[Nighthawk]

Did you guys know Ruger was going to desighn a Mini-14 chambered for .308win. I t was called the XGI Ruger never got the bugs worked out of it,and canceled its production in 1986. I sure wish that would have happened.

 

[6mm]

Also in 243. Some of them were sent out to writers for review, and not all of them were sent back to Ruger. There are a few floating around.

In a sidebar, the last I heard there are still racks of them at the plant.

6mm

 

[LIKTOSHOOT]

Actually it was a "XG-1" and it was never in production. Several cutaway prototype`s exsist. These were sent to Major dealers across the country to promote it. A full scale rifle, with cutaways...to show the operating mechanicals of it. Less than two dozen of these cutaway prototypes exsist.....some say less than a dozen. I know of "one" in California......they command some very serious coin and are usally traded in private circles.
Ruger tried to market it prior to debugging it, for mass orders to fund the design.....It was doomed from the start. Receivers cracking, excessive throat errosion and poor accuracy. The result of bad everything. The M1a was already dead and dying in favor of the M16 and had been for decades.....not to mention the XG-1 was to light to control, even in semi-auto fire. Hidden from most, it is one of the biggest flops to grace Ruger`s legacy. A true, un-thought out and way behind the times project......that left egg on every face involved with it. LTS

 

[Nighthawk]

I didnt know about the 243,now that would have been a worth while project. Wish Ruger would have got that one out. I have a very good book on the mini line.I got it from the Blue press.

 

[redchip]

and cheap when Ruger was considering building a Mini-14/308 type gun. Not to mention all of the FAL's, HK91's, AR10's and Cetme's that were available. The only thing that was lacking in the .308 market was a good lightweight hi-cap rifle.

Holloway attempted to venture into this market. Produced about 300 HAC-7's which were fairly light weight .308 folders. Nicely made guns, but had a few bugs that needed to be worked out. I don't think he could produce them for what the market would bare at the time, and the venture failed after one production run. Too many cheap .308's out there to compete with. And a good .308 is expensive to design and produce. Doesn't seem that there was much profit in designing and producing another .308 rifle.

 

[rollingstone]

Add to the list of Ruger oddities, a Mini 14 chambered in 222Rem for export to countries that banned military chamberings.

rollingstone

 

[Mike in Oregon]

Yea, a .243 Mini would've been wicked on coyotes! I've been toying with something I call the 22Mini & 6mmMini. Here's the concept...

A cartridge with the case dia of the 7.62x39 (Mini-30 bolt), and case length & body taper of the .223rem (Mini-14 mag). Velocities should fall about in between the .223 and the .22-250. Cases can be made from .220swift by turning the head/rim to that of the russian round (~.440" if I recall correctly). Case has slightly less body taper than the .223 but yet should still function in std Mini-14 mags. You build the rifle by using a Mini-30 bolt in a Mini-14 receiver w/ mini-14 trigger group and mag. Best if done w/ heavy barrel w/ reduced gas port orfices. The cartridges are also AR15 compatable as well.
Something to think about,
Mike in Oregon