Mini 14 trouble

[macarthurite]

I picked up a new Mini 14 a couple of weeks ago, so far I have about 200 rounds through it and I have a problem. I had about 15 or 20 fired cases fail to extract, but if you close the bolt and retract it again it comes right out. Any suggestions?
Chris

 

[R.H. Lee]

Crud in the gas port? Did you take it down and clean it thoroughly? You're not using Wolf ammo with lacquered cases, are you? So the bolt is open, but the case didn't come with it? How does the extractor look? (I don't remember now if the extractor is on the boltface or not......)

 

[4v50 Gary]

For starters...

What type of ammo? Factory or reloaded. Please give specifics and have you tried other types of ammunition?

Magazine? What type? Factory or aftermarket. Does it fail to eject when you use just the factory 5 round magazine?

 

[macarthurite]

Sorry for the lack of information,
I have been using the ruger factory 20 round mags I havent tried the 5 round yet. I was shooting the cheap PMC and Federal american eagle FMG and I picked up some WWB to try tomorrow afternoon. I tore it down before I shot and cleaned it up good and the extractor looks good and seems to have very good tension.
Chris

 

[KriegHund]

Strange...

Check for crud on the bolt/boltface and try using better ammo, and also try the 5 round magazine. Check the magazine well.

If that fails you might want to look into those kits that allow you to get a little more gas into the port and hence more oomph. There was one for sale in the sale section.

 

[macarthurite]

Well I tried the WWB and diffrent mags today and had the same trouble. It will fail to extract and then try to load a new round with the fired case still in the chamber. But if I drop the mag and then the bolt pull back on the bolt again and the fired case pops right out. I hate the mini 14 :-( it getting traded in very soon.
Thanks, Chris

 

[slopemeno]

Clean the chamber really well. Then go back and do it again. Check your extractor. Is the hook chipped? Does it move under its own steam to its most closed position without assistance, and while youre there does its movement feel sticky? Mini-14's reputation for reliablilty is good with factory mags. Without actually seeing it, it sounds like the extractor has insufficent grip on the cartidge rim, and when the gun cycles(and the Mini cycles hard) the extractor is popping off the rim. When you manually cycle the action (more gentle cycle) the case come out.

so: Dirty chamber (lacquer left behind by cheap ammo, etc?)

Chipper extractor

limited/weak range of motion on extractor

 

[db_tanker]

Break the rifle down to the point to where you have only the bolt in the reciever...then check to make sure that it moves smoothly from rearmost position to battery with no sticky spots...after that, with no other issues found, proceed to nearest gun-show and sell/trade to someone else who will more likely than not wind up on here asking about a mini-14 problem.


Seriously, someone could have replaced the bolt in it. Also is there a recoil buffer being used in it?

Also one other issue you might want to look into...could be the charging handle spring being weak, not bringing the bolt into complete battery. How sooty is the brass after extraction? Have you compared the shape of it to unfired ammo?

Hope this helps a little.

 

[4v50 Gary]

I'm thinking the extractor should be looked at. It could either be hyper function or under-function (too much gas and it goes too fast for the action and too little and there's not enough for the gun to work).

 

[macarthurite]

I dont think the bolt was replaced because I bought it new. One thing I have noticed is that it recoils hard not like other .223's I've had so maybe it's getting to much gas? Also could it be a rough spot in the chamber? If I get time I could make a new little gas tube thingy ( no Idea what it's called), any idea how much smaller I should go on the ID?

 

[308win]

I believe the factory gas bushing ID is .04. You can get a set of two from ARS for about $25. I use the smallest one and it functions everything except the 40grs. I doubt that the gas bushing is your problem. Send the rifle to Ruger and they will fix it for you.

Edited to add: Go to the Perfrect Union BB and post your issue. There is a mod there who will either have an answer or know someone who does. His post name is cajungeo. Good Luck

 

[lee n. field]

I picked up a new Mini 14 a couple of weeks ago, so far I have about 200 rounds through it and I have a problem. I had about 15 or 20 fired cases fail to extract, but if you close the bolt and retract it again it comes right out.

New? If it misbehaves with factory ammo and the factory magazine, by all means call Ruger.