Mini 14 wood hand guard - edit 2/7

Anybody know an approx date or serial number when Ruger went from the wood hand guard to the black plastic?

Oops..... nevermind!

I just found the info on page 91 of RENE.

Well heck, I have one with a wood handguard, would like to know the answer? Bought it new in 1980.

It changed to fiberglass in the 183- prefix for the regular production models.
GB's may have changed earlier.
Chet15

chet15 said:

It changed to fiberglass in the 183- prefix for the regular production models.
GB's may have changed earlier.
Chet15

Click to expand...

Thanks!!!

I just picked up my new-to-me Mini a couple of hours ago.

182-74xxx range makes in 1981 according to RENE. Stainless with wood hand guard (which I prefer the looks of) but new enough to have the button to hold the bolt open.

Bonus is it came with 4 Ruger brand 20 round mags, a factory folding stock and a plastic hand guard too!

Only have an outdoor range here and temps the next week or more to be single digits to teens so ..... it'll be a while to warm up the barrel.

Cloudy memory says the bolt hold open button appeared with the big design change which started with a 181 prefix.

A wooden hand guard from a stainless 181 is still in one of my parts bins.

Wow! a true factory folder, nice !!! I have one I bought new as well in stainless . Always on the lookout for the blued model .

Thank you.
It looks better with the fiberglass upper hand guard on the folder. The wood isn't a good match so I'm glad it came with both.

Now, if it wasn't -12 this morning I may have gone to the range!

I am looking at your pics again . So it came as 1 action and 2 stocks ?

Yes .... looks like previous owner put a rubber pad on the full stock and likely refinished it too. My first Mini but I'm pretty sure these had a metal or plastic butt cover.

Nice addition to your other Rugers.

The factory folder stock has been copied by "Samson " and is listed on The ruger website for $279 but out of stock. I was hoping they would copy the blued version as well . I just feel these Factory stocks were so much nicer than the "butler creek " and others . I have seen the Factory stocks with asking prices over the $600 dollar mark. I have the original paper work on mine from the dealer $465 out the door .