Early Production Mini-14

[dawg23]

A friend is considering an early production Ruger Mini-14 (.223) that he found on an auction site. I am not very familiar with Ruger products, but seem to recall comments in the past about the early models being pretty inaccurate ......soemthing about thin barrels that flex when they get hot/warm ??

Anybody have experience with the Mini-14's - specifically the early ones ??

 

[Walkalong]

Mine is around 25 or so years old, and it shoots 3 or 4 MOA with bulk bullets. All I ever expected from it. AR's are more accurate by far, but I still love my Mini 14.

 

[chestnut ridge]

I have a series 180 made in 1976. It is a 3 to 4 inch rifle at 100 yards.
I have never had any problems. I understand parts are not available
from Ruger. The extractor seems to be hard to find.
I would get a newer version because of the parts issue.

 

[CSA 357]

I have a older gb mini 14 ss, i love it, i also have a ar 15, if i had to pick one it would be the mini 14, i hear alot of folks bashing the mini 14 but itS a good gun, not a bench rest gun but it was never made to be , if you want a tack driver get a bolt action! Mine was a mississippi highway patrol issue, they now have ar 15 s