New Ruger Mini 14 Owner: Gas block system problems

[32ADA]

I purchased a mini 14 last week and after shooting it at the range I cleaned it (series 183) rifle. I reassembled it and racked the slide and noticed that the bolt would not close so I dissembled it again and found my gas pipe not in the gas block. I tried to put it back into the block but it would not go without being tapped in with a hammer . I would like to know if anyone has experienced this before. I did not find the bushing when I took the gas block off to see what was wrong. should the gas pipe be so hard to reinsert? On YouTube I saw one that was no problem to do.

 

[the_leper_colony]

Welcome to the forum! I've owned three Mini-14s and never had that problem (so I'm no help), but hopefully one of the resident experts will see your post & offer some advice.

 

[dobegrant.45]

Welcome from Arizona, also never had a problem of any type with a mini 14 or mini 30

 

[32ADA]

Welcome from Arizona, also never had a problem of any type with a mini 14 or mini 30

Thank you

 

[pyth0n]

I've only come across this one time on a customers mini. They took it apart but wasn't careful enough to keep the alignment & slide & gas block were not centered. Easy to do but also an easy fix. All I had to do was loosen the four screws & let the slide & gas block center themselves. In fact, as soon as I loosened the screws, the side jumped to full forward. I made sure to cross tighten the screws & keep the gap as close to the same on either side of the gas block also.
Hope yours is as simple.

 

[hittman]

Welcome to the forum.

 

[Sam Summey]

I once had a customer bring in a Mini-30 with the bolt "locked up". The owner had been shooting surplus 7.62x39 corrosive ammo. The problem was a copious amount of rust in the gas system. Did you take the gas block off of the barrel? If so I suspect it is not in alignment with the op-rod.

 

[JBP]

Just picked up a NIB .556 and had this happen to me 1st time I had it to the range. On the 26th round the bolt would not close. Neither I nor the range officers could get it closed. Sent it to Ruger. It took them one day to fix it and there and back to me took only a week. They paid for shipping both ways. Haven't had it back to the range yet.

 

[Topfueler1]

Make sure you keep the gas block clean also. I take mine apart and clean it ever so often to clean out the carbon. I have replaced my gas block with the Accuracy Systems adjustable gas block. You can adjust it so it doesn't throw the brass real far away. It is better made than the original Ruger gas block. I do not shoot cheap dirty ammo through mine either. Hope you get it fixed to operate properly.

 

[watashie00]

This is not exactly addressing your problem,,, but this is how I learned about a mini-14/30,,,, Find a Vietnam Era Marine Gunnery Sgt,,,, who fired and can field strip an M14 blind folded and upside down,,,,, he will teach you to assemble and disassemble your weapon. (dont feel bad though,, I was a Marine Major/AF LtCol),, the M14 just wasnt my weapon,,,, and despite the old fart being older than methuselah,,, or even blind as a bat,,, he will still be able to work that weapon AND will enjoy showing you

 

[g5m]

Welcome!

 

[tazbigdog]

Welcome from Arizona!

 

[Tonopah01]

The gas pipe is held in place by the gas port buffer tube.