Stupid Question About Mini-14 & Mini-30

[NewShooter78]

Hey all. Just a dumb quick question. Do the new Ruger Mini-14/30's take high cap. mags? I notice they only come with 5 rounders, and that Ruger only offers 5 rounders through their website. Please help me out with this question. Thanks.

 

[Kilroy]

There are high capacity magazines available for both. Most don't work well, but you may find some that do. Ruger made/makes high capacity Mini-14 magazines, but they were never intended for other then police and military use. Bill Ruger even went so far as to help craft the legislation banning high capacity magazines.

I have picked up after-market 20 round magazines for the Mini-14 at gun shows and have had good luck with some. For the Mini-30, largest selection is USA magazines, though I have yet to find one that was reliable.

Finally, the Mini series of rifles are not known for their durability, longevity or accuracy.

 

[natedog]

Actually, in my experience and the opinions of many others, the Mini series is very durable, and very reliable (it usese the Garand-type gas piston). However, out of the box accuracy is usually sub-par of a good bolt action rifle or AR-15. But, the Mini-14 has faster follow up shots than a bolt gun (duh) and is more durable, reliable, and easier to clean than most AR type rifles. It doesn't "defecate where it eats" like it. Plus it's cheaper because people tend to under value it. I'm not trying to bash the AR-15, they are a great rifle series. It just bugs me when people with no past experience with the Mini-14 bash it just because of what they've heard at gunshops or on the interet. It is an excellent light weight multi-roled carbine- hunting, survival, defense, etc. They are addictive.

 

[CZ 75 BD]

www.fourfourmags.com had good quality mags. I have paid a lot for junk mags in the past for my mini. No more for me until AWB sunsets.

 

[Kaylee]

has anyone ever managed to hack an AK mag conversion into the Mini-30? Given that both systems are rock-n-lock it seems like it'd be an easier approach than trying to get the mini-14 to take AR mags..

-K

 

[Dave Markowitz]

(it usese the Garand-type gas piston)

Actually, the Mini-14 gas system is significantly different from the M1 Garand's.

The M1 uses a long-stroke moving gas piston. The Mini-14 has a stationary gas piston that's hollow. Gas blows through it causing the op rod -- which include the gas cylinder in the form of the hole bored in the front -- to move to the rear. The rest the action resembles the M1, though.

 

[4v50 Gary]

What Frodo says. Gas impinges from the piston onto the "slide" (as Ruger calls the op-rod) thereby driving the slide back.

Wait until 2004 when the AWB is history. PMI hopefully will release mags to us peons. BTW, Ruger never made their own mags and I think PMI was their contractor.

 

[NewShooter78]

Thanks for the info. I had been wondering about that one for a while now, and was kind of afraid to ask. I'm not to up on rifle info.

 

[rugerfreak]

I have both Ruger factory and PMI mags----there are enough differences to lead me to believe that PMI didn't make ruger factory mags----who actually made them??? I don't know.

 

[4v50 Gary]

FWIW

I did a side by side comparison and apart from the floorplate, cannot discern the difference.

What differences did you see Rugerfreak? I'm curious b/c we probably got different production runs.

 

[rugerfreak]

The Ruger mag is much better finished and narrower-----PMI's go tight in the mag well---while the Ruger's have a little bit of side-to-side play------both function fine though.

 

[firestar]

Finally, the Mini series of rifles are not known for their durability, longevity or accuracy.

I disagree. I have only owned one Ruger Mini-14 so maybe I got a good but it was as accurate as the best SKSs and AKs that I have seen. It is not an AR-15 but it is plenty accurate enough for man sized targets at less than 300 m.

It is built like a tank so I don't see how it wouldn't be durable. It is still the only semi-auto rifle that I have owned that has NEVER jammed! I sold it to my friend and he reports on it to me and even with some cheap aftermarket mags that he bought, he has not had a jam.

I don't know why the Ruger Mini-14 gets such a bad rap. I think it is because people compare them to $1000 AR-15s. Mini-14s were supposed to be cheap but now they cost almost as much as an AR-15. If you compare the Mini-14 to SKSs and AKs, I think it looks much better than them. Out of all the semi-auto assult type rifles I have owned I liked the Mini-14 best. The only problem is the lack of 20-30 round factory mags. I really want to have access to factory mags if I want them so I sold the gun. I think I will pick up a Mini-30 if I get the chance and see if I can get hi-caps for it. The 7.62 ammo is sooooo much cheaper than .223 that it would be my choice.

 

[Cruiser]

My dept. has ben issuing Mini-14's to uniformed patrol since the mid 80's. They have proven to be very reliable and very durable. Unless the guns are filthy or rusted together, they function. For those very rare occasions when something breaks that a department armorer can't fix, Ruger has great customer support.

 

[SodaPop]

I have a SS Mini 14 that shoots 1 MOA with my Sierra 69gr HPBT. I never shot the 69gr bullets past 400yds, but my 62gr reloads do 12inch groups at 500yds.

I've got 10,000rds threw it and its still holding up.

I've asked Pat Rogers about the Mini 14 vs AR and he has stated that the Mini 14 "isn't up for the task," but its still a fine civilian SHTF/hunting rifle.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Wait until 2004 when the AWB is history. PMI hopefully will release mags to us peons.

PMI went out of business. Hopefully, another manufacturer of high quality mags will step in to fill their shoes, e.g., Mec-Gar. Anyway, I suspect that despite Ruger's policy of selling >5 round mags only to LEOs, they won't be too hard to get.

ASSuming the AWB is history.

 

[Hutch]

My mini 14 (older stainless model) has been reliable and accurate in the limited use I've put it to, and I have had no problems with Thermold or Federal Ordnance mags. Is FedOrd still in bidness?

 

[Dave Markowitz]

My mini 14 (older stainless model) has been reliable and accurate in the limited use I've put it to, and I have had no problems with Thermold or Federal Ordnance mags. Is FedOrd still in bidness?

Federal Ordnance is now Northridge. They either went under or were bought out. Note that FedOrd mags were actually made by PMI. They are identical.

 

[Starpower]

Mini 14 Mags

OK! From my limited experience with Mini 14 .223 mags, I have found that the ones that have the welded stud on the insert (top?) end, tend to lock in and feed better than the ones with the bubble stamped in. The little stamped bubble just doesn't feel solid when it is allegedly lock in. I even had one fall out after the first shot with the Mini 14 in the Bullpup config. I picked up two welded stud type (I don't know the brand,) 40 rd magazines. I currently have four 30 rd and one 40 rd stamped that I am taking to next show to trade for welded stud types, even if I only get two 40's for the five. (five times zero is still zero!)
As for Ruger factory, most of the dealers at the last show said actual honest-to-goodness Ruger factory mags are as rare as a raw steak, and would probably cost upward of $90 if you found one. Apparently Ruger no longer makes a hi-cap for Mini 14 and only after market knock-offs are readily available. If you buy a Ranch Rifle, new-from-the-dealer out-of-the-box, you're only going to get one five round magazine and a couple of scope rings that attach to the built in groove slots on the receiver. Anything else you can come up with is after-market, on your own, and not with the full blessing of Ruger Firearms. Apparently Ruger Inc does not consider the Mini 14 an assault rifle and is trying very hard to overcome that perception. Good thing we all know better, Huh?

 

[makarov]

I will still probably buy a Mini-14 eventually, but for its intended purpose I have 2 SKS's that work great. I am also eyeing the SAIGA in both 7.62x39 and in .223 they are available for $159 and $199 respectively and come with very reliable 10 round mags - 10 is enough for me. I really wish the Mini came with a factory 10 rounder. I mean it would still be legal. I don't know why Ruger doesn't do this.

I already have a CZ-527 in .223 that is super accurate, so the Mini or the SAIGA would just be for plinking in the same caliber.
'
- Makarov

 

[benEzra]

I've also had good results with the Ram-Line polymer "combo mag" that fits the mini-14, AR-15 and AR-180. I have one that I bought in '89 or so that has one or two thousand rounds through it, and no obvious wear. Feeds perfectly.

 

[SodaPop]

PMI went out of business. Hopefully, another manufacturer of high quality mags will step in to fill their shoes, e.g., Mec-Gar. Anyway, I suspect that despite Ruger's policy of selling >5 round mags only to LEOs, they won't be too hard to get.

The company doesn't manufacture anything anymore, but somebody still owns the tooling used to make the magazines. All you gotta do is turn the power back on and be back into production. As long as nothing rusted.......

 

[Dave Markowitz]

SodaPop,

I hope you are right!

 

[JWH 223]

The Ramline combo mags worked well for me in the past with the 4 different mini's I've owned.

Another plus with the Mini's is by seperating the primary and secondary sear (I think that is the proper terms) with a thin metal object it will fire when pulling the trigger and also when releasing it.......use caution obviously, but it is legal because only one round is being fired per movement of the trigger. I've done it with success. The only problem is to get it to stay put...it has a tendency to move around and fall out.