Mini-14 in .222 Rem

[kcoop9999]

After many years of searching,I was recently lucky enough to spot and pick up a Mini-14 Ranch Rifle in .222 Remington at a local Auction. After I had settled and done the transfer, several of the older attendees stopped me on the way out and asked me the story on this particular rifle. It seems none of the had ever heard of a Mini in that caliber. Not so unusual as there are not that many around. I was wondering how many more there were around as I could only find about 3 or 4 for sale anywhere on the internet? :?: :mrgreen:

 

[bwraven]

I have heard that these were made for export from the US.

Some countries have restrictions on military calibers, so .223 is not allowed. But .222 would be legal.

 

[Mike Armstrong]

I think braven is right about this. However, the number is further restricted by the fact that many nations that DO allow the .222 but not the .223/5.56 DON'T allow semiautomatic sporting weapons in any caliber. So the number exported was probably necessarily low, compared to the pretty huge numbers of .222s of other action types in use worldwide.

The poorer Eastern European countries that allow semiautos had plenty of SKSs at a very cheap price, and no hard currency to buy Rugers of any caliber.

Be nice to hear from a Ruger guru as to whether these were really intended primarily for export. The fact that it's logical doesn't make it true....

 

[chet15]

Yes...the .222 in the Mini-14 was primarily for Export. Canada got some as well.
But I do remember a GunWeek/Ruger advertisment once that listed the .222 as an option (these very well could have been the leftovers of the contracts).
Chet15

 

[Melting]

I had one of these in the early ninties, I had no idea what a great and relativly rare find it was. I paid 275 for it. Sold it fir about the same. Young and dumb.

 

[Heavy Barrel]

I had one of these in the early ninties, I had no idea what a great and relativly rare find it was. I paid 275 for it. Sold it fir about the same. Young and dumb.

We must have got off the same boat !!!!!!!!!! :roll:

 

[Byron]

http://galleryofguns.com/genie/Default.aspx?item=5823-RUG&mfg=All&mdl=All&cat=All&type=All&cal=222&fin=&sit=&zipcode=37129


This is on Gallery of Guns(Davidsons) and they are listing the Mini in 222.I note it is not on Rugers wensite.

 

[golferboy426]

I'd bet that's a typo and s/b 223

 

[Byron]

It may well be a special run for Davidsons?

 

[chet15]

I'd bet that's a typo and s/b 223

Nope...not a typo. The model 5823 is catalog number KM-14/5P/222.
Would be hard to imagine Davidson's special ordering the Mini in .222, but who knows...with the way there is a little collector interest in these, they'd probably sell pretty good.
But chances are these guns are leftovers from a foreign contract. Davidson's just picks anything strange or wierd off of Ruger's periodic Distributor shopping lists because that distributor knows such items won't be in their warehouse for long.
If anybody gets any sn information off of this group, I can sure use that info in the "Reference of Ruger Firearms".
Chet15

 

[golferboy426]

my original ones, I think dad had 4, never sold worth a darn. Pretty sure I sold them for less than the new listing. I still have a couple I think

 

[transalp1961]

I only have bolt action rifles and was thinking of picking up a Mini-14 if I could find one in .222 Remington. What accuracy could I expect from this rifle? I heard the older Mini-14s were not that accurate but the newer ones were a little better. Is MOA out of the question? Thanks in advance.

 

[Domino300]

I just won a Gunbroker auction for a Ranch rifle in 222 Rem. It's a model 05823, SS synthetic stock
as Chet mentioned above. I've followed several of these on GB and they have 582-660xx/661xx SNs. I'm inquiring if anybody can tell me if the magazines for 222 are different from the 223 and if the 223 Mag can be adapted if not? Also wonder about the accuracy as transalp asks in abovepost? I already reload for 222 already and don't want to add another caliber.
Thanks!

 

[wildhobbybobby]

The .222 uses standard .223 magazines. Accuracy will be the same as a .223 of the same vintage, which may be disappointing.

 

[Domino300]

The .222 uses standard .223 magazines. Accuracy will be the same as a .223 of the same vintage, which may be disappointing.

Thank you, Wildhobbybobby!

 

[Ruger168]

The Mini-14 222 that I have was part of an over run that was done for the French Gov't. When I got it they had just 5 in the warehouse and if not for my relationship with Bill Sr. I would not have gotten it. I have so many things to be thankful for from being a friend of Bill Ruger.