New baby No. 2: 581 Series Stainless Mini-14

[imarangemaster]

I have a MIni-14 again, to go with my AR15 and M1 Carbine. I just tripped across a new listing on Gun Broker for a 581 series, tapered barrel, Stainless Mini-14 in polymer stock, with Primary arms red dot, stainless accu-strut, 2 Ruger 20s, 4 Ruger 30s, 1 Tapco 30, and one nickel USA 40 for under $800 buy it now! The mags shipped to my Oregon house, and the rifle to my LGS here will do the transfer on the rifle.

While I was leaning towards a Mini-30 when I was browsing GB, but the deal on this was way to good to pass. Break down on accessory included prices

Accessories
(4) Ruger Factory 30s at $32 each (cheapest I could find) = $128
(2) Ruger Factory 20s at $26 each (cheapest I could find) = $ 52
(1) Tapco Gen II 30 at $15 (if you can find them = $ 15
(1) Preban Mini-13 40 round mag, nickel = $ 45
(1) Accu-Strut 2 clamp stainless = $ 130
(1) Primary Arms Red dot = $ 130

That's a total of $500 worth of accessories.

I also picked up a mint factory wood stock for $60 and Choate handguard. I just like wood and steel. I have an AR15 M4gery for a "Black Gun." This will go behind the 4x4 back seat as a trunk gun in the mountains and next to the bed as a Home Defensive Carbine. Using my MK262 MOD1 77 grainer OTM BTM rounds that I use in my AR, it will be a good "Zombie/Troll/Goblin/Felon/Raving Insurrectionist" thumper.

[imarangemaster]

Terrible cell phone pic he had in the auction. Considering it is stainless, and I am putting it in a wood stock, not too worried about condition. Not a lot you can do to ruin a Mini-14.

Besides the new wood stock, and Choate ventilated handguard, I also have Wilson 1911 buffer for front, and Black Jack Technology rear buffer. Probably won't bother with reduced gas bushings, as I like my Mini-14 over gassed. Not going to run a scope, and probably won't even use the Primary Arms sight most of the time, so with buffers, I'm not worried about beating up the optics.

[saudadeii]

[imarangemaster]

I started shooting the AR15 in the Army in the early 1970s, and Air Force reserve after in the late 70s to early 1980s. I started shooting M1 Carbines and Mini-14s in the early 1980s, when I got my first one of each. (a DCM/NRA 1943 Winchester and a 180 series Mini-14 made in 1976)

While I have continuously had an AR15 since then, I have been stuck on the Mini and the M1 Carbine ever since. Much of my LEO career, I carried a Mini or M1 Carbine. Only rarely did I carry an AR platform as a trunk weapon (retired in 2000, before the mass proliferation of the AR).

My dad and uncles fought with M1 Carbines in the Pacific and revered them, and I have killed deer with M1 Carbine also. I always had confidence in them. The Mini-14 is an M1 Carbine with a hard on, so what is not to like. Not a target rifle, but 580 series give 2 to 3 MOA with good ammo, which is better than the average AK.

[smle-man]

Regarding Mini 14 magazines, for those who can receive normal capacity magazines outside of CA, watch CDNN for periodic availability of the OE brand 20 round Mini 14 magazine. I have 5 and all of them work perfectly. The price is about half of a factory Ruger 20 round magazine.

The OE brand 10 round magazine is also a good product. When I lived in CA I owned 6 of them and all were good.

Nice score on the Mini, I like 'em too!

[imarangemaster]

Just so the "haters" don't think I don't have an appropriate "Go to war" weapon, here is my light weight KISS M4gery. JD Machine lower with Sparrow Dynamics featureless grip and current production Colt LPK, PSA premium BCG with Carpenter 158 steel bolt, JSE 1/7 twist chrome lined, phosphate M 4 barrel with Cav Arms muzzle break, original CAR-15 slim hand guards and CAR-15 Fiberite stock (pinned).

It again has an Bushnell AR Optics TRS-32 red dot. I had tried a Bushnell Enrage Red Dot, but felt the 20mm tubes field of vision was way too narrow, so I went back to the TRS-32 (no longer made, which is a shame). The 4-5 MOA dot is fine under 200, as aI can bang the 12". 200 yard gong every time. Fathrer than 200, it is escape and evade!

[vf111]

What's the barrel twist on a 581 series Mini-14? And will that shoot 77gr ammo? I always thought 1:7 is more appropriate for anything above 62 gr.

[imarangemaster]

What's the barrel twist on a 581 series Mini-14? And will that shoot 77gr ammo? I always thought 1:7 is more appropriate for anything above 62 gr.

It is 1/9, which is good for up to 69 grains. My last 583 series had a 1/9 and actually did a bit over 2 moa at 100 with IMI 77 grain. Many mini shooters have had good luck with 75 to 77 grain also. It may be because the OTM bullet had weight to rear.

[vf111]

It is 1/9, which is good for up to 69 grains. My last 583 series had a 1/9 and actually did a bit over 2 moa at 100 with IMI 77 grain. Many mini shooters have had good luck with 75 to 77 grain also. It may be because the OTM bullet had weight to rear.

Very interesting. I'll have to try it in my Mini.

[imarangemaster]

Yes, a 1/7 is better. My 186 Mini had a 1/7 barrel and actually got under 2 MOA at 100 on a good day from a bench rest, until its pencil barrel heated up. The Winchester 62 grain SP ammo worked well in 1/12 barrels, when the M855 with the longer 62 grain bullet with steel penetrator was dismal because the SP was a shorter bullet than the penetrator, and the SPs weight was distributed more to the rear, also.

[dfletcher]

I have a MIni-14 again, to go with my AR15 and M1 Carbine. I just tripped across a new listing on Gun Broker for a 581 series, tapered barrel, Stainless Mini-14 in polymer stock, with Primary arms red dot, stainless accu-strut, 2 Ruger 20s, 4 Ruger 30s, 1 Tapco 30, and one nickel USA 40 for under $800 buy it now! The mags shipped to my Oregon house, and the rifle to my LGS here will do the transfer on the rifle.

While I was leaning towards a Mini-30 when I was browsing GB, but the deal on this was way to good to pass. Break down on accessory included prices

Accessories
(4) Ruger Factory 30s at $32 each (cheapest I could find) = $128
(2) Ruger Factory 20s at $26 each (cheapest I could find) = $ 52
(1) Tapco Gen II 30 at $15 (if you can find them = $ 15
(1) Preban Mini-13 40 round mag, nickel = $ 45
(1) Accu-Strut 2 clamp stainless = $ 130
(1) Primary Arms Red dot = $ 130

That's a total of $500 worth of accessories.

I also picked up a mint factory wood stock for $60 and Choate handguard. I just like wood and steel. I have an AR15 M4gery for a "Black Gun." This will go behind the 4x4 back seat as a trunk gun in the mountains and next to the bed as a Home Defensive Carbine. Using my MK262 MOD1 77 grainer OTM BTM rounds that I use in my AR, it will be a good "Zombie/Troll/Goblin/Felon/Raving Insurrectionist" thumper.

https://www.samson-mfg.com/a-tm-folding-stock-for-the-ruger-mini-14.html

I have Mini 30 and Ranch rifle, just bought a 1976 made Mini 14 to put in one and keep up in southern OR. Bought an extra folder for the Mini 30 too.

[imarangemaster]

Ugh, just got a call from my dealer. Instead of my 10 day Commiefornia jail ending next Friday, CA DOJ is so backed up (allegedly), that they expect it to be almost the 1st before they release my Inland M1 Carbine and my Mini-14. Now the DROS process is taking up to 21 days... Probably BS on DOJs part. I thought it was an automated system?