Pre/Post Ban Mini 14?

[mbl]

I tried a search but didn't find what I'm looking for. Can anyone help me with the question....what's the difference between pre and post ban mini 14?
Thanks
Mark

 

[Busterswoodshop]

The newer ones are supposed to be more accurate,
With the older ones you were lucky if you could hit a dinner plate at 100 yards.

 

[mbl]

Nothing about different magazines?

 

[Busterswoodshop]

Magazines are the same.

 

[RedlegM109A1]

I have both a 1982-vintage Mini 14 and two new Ranch Rifles. Here are the differences:

1. Ranch Rifles have a thicker "flared" barrel which enhances accuracy by preventing "flexing" of the barrel when it is hot. It is said that the older Minis would lose accuracy and the shot groups would open up as the (thin) barrel heated up. I cannot confirm this from firsthand experience; I never noticed this on my 1982 Mini.

2. Ranch Rifles have proprietary Ruger scope mounts fitted to them which makes it possible to mount scope rings or a tactical rail. Without modification it is very difficult to mount a scope or a red dot sight on the older Mini. Picture of such mount:

3. The front and rear sights of the older Minis came in for criticism due to the wide aperture and the simple "post" design of the front sight. The rifle was plainly intended for plinking and varmint shooting rather than bull's-eye target shooting. The newer Ranch Rifles have better iron sights but still not that great in my opinion. Anyone with a Ranch Rifle who wants to shoot iron sights should consider the excellent GI-style Tech Sights. My rifle, show above, has Tech Sights as a BUIS.

There are minor internal differences but overall the rifle changed very little other than the above. The basic highly reliable carbine design is the same. The magazines are the same. The newer Ranch Rifles are clearly better in my opinion, speaking as the owner of both types. My 1982 Mini is still lots of fun to shoot and is a very reliable, serviceable camping/trail/plinking/range/varmint rifle.

 

[El Numero Uno]

I was not aware that the Mini-14 was ever on the "Ban" list?

 

[SteelShooter]

Some of them are marked "Law Enforcement Only", this is also true of some of the magazines.

Have an older SS Mini Ranch rife with above markings on the left side of the receiver, along with several of the magazines.

 

[RedlegM109A1]

I also never knew that any Minis were ever banned by any assault rifle law or had any kind of legend re: "law enforcement only." But I was temporarily out of shooting when all those strange laws came and then (partly) went. Here in California the non-tactical Mini versions are perfectly fine as long as your magazines are 10 rounds or less.

 

[FergusonTO35]

Alot of former Kentucky Dept. of Corrections Minis are showing up in stores around here. Most of them are pretty tired looking and only $100.00 less than a new one.

 

[wxl]

The 1994-2004 Fed AW ban did not include the Mini 14 since it didn't look like a military rifle. However, mags greater then 10 rds were part of this ban. High cap mags owned prior to the ban were exempted from the ban. When the AW ban expired so did the ban on high cap mags. However, some states put their own ban in place after the Fed ban expired. In California, Mini's were not included in this state ban, but mags greater then 10 rds were banned. However, mags owned prior to 2000 were exempted from the ban. Owning high cap mags is not illegal here in Ca, but selling, giving, loaning, importing or manufacturing high cap mags are illegal. Messed up law here in Ca and other states may have similar laws. Thus the term Pre/Post Ban mags, but this term does not apply to the Mini 14 rifle itself since it was never banned. Some people try to sell preban mags like they are special or exempted from the these rules and try to charge extremely high prices, but they are no different than the current mags and still just as illegal to sell or import here in Ca.

 

[57springer]

I have one with a factory folding stock, any special rules on it ?

 

[wxl]

The folding stock and pistol grip made it an AW under the Fed ban, but there are no restrictions on folding stocks or pistol grips now that the Fed ban has expired. If you are in Ca the folding stock or pistol grip makes it classified as an assault weapon and the gun had to be registered before 2004 or converted to a 10 rd fixed magazine that requires a tool to remove the mag.

 

[jslshooter]

Just picked up a used Mini 14 in great shape. Actually,I traded my field grade,no frills Remington 1100 12ga for it. Anyway,I'm not sure what my production date is...can anyone here figure it out? This is the serial number: 195-61013. Thanks in advance.

 

[Tellico]

Just picked up a used Mini 14 in great shape. Actually,I traded my field grade,no frills Remington 1100 12ga for it. Anyway,I'm not sure what my production date is...can anyone here figure it out? This is the serial number: 195-61013. Thanks in advance.

1998.

 

[jslshooter]

Thanks,Buckeye. So,I guess it would be post ban since the ban started in 1994....or does that mean that any rifle produced after 2004 would be considered post ban??

 

[wxl]

Here's a thread on Perfectunion that gives a lot of good info on each model and serial number including twist rates. The post near the bottom has all the features for each model, year, twist by serial number for Mini 14 as well as for Mini 30.

http://www.perfectunion.com/vb/ruger-mini-14-mini-30/89657-how-many-different-series-there.html