American Rifleman got my hopes up. Ruger dashed them.

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Rugerlvr

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In the new American Rifleman there's a story about the NRA-ILA Mini-14 special edition which comes standard with two 20 round magazines. Whoever they were interviewing from Ruger said that if demand was high enough for the NRA rifle, they might market 20 round magazines for sale seperately, so I sent a comment on to Ruger:

I was reading in American Rifleman about the new NRA-ILA Mini-14, and how Ruger might consider offering 20 round magazines for the Mini-14 if the demand for the NRA mini-14 was high. I will not be buying a new Mini-14, as I already own a Mini-14, and three other Ruger firearms. I would like to say, that as a Ruger enthusiast, and Mini-14 owner, I would love to purchase new 20 round Ruger-branded magazines for my older Mini-14.
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And then came their reply, which may be a form letter, but still makes me sad.

Response:
The Ruger Mini-14 rifle has been sold commercially since 1986 and was designed to be used in the hunting fields of America, where a few quick shots are sometimes vital. Well over 95% have left the factory with 5 round magazines in recognition of their intended use. We understand your desire for a greater capacity magazine, but at this point in time we have no plans to change our long-standing policy.
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Well, first of all, designed to be used in the hunting fields of America is a bit disingenuous based on the interview in the article in AR. Bill Ruger senior felt that if he'd designed the Mini-14 earlier, it might have beaten out the AR-15 and become the next Army rifle. He had greater aspirations most assuredly. Why else was there a full-auto LE model?
 
It appears that Ruger's handlers are in full swing with the political season. Same type of double-speak hype we hear from the candidates...

:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

stellarpod
 
Well, first of all, designed to be used in the hunting fields of America is a bit disingenuous based on the interview in the article in AR.
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It was designed to be the worlds most expensive plnking rifle and was advertised as such initially.


Why else was there a full-auto LE model?
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The AC556 was/is available to the serfs.


Well over 95% have left the factory with 5 round magazines in recognition of their intended use. We understand your desire for a greater capacity magazine, but at this point in time we have no plans to change our long-standing policy.
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Translation: if you want a rifle with more capacity, go somewhere else.

Bill Ruger senior felt that if he'd designed the Mini-14 earlier, it might have beaten out the AR-15 and become the next Army rifle
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Except that the army really has no interest in a semiauto carbine with a 5-round magazine. :p


The mini-14 is a rifle that I just hate to hate. It could be such a cool rifle if it only came with standard capacity magazines, maybe a few tactical stock designs with a lot more accessories, a manufacturer that isn't a fair weather friend of gun owners, and a price tag that was $200 less (and I don't mean $200 off the Suggested retail price). I could overlook the the accuracy issues if it were able to compete with an AK on price and features. Old Bill had decided to not compete with the AK or even SKS by trying to politically eliminate them from competition- that's something that just cannot be forgiven.
 
If REM and Green Day was playing on the radio, I would swear I was having a flashback to 1994.


Pay attention guys... elections are coming up.


-- John
 
They're clearly being political. I just wonder what they think it'll ever buy them. Gunnies will be ticked off about it, and the frothing-at-the-mouth antis will forever be frothing-at-the-mount antis. It's lose, lose. When will we ever learn?

That said-- I've found 20 rd Ruger factory mags lots of places. I have purchased several in the last year. What's the problem, really? Google is your friend.

This took me about 60 seconds. I'm sure there are others:
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/MAG390-55303-1882.html
 
It's obnoxious and stupid, but on the other hand maybe they are sending an indirect message that they understand that the mini-14 is neither accurate nor reliable enough to have ever been selected as a battle rifle, so there's no need to make a bunch of 20 or 30 rounders.
 
I should come to Ruger's defense here, insofar as they are now in fact marketing, to the public, an eeeevil black Mini-14 with a 16" barrel and a 20 round magazine. That's progress in the right direction.

Further; the NRA, only 10 years ago, would not have been caught dead promoting such an item. Now they have their name on this new Ruger! That too is progress.

I choose to look at this as evidence that we are winning.

You should consider buying the new Mini-- they've made some improvements on it too.

If Ruger wanted to really gain some points (and make a bunch more money in the process) they'd look into producing a nice AR variant.
 
Response:
The Ruger Mini-14 rifle has been sold commercially since 1986 and was designed to be used in the hunting fields of America, where a few quick shots are sometimes vital. Well over 95% have left the factory with 5 round magazines in recognition of their intended use. We understand your desire for a greater capacity magazine, but at this point in time we have no plans to change our long-standing policy.
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So reply to their response and say:

Thank you for your quick reply to my original message. I will address your policy by purchasing my next rifle from a more understanding manufacturer.
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Then do it. :banghead:
 
Russian American Arms.... Tell Ruger to google that and get a grip on what sells. They can't bring in their Saiga 12s fast enough to fill orders and they are frequently sold out on all their AK variants.
 
Further; the NRA, only 10 years ago, would not have been caught dead promoting such an item. Now they have their name on this new Ruger! That too is progress
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There doesn't seem to be a model of Ruger that the NRA doesn't have their logo on in some special edition or another- probably some sort of marketing agreement that the two entities have.
 
Well write a letter to them. Remember these guys got burned horribly by the great American jury pool in the 70's and early 80's. They're not going to change now for fear of another multi million dollar verdict. And their policy about high caps will be used as a nose to hang them if they do ever change and someone did use one to kill people. If I were counsel to Ruger I'm not sure I could advise them to change. The damage has been done and can't easily be undone. On the flip side, consumers can get high caps if they want them.

Personally I don't buy semis from them because it's not what they do best. If I did I'd just get aftermarket high caps.
 
That black 16" mini14 actually sounds pretty cool. Not sure it would be better or cheaper than a nice little Olympic AR or other AR carbine.

If Ruger wants to market itself to keep its guns for sale in AWB states, that is a business decision for them. I am not really all too interested in one.


I always thought it would be neat to get some sort of MiniGarand that took 10 or 12 round clips or strippers, but looked almost identical to the Garand just smaller/shorter. I keep thinking it would be similar in size to a mini14. Just a collector's dream I guess. :)
 
in all honesty it is a very reliable platform & i am very happy with my m-30 for what it is. i have done some inexpensive mods & it shoots quality ammo quite accurately. i can understand the want & need for reliable high cap mags but i am not a fan of getting any of my rifle barrels too hot. i don't think anything good comes from that for the rifle but it is fun for the shooter. i can live with 5-rounders & i have a bunch of them. they change out pretty fast if needed.
 
minaccurate

they only issue 5-round mags b/c if you shoot more than 5 rounds in rapid succession the barrel will get hot, melt, and rounds 6, 7 and 8 will walk toward you.

then you can hold it sideways and shoot around corners.

this isn't entirely sarcasm. i once owned a mini that shot 8" low at 25 yards, and couldn't put 5 rounds on a pie plate.

no, it's not me> i shot sharpshooter and expert with the M16A2
 
Well, I've never actually bought a Ruger new. :p

And all my magazines are aftermarket, except for the two pre-ban hi-caps I got with my P89.

Why does a company that can make such good guns act so blatantly anti-consumer? :mad:
 
If i've said it once,i've said it a thousand times....." if Ruger would make a mini-14 with a heavier barrel,parkerize it, and make it compatible with AR magazines, they wouldn't be able to keep them on the shelves".
 
The Ruger mini is far and away the best damn $300 plinking rifle that $700 can buy

Seriously in this day and age with all the choices you have in high cap .223's buying a new mini is like GM putting a cassette deck in a new car. WHY?
 
Translation: if you want a rifle with more capacity, go somewhere else.
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I did, my $620 Armalite upper/Stag lower AR looks very nice where a Ruger might have been (I used to love the idea of the Mini-14 back when I was in the UK, mostly due to childhood exposure to the A-Team :) )

Of course even if the Mini-14 was $300, I'd probably buy a .223 Saiga instead, partly due to Ruger assuming I'm a murderous criminal thug and partly due to wanting something as hard to break as an AK-variant.
 
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