I am looking at a late 1980's production Ruger Mini 14. It is a blued model and is in pretty good shape. Some one replaced the stock at one time with a Houge. Any thing to look for issue wise? If I buy this is will pretty much be a truck gun.

Accuracy won't be quite as good as a newer Mini, but will still be adequate for most purposes. One of kkina's Accu-Struts should help with that too. http://accu-strut.com/

I actually like the Hogue Mini-14 stock. My 2008 NRA Edition came with one from the factory. It's a nice step up from the cheap factory synthetic stock. It's grippy enough, without being too grippy. It has a little extra girth in the pistol grip and forearm. And it's more well-balanced.

If the price is right, go for it.

A Tech Sights rear sight or an Ultimak forward rail for a red dot optic will make it even more useful.

quote:

Originally posted by 4859:
I am looking at a late 1980's production Ruger Mini 14. It is a blued model and is in pretty good shape. Some one replaced the stock at one time with a Houge. Any thing to look for issue wise? If I buy this is will pretty much be a truck gun.

What to you is a "truck gun"?

If it is a gun that will give you a fair chance at hitting a truck, then you are a-ok w/ the Mini.

But if you have some specific accuracy goal that is more demanding than bland mediocrity, then steer away from it.

For us, a "truck gun" has to be small varmint capable to 100-125 meters. A rifle that is good for 4 inch 100 meter 5 shot groups is not going to meet that standard.

You might be able to get better than that out of an old Mini, but maybe not...

Just recently Ruger AR556's have been for sale for $400-$480. If that Mini is anywhere near that price I'd take the Ruger AR556 in a heartbeat.

If unmodded gets you the usual 4-6" @ 100 yds, a strut will get you down to 2-3" or better.

I took another look at it tonight. It is a late 1970's manufacturer.

For me a truck gun is just that. A gun I can leave in my truck. Don't know what you mean by 'us'.

I will be passing on it as the price is too high and I think a used or cheaper AR will be a better value. Thanks for your info guys!

quote:

Originally posted by 4859:
I took another look at it tonight. It is a late 1970's manufacturer.

For me a truck gun is just that. A gun I can leave in my truck. Don't know what you mean by 'us'.

I will be passing on it as the price is too high and I think a used or cheaper AR will be a better value. Thanks for your info guys!

"Us" is we, here, me and mine.

Check out the Ruger AR556's. They are really good, solid guns and CHEAP right now. My wife actually told me to buy one for her. She's used other rifles on the rnach and I decided to get one and set it up for her specifically. Put a Magpul Fixed Carbine Stock and a Aimpoint Pro on it. With the stock and optic, still a deal.

Does anyone else always hear the A-Team music when they read the words Mini 14? It may just be me. And that's OK.

And what is this world we live in where a nice AR like the Ruger 556 is cheaper than most AKs that are nowhere near as well built? Crazy.

quote:

Originally posted by andronicus:
Does anyone else always hear the A-Team music when they read the words Mini 14? It may just be me. And that's OK.

HA!! I still wouldn't mind a nice stainless folding stock Mini 14.

I've got a couple of early Minis. Ruger started offering the Mini-14 in stainless steel in November, 1979. I've got a stainless 181 series Mini made in December, 1979.
I've got a blue 182 series Mini made in June, 1981.

I have a 180 series,
wood handguard, different parts on the side of the receiver,

no strut, and mediocre accuracy compared to an AR, but a fun gun to shoot and easy to handle,

The wooden handguard was done away with sometime in the 182 series IIRC.

Are all handguards interchangeable?

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
The wooden handguard was done away with sometime in the 182 series IIRC.

I believe you are correct,

biggest change was the bolt hold open and the parts on the side of the receiver

quote:

Originally posted by 3/4Flap:
Are all handguards interchangeable?

Yes, 181 Series and up, and that may include the 180 Series, I'm not sure.

The plastic handguard that covers the forward section of the op rod was created- IIRC- for the AC-556 select fire version of the Mini-14 (or it may have been developed for the GB model)

At any rate, the early Minis with the wooden handguard are aesthetically pleasing little carbines, if not particularly accurate in stock form. They make for excellent home defense rifles, though, which is a use that's nearer to the Mini's original intent.

I would verify that it is a 181 series or later. The first 3 digits would be 181-xxxxxxx. If it is a 180 series I would pass on it because Ruger is no longer supporting this model and there are no replacement parts available and all the accessories out there are for 181 series or later.

quote:

Originally posted by blfuller:
I would verify that it is a 181 series or later. The first 3 digits would be 181-xxxxxxx. If it is a 180 series I would pass on it because Ruger is no longer supporting this model and there are no replacement parts available and all the accessories out there are for 181 series or later.

Do you know what parts WOULDN'T be interchangeable with the modern rifles?

Wouldn't stuff like trigger parts, fp, springs etc still work, or was the rifle really significantly redesigned?

I cannot comment on what specific parts are common between the 180 and later rifles. All I know is parts are not available and Ruger does not support that model any longer. The receiver and handguard are the most different along with the stock.

I would bet the trigger housing and some parts (less the parts on the side of the receiver, and the receiver) are interchangeable,

would need to see if there is a parts diagram out there somewhere that shows numbers to compare,

Slight thread drift, have any of you put an Accu-Strut on your older Mini-14? If so, have you liked it?