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Posted: 4/15/2025 3:22:59 PM EDT
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I found a good deal on a 581 series Mini 14 with the Samson folder. It’s a 2011 gun, so there’s no way to know how many rounds were fired, but it seems to be in great condition. The first order of business was to take it apart for a good cleaning. A new slide (recoil) spring is on the way from Midway. As I was putting the gun back together, I could not get the spring into the slide no matter how hard I tried. As you can probably guess from my user name, I’ve had a few Mini 14s, so should know what I’m doing. Shining a light into the holes in the bottom of the slide, I could not see the spring at the end. Something was blocking the hole. When I removed the spring, this fell out of the slide: Attached File (9mm round included for size) The little tripoint chunk is very light but very hard. It almost feels abrasive. Could it be carbon buildup? How many rounds would you have to shoot to create something like that? It’s so hard that I couldn’t break it with pliers. It doesn’t look or feel like it could have broken off of the slide. Any ideas? I’m stumped. |
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Perhaps the remnants of a 1911 buffer stuck? Some have recommended to use 1911 urethane buffers on the rear and even the front to help absorb shock??? Here is a discussion on the use of front and back 1911 buffers and below is a pic of some buffers that corners look like it could be maybe similar to your find - maybe a remnant? Mini-14 Buffers for an aft?  |
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Originally Posted By cherenkov: Perhaps the remnants of a 1911 buffer stuck? Some have recommended to use 1911 urethane buffers on the rear and even the front to help absorb shock??? Here is a discussion on the use of front and back 1911 buffers and below is a pic of some buffers that corners look like it could be maybe similar to your find - maybe a remnant? Mini-14 Buffers for an aft? https://www.starshooter.de/out/pictures/generated/product/1/665_665_75/image_103365_1.jpg |
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Originally Posted By Postal0311: My first thought is tumbling media that was stuck there a long time. https://www.kramerindustriesonline.com/wp-content/uploads/product_ceramic_media.jpg This. The finish on the older Mini is due to running the parts through a machine that uses these little 'stones'. |
I can explain it to you but I can't understand it for you.
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I could see how the buffer could break up and get that shape, but not how it could get hard as a rock. The tumbling media sounds right. One in the picture even looks similar. But this is a 2011 gun. Do they still use media in 581 series guns? I haven’t shot it yet but it seemed to function just fine before and after the chunk was removed. I guess I learned something today. |
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Originally Posted By Postal0311: My first thought is tumbling media that was stuck there a long time. https://www.kramerindustriesonline.com/wp-content/uploads/product_ceramic_media.jpg That was my immediate thought, too. |
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Originally Posted By osprey21: That thing was probably lodged in there before it left Pine Tree Castings. Exactly! This is a 2011 gun. So I guess it ran okay for 14 years with a rock wedged in with the recoil spring. Either the spring was never changed or the chunk was stuck in the perfect spot and didn’t move. Amazing! |
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Concur with tumbling debris lodged on op-rod spring channel, particularly if yours is a stainless-steel version. Excellent idea on replacing Main (op-rod) spring in any Mini that has seen unknown amount of service. Suggest making a very close exam of rifling at muzzle using magnifier and good light. If damaged by wear, consider a DIY re-crowning to restore accuracy to optimal. |
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Originally Posted By Moondog: Looks like ceramic tumbling media https://www.harborfreight.com/air-tools-compressors/air-tools/blasting-cleaning/tumblers/5-lb-medium-ceramic-abrasive-polishing-tumbler-media-63673.html Yes that’s got to be it. It’s hard, abrasive, and has 3 tips. |
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