When did a Mini 14 become an assault rifle

[Grandpa Shooter]

http://world.guns.ru/assault/as37-e.htm

Follow the link---sure surprised me. I didn't know I own an "assault rifle"

 

[TexasRifleman]

I didn't know I own an "assault rifle"

If you own an AC556 you do indeed own an assault rifle.

Full auto qualifies for that in a big way.

That web site does not refer to the Mini14 as an assault rifle, only "rifle".

There's quite a lot of difference between an AC556 and a Mini 14

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

Read twice, post once.

From the site: For government users, Ruger produced two specialized versions of the basic rifle - the Mini-14GB and AC-556. The former is still a semi-automatic only weapon, but is fitted with protected front sight, flash-hider and a bayonet lug. The latter is a selective-fired weapon, and thus can be classified as a true assault rifle.

The pictures to which you refer are of the select-fire version, that you most likely don't own, but is indeed an "assault rifle."

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

When did a Mini 14 become an assault rifle

Depending on what aftermarket parts you had on it...1994

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

Depending on what aftermarket parts you had on it...1994

Again, read twice, post once. That was the "Assault Weapons Ban" in 1994, not the "Assault Rifle Ban". Short of installing a different FCG, no amount of aftermarket parts could turn a Mini-14 into an assault rifle despite the fact you could turn one into a assault weapon as defined by that law by swapping out a few bits.

 

[TexasRifleman]

Short of installing a different FCG, no amount of aftermarket parts could turn a Mini-14 into an assault rifle.

As a sidenote, I don't think you could convert Mini14s. I looked into it back in the early 80's and was told you had to get the AC556 or not at all. Apparantly there was a lot of difference in the receiver too.

Dunno. Wish I had bought one then.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

As a sidenote, I don't think you could convert Mini14s.

I believe you're right on not being able to convert to a AC556 using AC556 guts. I've read the pieces simply won't fit, but have obviously never tried it. But I have seen things like this that lead me to think there must be some way to do it, although of perhaps dubious legality.

Dunno. Wish I had bought one then.

There are still some around, but they are pretty proud of them: http://www.davidspiwak.com/Ruger Inventory.htm
Although, still a big chunk cheaper than an AR-based full-auto.

Still would have been fun to pick up back then.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

Converting a Mini-14 to take a AC556 FCG would require adding metal to
the receiver. Now, adding metal to a cast steel receiver, re-heat treating
and machining it for a AC556 FCG is such a formidable task, ATF does
not consider the Mini14 to be 'readily convertible.' Unless you own a
shoestring.

 

[Gunnerpalace]

When Bill Ruger died and the Dem's broke out of the deal.

 

[TexasRifleman]

But I have seen things like this that lead me to think there must be some way to do it, although of perhaps dubious legality.

I've read a couple of those books back when I was in high school and too stupid to know the possible bad things that could happen.

Most of those are not really conversions of any kind, merely ways to delay the hammer fall a little and get "full auto" by having the hammer follow the bolt.

Now that I know more, they are just a good way to blow yourself up if the bolt isn't locked in place.

 

[El Tejon]

It cannot because it never was.

 

[SteyrAUG]

Ever since they became the choice of special forces operatives.

 

[.cheese.]

As mentioned (why am I posting?) - it isn't an "assault rifle"... it oddly enough has been referred to as an "assault weapon" though.

I don't really see how. An M14 - I guess... but a Mini-14? Not in my opinion.

 

[SteyrAUG]

TexasRifleman

As a sidenote, I don't think you could convert Mini14s. I looked into it back in the early 80's and was told you had to get the AC556 or not at all. Apparantly there was a lot of difference in the receiver too.

Always doing things the hard way...

 

[Baba Louie]

Always good to know that our elected officials are one step ahead of the curve (or is it behind?) Rep McCarthy has it classified as such under her ever waiting to get out of (Judiciary) committee H.R. 1022 (how ironic a proposed bill number) See SEC 3, Definitions, item (A) xviii. For the record it would become a "Semiautomatic Assault Weapon" as opposed to a bolt action, lever action or single shot assault weapon. A turn of the word, a new breed of criminal. That'll stop crime. Making more of it.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-1022

But that's old news and nothing to become alarmed about. Yet. Post 2008 elections expect to see it again around, oh, say sometime in February 2009.

I particularly love this line...

In making the determination, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that a firearm procured for use by the United States military or any Federal law enforcement agency is not particularly suitable for sporting purposes, and a firearm shall not be determined to be particularly suitable for sporting purposes solely because the firearm is suitable for use in a sporting event.'

But, this isn't political or even legal yet, so bear me no mind. I just find it interesting the way some peoples minds work. Or don't.

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

Again, read twice, post once.

Not to be too rough on you, but I was speaking figuratively.

1994 was when every semi-automatic magazine fed weapon became an assualt rifle... to people that don't know didly about firearms.

 

[Commander Guineapig]

To a lib it is an Evil Black Rifle with a Really Big Magazine made to Shoot People.
Even if it's not black, has a 10 round mag, and you hunt paper targets. /sigh.
darnit all.

 

[rcmodel]

Whether it is one or not, it can be, with the simple stroke of a politicians pen.

And after the next presidential election, it will be one again, I betcha.


rcmodel

 

[brentn]

The latter is a selective-fired weapon, and thus can be classified as a true assault rifle.


Analyze this, to me, it says that the ac556 is an assault rifle, this is for sure. However, it denotes that the mini14 has been referred to as an assault rifle. So most people think that its an assault rifle, when it isn't, but then again if everyone thinks that it is an assault rifle, isn't it?
NO. Just because everyone thinks it is, doesn't make it true, however;


-=dictionary.com=-
assault rifle
–noun 1. a military rifle capable of both automatic and semiautomatic fire, utilizing an intermediate-power cartridge.
2. a nonmilitary weapon modeled on the military assault rifle, usu. modified to allow only semiautomatic fire.


The mini 14 is derived from the M14, which in its first days was a select fire rifle. Since the mini14 is based off of the M14 which was a select fire military weapon, would it not be defined as an assault rifle?

 

[.cheese.]

also - while we know what the difference is between an "Assault rifle" and an "Assault weapon" - we're pretty much the only ones.

The public sees the two as synonymous.

So for the Mini-14 to be an "Assault Weapon" as per an AWB - it is the same thing as it being an "Assault Rifle" in the minds of I'd imagine at least 200 million Americans.

 

[JR719]

As crazy as it sounds, I don't really believe in the rubber stamp term "assault rifle". If someone points a rifle of any kind at me, it's an "assault rifle", be it a chipmunk .22, I feel assaulted!

To blatenly call a rifle "assault", because of the way it looks, is just out there. I don't agree with it, don't belive in the political hype, don't buy it.

The news media, along with the politicians have created this term. What's next? A Glock pistol or Berreta being an "Assault pistol"? So I guess they should be on the next ban list, or maybe the 1911's?

I also own a Ruger mini 14, "pre ban" with a folding stock. I guess this is classified as an "Assault rifle", along with my AR-15. So what? Who cares other than the media?

I also own a select fire weapon, my Federal paperwork classifies it as a "device". Hmmm... So my "over the counter" mini 14 is an assault rifle that is bad and hurts people, but my full auto machine pistol is just a "device" and perfectly ok?

Am I missing something here? Sorry everyone, It's been a tough week and I'm drained. I've also poured a few beers down and had to reply. I just don't get the whole "Assault weapon" thing and it makes me angry. I don't believe in it, don't follow it and I think it's just ignorant politicians and media that create the hype.

This is stupid crap people, if it's not a pistol, well, it is a rifle. Regardless of the caliber and the looks. As gun owners, we need to let our politicians know this is just hype, nothing more than hype.

Design a rifle to look like a treebranch, or whatever, that holds 30 or plus rounds. Would it be an "assault rifle" by their definition? Who know's, it's the politicians and news media that do the classifying.

I say "poo on them". If it's a rifle, it's a rifle. If it's a pistol, it's a pistol. Nothing more, nothing less. If you want a full auto, well, I believe it is well within our rights to own them. I don't think we should have to pay a $200 fee to own own one. This coming from an LE, go figure.

Either a mini 14 with a high cap mag, or a 30-06 with a high cap. Who cares?

 

[PercyShelley]

Before someone less kind jumps on you, here's the memo you probably didn't get:

"Assault Rifle" is an awkward calque of the German Sturmgewehr. In a technical sense it refers to selective fire, shoulder fired rifles chambered in such a caliber as to make fully automatic fire controllable. Had history been a little different, we would be calling them Mondragons or Federovs, but it didn't pan out that way. We could even call such rifles storm guns; it's a legitimate translation, but "assault rifles" is common currency, and moreover, a legitimate title for a specific class of weapon.

An "Assault Gun" is a type of armored fighting vehicle. Typically, assault guns are used in infantry support in a manner vaguely analogous to artillery, but from much shorter ranges. If someone uses this term to refer to small arms, they have obviously no clue what they're talking about.

And "assault weapon" is the meaningless term. All weapons, by definition, can be used to assault. You are of course right that the appearance of a gun is irrelevant; irrelevant except to people who are making calculated moves to villify certain types of guns in the hope that they can chop pieces off of the gun lobby, as taking it on all at once has been largely impossible.

 

[kBob]

During 1989 when the bill that eventually became the California AWB was introduced pretty much the same bill was offered in FLorida and recieved much media support. The FLorida Legislator that offered the bil happened to be my representative who during the campaign expressed his strong support for the RKBA. When he introduced a bill to ban COlt Sporter 1 and such rifles I got a bit peeved.

Obtaining the two bills and proposal I compared them and found intire sections to be copies of one another. WHen I called the Fl reps office to ask what the source of the bill was I was told it was an original document produced by Representative Flagg's office.

Being lied to TWICE really pisses me off.

I ended up being one of the TWO private citizens allowed to speak before the FLorida House Criminal Justice Committee. The CHair of the COmmittee told me that the bill was a done deal and that I was wasting my time for he had the committee votes to turn it back over to the full house "in his pocket"

I stayed for the first day and watched as the only speaker for the 2nd Ammendment was an out of state NRA representative sent down from DC and he was only allowed 15 minutes of two hours, the rest of the time being taken up by antis. I attened the next session and this trend was repeated with Marion Hammer (Unified Sportsmen of FLorida and later NRA Prez) got the 15 minut pro talkat the end of the first hour and 45 minutes anti time.

At this meeting someone placed a pamphlet on the information table and it showed "Assault Weapons" Just pictures and names and among them was a Mini-14.

There after there was a discussion between me and the person responsible for the infor mation table about whether 1. any one could place things on the table and 2. who put that pamphlet on the table.

At a third meeting I was allowed sto speak and I used three minutes. I was then told i needed to stay at the podium so I could be asked some questions.

Actually the first question was "Are you a member of the NRA?"

I then spoke for less than two minutes, the Female Rep asking the question ran to the ladies room.

As the COmmitte Chair was not in the room the chair decided he needed to talk to me. This Black Representative expressed concerns about my responses to the Female rep and we had a few minutes conversation about Civil Rights.

All I know is that when the vote did occur the Black representative that the Chair had so trusted to vote his way did not and in FLorida the Bill failled in Committee.

So some folks have called the Mini-14 an Assualt Weapon since at least 1989.

BTW in the midist of this the Govenor that supported the ban was found to have his "Turkey Gun" in for repair in a local gunshop. Can you say stainless Mini with scope, folding stock, and cammo job?

-Bob Hollingsworth

 

[Walkalong]

If yours is not full auto, you don't own one, although certain types will label it so. I have a semi auto Mini-14 myself and do not consider it an assualt rifle. When folks ask if I own an assulat rifle, I say "No, although I do have a clip fed semi auto that's fun to shoot."

clip/mag - don't frett about it, you know what I mean.

Oh yea, I have several "mags" for it.

 

[Hauptmann]

When did the Mini 14 become an assault rifle?........

.......obviously you never saw the A-Team.