Mini-14 20 round mags...can they hold 21?

[Old Scratch]

I am an attorney representing a man on a firearms charge. At least two firearms were present during the brief incident. The lab claimed that the Mini-14 magazine had twenty-one live rounds in it, with one more round in the chamber. The lab opined that because of this, they did not believe the Mini-14 was fired during the incident.

Question: is it true that a twenty first round can be forced into a Mini-14 twenty round mag?

Thanks for any insight.

 

[rcmodel]

Yes, I just did it with two older Ruger mags.

There is even a little room left at 21 so the mag would lock in and the weapon might even function without bolt binding on a tight round.

rc

 

[Old Scratch]

Thanks for the information.

 

[Arizona_Mike]

I can check when I get home but many mags can hold an extra round (sometimes two), esp as the springs break in and taking into account cartridge size variability (while still being in spec). I have seen this for different brands of ammo in Beretta mags, for example. There have been some discussions over the implications of this with respect to NY and CO laws.

Mike

 

[rhinoh]

Yep mine hold 21, and they don't have to be forced in, from back in 2008-

http://www.perfectunion.com/vb/ruger-mini-14-mini-30/66984-ruger-20s-hold-21-a.html

 

[HammsBeer]

Also just confirmed that 21 rounds will easily fit into a 20 round factory branded Ruger mini14 mag.

Just barely couldn't get the mag to lock into place on a closed bolt, but slight tolerances from one mag or rifle to the next could allow a mag to lock into place with 21 rounds.

 

[No4Mk1*]

It sounds like the real question is can the mag hold 22 rounds inserted into the rifle with the bolt closed, as that is the condition which would preceede firing one round and leaving the rifle 21 + 1.

 

[Old Scratch]

Good thinking, but the prosecution's case is based on the theory that three shots were fired...one round into the air and two through the victim. Significantly, no 223 spent cases were found at the scene, although two spent cases from another caliber were recovered.

Thanks for the help, gang. Your assistance was invaluable.