View Full Version : We went to the range for qualification
Well we went to the range for qualification.
4 Minis were used and had exactly one malfunction.
(more on that later)
Everyone used Ruger factory 20 round magazines.
About 40 rounds were fired by each shooter.
It is amazing that two shooters using the same rifle
have totally different points of impact.
While at Ruger Armorers school, the instructor said there would
be no more factory 30 round magazines. ONE of the reasons given
was that they will malfunctions at about the 21st round in the
Minis with the synthetic stock.
The undersheriff has a 30 rounder and a brand new synthetic stocked Mini14.
It is not a GB model. So I loaded it up and started
firing his mini. Sure enough, it failed to extract at the 21 round.
Then I tried it in my stainless wood stocked Mini and had no problems.
Hey Kels, are you doing qual for Police or Prison Guard? What is your qualification for the mini consist of? :ar15:
Oh yeah, did you get any literature at Ruger's Armourer's school that you would be willing to share with the members? I wish I could get in on one of those classes! :D
Did the Ruger instructor say why the malfunctions occur with the Ruger-made synthetic stock? Did he say if the malfunctions occur with Choate stocks?
I am a evening Deputy Sheriff.
We use the NRA reduced 100 yard target that is shot at 25 yards.
We shoot 10 rounds at 25 yards and 10 rounds at 50 yards.
That is the longest distance on the range we use.
The new ruger 45 pistol is very nice. The price isnt bad either.
They had a demo we got to shoot.
They had the new Mini 14 GB models with them.
One had a 17 inch? barrel and a 3/4 inch ?shorter synthetic stock.
If they make it in a regular Ruger set up, I will get one quick.
All of our guns are off the shelf Stainless Steel models.
The instructor is a great guy. Made the class very interesting.
By the time you take the Mini apart for the 8th time, your
thumb and forefinger are very SORE.
Sorry, got to go, got a call
continuing
You cant convert your Mini14 to a full auto firearm.
It was designed to prevent it.
The guts of a mini and a 556 are DIFFERENT.
Leave the gas block alone.
You dont get it back together
properly, Ruger is gonna charge you a couple of hundred
for installing a new barrel.
Dont overdo the cleaning and lube.
A little lube goes a long way.
Do NOT store rifle with the bolt locked back and a full magazine.
Quick explaniation-take out magazine and hit butt on floor.
Bolt will close easily.
Ammo should be NATO spec (the little cross on the head of the cartridge)
or SAAMI (american made ammo)
Ammo from the old Eastern Block Communist countries should be avoided.
Damaged firing pins seem to be the main problem.
But dont worry, Ruger will fix the gun when you send it in.
Will probably be a nice bill for it also.
Old style Minis should shoot 4 MOA at 100 yards with the right ammo.
The New Minis are supposed to be 2 MOA.
There is THREE different barrel twists on the mini.
You can go to the Ruger site and look up your serial number.
This should give you an idea what the twist of your barrel is.
HOWEVER if the rifle was sent back to ruger and the barrel was replaced.
It will have the twist of what was being installed at the time of the repair.
Check the reciever web on any used Ruger Mini you buy.
This is the little piece of metal that connects the two side of the reciever.
If this is damaged, you need to send it to ruger for repair.
If someone has been working on it with Mr Dremel, send it to Ruger for repair.
The reason Ruger will not sell you an extra bolt and hammer is that these are hand fitted parts. If you need an extra one for emergencies, ruger will fit
a new set to your gun when you send it in.
Have your checkbook hand for the bill.
Has to do with a guage they use when gun is assembled.
Guage is about $700.00
Originally posted by kels@May 31 2005, 04:37 PM
Check the reciever web on any used Ruger Mini you buy.
This is the little piece of metal that connects the two side of the reciever.
If this is damaged, you need to send it to ruger for repair.
If someone has been working on it with Mr Dremel, send it to Ruger for repair.
which area are you referring to? :blink: can you show a picture of that metal piece? Thanks. :D
I am glad to hear the new mini-14's are supposed to shoot 2moa. Is that true? if so the old mini-14 price will drop quite a bit so I can get one cheap..... ;)
cajungeo
06-01-2005, 17:05
Congratulations on your qualifying kels. Thanks for the report. Very interesting. ;)
So basically, Ruger told you that if your Mini is f-ed up, then you are SOL? :huh:
The following is MY .02 only. ;)
Rugers are over engineered, over built, and should last a couple of
life times with even a little abuse.
The biggest problem I see is the magazine issue.
I really wish someone would figure a conversion to allow
the use of ar15 mags. Life would be a lot less complicated.
BROSKY
No, actually they are fairly easy to fix.
Some of the parts may require a trip to the factory to install.
Do they break, Yes. Do they break a lot, NOT FROM WHAT I
HAVE SEEN IN 20 years of LEO work.
I think the NEW mini will help a lot with the accuracy complaints.
If the prices go down on the old ones, I am gonna pick up another
one GRIN
REPEATING, Ruger firearms tend to be over engineered, over built
and close to POLICE proof. LEOs are know for their neglect
of equipment. That is why the Remington 870 is still so popular.
GUNCATS
Take your Mini apart for cleaning.
Turn the reciever so the bottom is facing up.
There is a small piece of metal running from the left side to the right side
about half way down the reciever.
It should not be cracked or have been worked on with a dremel or file.
NOBODY
The Ruger stock
I think that LEO use of mini's is going to continue.
HOWEVER, the AR15 is making strides in replacing it.
I carry my own Bushy along with the Mini.
My rural dept has that option.
The rural dept I left 4 years ago, got Colt m4s after I left.
They replaced the minis they had carried for 20 years.
We shall see............................
Edited to add.
After 20 years on the job, I finally got to handle a MP5 the other day.
Hopefully I will get to shoot it someday. Belongs to another agency.
First one I have ever seen in person.
Bushw@cker
06-07-2005, 13:14
Wow, lots of good info there. Thanks a lot. B)
Dorkface
06-07-2005, 23:04
Originally posted by kels@Jun 7 2005, 12:55 PM
There is a small piece of metal running from the left side to the right side about half way down the reciever. It should not be cracked or have been worked on with a dremel or file.
why would someone do that? :blink:
Originally posted by kels@May 31 2005, 04:37 PM
Leave the gas block alone.
You dont get it back together
properly, Ruger is gonna charge you a couple of hundred
for installing a new barrel.
Thanks for the info, although I will keep on ignoring this request just like I did when I read the manual. I've removed and installed my gas block many of times without any ill effects.
As for avoiding eastern block Communist ammo (I assume they mean Wolf, Silver Bear) I will be ignoring this as well. I sure don't remember reading this in the owners manual I received with the gun so if the firing pin breaks I think I have a leg to stand on when it comes to warrenty work. I know Com-Bloc ammo has harder primers which is harder on the pin, but how does Ruger plan to prove that the firing pin broke because I was using Com-Bloc? I rarly shoot Com-Bloc so I not to worried anyway.
As for "Rugers are over engineered, over built, and should last a couple of
life times with even a little abuse". I fully agree except for the Mini-14 which I beleive is a little anemic when compairing it to other Ruger firearms.
"You cant convert your Mini14 to a full auto firearm.
It was designed to prevent it.
The guts of a mini and a 556 are DIFFERENT"
This is questionable since there is info on the web on how to make a Mini-14 full auto . A forum member even once posted instructions on possible full auto conversions :rolleyes: . I know it probably not a five minute job, but I'm sure its not impossible. Maybe Gundoc will chime in on this one.
Originally posted by J Greer@Jun 9 2005, 02:27 PM
This is questionable since there is info on the web on how to make a Mini-14 full auto . A forum member even once posted instructions on possible full auto conversions :rolleyes: . I know it probably not a five minute job, but I'm sure its not impossible. Maybe Gundoc will chime in on this one.
I also believe that it is possible.
However, it is not something I would care to try.
And I have seen a gun that someone TWEEKED the insides
on trying to do this. All they managed was to trash a good gun.
Having once visited Club Fed at Leavenworth Ks.
I have no interest in ever going back. :blink:
Hooah!88
06-10-2005, 17:06
I think you can buy a full auto firearm if you just pay a $200 tax, or something like that, but I'm not sure of the details. That would be a lot easier than trying to modify your rifle.
lee n. field
06-13-2005, 13:49
The reason Ruger will not sell you an extra bolt and hammer is that these are hand fitted parts. If you need an extra one for emergencies, ruger will fit
a new set to your gun when you send it in.
Have your checkbook hand for the bill.
Has to do with a guage they use when gun is assembled.
Guage is about $700.00
Yeah, but what does it cost for a spare bolt and hammer?
how about a spare firing pin?
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