Further proof that Bill Ruger is, in fact, still dead:
I suppose this was to be expected. Samson got into bed with Ruger to make these stocks, and for Ruger it’s a no-brainer to let Samson handle that end of the supply chain. Its my understanding the current crop of Mini-14’s are much more accurate than the minute-of-bad-guy accuracy that the originals offered. In a world of mid-tier $700 AR’s that deliver better ergos, modularity, and logistics, why would you spend (dealer price) $1230 for something thats gonna take special mags and be a pain to mount optics?
But…I’ll get one just because. I’m actually starting to amass an interesting array of non-AR .223 guns…. Mini-14, JAKL, BRN-180…..as soon as PTR gets that new roller-delayed .223 out, I’ll definitely be on the line for that one.
It’s nice to see that with Billy Ruger gone Ruger has finally been what it could have been all along…a responsive, market-driven, innovative gun business. With Billy R. outta the way we got Ruger AR’s, 1911’s, PCC’s, PDW wanna-be’s, takedown guns, and 30-rd mags. I used to have a negative opinion of Ruger, but since they changed directions I have been quite impressed with them. And, just from a survivalists standpoint, they make the guns I’d want to carry in the zombie apocalypse…rugged, durable, and nigh-unbreakable.
I had no idea the older Mini-14s weren’t particularly accurate. Maybe that’s why the Hannibal Smith and the guys in the A-Team could never seem to hit anything.
Other than H&K, I cannot think of a more anti-gun manufacturer than the late Billy Ruger.
I wish total Ruger reliability was yrue. My Ruger 308 AR bent the charging handle on 5th round…assembled shooters at range were staggered on what would cause this.
I bought a Mini 14 when they were ” the gun to have”. Couldn’t hit a bull in the ass with it from 30 feet. I was shooting factory loads. Mil spec ammo. And reloads. I quickly realized the bore was oversized when from 30 yards I started getting rounds that were keyholing like a bitch. No matter what I tried nothing solved the problem. Finally I slugged the bore with a naked bullet of #2 lead and measured it. Yep. The rounds I was shooting were the standard .223 dia bullet. The bore on my rifle was measuring at . 226. I talked with guys who were competitive shooters about their experiences and the reports mirrored my own. Ruger screwed themselves highly by not catering to competition shooters and those of us who actually expect a rifle to perform to the spec established. I sold that Mini and was glad to see it go. The carbines made for law enforcement and prison systems have the correct diamater bores. They had to.
I do own a 10/22 but even though that rifle was accurate I replaced the stock and the barrel with a heavy competition barrel.
Any of the older Mini 14s. I avoid like the Chink flu.
“The rounds I was shooting were the standard .223 dia bullet.” You mean .224 diameter? I’ve never heard of, or seen a .223 diameter bullet before.
Ruger has a warranty that meets or exceeds the industry. I sent an old, mangled, beat-up, Blackhawk to have the safety conversion done. It came back with a factory re-blue and new grips, all free of charge. They don’t put the full warranty in writing for legal reasons, but they stand by their products.
If you find out that Bill Ruger’s successors are guilt-ridden enough about his POS that they will re-barrel the Mini-14s of the 1980s under that warranty, please let everyone know.
had it been returned when the issue was discovered they would have.
I seem to remember reading that French police bought a large number of Mini 14 and that they are still in use today.
Well, French
They did use Mini’s, but not anymore. Currently using German G36s and GIGN (their anti-terrorist / SWAT teams) are using CZ -806 Brens in 7.62×39. The bullets used are some sort of proprietary design loaded for GIGN. One shot stop supposedly.
So did the French Foreign Legion. A major contract. A friend who owned a gun shop called me one day and ask me to stop by on my way to work. No problem.
Anyway I get there and he hands me a box. Ask me what the hell was in the box. I opened it. It was a Mini 14 with a folding stock. The script on the receiver was in French. On one side of the receiver was a hole. I was pretty sure it was for a selector switch which was not included in the shipment carton. Which was normal. Couple days later my shop owner friend called me and told me my identity of the Ruger rifle was correct. He had just got off the phone with Ruger about the rifle. They demanded return of the firearm or they would have it picked up. He mailed it overnight to Ruger. I’ve never seen another one of these before or since. Especially with all the French writing. I have seen photos in books and magazines of French Troops armed with Ruger rifles. Have to assume they are from the same contract. That would have been in the mid eighties.
The French bought the rights to build the rifle domestically. However, they probably imported them in the beginning.
https://www.forgottenweapons.com/french-police-mini-14/
You don’t need it. Then again I don’t need the new Lipseys 432 which might just be the perfect snubby revolver. Sure want one though.
But I’ve gotta hit new house numbers and get my place sorted out rental wise.
For many years, the NYPD ESU ((Emergency Services Unit ) SWAT+) used Mini-14s (the semi-full auto version of which I don’t remember the designation).
NY Cops are well known for their lack of targeting ability
I cut my teeth as a teen on Minis and never had a complaint. Yes, I run scoped ARs for hunting and the expected serious, but Minis are like a garbage disposal, we’re fond of saying…they cycle ANYTHING. Come around a corner and Joe bad guy is there, bad breath close, CONTACT WOUND!! Like having Joe swallow a lit M80. Everything has its purpose and best use, but don’t disrespect the Mini. A fellow once told me that they kill more bad guys in Kali than anything else…because they use them in the prisons.
Following. I was a ffl dealer and Ruger was an easy brand to sell in many regards. Ruger offered great incentives for nra range instructors to purchase many various models at a very, very, best pricing point. (Cough: P95 aquisitions achieved) Confirm Jimbo’s report as well, Ruger rebarrelled a used aquisition gun, a stainless 44 mag Redhawk model for a cracked barrel at the thread frame juncture. No charge, replaced five internal parts as a go through service, polished it up brightly, sent back in fresh cardboard ruger box with all supporting manuals etc. That kinda service, and we would push ruger products all day out of simple business conduct loyalty. We live in the here and now, so most of us are not concerned with past policy or politics, just getting unique products with value in the current marketplace. Having a bunch of litter-mates odd brand or models and types of rifles in 223/556 is a nifty collector hobby really. Be a Wolverine Chad and roll with an all 80s attire and kit, just because.
Stay folding stock levels of frosty out there.
I’ve been buying Ruger for over 50 years, never had a bad one. Although I’m not concerned with aesthetics. I just want something that works.
My old stainless Ruger Mini 14 (1980’s era) was horribly inaccurate. That’s why I didn’t mind selling it to pay for a term of college tuition.
That being said, I just bought a .22 Ruger pellet rifle that is the bomb!
“It’s nice to see that with Billy Ruger gone Ruger has finally been what it could have been all along…a responsive, market-driven, innovative gun business.”
Mostly. They still have pretty harsh attacks of The Stoopid, but a lot less frequently now that Bill’s hands are forever off the steering wheel.
This offering will be good news for Hannibal and the A-Team.
Those walls of cardboard boxes aren’t going to shoot themselves.
I had one of the original (serial number 180-) mini 14s. Aside from no good normal capacity magazines available (not from the factory, third party were very hit or miss) the rifle was good for setting the furniture on fire, and not hitting the target. In those areas, it was quite reliable. Living in California it was about the only thing available.
I finally sold it. One of the very, very few firearms I’ve ever sold, and I’m not unhappy to see it gone.
For the 10/22 not the Mini 14 but the kind of thing you like at a price you don’t!
https://www.samson-mfg.com/b-tm-folding-stock-for-the-ruger-1022-takedown.html