Question For Mini-14 Owners

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Have any of you taken any formal carbine training classes using a Mini-14? If so, whose class and what was the round count for the class?

Just in general, what is the highest number of rounds you have put through a Mini-14 in a single shooting session. How long was the session and did you have any issues with the rifle?

 

[KriegHund]

I can answer your second question.

80 rounds. Two mags with 25 in em and one with 30. (all 3 were 30 rnd magazines)

One of the magazines gave me crap thrice (HP nose caught on the reciever, and failure to feed, it was the magazine loaded with 30 rounds)
But they were el-cheapo mags.

Other than that it all went smoothly, rapid firing most of the rounds.

 

[fellow14]

Highest number in a single session was probably 400 and no issues. Only had issues when I had the junk USA mags. I have never been through a class though.

 

[JNewell]

Editing to delete post - mistaken recollection.

 

[loadedround]

Mini-14 owners

I have shot over 100 rounds of military ball ammo many times slow to moderate fire. Used only Ruger 20 round magazines and have never had on single FTF. Was not that dirty either when cleaned.

 

[Exposure]

Generally I stay out of the Mini discussions these days since they all end up the same way. But I do have some input here that I would like to share.

I recently put about 500 rounds through my Mini in a single session with no trouble. The ammo was a mix of Wolf hollow point, Radway Green, and the UAE stuff (yes the same UAE that has everyone freaking out) that AIM had on sale for a while.

The entire session lasted about 2 hours. The biggest issue is that the barrel was freakin' HOT!

In that two hours there was slow fire, rapid fire, and a bunch of bump firing. No issues, as usual. My Mini has been flawless since the day I bought it about 3 years ago.

Mine was produced in 1981 and is a stainless model, it fires from a mix of factory and aftermarket mags with no trouble at all.

 

[greyeyezz]

Around 500+ rounds in an afternoon, american eagle, XM193 and IMI, USA and Thermold 30's. Flawless operation as usual.

 

[Houndawg]

Many many rounds during instruction at the corrections academy. During qualification (30 rounds) my trigger group fell out.

 

[nhhillbilly]

Mini 14

My first carbine course I took with a Mini 14 in Fl.. My trigger group also fell out. No other problems. All Ruger factory mags.. Match book helped to keep it from happening again.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

I've fired a couple hundred rounds in one session lasting a couple hours, more than once. No issues with Wolf 55 grain JHP or other stuff like XM-193 or Ultramax 55 grain FMJBT. This is using PMI 20s and 30s. I also have some no-name 20s that actually work.

One thing that'll help keep a Mini-14 going when it gets hot is to use grease instead of oil. E.g., lube it like a Garand.

If parts are falling off your rifle, then something is defective.

 

[KriegHund]

Perhaps the trigger group was not 'snapped' in. You can tell when that happens because when you insert the group to the reviever and stock the trigger gaurd will make an audible noise when it is pressed into full back position.

I dont see how it could have possibly worked its way out without some sort of pressure (and quite a bit at that) pulling up and out on the trigger guard.

 

[Houndawg]

It might have something to do with the fact that the weapons we used at the academy had probably been broken down so many times that they were just getting worn.

 

[ARperson]

Back before the hubby "left" the Mini with my in-laws on a trip once :banghead: we used to put several hundred rounds through it during our range sessions. The only issues we'd have would be bad magazines; though the cases necks got the snot crimped out of them from extraction/ejection.

I miss that gun.

 

[Bigfoot]

During qualification (30 rounds) my trigger group fell out.

My trigger group also fell out.

In the stamped trigger housing, just ahead of the safety, is a .20" hole that looks like the perfect place to drill-and-tap a hole into the trigger group so you can lock them together with a screw. Countersink the hole through the housing, use the correct hex screw head and it might be almost unnoticeable.

 

[Houndawg]

Bigfoot,

Sounds like a good idea. You can't countersink a hex head hough. I'd probably use a socket head.

 

[Bigfoot]

Sorry, meant to say allen screw head.