I found this info on the M1-M14 mailing list I run (the reference to the XG14 made it into an M14 topic).
============================================
To: <[email protected]>
Subject: [M1-M14] FW: [mini-14] Review: Mini-14 AC
List-Subscribe: <http://pirate4x4.net/mailman/listinfo/m1-m14>,
<mailto:[email protected]?subject=subscribe>
Date: Thu, 26 Jun 2003 23:56:02 -0400
Thought you'd be interested in mention of Ruger making M1A receivers for
Springfield, also XGI project apparently not dead.
-----Original Message-----
I spent the day today in a Ruger Mini-14 Armorers Course. I thought some
list members might be interested in some information learned in the
class, straight from the mountain.
Reinforced: As always, employees, managers, and instructors of firearms
and ammunition manufacturers are well represented in the message boards
and listservs of the internet. From time to time, certain participants
in those groups become interesting to the manufacturer and their legal
departments. The usual advisements about getting advice from the
manufacturer was offered. Know that advice, criticisms, and public
opinion is duly noted at a variety of levels.
Production: Ruger currently has 238 production days at both its
facilities in NH and AZ. 1200-2000 units per day are produced at each,
primarily to the commercial market. Government production and sales are
a small portion of totals. Ruger claims to produce the most firearms of
any manufacturer in the US.
Vendor: Ruger is currently producing components for many other
manufacturers at its investment casting facilities in NH and AZ. Most
notably, these are Caspian slides, H&R shotguns, M1A receivers for
Springfield, Colt AR15 front sight bases and trigger parts, golf clubs,
and much more.
Price changes: Are effective July 1 and mid-December. When it gets close
to that time, call for pricing.
New Shotgun: The new side-by-side shotgun was originally scheduled to be
delivered 7/1/03. Due to complications with the new cold bluing process,
this has been slower than normal. Large market distribution is now
planned after 1/1/04.
Coupons: As usual, the purchase coupons offered to students of the Ruger
courses aren't as big a discount as we'd like. See also Sig, Glock, etc.
The coupons are good for one commercial firearm at 38% off the MSRP,
which is conincidentally, the distributor cost. A nice gesture, but
nothing to make you buy if you've got a dealer with good pricing.
NATO Chamber: Mini-14's are currently produced with NATO-spec chambers,
not SAAMI. Allegedly, this has always been so. Current production is
only 1/9.
Magazines: 30rd magazines are officially discontinued. 20rd magazines
are still available for eligible purchasers. No word on whether or not
Ruger will offer the 20's to the commercial market if the AWB sunsets.
30rd magazines do not work reliably with the new Ruger synthetic stock.
Almost without exception, a failure to feed will occur on the 20th or
21st round.
House Fire: If you have one, Ruger has a special price schedule to
replace your gun.
Blown-up Gun: See "House Fire." If it's your fault of course. If it's
the guns fault, it's free.
Cleaner: In-house, Ruger is using Breakfree care products. Some
discussion just shy of a formal recommendation to use MPro-7.
Scout mounts: Ruger has done some in-house testing of the Aim-Tech (?)
scout mount. Metro Toronto is using it with great success, with
Aimpoints. No official recommendation or endorsement there.
Rear sights: Aperture heights are available in four heights. Not to be
confused with aperture _size_ (diameter). Only one diameter is produced
currently. It appeared that every agency in attendance either replaced
the factory aperture or opened it up a bit. Usual complaints about it
were the reason.
Winchester 64gr: Significant sight adjustments have been found to be
needed with this load. If the current rear has enough adjustment, it can
be handled, but several customers using it have switched the aperture to
a different unit.
Ammo: Usual ammo advisements. Avoid Wolf and steel case, imports
generally. Buy SAAMI spec or NATO spec US manufacture ammo. Ruger uses a
lot of Black Hills Ammo, and they think highly of it.
Extraction: An infrequent problem has been identified with Mini's
produced in January 03. They have extraction problems. If problems are
present, contact the factory for instructions.
Illegal guns: If you ship your gun to Ruger because you cut your barrel
too short, or tinkered with it and made it rock and roll, it's SOP to
call ATF. ATF then confiscates your gun and takes over.
"Civilian" Armorers: There aren't any. Armorers courses are restricted
to LE personnel only. It is understood that sometimes an agency will
have a local gunsmith do weapons service and inspection, but Ruger can't
control what the gunsmith will do with his credential. Thus, they won't
let him in. This is to avoid public confusion about factory service vs.
armorer service, limit liability exposure of the company, and improve
accountability.
Headspace Guages: Ruger guages are custom built and are a bit different
than military guages. Ruger recommends purchase of their own.
Freebore: They know that they have a lot of freebore. It's not a defect
or an oversight.
XGI: Lots of receivers in storage. This project is not forgotten, and
people should stay tuned. XGI will take M14 magazines. AWB may have
impact on any XGI project.
Pistol marketshare: Ruger is fairly comfortable in the commercial pistol
market. Virtually non-existant in the LE/Mil pistol market. Mini-14 is
the strongest seller to the LE/Mil market.
Overall, this is a worthwhile class if you inventory Mini's, instruct
those who do, or otherwise consult or evaluate rifle systems.
_______________________________________________
m1-m14 mailing list
[email protected]
Administer your subscription: http://www.perfectunion.com/forums/index.p...p?showtopic=607
Archives at http://pirate4x4.net/pipermail/m1-m14/
M1 Gallery:
http://www.perfectunion.com/forums/index.p...hp?showforum=68
M1A/M14 Gallery:
http://www.perfectunion.com/forums/index.p...hp?showforum=67
============================================
To: <[email protected]>
Subject: [M1-M14] FW: [mini-14] Review: Mini-14 AC
List-Subscribe: <http://pirate4x4.net/mailman/listinfo/m1-m14>,
<mailto:[email protected]?subject=subscribe>
Date: Thu, 26 Jun 2003 23:56:02 -0400
Thought you'd be interested in mention of Ruger making M1A receivers for
Springfield, also XGI project apparently not dead.
-----Original Message-----
I spent the day today in a Ruger Mini-14 Armorers Course. I thought some
list members might be interested in some information learned in the
class, straight from the mountain.
Reinforced: As always, employees, managers, and instructors of firearms
and ammunition manufacturers are well represented in the message boards
and listservs of the internet. From time to time, certain participants
in those groups become interesting to the manufacturer and their legal
departments. The usual advisements about getting advice from the
manufacturer was offered. Know that advice, criticisms, and public
opinion is duly noted at a variety of levels.
Production: Ruger currently has 238 production days at both its
facilities in NH and AZ. 1200-2000 units per day are produced at each,
primarily to the commercial market. Government production and sales are
a small portion of totals. Ruger claims to produce the most firearms of
any manufacturer in the US.
Vendor: Ruger is currently producing components for many other
manufacturers at its investment casting facilities in NH and AZ. Most
notably, these are Caspian slides, H&R shotguns, M1A receivers for
Springfield, Colt AR15 front sight bases and trigger parts, golf clubs,
and much more.
Price changes: Are effective July 1 and mid-December. When it gets close
to that time, call for pricing.
New Shotgun: The new side-by-side shotgun was originally scheduled to be
delivered 7/1/03. Due to complications with the new cold bluing process,
this has been slower than normal. Large market distribution is now
planned after 1/1/04.
Coupons: As usual, the purchase coupons offered to students of the Ruger
courses aren't as big a discount as we'd like. See also Sig, Glock, etc.
The coupons are good for one commercial firearm at 38% off the MSRP,
which is conincidentally, the distributor cost. A nice gesture, but
nothing to make you buy if you've got a dealer with good pricing.
NATO Chamber: Mini-14's are currently produced with NATO-spec chambers,
not SAAMI. Allegedly, this has always been so. Current production is
only 1/9.
Magazines: 30rd magazines are officially discontinued. 20rd magazines
are still available for eligible purchasers. No word on whether or not
Ruger will offer the 20's to the commercial market if the AWB sunsets.
30rd magazines do not work reliably with the new Ruger synthetic stock.
Almost without exception, a failure to feed will occur on the 20th or
21st round.
House Fire: If you have one, Ruger has a special price schedule to
replace your gun.
Blown-up Gun: See "House Fire." If it's your fault of course. If it's
the guns fault, it's free.
Cleaner: In-house, Ruger is using Breakfree care products. Some
discussion just shy of a formal recommendation to use MPro-7.
Scout mounts: Ruger has done some in-house testing of the Aim-Tech (?)
scout mount. Metro Toronto is using it with great success, with
Aimpoints. No official recommendation or endorsement there.
Rear sights: Aperture heights are available in four heights. Not to be
confused with aperture _size_ (diameter). Only one diameter is produced
currently. It appeared that every agency in attendance either replaced
the factory aperture or opened it up a bit. Usual complaints about it
were the reason.
Winchester 64gr: Significant sight adjustments have been found to be
needed with this load. If the current rear has enough adjustment, it can
be handled, but several customers using it have switched the aperture to
a different unit.
Ammo: Usual ammo advisements. Avoid Wolf and steel case, imports
generally. Buy SAAMI spec or NATO spec US manufacture ammo. Ruger uses a
lot of Black Hills Ammo, and they think highly of it.
Extraction: An infrequent problem has been identified with Mini's
produced in January 03. They have extraction problems. If problems are
present, contact the factory for instructions.
Illegal guns: If you ship your gun to Ruger because you cut your barrel
too short, or tinkered with it and made it rock and roll, it's SOP to
call ATF. ATF then confiscates your gun and takes over.
"Civilian" Armorers: There aren't any. Armorers courses are restricted
to LE personnel only. It is understood that sometimes an agency will
have a local gunsmith do weapons service and inspection, but Ruger can't
control what the gunsmith will do with his credential. Thus, they won't
let him in. This is to avoid public confusion about factory service vs.
armorer service, limit liability exposure of the company, and improve
accountability.
Headspace Guages: Ruger guages are custom built and are a bit different
than military guages. Ruger recommends purchase of their own.
Freebore: They know that they have a lot of freebore. It's not a defect
or an oversight.
XGI: Lots of receivers in storage. This project is not forgotten, and
people should stay tuned. XGI will take M14 magazines. AWB may have
impact on any XGI project.
Pistol marketshare: Ruger is fairly comfortable in the commercial pistol
market. Virtually non-existant in the LE/Mil pistol market. Mini-14 is
the strongest seller to the LE/Mil market.
Overall, this is a worthwhile class if you inventory Mini's, instruct
those who do, or otherwise consult or evaluate rifle systems.
_______________________________________________
m1-m14 mailing list
[email protected]
Administer your subscription: http://www.perfectunion.com/forums/index.p...p?showtopic=607
Archives at http://pirate4x4.net/pipermail/m1-m14/
M1 Gallery:
http://www.perfectunion.com/forums/index.p...hp?showforum=68
M1A/M14 Gallery:
http://www.perfectunion.com/forums/index.p...hp?showforum=67
You learn something everyday.
