hilltopper55
Member
Greetings, I have Ruger Mini 14 223. I plan to travel into a remote area that has no mail service or gunsmiths. I will be carrying my trusty Mini 14. What parts would you take in case of a breakdown?
Ruger Mini 14 223 Survival Parts
- Thread starter hilltopper55
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Marlin 45 carbine
Member
nothing. Mini's don't break.
armoredman
Member
As funny as it sounds, he's about right, they are very reliable. But, maybe a firing pin, a spring kit, (call Ruger if they have these, or Wolff), definately a few spare magazines, as these break more than anything. Use factory, if you can afford it.
You don't say how long, or what kind of climate, but essentials are a boresnake and cleaning kit.
You don't say how long, or what kind of climate, but essentials are a boresnake and cleaning kit.
rgs1975
Member
Is that the only gun you'll have?
The agency I worked for used Mini14s back in the late 80s and early 90s. There were 8 of them that were kept at the range for qualifying. The course was not that challenging and the rifles did not have to be zeroed for each shooter. After about 6-7 years they started keyholing on the targets. We sent them back to Ruger and Ruger asked how many rounds had been fired. Easy enough to figure as they were the only 223s we had just had to look through records to see how many 223 rounds had went to the range. These rifles averaged 100,000 rds each. Never broke and never had any parts replaced. These rifles were also not cleaned on a regular basis, just wiped off the big chunks and scrubbed the bore once in awhile.
That's been my experience but you might well be served by enough mags,extra springs and a firing pin in addition to cleaning equipment.
That's been my experience but you might well be served by enough mags,extra springs and a firing pin in addition to cleaning equipment.
Neo-Luddite
Member
OK--mini's ARE NOT 100% full proof and in the middle of nowehere you don't want to find out you've got problems. Mine developed a bizzarre problems where the extractor rotated out of proper detent (this at like maybe 1800 rnds fired). A smith popped it back true for me. They're solid, don't get me wrong.
What is most likely to fail--to my thinking, the functional moving parts in the bolt. I got worried about 3 months back that I have no spare parts for my mini so I ordered all of the parts, springs, etc. that are mounted to the bolt from numerich gun parts. This inluded the extractor, firing pin, ejector, springs, etc.
Now I've got the parts--and I could probably figure it out--but I've honestly NEVER had the bolt apart. I assume it comes apart like a Garand bolt, but for the M-1 there is the combo tool you punch into the bolt face and rotate that REALLY helps to assemble and reassemble the bolt. Does something like this for the mini?? I don't know--maybe someone has some insight.
The parts were cheap--like 30 bucks or so. Ruger is funny about selling some parts as they want you to send in the rifle for fitting--gun parts corp (numerich) is fast and sells almost everything.
It would be nice to know that you are confident you can get the bolt apart if needed. I haven't had to cross this bridge yet.
What is most likely to fail--to my thinking, the functional moving parts in the bolt. I got worried about 3 months back that I have no spare parts for my mini so I ordered all of the parts, springs, etc. that are mounted to the bolt from numerich gun parts. This inluded the extractor, firing pin, ejector, springs, etc.
Now I've got the parts--and I could probably figure it out--but I've honestly NEVER had the bolt apart. I assume it comes apart like a Garand bolt, but for the M-1 there is the combo tool you punch into the bolt face and rotate that REALLY helps to assemble and reassemble the bolt. Does something like this for the mini?? I don't know--maybe someone has some insight.
The parts were cheap--like 30 bucks or so. Ruger is funny about selling some parts as they want you to send in the rifle for fitting--gun parts corp (numerich) is fast and sells almost everything.
It would be nice to know that you are confident you can get the bolt apart if needed. I haven't had to cross this bridge yet.
armoredman
Member
Hmm, how about just getting a complete bolt? Not a bad idea, there.
Neo-Luddite
Member
They sell the bolt at gunparts--but it's like 80 bucks. Moreover, replacing the bolt SHOULD involve checking the headspace. Would have been a much easier but more costly sollution.
benEzra
Moderator Emeritus
MAGAZINES. The only thing I ever had fail with my mini was magazines, and they failed with some regularity. Even flimsy AR mags have a lower failure rate than mini-14 mags.
The other thing is, carry a little tube of gun grease (tetra lube, shooter's choice, etc). If your bolt lugs get dry, they will gall (particularly if your mini is stainless), eventually impairing reliability.
The other thing is, carry a little tube of gun grease (tetra lube, shooter's choice, etc). If your bolt lugs get dry, they will gall (particularly if your mini is stainless), eventually impairing reliability.
briansmithwins
Member
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- Aug 1, 2005
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For me a standard rifle field kit is a spare bolt (check headspace BEFORE you need it), cleaning kit (including screwdrivers for that gun) and broken shell extractor.
Those 3 things will take care of most problems.
The other option is carrying a spare rifle, which is the only 100% solution.
Those 3 things will take care of most problems.
The other option is carrying a spare rifle, which is the only 100% solution.
lee n. field
Member
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- Dec 29, 2002
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- 4,318
Ruger won't sell you a firing pin. You should have them fit one to your gun, as a spare.
rodregier
Member
A technique recommended in the past for Ruger rifle owners:
- Remove the parts you want "spared", then send it to Ruger to have the removed parts replaced and fitted. No point in troubling them with the circumstances
- Remove the parts you want "spared", then send it to Ruger to have the removed parts replaced and fitted. No point in troubling them with the circumstances
Spyvie
Member
- Remove the parts you want "spared", then send it to Ruger to have the removed parts replaced and fitted. No point in troubling them with the circumstances
Sounds like a good plan... but, pardon my ignorance... can we be certain they will modify the bolt to fit the rifle and not the other way around?
TimboKhan
Member
Ruger factory mags should be pretty reliable. I have had absolutely horrible luck with aftermarket mini mags, regardless of manufacturer.
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