Ruger Mini 14 Cost/Value

[pawpawcamo1958]

My son is looking at a couple Ruger Mini 14 rifles. One has a wire fold down stock and the other is a solid fold down stock. Neither one is drilled and tapped for scope mounts. Both have rear peep site with muzzle brake front. Over all they are in good shape and come with aftermarket 20 or 30 round magazine. The guy wants $500 each. Is this a good buy? I am not very familiar with their value.

 

[DGW1949]

As a general rule, the closer to original a used Mini is, the more money it'll bring.
The factory muzzle brake is threaded and screws onto the barrel. After-market brakes pin-on and/or attach with set screws.
Most after-market folding stocks are plastic. A factory folder is wood with a plastic grip.
After market mags add little to no value.
Only the post-581 Series came D&T'd for a rail mount, but all Ranch Rifles have the scallop-cuts for Ruger Rings. If the two you are looking at have neither, adding a scope will be somewhat problematic.

All that said.....
From a "cost" standpoint, except for a couple of specific models, $450-$500 is about as cheap as any used Mini gets these days.
From a "value" standpoint, a lot depends on the buyer, his intended uses, and whether or not it'll work for him as-is. If it does, fine. If it don't, it would be prudent to factor-in whatever extra he'll need to spend in order to get it like he really wants it.

Hope something here helped.

DGW

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

The current models with the heavier barrel and winged front sight are the better models. The older ones like you are talking about are known for their lack of accuracy. Recently I've bought two of the newer models that are machined for rings and had the muzzle break. I paid $525 for the blue one with wood stock. And I paid $625 for the stainless one. I would would be hard pressed to even buy one of the older ones. The folding stocks except the originals do not add value, the detract from value. I wouldn't have one of those either. But in answer to your question $400 to $450. Plus he needs to ask himself why he is buying them knowing what I said about accuracy. Buy factory OEM mags only. If they don't come with them, that's a deduct. Just my opinion.

 

[NixieTube]

I have to ask something from a non-collector point of view: why would anyone spend more than $600 on an old Mini-14 when they can have the newer ones with the better, thicker barrels for around $750-800?

To my mind it would be much better to buy a new one with the thicker barrels and maybe save a little extra for a month so you can spend a bit more rather than plunk down 3/4ths the money on a used gun. Why not just get a new one? Honestly: I will never buy a Mini-14 for it's "collector value." It's an everywhere, everyone has them rifle. They're ranch guns and truck guns. It's like trying to establish a seller's market in old truck tires in my opinion. "Nice tires for sale, used, drove around a lot. Refurbish them and they're great!"

I'm not trying to take away from the fact that they're very popular rifles, but at the same time, I would just buy a new one and find a dealer who has a good price for one. Ruger Mini-14s aren't collector guns except for probably a handful of them sitting in a museum somewhere.

 

[steelshooterco]

If is the factory side folding stock (you mentioned top/bottom folder) it would easily be worth that price, the folding stocks are going for $650 alone in good shape, with stainless more scarce.

If it is not a factory stock, the older Minis with the peep site (181/182 prefix) aren't supported by the factory anymore, so I'd steer clear and get a newer one, the newest can mount Ruger rings, or take a Picatinny rail that screws to the top of the receiver.

If you plan on mounting optics the newer Ranch rifles, like above are the way to go. The older Mini's did not have a buffer and destroyed scopes.

Figure you can find these in the price range mentioned.

 

[m657]

re: " Is this a good buy?"

I'm with Nixie Tube on this one: old Minis are a bit like 'older VW microbus' in the 90s....

improved design/materials/etc on the newer products very worth while

old minis.....meh......

and I never did have a wire stock that was very satisfying in real use.

 

[pawpawcamo1958]

Thanks for all the info

 

[sebtool]

FWIW, I have an old 180 series, '77 vintage I believe. And it shoots pretty doggone well! Years back I shot a couple of High Power Rifle matches with it, and did well, all things considered. It will hold 1-1/4" to 1-1/2" at 100 yds, if I do my part. From what I read, this 1 may be the exception, rather than the rule. :?

You can find manufacturing dates on Ruger's web site. If your son could get the seller down a bit, I wouldn't be scared.

When I got my 180 series, it had been shot almost exclusively with that nasty old Norinco ammo from the late '80's, early '90's. I was told it wouldn't shoot worth a damn, paid accordingly. :wink: It took me 3-4 days of soaking and scrubbing the bore to make it serviceable. And I'm more than happy with it!

Now mounting a scope on it, that would be another story! That's why we have ranch rifles, too. :lol:

 

[exavid]

I had a fairly early Mini14, it was a lot of fun and a good looking rifle. However now I prefer to fire those sized cartridges with my S&W M&P not as esthetically pleasing to look at but more accurate and versatile. Of course if I'd had more cash at the time I'd have gone for the Ruger AR version.

 

[speedsixman]

If they are the earliest models, Ruger has no parts available and will not repair them.
Check the Ruger website for the 'date of manufacture' list.

You will need the first 3 digits of the serial numbers to look them up.

Myron