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Posted: 7/15/2026 12:13:36 AM EDT
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Gents. I might be picking one of these up. Id be cutting the barrel down, threading and installing a can. What is a good barrel length to go with? I read somewhere the early rifles had thinner barrels and they had accuracy issues, is that true? What else should I look for in a used gun? |
3-7-77
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“In my opinion, the M1 Rifle is the greatest battle implement ever devised” - George S. Patton
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Proud Member of the Leather Head Mafia
“In my opinion, the M1 Rifle is the greatest battle implement ever devised” - George S. Patton
LETS GO REDWINGS!!!
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@raf Think everything prior to the 58x series has the thin barrels - that can be ameliorated to some extent by the various "Accu-Strut" type barrel clamps. May not be much of a help, if you're chopping back to the gas block. There's a couple of adjustable gas blocks if you don't want to sling your brass. There's a stripper clip guide if you want to go that route, but you're not building a ban-state gun. |
The Mini-14 - the choice of new mothers everywhere: Ruger Mini-14 Ranch (584 Series) |
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| I have a blued and a stainless model from the early 80s. Both have the thinner barrels and accuracy is disappointing to say the least. Think mass produced AK accuracy. That does not make them bad and they have their own appeal. My wife for instance, prefers a mini to an AR any day. Just don’t expect any real accuracy but enjoy the ergonomics and “traditional” styling and you will most likely be happy with one. |
“That’s not how it works. You buy more tools and power than you need and as you fuck everything up you gain the knowledge to become a better carpenter.”
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Folks using Mini-14s with early "Pencil" barrels almost universally report significantly Improved accuracy after installing a Dual-Clamp Accu Strut. Another trick is to install a short Choate "recoil compensator" (actually a decent A-2 style muzzle device). on the muzzle. Better mil-style winged front sight, and added mass at the muzzle reduces barrel whip. Single clamp strut is not likely to be nearly as effective, as per the Mfr's comments on his site. Struts alone solve some problems, but not all. Fortunately, the early Minis respond well to inexpensive user DIY tweaks, such as shimming the stock, using reduced torque on gas block screws (begin at 28 In/Lbs and work up to find sweet spot), and using reduced I.D. gas ports, which are contained within the lower gas block. |
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Originally Posted By TOTHEMAX: Thanks, guys. Why do some rifles have a m1a/m14 style gas block and some don't? Unless something changed...they don't. It's the aforementioned clamp/strut made to look more like an M1A. I have a soft spot for the mini platform. It really could have been great, but in many ways, missed the mark. Still loved the ones I had, and the AC556 I have now. :-) |
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Originally Posted By NAM: Unless something changed...they don't. It's the aforementioned clamp/strut made to look more like an M1A. I have a soft spot for the mini platform. It really could have been great, but in many ways, missed the mark. Still loved the ones I had, and the AC556 I have now. :-) Originally Posted By NAM: Originally Posted By TOTHEMAX: Thanks, guys. Why do some rifles have a m1a/m14 style gas block and some don't? Unless something changed...they don't. It's the aforementioned clamp/strut made to look more like an M1A. I have a soft spot for the mini platform. It really could have been great, but in many ways, missed the mark. Still loved the ones I had, and the AC556 I have now. :-) Thanks. Maybe that is what I am seeing. The gals mini in that video posted above has what I am referring to. |
3-7-77
Proud Member of the Leather Head Mafia
“In my opinion, the M1 Rifle is the greatest battle implement ever devised” - George S. Patton
LETS GO REDWINGS!!!
Proud Member of the Leather Head Mafia
“In my opinion, the M1 Rifle is the greatest battle implement ever devised” - George S. Patton
LETS GO REDWINGS!!!
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I cut mine to 11.5". Cycled just fine with or without the suppressor even with some old weak Tula ammo. I switched out to a .035 gas bushing and it smoothed out a lot but only cycles with full power 5.56 - I will eventually install a .040-.045 Plenty accurate for me - Im not shooting this for groups. It has been my favorite rifle to shoot the last few months, it is so much fun to shoot.  |
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Originally Posted By TOTHEMAX: Thanks. Maybe that is what I am seeing. The gals mini in that video posted above has what I am referring to. That's the strut everybody mentioned. A lot of folks do it simply for looks. Your accuracy issues may be solved by the barrel cutting. That was a popular accuracy fix years ago. I recently found a used Mini 30 that is only two years old with the thicker barrel. Having older mini's in the past I'm very surprised with the accuracy with irons. Even with my cataracts I equate it to a Marlin 30-30 at 100 yards, no wandering zero. If you are buying a used mini, replace the main recoil spring with a heavier one and a recoil buffer. Accuracy International sells them. Far less receiver bashing. |
 Part 11 Installing the Accuracy Systems Mini 14 Adjustable Gas Block |
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Thanks for all the info guys. What is a fair price for a used one? A guy has one on our local gun board for $750 its approximately a 1984 build with 6 mags. |
3-7-77
Proud Member of the Leather Head Mafia
“In my opinion, the M1 Rifle is the greatest battle implement ever devised” - George S. Patton
LETS GO REDWINGS!!!
Proud Member of the Leather Head Mafia
“In my opinion, the M1 Rifle is the greatest battle implement ever devised” - George S. Patton
LETS GO REDWINGS!!!
| There is a decent amount of info at the Rugerforum.net Mini14/30 Forum. |
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Originally Posted By TOTHEMAX: Thanks for all the info guys. What is a fair price for a used one? A guy has one on our local gun board for $750 its approximately a 1984 build with 6 mags. The 6 mags (if they are factory) are worth a fair bit. If they are Promags, they don't any any value at all. The price is high for this area, I paid $400 for a 1986 model, but it was a police trade-in. The 2-year-old Mini 30 I just paid $720 for a few months ago. |
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Originally Posted By John-in-austin: The 6 mags (if they are factory) are worth a fair bit. If they are Promags, they don't any any value at all. The price is high for this area, I paid $400 for a 1986 model, but it was a police trade-in. The 2-year-old Mini 30 I just paid $720 for a few months ago. Originally Posted By John-in-austin: Originally Posted By TOTHEMAX: Thanks for all the info guys. What is a fair price for a used one? A guy has one on our local gun board for $750 its approximately a 1984 build with 6 mags. The 6 mags (if they are factory) are worth a fair bit. If they are Promags, they don't any any value at all. The price is high for this area, I paid $400 for a 1986 model, but it was a police trade-in. The 2-year-old Mini 30 I just paid $720 for a few months ago. Thanks. I am in no hurry for a mini, so I don't mind waiting. |
3-7-77
Proud Member of the Leather Head Mafia
“In my opinion, the M1 Rifle is the greatest battle implement ever devised” - George S. Patton
LETS GO REDWINGS!!!
Proud Member of the Leather Head Mafia
“In my opinion, the M1 Rifle is the greatest battle implement ever devised” - George S. Patton
LETS GO REDWINGS!!!
 Everyone's Buying Mini-14s in 2026… I made THIS Instead (The Micro 14) |
Officially off the Trump train
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Originally Posted By TOTHEMAX: Thanks. Maybe that is what I am seeing. The gals mini in that video posted above has what I am referring to. The "gas block" is just a strut attached to the bottom of the barrel that is supposed to stiffen it. They are practically useless unless you have the long skinny barrel. Most people install them for looks and not function. Cutting down the barrel will fix most of the Mini14 accuracy problems. |
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Originally Posted By TOTHEMAX: Thanks for all the info guys. What is a fair price for a used one? A guy has one on our local gun board for $750 its approximately a 1984 build with 6 mags. That's more than $100 below the wholesale price on a new one w/ the heavier barrel. ETA:  Ruger Mini 14 Accu-Strut & Choate Flash Hider |
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Re: a couple of above comments, and submitted with respect: Almost never a reason to use a "High Power" spring on any Mini platform. Replacing worn springs is great but substituting more powerful springs almost never desirable. Cutting thin Mini barrels was a "thing" before barrel struts became common. Cutting will probably improve accuracy with thinner barrels, but it also reduces bullet velocity and hence the range at which M-193 and M-855 GI bullets will reliably tumble and yaw. Physics. Depending on the resulting length of barrel, NFA issues/expense/hassle may ensue. Reducing iron sight radius seldom improves accuracy. Owner's money, owner's rifle. |
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The early Mini 14’s had 1:10 twist and for a few years Ruger offered 1:7 twist. The 1:7 twist barrels started shipping around 1986 in the 184 series. Ruger switched to a 1:9 twist 186 series in about 1997. The Mini 14 with a factory flash hider and front sight which had an integral bayonet lug is the GB model (Government Barrel). I have been around numerous Mini 14’s that were purchased by LEO in the 70’s 80’s and 90’s. The early Ruger Mini 14 receivers were marked 223 Remington but are safe with 5.56 ammunition. Ruger released a Ranch rifle version which had a fold down rear sight and the receiver was designed for scope rings. The Ranch Rifle and Mini 30 launch brass into the next county. I have seen a couple of Mini 14’s where the trigger guard would unlock during use. In one rifle this was with an after market Choate stock and the other was with a well used Mini 14 GB. If you use Ruger factory magazines the early thin barrel Mini 14’s were reliable. With M-193 the Mini 14’s I was around had combat accuracy out to a minimum of 200 yards which is plenty good for a patrol rifle. Back before rifles were commonly issued to LE many rural cops carried their personally owned Mini 14’s. Back in the early 80’s Mini 14’s could be purchased for about $400. It was rare to see a Colt SP1 for sale in gun shops but if you did they were usually $800-$1000. |
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when Ruger came out with the Stainless Ranch Rifle (many years ago) I got a bug up my ass thinking it would be the perfect end of the world rifle. Didn't have much of a firearm budget back then but I sold off some guns and saved hard until I could order one up. Gun shot like crap . Absolute 100 % reliable but it shot patterns , not groups. I paid someone to work on the trigger which changed it from horrible to just kind of rough. I tried every type of factory ammo and it still shot 20+" groups at 50 yards. After a bunch of messing about I sent it back to Ruger and they claimed it shot "within spec" after another year or so I once again sent it to Ruger factory service with the same results. After some research I found some guys claiming some guns had issues with Barrel harmonics and got some improvement by chopping the barrel length and messing about with muzzle devices. Gun got put in the back of the safe where I would pull it out every now and then but never got improvement. I never did mess with the barrel or flash hider. After I owned it for about 20 years I traded it off on my first AR and never looked back. |
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Originally Posted By raf: Re: a couple of above comments, and submitted with respect: Almost never a reason to use a "High Power" spring on any Mini platform. Replacing worn springs is great but substituting more powerful springs almost never desirable. Cutting thin Mini barrels was a "thing" before barrel struts became common. Cutting will probably improve accuracy with thinner barrels, but it also reduces bullet velocity and hence the range at which M-193 and M-855 GI bullets will reliably tumble and yaw. Physics. Depending on the resulting length of barrel, NFA issues/expense/hassle may ensue. Reducing iron sight radius seldom improves accuracy. Owner's money, owner's rifle. Given NFA SBR tax is now $0, and interstate travel is file an EForm online, no wait for permission, the cost is chopping the barrel and staying out of communist held states, which is generally good advice anyway. Now there are multiple optic mounting solutions for the Mini, from over the barrel to traditional optics to small prisms, iron sight radius is not as important as it once was. |
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Thoughts? https://aimsurplus.com/products/leo-trade-in-ruger-mini-14-gb-223-cal-rifle-w-bayonet-lug-flash-hider |
3-7-77
Proud Member of the Leather Head Mafia
“In my opinion, the M1 Rifle is the greatest battle implement ever devised” - George S. Patton
LETS GO REDWINGS!!!
Proud Member of the Leather Head Mafia
“In my opinion, the M1 Rifle is the greatest battle implement ever devised” - George S. Patton
LETS GO REDWINGS!!!
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Joined:
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Posts:
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EE: 100% (30)
TX, USA
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Originally Posted By TOTHEMAX: Thoughts? https://aimsurplus.com/products/leo-trade-in-ruger-mini-14-gb-223-cal-rifle-w-bayonet-lug-flash-hider If it was in stock I would jump on it. GB’s are a lot scarcer than standard or ranch models |
“That’s not how it works. You buy more tools and power than you need and as you fuck everything up you gain the knowledge to become a better carpenter.”
Tveddy
Tveddy
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Originally Posted By Curmudgeon762: If it was in stock I would jump on it. GB’s are a lot scarcer than standard or ranch models Originally Posted By Curmudgeon762: Originally Posted By TOTHEMAX: Thoughts? https://aimsurplus.com/products/leo-trade-in-ruger-mini-14-gb-223-cal-rifle-w-bayonet-lug-flash-hider If it was in stock I would jump on it. GB’s are a lot scarcer than standard or ranch models Ha. Those didnt last. |
3-7-77
Proud Member of the Leather Head Mafia
“In my opinion, the M1 Rifle is the greatest battle implement ever devised” - George S. Patton
LETS GO REDWINGS!!!
Proud Member of the Leather Head Mafia
“In my opinion, the M1 Rifle is the greatest battle implement ever devised” - George S. Patton
LETS GO REDWINGS!!!
|
I bought my stainless Ranch model back in the 90's, but didn't shoot it much due to it printing 6moa groups. 3-4 years ago I installed a dual clamp Accu-strut and tightened up the groups into the 2moa range. I can see how shortening the barrel might improve accuracy. The pencil barrel is "whippy" and shortening it could affect it's harmonics like how stiff heavy barrels dampen vibrations |
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