Well my 2, 20 round promags showed up

[kels]

Seems my address got screwed up somehow.
UPS figured it out and delivered them to work.
Due to the wind (wind never blows in Kansas)
all I could do today was see if they locked into the
Mini. They fit fine. Other than the welds are not
as neat, they are almost a carbon copy of a
Ruger factory 20 rounder. Will try to make it
to the range this weekend.

[cajungeo]

Originally posted by kels@Mar 17 2005, 10:50 PM
Seems my address got screwed up somehow.
UPS figured it out and delivered them to work.
Due to the wind (wind never blows in Kansas)
all I could do today was see if they locked into the
Mini. They fit fine. Other than the welds are not
as neat, they are almost a carbon copy of a
Ruger factory 20 rounder. Will try to make it
to the range this weekend.
Glad you got your mags Ok. I usually load up a mag with safety on and pointing in a safe direction, manually eject a mag full to see if it needs a little tweeking before going to the range.

[kels]

Went to the range with the two magazines.
Loaded 20 rounds of Winchester White Box FMJ
in each magazine.
Both fired fine. No problems. Bolt locked back
when magazines were empty.

papa1-I measured from the bottom of the magazine
to the bottom of the locking lug.
It is 3 7/8s on the promag.
On the ruger mag it was 3 13/16s
BUT my Ruger magazine is just a bit shorter than
the promag.

[mrmeyer]

good to know, thanks for the input. :beer:

[papa1]

Thanks for the information kels. I'm starting to think that maybe there's no way to know by measuring whether you have trash or treasure.

I found that I can make just about any 20 rd work all the time, and I can get some 30s to work some of the time. For that reason, I've given up on 30s. The ProMag 20s sound like they're good to go. Father's Day is coming up. Guess I'd better start dropping hints.

Have a great Easter!

papa1

[papa1]

Originally posted by cajungeo@Mar 18 2005, 04:23 PM
Glad you got your mags Ok. I usually load up a mag with safety on and pointing in a safe direction, manually eject a mag full to see if it needs a little tweeking before going to the range.
No criticism here, just a reflection on my own experience and a suggestion. We've all cycled live rounds at one time or another. But having experienced a slam fire with a Garand on the range one time. :unsure: ..I don't do that any more. I realize that the Mini is not a Garand, but firearms accidents do happen. What's worse is that I know they could happen to me.

I use dummy rounds to check the function of the rifle and mags. I've marked them so that I know they're dummies. Even guys that don't reload know somebody that does. I suggest that everyone have a set of dummy rounds made up to check out their magazines, or borrow some. ;)

Have a Happy Easter, all.
papa1

[cajungeo]

Good idea papa. You can't be too safe! Especially with young-uns around.

[Drakejake]

Re: cycling rounds at home. The Ruger Mini can do this with the safety on. But I agree that extreme caution should be followed whenever putting live rounds into a firearm. But I believe guns rarely fire unless the trigger is pulled. The most dangerous situation at home is when you "dry fire." I try to triple check the chamber before pulling the trigger on any firearm.

Drakejake

[Camera man]

I have several hundred 5.56, M16 blanks, that I do my cycling with. Just in case I get a slam fire. And there fun for New Years eve and the 4th.

[Dennis]

Originally posted by papa1+Mar 25 2005, 01:19 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (papa1 @ Mar 25 2005, 01:19 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-cajungeo@Mar 18 2005, 04:23 PM
Glad you got your mags Ok. I usually load up a mag with safety on and pointing in a safe direction, manually eject a mag full to see if it needs a little tweeking before going to the range.
No criticism here, just a reflection on my own experience and a suggestion. We've all cycled live rounds at one time or another. But having experienced a slam fire with a Garand on the range one time. :unsure: ..I don't do that any more. I realize that the Mini is not a Garand, but firearms accidents do happen. What's worse is that I know they could happen to me.

I use dummy rounds to check the function of the rifle and mags. I've marked them so that I know they're dummies. Even guys that don't reload know somebody that does. I suggest that everyone have a set of dummy rounds made up to check out their magazines, or borrow some. ;)

Have a Happy Easter, all.
papa1 [/b][/quote]
There was a guy on rec.guns who shot and killed his own dog with his AR15 when it slam fired. He was inconsolable.

After reading this I quit fooling around with any live ammo at home.

Dennis Jenkins

[J Greer]

[QUOTE=cajungeo,Mar 18 2005, 04:23 PM I realize that the Mini is not a Garand.

Thats for sure. Although the Mini does have a free floating firing pin nearly identical to the Garand's. Its possiable the Mini's firing pin could get stuck in the foward position like your Garand and slam fire. The Mini's and Garands firing pin is not as touchy as an SKS's free floating pin, but it is still possiable for then to get stuck in the foward position. So in short always use dummy rounds or snap caps to test function in any gun unless your at the range.

My favorite story about how clueless some people are is posted at the SKS boards. It envolves a person that bought a SKS's and didn't properly clean the cosmoline out of the firing pins channel. The goofball decided to test function with live ammo and with a full magazine in his house :eek: . After he cycled the ammo he noticed firing pin dents in his primers of the ammo he just cycled. He came very close to a slamfire or even worse multiple slamfires in his house. Very scary, especially when you think this guy could be your neighbor. :eek: :angry:

Even guys that don't reload know somebody who does.

I don't know a single soul who reloads so I have to buy my dummy rounds. :( Hopefully I'll get around to reloading once I get some more time to read up on the subject.

[papa1]

Originally posted by Dennis@Mar 30 2005, 12:21 AM
I quit fooling around with any live ammo at home.
Good for you, Dennis.
papa1

[papa1]

Originally posted by J Greer@Mar 30 2005, 10:30 AM
Hopefully I'll get around to reloading once I get some more time to read up on the subject.
If you want to read up on reloading, I would suggest getting a Lyman's reloading manual. Lyman's isn't my favorite reloading manual, but they do have a good section on the hows and whys of safely reloading. Start lurking around the reloading sections of various talk boards. Then you can decide if you want to take the next step and buy some equipment and a few new up-to-date reloading manuals.

I think most guys who reload would agree that the next best thing to being at the range shooting, is being at home at your bench reloading for your next trip to the range.

It's corny but, safety first. Whether shooting or reloading...enjoy.

papa1

[J Greer]

Thanks for the advise Papa1. B) Hopfully I get some more free time to read up on the subject soon.

[JackT]

Originally posted by papa1@Mar 30 2005, 06:04 PM
I think most guys who reload would agree that the next best thing to being at the range shooting, is being at home at your bench reloading for your next trip to the range.

papa1
papa1

Couldn't agree more! Yesterday was an ugly day, (lots of rain and heavy wind). Nasty day for shooting so I headed for the gun room. I put in a Willy Nelson CD, pulled out the components and loaded up 300 rounds of mini fodder. Great way to spend some time connected to the shooting sports.

Jack