Mini 14 Ranch Rifle

[john_pifer]

I bought my Mini-30 back around 2006 or 2007 when Ruger still wasn't making the 20-rd. mags available to the public. I think I gave around $650-700 for it new.

Fast-forward to 2014 - I discovered that Ruger is now selling the 20-rounders, so I bought one. Guess what? Doesn't work worth a dern in the rifle.

Bought another one a week or so ago...planning to take it to the range and see if the new mag works. If not, I guess i need to have the rifle looked at.

 

[CT8]

Originally Posted By: punisher
I always wondered at the effectiveness of the Mini-14 due to it's ineffectiveness on the A-Team. Lots of bullets flyin, very few bodies droppin.
A team [the media] really the true test of a firearm.

 

[john_pifer]

Well, I'm extremely happy right now. Just got back from the range, where I went to test the OEM Ruger 20-rd. magazine I had bought (this was the 2nd one I had bought...I had malfunctions with the first one I had bought last year).

Anyway, I started out loading 5 rounds, then 10, then 15, and finally 20. Then a few more full 20-rd. mags and NO MALFUNCTIONS! So, as hard as it was for me to believe, I guess that 1st 20-rounder I bought for the Mini-30 last year is flawed somehow. I'm going to exchange it.

(All ammo fired today was Tula FMJ.)

Had a lot of fun shooting the little Mini-30 today, even though I was just in a little indoor range that's only 50 feet.

My next step with it will be to take it to an outdoor range and see how well I can hit with it with plain ole iron sights! I'll also attempt to determine whether this rifle is affected by the hot barrel accuracy degradation I've heard about.

 

[Falken]

Wow the Thirty looks so cool with the 20 rounder!

Up in Canada they don't accept more than the 5 rounder, you have to put the mag in at an extreme angle, then fish hook it in till it snaps in place.

A longer 20 rounder doesn't work IIRC.

Anyway, over 5 rounds is absolutely illegal for centerfire rifles in Canada anyway so no big deal.

And after shooting 5 rounds I am grinning suficciently from ear to ear anyway.

I love the 7.62 x 39 round. The noise it makes is nuts!!

 

[Falken]

John, don't forget the clear silicone caulking on the scope rings if you plan on scoping that thing!! Or you'll mar the scope tube bad!

Happy gunning!!

 

[john_pifer]

Here's a short, fun little clip for our resident 7.62x39mm fans

http://youtu.be/dkX-Pg3pRwc

BTW, I love the thumb hole stock and light-colored wood on that Hungarian AK! Not to mention its one of the better AKs.

 

[billt460]

These are my 3 Ruger Mini 14's. 2 Tactical Models. One Stainless, (no longer made), and the other blued. The other is the NRA Edition with the gold NRA emblem embedded in the Hogue Overmolded Stock. All 3 run like scalded dogs. I've run both .223, as well as 5.56 MM through them with zero problems.