Anything a new Mini-14GB owner should know?

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ABTOMAT

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Creative news laws in my state recently made all AR-15s worth a good $1200. Decided to cash out so I'm selling the AR and bought a Mini-14 to replace it. $500 off Gunborker and turns out to be a police Mini-14GB from 1987. Stainless, wood solid stock, mid-mounted sight with bayo lug.

First time Mini owner. Anything I should know as far as care and feeding? And are there any good aftermarket folding stocks? I actually hate folding stocks in general, but I think the A-Team thing is catching up with me.

Arrives next week and I couldn't resist already ordering an M7 bayonet for it.
 
I think the A-Team thing is catching up with me.
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Ever wonder why the A-Team never hit anyone? The Mini's were never known for accuracy. They are quite reliable and that seems like a good price for the rifle. I'd stay away from any aftermarket magazines. The Ruger Factory mags are good, but the 20 round mags are expensive and hard to find.
 
Yep, in my experience the only reliable mini 14 mags say Ruger on them. Not really into mini 14's but I understand why you got one. Super cool that its a GB and you got it so cheap. I think the best aftermarket mini stocks are Choate machine and tool. Would be even better if you could get an original Ruger side folder but I imagine that would be pretty pricey if you could even find one.
 
That sounds like a great price. They were going for ridiculous sums during the AWB.
If the serial number starts with 180, l think you're going to have a hard time with a folder fit, other than the original side folder.
Force some white grease through the bolt roller once in a while, with the heal of your hand.
The 1:10 twist is usually works well with 60 to 63gr. bullets.
good shooting! ;)
 
Is it a good price? Used minis seem like $450 guns these days if you shop smart. It's a 185 serial, so right on the edge of possibly being a 1/7 barrel.
 
Mine has a Choate side folder on it, and I like it. Quick and easy to fold or extend, and locks up real tight.
Cheek weld doesn't feel as positive as a full stock, but not terribly so.
 
Buy and install a buffer for the op' rod , you may have to sand it down so the last round hold open functions, it takes a lot of the slam against the innards.
 
If you have not sold your AR yet I suggest holding onto it until you have a chance to shoot your new Mini-14.

I qualified with them regularly for over a decade and found the accuracy of the 185 to be sorely lacking. On the other hand a friend that has one is satisfied with 4"+ groups at 100 yards.
 
The Mini 14 is a very dependable rifle, but they have never been known for accuracy, with some being worse than others, and the newer ones reportedly being better. My old pencil barre Ranch Rifle will do around 2" at 100 yards with quality bullets. That's good enough for many applications.
 
Many complain about the accuracy of the Mini 14. You need to look at the Mini 14 as a modern M1 carbine that fires a better cartridge.

I've owned 4 Mini 14s and the agency I worked for issued them. We had about a dozen assigned to our office. That gives me a sampling of about 16 rifles I never saw one that shot worse than a 4" group. Some would do 2". That was with factory 55 gr ammo. That accuracy is sufficient for a M1 Carbine or even a Garand for issue to the troops. It's also in the same league as most issued M14s I've shot.

I've had a Mini 14 around almost continuously since about 1976. Wh did I go through 4? Nothing wrong with the rifles. It's one of those guns I could always sell when I needed money and easy to find when I wanted to replace it. The one I have now I got about 20 years ago.

I have found some good aftermarket magazines but most of them are junk. Factory magazines are expensive but they work and last. I have some I bought over 40 years ago.

As far as the durability and reliability, I wouldn't worry about it. I know of an agency that had 10 or so Mini 14s that they used at the range for qualification. These guns were rarely cleaned and saw a lot of use. They noticed bullets were starting to keyhole in some. They still functioned well otherwise. They called Ruger. Ruger asked how many rounds were through these guns. This was estimated by so many rounds in qualification course x 4 times a year x number of agents x years. It worked out these guns had fired at least 50,000 plus rounds each. Ruger still rebuilt them all free. I don't think you need to worry about wearing it out.
 
Sounds like he lives in my state of Ma. Don't sell the AR you'll regret it trust me on that. Put it in the safe for Now. As fat as the Mini 14 goes there are a few things that can be done to improve accuracy. A trigger job can help immensely some style of stabilizer for the barrel and replace the gas block if you reload. As set up from the factory the Mini 14 will launch your brass into the next county.
If you live in Ma you may not be able to sell the AR so becareful would hate to see you run afoul of the AG .
 
highlander 5 said:
Sounds like he lives in my state of Ma. Don't sell the AR you'll regret it trust me on that. Put it in the safe for Now. As fat as the Mini 14 goes there are a few things that can be done to improve accuracy.
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Yep, sure is. Very few things you can do to improve the accuracy. 1.Trigger job as stated above 2. Change the Gas "Bushing" (not block) to cut down on the gas exchange but yet keep the rifle reliable with a tuned load. 3. Pair a bullet with the rifle and knowing the twist rate... bulk surplus crap, and cheap ammo will only get you so far. 3. Cutting the barrel down to 16inches with a good muzzle device will help stiffen the barrel up. 4. Stock bedding. 5. Recoil buffers. 6. Tighter recoil spring. 7.Barrel strut. 8. Or a Shilen after market target barrel. 9. The Harris Mod (http://www.grantcunningham.com/2012/02/ed-harris-my-observations-on-the-ruger-mini-14/) 10. ASI conversion kits http://www.accuratemini14.com/index.php.

Yep you are pretty limited on what you can do to a Mini 14 to make them accurate ;)
But hey who am I to speak about the Mini 14... Oh wait, I forgot I had these



Or you Can just keep the Mini 14 just the way it is and apprecite that it is a light wiehgt piston operated rugged, will last you forever 2MOA rifle

 
Thanks for all the input. I'll keep you guys updated when I get it.

I'm aware the AR is better and I haven't sold it yet, but the decision is mostly financial to me. Figure keeping the Mini represents an extra $500 in my bank account, and if the AWB laws here ever change (for better or worse) the AR is back to being just another $700 rifle.
 
I've hot a 185 series that just can't shoot anything heavier than 55 gr.

62 gr bullets like m855 produced patterns at 50 yards rather than groups.
 
1/10 it shoots decently with 45 and 52 gr varmint loads or 55 gr M193.

M855 was giving me 6 and 8 inch groups at 50 yards, with a scope!
 
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jim in Anchorage said:
What twist? My 187 is 1/7 and loves 69 gr and up.
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Dr.Rob said:
1/10 it shoots decently with 45 and 52 gr varmint loads or 55 gr M193.

M855 was giving me 6 and 8 inch groups at 50 yards, with a scope!
Click to expand...

Yeah it was the original Mini's that had the 1in10 twist. It is probably the reason why everyone complains about the accuracy. People were using the wrong ammo, or the right ammo just was not available back in the 80's. I know I sure have seen a change and upgrades to the .223/5.56 bullet in the past 30 years of hunting and shooting. I've had good luck so far with a hornady load I have recently found. Have you tried the Hornady Black 75 gr BTHP Jim? My old 188 with the 1in7 can hold them at 2inches in the 100 yard range. http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/hornady-bthp-black™-223-remington-75-grain-rifle-ammunition#repChildCatid=4042709
 
ABTOMAT said:
Is it a good price? Used minis seem like $450 guns these days if you shop smart. It's a 185 serial, so right on the edge of possibly being a 1/7 barrel.
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GB's bring a premium online. If it is clean I am surprised that you got it for $500. You did good. I sold one 2 years ago on consignment. I think that it brought $700 or $750 online, but was 92%-95%. Have fun with it , but please keep it original. I had a few guns that came through with the owners social security number engraved on the receiver. You can knock $150 right off of the top.
 
Dunno, I missed three GBs on Gunbroker in the $480-500 range this past month. Mine has a badge number scratched into the receiver and the stock is typical trade-in. Here's the auction pic:

pix690625995.jpg


I also have an M1A so the idea of two M14 type rifles is kinda cool.
 
ABTOMAT said:
Dunno, I missed three GBs on Gunbroker in the $480-500 range this past month. Mine has a badge number scratched into the receiver and the stock is typical trade-in. Here's the auction pic:

pix690625995.jpg


I also have an M1A so the idea of two M14 type rifles is kinda cool.
Click to expand...

Oh my, that is a nice one, I sure be proud to have one of those for the 500
 
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