Bought a New Mini Today

[Go Navy]

I bought a new Mini-14 today from a small local gun shop. He didn't have it in stock but said he can get it from his distributor in two days. It's Model 5817, also known as the KMINI-14/20P. All stainless, 18.5" barrel, black synthetic stock. Comes with one 20 round Ruger mag.

I've owned other Minis before and I can't wait to get this one out on the range. I think, but am not sure, that Ruger ships these with both rings and a short picatinny rail which can be mounted using pre-drilled and tapped holes on the receiver. Obviously you use one or the other, not both!

I'm thinking about trying a holo/red dot on it. Any thoughts about that, anyone?

 

[Passtime]

Congratulations, nice score. My Mini came with rings only and the receiver was not predriiled but that was a few years ago. I have heard the new ones come with both rings and rails but that is just what I heard. Enjoy and have fun.

 

[Go Navy]

In this Ruger website link, there's an interesting statement which I pasted in below:

http://www.ruger.com/products/mini14/index.html

Here's the info:

"Specifically designed for mounting today's scopes or other optical sighting systems, these rifles include a side ejection to clear the top mounted scope, and a patented recoil buffer which protects the scope from damage or shifting the point of impact as the semi-automatic action cycles."

I don't know when Ruger introduced these features but it's nice to know the newer rifles have them, esp. since there is a lot of talk on the internet about aftermarket recoil buffers on Mini-14s. When mine is delivered, which should be in a couple of days, I'll report further, esp. on whether or not the receiver is pre-drilled.

 

[rangerbob]

Navy, I have a 5816 Mini, same as a 5817, but blue. Mine did not have a rail, but I bought it in 2008. I read about the rail included in Mini 30's. I think it clamps to the scope ring cut outs on top of the receiver in the same manner as do the rings. My 5816 has been flawless over the years. Bob!! :mrgreen:

 

[rugerfreak]

My Mini-14 came with both Ruger rings--pic rail and 2 magazines.

The top of the receiver is drilled and tapped to attach the rail with the supplied screws.

 

[Go Navy]

Encouraging reports, Rugerfreak and Rangerbob. Thanks for checking. I called the gun shop today and my new Mini should be in my hands tomorrow (Saturday).

 

[9x19]

Congrats on the new Mini.

My mini 30 Tactical also has both. The rings worked out best for me (Burris scope).

 

[Go Navy]

Congrats on the new Mini.

My mini 30 Tactical also has both. The rings worked out best for me (Burris scope).

Great looking, clean setup, 9x19. Do you think they only ship the rail with the tactical models? If mine doesn't come with a rail, I'll just call the factory and get one.

Which Burris is that?

 

[9x19]

Not sure if the others come with the rail... it's only recently the Tactical models do. My first was made in 2012 and it came with rings only, this one is a 2014 gun. The scope is the Burris 2x-7x 35mm Fullfield II.

 

[Passtime]

Nice setup 9x19.

 

[Go Navy]

The new Mini-14 Ranch Rifle, stainless and synthetic stock, arrived today. Included with it was two scope rings, the uninstalled receiver rail (with some blue Loctite), two 20 round mags, and the mandatory padlock. The receiver is drilled and tapped. Everything seems tight and nicely assembled.

The trigger feels pretty good to me. The store owner attempted to measure the trigger pull weight for me with his high end digital trigger scale, but in order to get an accurate reading on his digital scale, he said he had to bring the trigger back to the set point manually, and then pull it the rest of the way with only the scale. Otherwise its little brain gets scrambled up. A little tricky. We think its around 6-7 lbs. I'll shoot it for awhile and then decide if I want any trigger work.

I ordered another Ruger 20 round mag from MidwayUSA and it arrived today; price was $29.99. So, I have a total of three for openers.

This rifle has a serial number beginning with 582-xxxxx, indicating that it is current production.

I'll post a couple of pictures as soon as I can get to it.

Thank you to those who have responded to my questions in this and another thread. Very helpful!

 

[Passtime]

That's great. Now the fun begins.

 

[sliclee]

with all those minis, not one report how it shoots, someone

 

[DGW1949]

with all those minis, not one report how it shoots, someone

It'll depend on the individual gun, the shooter, and what ammo is being used.
As issued, my own 582, 223/556, blued 'n wood Ranch Rifle could be counted on to put 4 out of 5 shots of about any USGI ammo into a 3 to 4" circle @100 yds.
After bedding the action to the stock and switching-out the rear sight, it's average "off the bench" grouping shrank by 1" or better, the "out of the group fliers" have almost stopped, and when not, I can now safely blame them on the ammo, or myself......meaning that when using one particular lot of LC M855, it'll do 2" any day of the week, IF I'm "up to snuff" that day. :lol: .

I've seen others report better, and I've seen others report worse.
No surprize there to me. Like I said to start with....it "depends".
One can't take an out of the box gun, load it with the cheapest ammo they can find, and expect to end up with a lot of bragging rights.. Especialy when we're talking about a gun that may have QC and/or design issues right from the get-go.....which it seems to be the case with a lot of the newer Mini's.

All that said though, there's two things that are for sure 'n certain:
Ruger's Mini was not intended to be, nor will it ever be, a great bench rest gun.
If ya want to get the most out of one, ya gota get off the bench and do some real shootin'.....'cause that's when it realy starts to shine....."shootability", that's what I call it.

DGW

 

[9x19]

Mine shoots the S&B 123gr soft points into 2" at 100 yards, when I am having a good day.

I have no worries about missing a deer or hog with it... but it would not be my first choice for a turkey shoot.

 

[Go Navy]

I took the new Mini out today just for break-in purposes. By the way, I don't have the patience for some of the elaborate break-in methods some recommend, like cleaning the bore after every 10 rounds for the first 100 etc. etc, letting it cool between 10 rounds, and so forth. Maybe if I had a custom bolt action set up for 1,000 yard competition I'd think about that. But I don't have any interest in that extreme, although I admire those who do.

Instead, I just put about 100 rounds through her. It was "vanilla" Remington UMC 115 gr. FMJ. We were shooting at makeshift targets like plastic water bottles, milk jugs, and metal swinging discs at a distance of 75-125 feet (guess) on private land. I shot with the iron sights only, and I'm not good with iron sights and my eyes are not either. Still, I had some of the plastic bottles dancing around and swung the metal discs a few times.

The rifle did not have a single failure to feed, fire, or eject. Zero malfunctions out of the box. The three new Ruger 20 round mags I have functioned flawlessly. However the first time I inserted and removed each of them (they're brand new also), they were just a little stubborn, but that might have been operator error. I adapted to the trigger very quickly, and am used to a two stage trigger. I don't know what the pull weight is on the second stage but it is manageable. A little lighter would be better, but I'll shoot it for awhile before I have a gunsmith mess with that.

As to the irons, I think they are well-registered. And, no, the rear sight did not loosen. I didn't try to figure out how to switch the aperture if that's possible. The rifle seemed to shoot to point of aim; proof will come when I can get on a regular paper target at a known distance. I think the rifle is accurate, but I'll have to see how it groups on paper.

I find the synthetic stock comfortable and the butt pad as well. It was sheer pleasure to shoot this weapon and I couldn't be more pleased with it. I'll definitely be putting some kind of optic on it.

 

[9x19]

Sounds like a fun day... I'm not the least surprised it proved reliable.

 

[Voyager28]

with all those minis, not one report how it shoots, someone

If you look at my previous threads you will see a final range report, with targets, after some minor mods to my 581 Rancher.

New To Me Mini-14 581 Rancher - Final Report

I love the thing and it is a very efficient 'yote getter!

Bob

 

[Chief 101]

I like the looks and idea of the mini-30 but an expensive rifle just to lean against the wall behind the door. What are you guys using these for other than self defense guns?

 

[9x19]

Deer and feral hogs

 

[Chief 101]

same as what I do with 44 Carbine...would the mini 14 be accurate enough for up to 200yd varmints?

 

[Go Navy]

It's not really an expensive rifle compared to a lot of others. Of course it is more expensive than AKs, Mosin Nagants, Savages. But it's a quality, (maybe) mid priced rifle....a lot for the money.

As to leaning it against the wall behind a door, I don't do that, so I don't get your point there.

I bought it because I wanted it and I like it. In the unlikely bug out scenario, I'd probably take it and my Sig P226 pistol. I may do a coyote hunt. I may not. I enjoy plinking and shooting holes in paper. I wanted it, so I bought it.

If your point is that all gun purchases must be logical, justified, and rational, I'd disagree. Most of us purchase firearms because we want and like them, among other reasons. We also buy them because the anti-gun movement is relentless, esp. against semi-auto anything, and they'll never quit. Those are reasons why guys fill up their gun safes!

 

[Go Navy]

same as what I do with 44 Carbine...would the mini 14 be accurate enough for up to 200yd varmints?

Probably not prairie dogs, but you'd get a few and educate the rest. Coyotes, yes. Western jackrabbits, yes. Both with good glass on the rifle.

 

[Passtime]

Deer and feral hogs

Yep.

 

[Go Navy]

As promised, here are two pictures. One shows the new barrel contour for those who aren't aware of this. "New" means 2005, I think. So when you see a Mini-14 on the wall at a gun shop, you can immediately see whether it is the newer version or not. The barrel contour is different under the hand guard, too.

The other shows three drilled and tapped holes in the top of the receiver, plus a top view of the redesigned rear sight.

Based on a little internet research, Ruger redesigned the following bits (and probably more internally but I don't have that info):

Better, more uniform gas block.
Better front sight. The old ones were machined pressed to the barrel, which was thought to affect the barrel consistency.
New rear sight.
Top of receiver drilled and tapped with three holes for Ruger's included rail.
Receiver contours more rounded.
Rifling twist changed to 1:9 (don't know what it used to be).
New butt plate.
Hammer forged barrels, with larger diameter.

 

[DGW1949]

Mine shoots the S&B 123gr soft points into 2" at 100 yards, when I am having a good day.

I have no worries about missing a deer or hog with it... but it would not be my first choice for a turkey shoot.

That's a real-good way to put it.....and spot on.

DGW

 

[sliclee]

Thank you one and all, you've opened my eyes more than expected. I've been looking at the older mini 5.56.I like wood with SS 18" barrel may be more accurate than new ones I hope.

 

[Go Navy]

Thank you one and all, you've opened my eyes more than expected. I've been looking at the older mini 5.56.I like wood with SS 18" barrel may be more accurate than new ones I hope.

Sliclee....I hope I'm not misunderstanding you, but the older Mini, in any configuration, is not going to be more accurate than the new ones. But you can find used "new" models; just make sure the serial no. begins with 580 or more.

If you find a pre-580 that has been heavily modified for accuracy, it MIGHT, repeat, might, be more accurate than the new ones.

Stainless plus wood is a great looking combination.

 

[oregon73]

Thank you one and all, you've opened my eyes more than expected. I've been looking at the older mini 5.56.I like wood with SS 18" barrel may be more accurate than new ones I hope.

Reports indicate the newer Mini-14s are indeed more accurate than the older guns with the pencil barrel. Not to say you shouldn't buy an older stainless Mini. I own two and enjoy them for what they are--but they aren't extremely accurate. They are extremely reliable and a hoot to shoot. Nothing wrong with them at all but if you want a more accurate Mini, get one of the newer ones with the tapered barrel.

 

[sliclee]

60 years ago my M1 06 after removing grease etc, sighting in it shot 2 inches at 100 and 3 at 200 using sights it came with.
Why buy a rifle that doesnt shoot well, doesn't make sense.