This Rifle COULD NOT Possibly Be This Old .... Could It? (Mini-14)

[Treo]

The rifle in question is a Mini-14. I bought it used about a month ago, and it is NOT a Ranch Rifle, I have the operators manual for both & there are slight differences in the sight. The manual that matches this rifle specifically says that it has been superceded by the Ranch Rifle model.

This is important because according to Ruger this model has been out of production since 1982. the serial number is 186-45xxx.

The rifle itself looks brand new, it doesn't look 26+ years old is it possible that it sat in some warehouse for 20 years or am I wrong about the mfg date?

PS I read in the Mini-14 forum at Perfect Union that my serial number series was manufactored in 1996. I'm more likely to believe Ruger

 

[357mag357]

Post a picture of it.

 

[K3]

I don't know anything about your specifics, but I have seen countless rifles whose age surprised me. My brother has a .270 that looks brand new. Age? over 30 years. Hardly a scratch on it, and he's hunted with it every year since he bought it. The stock is 99%, and the bluing is just like it came from the factory, so yeah, I'd think that mini could be that old.

 

[CWL]

You bought it used, why don't you asked who you bought it from?

I don't find it unusual for someone to have bought a gun & then stored it for 20 years.

I have guns I don't think I've fired for over 10 years. They look NIB.

 

[Treo]

I can't post a picture I'm posting from a smart phone

 

[DMK]

I have seen countless rifles whose age surprised me.

I once saw a 1966 Marlin 39A that looked amazing for its age. It looked used, but only just barely.

Needless to say, I bought it right there.

(btw, that crappy sling is gone)

 

[Vaarok]

I've got a 1905 DWM Gew98 that went through the first world war and looks stone-cold-mint. Unsurprising a commercial rifle didn't see enough abuse to get aged. Short of leaving it behind a truck seat, what use would really batter a sporting arm?

 

[Cyclimus]

I've got a mini with a 182- serial number which is brand new in appearance and shoots like a tack-driver (a real needle in a haystack apparently) so I can vouch for their age.

 

[Mannlicher]

Treo, according to Ruger, the serial number range you mention (186-45xxx) , Rifle, NOT ranch rifle, was manufactured in 1995

 

[Ed4032]

I have one just like it that my Dad bought about the time these came out. Uh... mine still looks brand new too. We are just carefull.

 

[Sistema1927]

26 years is nothing for a decent gun. Most of the ones that I have that are that "new" look brand new. What is amazing is when the 100 year old guns look brand new.

I owned one of the first Mini-14's, back in 1974. As I have posted before, I had a rather enjoyable conversation with the Assistant Principal in the parking lot of my High School when he saw it in the gun rack of my pick-up truck. That won't happen today!

That carbine paid for a couple of semesters of college, since it did a wonderful job dropping coyotes at up to 400 yards (w/ a Weaver V9). Pelts were selling for $60 to $80 each, and Texas was paying a $25 bounty for the ears and tail. I wish that I still had that Mini-14, but I hope that it is still in great shape for its present owner.

 

[Treo]

If it was 1995 then its only 12 years old. But I read an article in a Ruger magazine that came W/ the manual, that Ruger stopped production on the Pre- Ranch Mini-14 in 1982.

That's why I'm confused

 

[kcmarine]

 

[Mannlicher]

Treo

If it was 1995 then its only 12 years old. But I read an article in a Ruger magazine that came W/ the manual, that Ruger stopped production on the Pre- Ranch Mini-14 in 1982.

That's why I'm confused

From the Ruger site:
Mini-14 (manufactured from 1974 to 1977)
180-00001 1974
180-05101 1975
180-28282 1976
180-59251 1977

Mini-14 (manufactured from 1978 to 2004)
181-07488 1978
181-48351 1979
181-84879 1980
182-45601 1981
183-03581 1982
183-40455 1983
184-17175 1984
184-26063 1985
184-95448 1986
185-14140 1987
185-50455 1988
185-56556 1989
185-81009 1990
186-05029 1991
186-18250 1992
186-20065 1993
186-31116 1994
186-42502 1995
186-58133 1996
186-66855 1997
186-81445 1998
186-87432 1999
*196-06325 2000
*196-44553 2001
*196-80982 2002
*196-99207 2003
*197-12180 2004

Mini-14 Ranch (manufactured from 1982 - 2004)
Mini Thirty (manufactured from 1986 - 2004)
New Mini-14 -Ranch Rifle
New Mini Thirty

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

"It puts the pics in the thread, or else it gets the hose instead."

 

[Chipperman]

This gun is 98 years old:

 

[DMK]

Your Broomhandle Chipperman?

That is a seriously nice classic firearm. I'm envious.

 

[Chipperman]

Yes, it's mine.
Thanks.
My point in posting it is that it still looks practically new, and it's almost 100 years old.

Use and storage conditions determine how a gun will look much more than age.

 

[owlhoot]

Chipper, that is an outstanding C96. Is it original?

 

[FlyinBryan]

i always thought if it has the dovetail type scope rail on top of the receiver it is a ranch rifle, and if not, its not.

im no expert but i did have a stainless mini14 that i bought new in 84-85?????and it did not have the scope mount, and i know it was not a ranch rifle.

mine was terribly inaccurate, like 5-6 inches at 50 yrds.

 

[jwxspoon]

My mini is a 180 series, mfg in 1977. Looks awesome; shoots fantastic.

jw

 

[GarandOwner]

(btw, that crappy sling is gone)

you dont like the 1907 sling? I have one on my Garand and my 1903....and I like them

 

[Chipperman]

Chipper, that is an outstanding C96. Is it original?

Thanks. Yes, it's all original, never been refinished.

 

[Master of Arms]

Local gunsmith has a Savage pistol, said it was a 60`s model that was mainly used by train engineers. The hammer was semi-concealed. Thought it was pretty neat, sorry no pics.

 

[Treo]

Mine's definetely NOT a ranch. It's marked "Ruger/ Mini 14/ Cal. 223" on the breech . and it doesn't have the Ranch sight.

I was just really surprised when I broke it down to clean it because there is like, zero wear on this thing. And the trigger assembly still had cosmoline on it.

However, given that the weapon hadn't even been zero'd when I got it I don't think it got a whole lot of use.