Butler Creek Folding Stock Problems w/Mini-14

[Confederate]

I bought a Butler Creek folding stock for my Ruger Mini-14 and have had nothing but problems with it. First off, the slide doesn't stay open with an empty magazine in the gun when it's pulled back. Second, sometimes the slide does stay back, but not because it catches where it's supposed to -- it more or less sticks. I have to partially disassemble the gun to get it unstuck and then put it back together.

It's really irritating because so many people recommended Butler Creek.

I don't have any recoil buffers installed. The two side screws tend to go in too far when screwed in all the way, so I have to unscrew them a little to get the gun back together. (I'll have to file off some of the ends so they don't stick out.)

Can anyone help with this?

Thanks!


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[Confederate]

I just got off the phone with a fellow from Butler Creek and he has nothing to offer. So I'm bumping this thread in the hopes that someone might be able to help.

More info: Even if the button is pushed, the bolt won't stay back. The side screws protrude slightly into the stock, so I've backed them out a little. Can't figure out what would cause the bolt not to catch, but I've heard reports from people who say that the gun won't strip the last round in guns that have been put into Butler Creek folding stocks.

If anyone can offer suggestions, please do!

 

[twestbrook10]

So this is a new problem that is only apparent since you put the folding stock on? Did you make any other changes, such as aftermarket magazines?

 

[Confederate]

Nope, the magazine in it is the standard 5-rounder. When the gun was in it's regular stock it worked fine. I bought the stock so long ago that I can't return it, and I'd hate to have to just put it back in its old stock.

The Mini-14 is fairly inaccurate, according to some posts, and I haven't had the opportunity to shoot mine. I'm thinking that if I can get the gun to work in the new stock that I can put on one of those stabilizers that enhances accuracy. If I have to return the gun to it's old stock, I'll probably just sell it or trade it.

If I can make it functional, I love the folding stock.

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Dremel tool for the inside and open up any areas that are binding.

Get some small, thin washers for the screws on the sides---leave the screws alone-you might want to go back to the original stock sometime.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Dremel tool for the inside and open up any areas that are binding.

That should do it.

 

[desidog]

Bolt hold open is generally a mag issue, not stock. Have you tried backing the screws out a 1/2 turn at a time to see if it is a binding issue?

Is the metal installed correctly?

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Bolt hold open is generally a mag issue, not stock.

True but not when the problem doesn't exist in another stock.

 

[JESmith]

Check the magwell. It could be binding the mag and make it seat just a little off. I have found the Butler Creek stocks need to be tweaked just a little. They tend to be a little tight in some areas and a little loose in others. A bit of polishing with some 200 grit sandpaper should fix the tight spots. The lugs tend to be loose, use some copper or aluminum sheets to shim them up. Take a trip over to the www.perfectunion.com - they have some good how-to's on accurizing these stocks.

 

[benEzra]

I don't have any recoil buffers installed. The two side screws tend to go in too far when screwed in all the way, so I have to unscrew them a little to get the gun back together. (I'll have to file off some of the ends so they don't stick out.)

Add a second lockwasher underneath each screw. (I'm assuming you did pull the lockwashers from the original stock along with all the metal hardware.) I did have to add washers to mine.

Make sure the stock is FULLY seated in the sheet metal forestock liner that you pulled from the factory stock. If the stock is too wide through the receiver, shim accordingly.

The Butler Creek stock *is* the best mini-14 folder out there (even better than the original factory folder from a functional standpoint) but occasionally some of them do require a little fitting.

 

[Confederate]

Great advice, all.

Thanks. I'll be seeing it next weekend and will try some of these!

 

[SHvar]

The butler creek stock Ive owned since 1994 works better than the factory stock did after a few years, the factory stock has a funny feature where the trigger assembly likes to fall out when firing on occasion, the butler creek fits perfect, and has no problems. Do some adjusting with the screws, and sandpaper if needed.

 

[Confederate]

Well, I took a little time this weekend and completely disassembled my Mini-14 and reassembled it. I put in an extra washer in each of the screw slots on the sides and used a file to make it fit the middle section better. To make a long story short, it now works! The bottom part of the gun didn't fit very well and I simply removed some of the stock material until it did. When I cocked it with the magazine in place, it locked just fine. At first I thought it was just locking on me again, but when I removed my magazine and hit the butt against the carpet, it slammed shut just fine!

Thanks again for all the suggestions.

Now as for accuracy, what is the best way to buy this gun some? I'm looking at the Henrich Smallbore Vibration Controller, but is there anything better (and cheaper)?

Thanks again!