Yes - you can readily find Mini-14 parts on the web. Brownell's and e-gunparts are good sources. As a matter of fact, you can probably build a Mini-14 by buying the individual parts (except maybe the receiver) from these sites, though it might be very expensive.
In regard to the gas block screws, they are staked at the threaded end; probably to preclude loosening rather than to prevent removal. It is easy to break the staking with a little force. I'm of the opinion that the screws are way over-tightened by Ruger. Three of mine came out easily, the fourth (naturally, one under the swivel) would not budge. I tightened the others to make sure the gas block wasn't causing the problem. By the time I gave up, I had "stripped" the inner faces of the Allen head, so that a 9/64" allen wrench couldn't get a grip. I then drilled down through the Allen cap using a 9/64" drill followed by a 5/32" drill, using oil and slow speed. The head came off just before the drill bit contacted the gas block face. To my surprise, the remaining threaded part of the screw came out very easily using vise-grips.
In regard to the gas block screws, they are staked at the threaded end; probably to preclude loosening rather than to prevent removal. It is easy to break the staking with a little force. I'm of the opinion that the screws are way over-tightened by Ruger. Three of mine came out easily, the fourth (naturally, one under the swivel) would not budge. I tightened the others to make sure the gas block wasn't causing the problem. By the time I gave up, I had "stripped" the inner faces of the Allen head, so that a 9/64" allen wrench couldn't get a grip. I then drilled down through the Allen cap using a 9/64" drill followed by a 5/32" drill, using oil and slow speed. The head came off just before the drill bit contacted the gas block face. To my surprise, the remaining threaded part of the screw came out very easily using vise-grips.
