[Ed]

Well I shelled out the money, $350 and picked up a 181 series Mini 14 with 500 rounds of ammo and 2 30 round maga and a 10 round. It shoots pretty well. I'm gonna have to get the muzzle brake and see if I can shrink the groups though. Only 1 30 round mag actually works. The 10 round actually holds 14 but won't click home in the mag well with any ammount in it. The 1 30 round worked flawlessly and the othere jammed twice then popped appart. So those 2 go back to the store today. Overall I like it and it will make a nice gun to play with.

[GW45]

Congrats!!!!

I love my Mini-14 - I have the muzzle break from Eagle and it works well.

What mags did you buy? (Mgfr)

I bought 5 from Cheaper than Dirt and have had nothing but problems, failure to feed, trying to double feed.

Looking to find quality 20 rd or 30 rd (if need be) mags - let me know what you find.

Center Fire Systems are guarenteed to work and so are the ones from Bushmaster....

Happy Shooting,

GW45

[4v50 Gary]

Try the 10 rounder with 13 rounds. I'm thinking that the magazine spring can't be depressed enough such that the mag can rise high enough for the mag catch to engage. Even if it were to engage with 13 rounds, test it thoroughly since its reliability may be questionable.

[SodaPop]

I have (13) PMI 30rd mags and they all work.:neener:

[Ed]

Sodapop: Its about 30% you talking it up that made me get it, the othe 70% was because I just wanted one. And since you contributed 30% and you have 30 round mags, I think it is your duty to contribute one to me. ;) Really though I took back the bad mags today and they replaced them for me. The new 30 works but th e10 still wouldnt latch in. Tried it with no ammo. They are the cheap ones though. Oh well. I lik ethis one more than th eRanch model I had in college.

[SodaPop]

If you run across a mag that doesn't work all you need to do is get new springs,followers, and needle nose plyers. My 4 junky USA mags get more use than my PMI mags. I can't remember the last time I had a malfuntion.

I forget if I told you but you can get new springs and followers at www.brownells.com

If you get cheap mags you can fix them for about $5 a mag.

[dude]

Take the mags that don't work.......step on them several times and put in the trash. DO NOT take out any springs or followers ect for 'parts' as they are crap.

They will never bother you again.

Then get yourself some other mags as there are plenty of aftermarket mags out there that work (to bad there are so many that don't!!)


-Do pick up one or two Ruger 20 rounders if you plan on ever using this for serious busniess, they are out there but the key is to take your time........the deals will come around

[Shooter973]

i have a few mini 14's myself and I have found that the 20 round mags work better than the 30s and I'm yet to find a 40 rounder that is any way reliable I have a couple of 40's but they don't funtion very well. 20's will work in all of my mini 14's :) P.s. I have half a dozen Ruger fatory mags, 3 have never been out of the white shipping -sales box. No they are not for sale!!! :neener:

[SodaPop]

P.s. I have half a dozen Ruger fatory mags, 3 have never been out of the white shipping -sales box. No they are not for sale!!!

Shaadduupp!!!:cuss:

I'm planning on selling all of my PMI mags when I retire. I think I'll be able to buy a house upstate for the money I get.

[P95Carry]

Good news Ed ... I hope you will enjoy ... mags are always a prob .. but some attention can often improve some seemingly poor ones. The engagement is often what lets em down I think.

I forget the source for my muzzle brake .... too long ago now but .. I also added a hand guard on barrel .. see pic. removal of foresight was a b*tch but once done I could fit the guard and ....... carefully machined 4 small indents at muzzle, at 90º to received the set screws that hold brake on. Mine was self color and so I blacked it ....... time and carelessness have resulted in some flaking of the paint .... i do think the brake helps tho.

http://www.patriotnetwork.net/cb_gun/mini_muzzle_s.jpg

[mini14jac]

Congrats on your Mini.
I just picked up one a few weeks ago.
I think the Cal. gun ban is causing a renewal of interest in these fine guns.

For excellent Mini14 info, and mag advice, try:
http://www.perfectunion.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=8 .
A really decent Mini14 forum.

Enjoy.

[longeyes]

If you can live with ten-round mags there are reliable ones from ProMag at fourfourmag.com. I have five; so far flawless.

[Sactown]

I also ordered a couple of ProMags from fourfourmag.com. Excellent mags. No feeding problems at all. Much better than the junky John Masen mags I had. The 10rnd Promags are also a lot smaller in size than the John Masen mags. Makes it easier to carry more mags.

[armabill]

P95Carry: Where did you get the handguard from?

[BamBam-31]

I believe that's a barrel shroud, not a handguard. I think they're available at Cabela's.

[armabill]

Thanks, I'll check into that.

[beckrodgers]

it's a good price on your rifle. Sounds like. I found one at a gun show 3 months past, it was a mini 14 ss ranch rifle with 1 factory ruger 20 rd and 2 pmi 30 rds. The price was $350 for the rifle and mags or $300 for the rifle. I did not get the rifle because the guy who had it seemed real anxious to part with it. Might have been stolen. Anyway, I offered him $325 for all of it; he said no and 10 min. later I watched him sell it to a (un-licensed dealer)you know the type, for exactly $275. The dealer then tried to sell it to me for $375. Anyway, the $350 price sounds real good. They are fun little plinkers and you can make a project out of them. Kind of like customizing a vehicle or experimental aircraft to taste. hope you enjoy your rifle and good luck. Thanks

[P95Carry]

ArmabillP95Carry: Where did you get the handguard from? Sorry late back on this ..... been outa town over a week.

I can't actually remember the source for that shroud - I'm bad at that!! Find something i like - get it ..... and promptly forget the origin! I think it was one of the more ''usual'' suppliers tho ..... all I can remember!

[armabill]

I'm sure that they made more than one. :)

It'll turn up sooner or later.

[rebelmark]

May I recommend the Smith Enterprise Muzzle Break; that is what I have on my Mini-14, and while everyone is complaining that Mini-14 accuracy sucks, mine consistently kicks butt!

[Kahr carrier]

Congrats on your new Mini -14 ,that was a good price.