rounds of ball, and 1000 rounds of some 60 grain hollow points I got from some guy in Montana that advertised in SGN. Never jammed, bobbled, anything, so I gave up and cleaned it. That one was the reason I still have a Mini now. I have a stainless ranch with the camo laminated stock and a Pro-Point installed. If you shoot the first four or five rounds at the pace of a bolt-action rifle and let the barrel heat up evenly, it will shoot with most semi-auto or thin barrel rifles.

    I have yet to find a USA mag I could not make work, if you have some mags that don't work, I can post some dimensions and instructions on tweaking. Try the John Masen mags, he was a vendor for the 5 round mags. Melbo was gonna try the Thermold mags, I haven't asked since to see how they did.
     
  6. roscoe

    roscoe Monkey+++ Founding Member

    I have been on a 12 yr layoff from shooting, and I am getting back to it. I do not remember having trouble with mags, however the internet consensus seems to be most aftermarket mags are unreliable. Any tweaking tips would be greatly appreciated!
     
  7. melbo

    melbo Hunter Gatherer Administrator Founding Member

    I have a 181 series factory folder SS model.. very nice. and accuracy is as good as any others. If you can't get the factory mags, find the ...crap, I forget the best aftermarket mag name.... I can drag them out of the safe later. I think they are "ProMag".

    BigUglyOne could tell you, or you could go to http://www.perfectunion".com/forums/
    big mini14 crowd
     
  8. ghostrider

    ghostrider Resident Poltergeist Founding Member

    PMI, Precision Mag.
    Promag has the same problem USA mags had, quality control. Some of the mag dimensions are good, and most of the mags for one gun will work, but the next set of dimensions for the next weapon are off, and a mag in the tolerance range won't work.

    I've got a few I need to go through, I'll get dimensions from them, but it won't be in the next couple of weeks. Tweaking is easy. Most of these mags have a polymer "self- lubricating" follower. Should be called operator lubricated. They're injection molded, so take the floorplate off the mag, clean the inside of the mag and spring, and clean the sprue marks off the follower. Slick the sides of the follower up with emery cloth or a nail file. Reassemble, making sure the spring is to the rear, or you won't be able to fully load the mag.

    Use a pair of needlenose pliers, I like the Klein ergonomic because of the angle and jaw size, and cycle the follower up and down, until it gets easier, usually at least 50 or 100 cycles. That's the operator lubrication. Now load about 6 or 8 cartridges in the mag, preferably brass cased because this is what you want the mags to work best with. Push the top case down about 1/2 or 3/4" with another bullet point, and release quickly. The case should not come out of the mag. Download one round and try the other lip, a couple of times. If you lose a case, the mag is a double feed waiting to happen. Use your pliers, and roll the lip in, you don't want to bend it, just roll it in, a little at a time, and try it again. Maybe even better than dimensions would be looking at a working mag, and trying to make the lips match those.

    The other important dimension on a Mini mag is front to back. Again, use a good mag and compare, some of the softer metal mags get shorter as they are repeatedly inserted. Stick your pliers down in the front of the mag, and pull it out. Some of the sheet metal lugs can be helped by inserting a screwdriver under the lug, and gently raising and squaring the lug.

    See if this helps, ask questions for specific problems.
     
  9. melbo

    melbo Hunter Gatherer Administrator Founding Member

    yes. PMI. thanks Ghost.

    I'll try those tips too as I have one that will not feed. I also have a Factory 30 rounder. It works perfectly
     
  10. roscoe

    roscoe Monkey+++ Founding Member

    Thanks ghostrider, I'll work on my mags as I wait for the hunting crowd to thin at the range.
     
  11. ghostrider

    ghostrider Resident Poltergeist Founding Member

    Da nada, dude. Slicking up the follower and the lips fixes 90-95 % of what I've worked on.
     
  12. kckndrgn

    kckndrgn Monkey+++ Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Ok, here's a question for ya (may be this should be a post of its own?). At the range I work at there is a mini-14 on consignment for $400.00. It's been there quite a while, I may be able to get it for less, but I don't know for sure. I know it has one 5 rnd mag, but I haven't looked at the sheet to see if there are any more that come with it.

    A buddy of mine said to just hold on to my money, and save up for an AR-15, but that may be a while.

    Is there anything I can look at on the mini to tell if I'm getting a good deal (it is a wood stock and really doesn't look that used, but you can tell it has been used).
    Thoughts?

    Thanks
     
  13. ghostrider

    ghostrider Resident Poltergeist Founding Member

    I'd stay away from the 180 series, the gas system was not as robust. Serial number is on left side of receiver. Will say 182-XXXXX.

    I like the Mini, and it will do anything I ever need it to do. Plenty accurate, rugged and reliable for its intended use. Most of the bad rap for the Mini came from the cheap mags and light barrel. Good mags are avaiable again, and a muzzle break helps attenuate the whip of the thin barrel. The AR had some bad mag makers, too, just ask any older GI about those 30 round Adventure Line.

    Update to above posts. I put a Butler Creek folder on my Mini, and LOVE it. Solid lock up, and folded it is short enough to store anywhere. I have also tried about four or five of those new production 20 round steel Promag for the Mini, and they function flawlessly.
     
  14. kckndrgn

    kckndrgn Monkey+++ Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    S/N on the Mini-14 at the range is a 180-xxxxx. So I guess I should just save up my $$ and splurge on the AR in a month or so.

    Ryan
     
  15. E.L.

    E.L. Moderator of Lead Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    [GR], where are you getting your mini-14 mags at ?
     
  16. Blackjack

    Blackjack Monkey+++

    If it's just the difference of waiting a couple months, I'd say go with the AR.
     
  17. melbo

    melbo Hunter Gatherer Administrator Founding Member

    Not a great pic...
    DSC02156 (Small).JPG
     
  18. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    What scope is that? Long eye relief is what I need --
     
  19. melbo

    melbo Hunter Gatherer Administrator Founding Member

    leupold pistol scope. Can't remember the number and it's been duracoated. I think it was an EER (extended eye relief)
     
  20. E.L.

    E.L. Moderator of Lead Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    That is a nice compact set up.

    Hmmm, that looks just like the carpet in my bedroom.
     
survivalmonkey SSL seal        survivalmonkey.com warrant canary
17282WuJHksJ9798f34razfKbPATqTq9E7