Pre Ban Mini 14 question

A

ARKCHAZ

Inactive
I have a chance to purchase a Pre-Ban Ruger Mini-14 with serial number 180-XXXX. It has
the wooden hand guard. I have heard that parts and accessories are hard to find. What do you think? Are these any good? Would it be worth buying?
Thanks.
 
I have a 180 series Mini. The first gun I bought for myself. It is alright, but an AR is a much better weapon. IMHO I posted a ? last week and was told that a folder for a latter series will fit the 180 with slight modification, but I have not bought one yet. If the price is right I would say get it, but you are probably better offf with an AR.


Hope this helps

Later
Daren
 
Never had to buy a part. I have had a hard time finding a good hi-cap mag, as few factory ones were produced. That applies to all Mini's. The person you need to ask is 4V50 Gary he is the Mini 14 king.

Later
Daren
 
How does the felt recoil for the Mini 14 compare to the AR? I have shot my boss's AR and it doesn't feel like it recoils at all.
 
ARKCHAZ, recoil in the Mini is zip....probably even less from the AR! There's just that "boing" of the AR recoil spring that lets you know a round has been launched and you're ready to launch another! Music to my ears! Regards! DaMan
 
My .02...

I had a Mini, HAVE a Bushmaster AR-15. Depending on exactly what you want it to do, get the AR. If you want to trick out your Mini, every accessory I ever bought for mine said "181 or later". Mine was a 183, so it was fine. There's no point in owning a 'pre-ban' if you can't fit the stocks you want on it.
Also, I was never able to make the hi-cap mags for the mini work. My Bushmaster works with all but the Orlite mags. GI mags are still quite available, and they work. If they don't, Wolff has a kit to spiff 'em back to spec+ and they work again.

I have always felt that the Mini line of rifles had "personality", and that the AR-15's really don't. (I truly believe that "The A-Team" would not have been the show it was if they had used AR's instead of Mini's)

Anyway, I do love the little Rugers, and will probably own another one, but a Pre-ban 180 series would have too many negatives for me to even consider buying it.
 
Here are some links to look at. Interesting, I bought a $70 folding stock from Choate. The stock was for an Ithaca 37 shotgun. The Mini had been chopped by a gang-banger and the butt end was missing. My Ithaca was too heavy with the stock on it so I decided to combine them. My $180 Mini-14 (ironically a series 180) WOULD NOT WORK with the 181 series stock. the reason was that the 181 and higher stocks are shorter. Sorry, won't work with anything else. Some cutting, trimming, fitting, epoxy, and paint and I have a cool folding stock.

Left Side View: My hack-saw Mini

Action Detail: My hack-saw Mini

Right Side View: My hack-saw Mini
 
Is there a pre or post ban mini? Did the mini ever have a pistol grip or a bayonet lug?

Just wondering ;)
 
This is a hard gun to get some parts for,the scope mounts that are put out will not fit a 180-xxx mini 14 because the left hand side of the reciver is exposed. They are great guns and worth a little more to a collector (around $600 in my area). If you like it buy it.
Amos
 
Call Ruger. My recollection is that the bolt and a few other key parts are no longer available, anywhere, for Series 180 rifles. They're nice, but if they break all Ruger will do is give you a cut price on a new one -- they won't fix it. I would pass -- there are too many other 181 and higher Minis out there for sale.
 
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