Mini 14 magazines - Page 1

Posted: 6/28/2014 9:12:55 PM EDT

It's been 15 years or so since I've owned a Mini 14 but that changed today when the LGS had a used 2013 production gun for less than $600 out the door.
My previous experience w/ this little carbine taught me that Ruger production magazines were the only option to insure reliable function, is this still the case or
is there another option?

Edit: Should have included the fact that I'm out here behind the Iron Curtain in Kaliforastan; 10 rnds only!

Posted: 6/28/2014 9:59:51 PM EDT

[#1]

I have had good luck with a the metal promags. I still prefer the factory mags though.

Posted: 6/30/2014 10:19:45 AM EDT

[#2]

I've had 100% reliability with factory mags over the years. That being said here's my preference in order of reliability and performance.

Factory mags-100% Reliable no problems
PMI ( Precision Mag Industries ) 99% Reliable with 30 rounders. 40's didn't work.
ProMag-None have been reliable for me. Others have had better luck.
Thermold-TRASH Some wouldn't even lock in place. All would jam.
Unmarked gun show mags-TRASH.

I know the price is high but stick to factory 20's and 30's. Just check around the prices. Midway has them on sale pretty often and others do the same.

Posted: 7/3/2014 9:08:26 PM EDT

[#3]

Factory 10s are the best bet for you. I have 3 from when I lived in Cali had zero issues.

Posted: 7/4/2014 12:49:38 AM EDT

[#4]

Stick with factory mags and don't waste your money on anything else. I learned the hard way...

Posted: 7/4/2014 11:33:26 AM EDT

[#5]

Factory mags are still what you want. Some Promags will work fine but some will never work (at all).

Nice looking rifle.

Posted: 11/4/2014 7:29:44 PM EDT

[#6]

... any new news on Mini-14 aftermarket mags?

Posted: 11/4/2014 8:12:32 PM EDT

[#7]

Quote History

Quoted:
... any new news on Mini-14 aftermarket mags?

View Quote

Newest I can think of is the Tapco Gen2 mags, they have worked well with brass but not steel. The steel itself seems to be the problem, the steel is "rougher" than brass and seems to slow the mag causing the gun to not pick up a round out of the mag.

OP for 10 round mags just stick to factory.

Posted: 11/4/2014 8:14:15 PM EDT

[#8]

Ruger, needs to sell them for less, = profit.

Posted: 11/23/2014 7:37:55 PM EDT

[#9]

Quote History

Quoted:

Ruger, needs to sell them for less, = profit.

View Quote

They'd make a lot more profit if they dropped the price because they could sell a ton more. What happened to C-Products making a Mini-14 magazine?

Posted: 11/23/2014 11:22:20 PM EDT

[#10]

I have three of the Crapco mags with the metal reinforcement. They worked fine for several mag fulls. No extensive testing. They are tight inside. My 75 grain reloads and 75 grain factory were too long and jammed.

Otherwise factory.

Posted: 11/23/2014 11:26:42 PM EDT

[#11]

I've had good luck with using 20 rounders exclusively, factory or aftermarket. It's the 30's that cause trouble

Posted: 11/24/2014 12:24:42 AM EDT

[#12]

Quote History

Quoted:

I've had good luck with using 20 rounders exclusively, factory or aftermarket. It's the 30's that cause trouble

View Quote

Are you saying factory Ruger 30 round mags cause problems?

Posted: 11/26/2014 7:40:59 PM EDT

[#13]

I bought two 30's from Ruger...nether one of them were useable. I could only get 19 rounds in them and they jammed up. I only buy their 20 round mags now.

Quote History

Quoted:
Are you saying factory Ruger 30 round mags cause problems?

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
I've had good luck with using 20 rounders exclusively, factory or aftermarket. It's the 30's that cause trouble

Are you saying factory Ruger 30 round mags cause problems?

Posted: 11/28/2014 4:48:24 PM EDT

[#14]

Quote History

Quoted:

I bought two 30's from Ruger...nether one of them were useable. I could only get 19 rounds in them and they jammed up. I only buy their 20 round mags now.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

I bought two 30's from Ruger...nether one of them were useable. I could only get 19 rounds in them and they jammed up. I only buy their 20 round mags now.

Quoted:

Quoted:

I've had good luck with using 20 rounders exclusively, factory or aftermarket. It's the 30's that cause trouble

Are you saying factory Ruger 30 round mags cause problems?

Interesting. I opened mine up today and I was able to load the 30 rounders with 31 each. I inserted them into my rifle and they fed by me racking the slide without issue while completely full. I'll try them out soon enough.

Posted: 12/5/2015 1:10:58 PM EDT

[#15]

Factory mags are the only one that worked reliably for me but haven't shot the rifle in several years.

Posted: 12/5/2015 1:30:27 PM EDT

[#16]

I've got a 583 Series with 20rd factory Ruger mags that have performed 100% with over 1,000rds through them. A couple of friends have tried ProMags with spotty success and another one has an old 187 Series with John Masen mags he says work 95% of the time. For the extra $10 or so for factory, the piece of mind and reliability is worth it to me.

Posted: 12/6/2015 9:39:14 AM EDT

[#17]

I had several stainless PMI 30 round mags and they ran 100% in my Mini 14 and were very well built. Sold them to by buddy and he has had no complaints. Finding them can be difficult as the company went out of business a very long time ago (I think they were made in Los Angeles of all places).

I found mine in an ad in Shotgun News (pre internet days to give you an idea how long ago I bought them) from a store called Frank's Place.

Between the factory Ruger mags and PMI, I would take the PMI without hesitation.

UPDATE: Via Google it looks like the place I bought them from is still around (now called Frank's Gun Stuff) and has them in stock (I have zero affiliation with them):

http://www.franksgunstuff.com/wvss/product_info.php?cPath=27_105&products_id=139stock

$40 a mag is not cheap, but not much more than a factory Ruger mag I guess....

Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile

Posted: 12/6/2015 10:23:09 AM EDT

[#18]

I would love to see Magpul and Lancer produced Mini-14 mags!

Posted: 12/15/2015 2:38:19 PM EDT

[#19]

I guess I'm a man alone, but I've had good luck with ProMag 20 and 30 round metal mags. I've even had good luck with the plastic ProMags for range use only. (They flex some and, if dropped, spew rounds like the Mini throws empties.) I don't know how durable they are because I've only fired about 5,000 rounds out of them in toto.

Posted: 12/20/2015 3:40:27 PM EDT

[#20]

I've run the Tapco gen2 mags with great luck. I had one that was finikee and would not feed wolf ammo, I called Tapco and they sent me a replacement at no charge. I did score four 20 and three 30 factory mags at a garage sale for $50 so I am set.

Posted: 12/20/2015 8:11:17 PM EDT

[#21]

Quote History

Quoted:

I would love to see Magpul and Lancer produced Mini-14 mags!

View Quote

If Magpul made them, they would work. I have no doubt.

Posted: 12/20/2015 11:11:07 PM EDT

[#22]

Quote History

Quoted:
If Magpul made them, they would work. I have no doubt.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
I would love to see Magpul and Lancer produced Mini-14 mags!

If Magpul made them, they would work. I have no doubt.

I'm kind of surprised that they haven't yet.

Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile

Posted: 12/20/2015 11:19:02 PM EDT

[#23]

Quote History

Quoted:
They'd make a lot more profit if they dropped the price because they could sell a ton more. What happened to C-Products making a Mini-14 magazine?

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Ruger, needs to sell them for less, = profit.

They'd make a lot more profit if they dropped the price because they could sell a ton more. What happened to C-Products making a Mini-14 magazine?

I wonder what their margins are. I have thought several times about buying another one, but at $700........

Posted: 12/21/2015 2:54:15 PM EDT

[#24]

I bought my Mini-14 at Wally World for $607.00 back when AR's were up around a grand. The cost of magazines hasn't been an issue since I asked for them for Christmas presents!

Never had stoppage. Never had a failure to feed. Never had a failure to fire. It has digested stuff that my brother's HBAR left dented and bent. I've never fired it past 200 yards, but it's plenty minute of bad guy at that range with a red dot and minute of coyote with an old Weaver K2.5. If I want something shot at 600 yards, I'll let my brother do it with his 15 pound HBAR.

Posted: 1/7/2016 7:13:57 PM EDT

[#25]

I've had good luck with Promag and John Masen 10rd mags in the past.

Good luck.

Posted: 1/10/2016 9:26:32 PM EDT

[#26]

Quote History

Quoted:
If Magpul made them, they would work. I have no doubt.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
I would love to see Magpul and Lancer produced Mini-14 mags!

If Magpul made them, they would work. I have no doubt.

I actually sent them an email requesting this last year.
Didn't get a reply.

I'm sure the Mini 14 market is much smaller than the AR and AK markets.
Not to mention that a mag that works in one Mini14 may not work in another.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Mini 14 magazines

Armory » Ruger Centerfire Rifle

Warning

Confirm Action

About AR15.COM

Stay Connected

Newsletter

Contact Us