Ruger Mini 14 tacical vs non tactical

[BP Hunter]

I am looking in purchasing a Ruger Mini 14 in the near future. The tactical model has a flash suppressor. But does it make any difference in terms of performance, recoil, or accuracy compared to the non-tactical model? I am hoping to buy the cheaper one and was wondering if the flash suppressor is better or is it therer just for plain aesthetics.

Thanks for your input.

 

[cowpoke]

No the flash suppressor is just that for suppresing the flash.

 

[Cop Bob]

It serves a minor purpose to most.. low light it does help to a minor degree suppress some of the flash, but it's for the most, a look thing... unless you are seeing some low light use, I wouldn't worry about one... If later you decide you want it, Ruger makes a pin on, that just slips on and attaches with a roll pin that most sights, (at least the early ones) ere pre-drilled for them..

 

[zfk55]

Not meaning to go off topic, and its sorta on topic... So you remember those semi-crappy $99.00 stocks from Muzzlelite? Plastic halves bolted together?

Well. I found two of them in the armoury about two years ago, took one apart and found the guts were all plastic. With the rifle in place, pulling the 15+ pound trigger made everything flex. It was completely mushy feeling.

I was bored, so I replaced all of the plastic parts with new machined parts from tool steel. The inside raceways I replaced with a thin steel channel on both sides to receive the trigger slide. I inserted a Mini-14, bolted it together and got a real surprise! The sucker worked great with no more than a 7 pound trigger pull. Not bad for that kind of a setup.

This is the machined trigger on the end of the steel follower slide...



And I cut off all the plastic sight crap and drilled and tapped two steel plates, sandwiching the carry handle, mounted an Aimpoint to it and........ Presto!



A functional bullpup!



Inside the original Muzzlelite, there's a plastic plate/slide as wide as the stock and begins at the trigger. The original trigger is plastic and is formed at 90 degrees to the flat plate. The plate (slide) goes the length of the stock in two plastic side channels back to the trigger. There is a plastic appendage at the end of the slide that puts pressure on the trigger, firing the rifle.

The whole setup is mushy feeling and the slide flexes upward as much as it can, only being stopped by the not very tight rails.

I machined two narrow steel inserts to place in the side rails the entire length. The fit was a good compression fit. This provided a smoother, slicker surface for the slide to ride on. I made a thinner steel slide with the new trigger at 90 degrees to the slide on the CNC from a 1" thick bar of tooling steel. I did that because I wanted the trigger and slide to be one unit with no welding.

I replaced the plastic safety bar with steel as well. It works and it was cheap. Just took a little time in the shop. You could easily do the same thing.

 

[X - Man]

Not so fast, partners. I can't say about the factory mounted flash hider, but.....

one the the modifications often made to a Mini as part of a plan to improve its accuracy is to attach an after market fl on to the barrel. The reason is that it tends to act as a weight on the end of the barrel, helping to dampen some barrel harmonics. And it "fools" the barrel into acting as if it's longer than the actual rifling is. Changes the shape of those harmonics waves.

One other feature of an after market fl is that can often supply a much better front sight than the old style original factory sight.

Oh, and yes, a fh works as a fh. It reduces muzzle flash.

 

[zfk55]

We probably have half a dozen different ones that were collected over the years. The most effective one I found is the one in my picture above. Its sort of like a tricompensator.

 

[barneyrw]

I just bought the tactical stock from ATI, the same company that supplies it to Ruger. I mounted my older stainless steel Mini14 into the tactical stock, went in pretty easy. All it does though is make the rifle larger, heavier, out of balance, and cumbersome. Also the pistol grip with the finger grooves is very poorly designed and way out of proportion for any normal size hand, and positions your hand so low (below the trigger plane), making pulling the trigger very awkward. My trigger finger is forced up at an awkward angle to pull the trigger and then is pinched between the bottom of the trigger and the inside of the trigger guard when the trigger goes forward to reset after firing. It's another one of those tactical stocks that are designed for looks not shooting. Before buying, I would definitely handle one to make sure it is what you want. My regular wood stock is going back on and the tactical stock is going in the trash, $100 down the drain.

 

[One-Time]

The tactical ones have 2 advantages, 1 it has a flash hider, 2 the barrel is 16'" so its handier and for some reason they 16 inch ones are more accurate than the longer barrelled ones from the tests ive seen, something to do w/ harmonics

 

[Skyshot]

There are two tatical models one with the ATI folding stock and one with a composite carbine stock, The carbine stock shoots better than the ATI stock version without any mods done.

 

[Hangingrock]

I acquired the Mini-14 for what it is simplistic thus realizing the limitations of the basic design. It fits my intended usage. If I were to go “Tactical” it would be with a Colt manufactured AR15 series rifle.

 

[Jeff F]

From what I have seen and a few tactical's I have shot, the shorter barrel tactical are a little more accurate the the RR's.

 

[jeepguy]

i have one of the newer 580 series ss ranch rifles which i am happy with, but if i had to do it over i would go with the tacticle rifle. now i will have to get my barrel threaded & buy a flash hider/muzzle brake.