Frozen MINI 14 action!?!?!?

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Tady45

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Ok, Ok, I haven't been to the range since June. That day, I shot maybe 150 rounds or so thru my Mini 14. Please no AR comparisons, I live in California...I can't buy an AR..:( Anyway, stored the rifle in it's nylon case put in closet. This week, I thought it was time to go wing a few, as (summer is for fishing) the rest of the year is for shooting. Took my trusty Mini from the case to find that the action was frozen stiff. I am using the world frozen for lack of a better word, but actually, it seemed more like WELDED! :banghead: The first place I called, wants $65.00 bucks to get her right. Sounds a bit much to me? Any suggestions? And finally, I must admit that I have been lazy about cleaning etc. This will not happen again, as among other reasons, this gun would only be good as a club (at this time) if the S@#% ever hit the fan. A bit disappointed in LA.. Oh yea, looks like we get to keep our lame gun control loving Gov as well. Anybody have any good news?


Larry
 
My brother in law had a mini that was locked up. Same as you, it was shot quite a bit and stored for a few months without cleaning. He brought it to me, and I gave it a pretty good knock on the charging handle with a piece of wood. I put a wooden dowel rod (one inch or so, and about 12 inches long) against the operating rod handle and whacked it pretty good with a hammer. That broke it loose, and after taking it apart, we found that the piston had rusted into the "cylinder" (for a better term) that is in the end of the operating rod. We cleaned the piston up and cleaned out the cylinder real good. After that, when he shot it, he would at the very least, remove the stock and clean and lube the piston and cylinder. No problem since.

Hope this helps.
 
Larry, First thing you do is make sure to see if you can put the safety on.
If you can, the hammer is cocked if you can't the hammer will be down. At this point, none of us could determine if a live round was still in the chamber. Pointing rifle in a safe direction and handling cleaning rod as if you were a loader on a hot B.P. cannon determine if you do or do not have a loaded round in the chamber.

If you know that no fully loaded round is in the chamber follow the advise that will follow in this thread.
 
Hi Hank & All, Well the answer is no, I can't put the safety on. Hammer is down. So now what? WD40 or anything that I can apply safely to see if I can move the action?
 
Try standing on the operating handle. Over on the FAL Files it's referred to as riding the FAL pogo stick!
 
If you can drop the trigger assembly out and take the metal out of the stock, you might be able to take the mainspring off the rifle and see where the piston is frozen. HTH.
 
Once more: kick start it. I had the same thing happen after leaving mine in a storage unit for 9 months once. Just as Mr. Chitlin described, the piston/cylinder were bonded together with rust. It doesn't take much; it cleaned right up and there's no evidence that anything was ever wrong.
 
I agree with "SDC" in his recommendation.

Start by removing the action from the stock, as if you were going to field strip the rifle. (You are going to need to do this to fix whatever's wrong anyhow.)

One the barreled action is free from the stock, remove the recoil spring, and start studying where the binding occurs. On a Mini-14 with the recoil spring removed, the slide (Operating rod) should rattle around laterally and lengthwise some. If it's not, then it's a good bet the "cylinder" in the front of the side is frozen to "piston" on the gas block with rust.

If that's the case (and I am betting on it), try to dribble some oil/bore cleaner down inside the front of the slide and maybe it will free it up.

The old boot heal trick others mentioned may be necessary, even with using bore cleaner to loosen up the piston.

Keep us posted.
 
we found that the piston had rusted into the "cylinder" (for a better term) that is in the end of the operating rod.
Click to expand...


I just caught that problem on my new Standard Mini 14. I had it out in the rain a few weeks ago and didn't clean it. I only put about 20rds threw it so I didn't bother cleaning it. It was very tight but didn't cease up.

Rust....................



Just spank your Mini 14.
 
There should be several lessons out of this thread:

1. Per "El Tejon", routine maintenance of firearms is essential, even in these days of "non corrosive, clean burning" ammunition
2. There is something to be said for stainless steel and/or chrome plated gas systems.
3. Be careful in choosing what ammo you run through your guns. Some foreign made stuff may leave behind residues that are much more deleterious to your firearm than ammo made in the U.S. (This may or may not be the case here.)

BTW, I clean my Stainless Steel Mini-14 promptly after every range session, even though I only use my own handloads. I guess I am just anal about clean firearms.....:D
 
no, really, I've never had a problem with corrosion on either of my minis, because i at least re lube after each shooting session, and i live in a desert.

I've also never had any accuracy problems, either.

Or reliability problems with substandard magazines, untill recently, and then only with the 180 series i have, and then only because it's had 100,000 rounds or so through it, and needs a good going through.
 
I'll admit that I own one stainless Mini 14 and I'll tell you it isn't a bad little entry level rifle. I have never had this problem with the Ruger but did have an AK's op rod lock up even after a good cleaning. Chinese ammo and not a thorough enough cleaning would be the culprit. AFTER BEING POSITIVE THAT THE CHAMBER WAS EMPTY I put on a left Danner and jumped on the op rod like it was the kick starter on a Pan Head. Popped right open and inspection showed rust in the gas cylinder. Cleaned it up with old G.I. bore cleaner and all is well.
 
I don't know what it is, but I've found stainless steel Mini's to have a much better reputation than the blued.

I own 2 and plan on keeping my eyes open for another SS Ranch. If I can get one for under $399 I may get another.
 
I wouldn't mind getting a stainless to replace my runaway that's hiding from me and Gray Davis. OK, it's actually in voluntary exile.

It so happens I have a spare stainless factory folder that's looking for a gun to be home to. :D
 
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