Ruger Mini-14 Tactical & Ranch Rifles--Full Review
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- čas přidán 6. 09. 2013
- In this episode, I attempted a full and fair review of the Ruger Mini-14 "Assault Rifle," (a bit of "tactical" humor there. . .) and although I believe it's pretty comprehensive, I appreciate your comments, suggestions, and/corrections. I talk herein about the Mini-14's accuracy, availability, price, reliability, accessories, coolness factor, and it's potential as a go to battle weapon.
Hope you find it warm, inviting, and informative!
ALSO, PLEASE NOTE THE HUMOR OF CALLING THIS GUN AN ASSAULT WEAPON. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AN ASSAULT WEAPON!!
Izzy,
Music, "Last Drop" by Bury the Fallen, Copyright 2005, Used by Express Written Permission through a Limited Commercial Use Agreement
![Why Won't the Ruger Mini-14 Just Die? [Part 1]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EzyGl_w-IXg/mqdefault.jpg)
![Why Won't the Ruger Mini-14 Just Die? [Part 1]](/img/tr.png)
Very helpful, thanks. I enjoy your relaxed, non-rushed presentation.
Wow, thank you! I just can't get into the AR's. Finally, a review that actually shows the stocks well and in high resolution. Down-to-earth, practical, helpful, and useful. Thanks!!
Nice vid. I've had my Mini 14 for about 34 years now and it remains one of my favorites.
Great, honest & down to earth nuts & bolts video! Love the Mini-14! Thanks!
I've had mine for 42 years now and no complaints! It's light and fast handling...unlike a bulky AR-15 wizard gun...with all that trash mounted to it that people love today....that ain't gonna save you in a quick unexpected fire fight...You did the best job of anyone I've seen explain the faults and strengths of the rifle...it has handability which is a great strength too, you can grab it by the wrist and twirl it like a baton off your shoulder and be shooting in 1 second...snap shooting at it's best...
It's a beautiful presentation on both mini 14-mini 30. Thank you.
Best-in-class review -- comprehensive, researched, and well presented. Good work by you.
You gave a really awesome presentation on the Mini 14. I was very curious about it and now have totally sold me on it.
Thanks for all the effort to put this video up. Really helpful.
Very good and comprehensive report on the mini 14. Thanks. I have one but haven't shot it much yet. You addressed a lot of things I'd heard about and you settled the issues. I think they are wonderful little rifles. I totally love it and want to try calling some coyotes in.
Excellent video. Very helpful info you share and it is extremely helpful. Outstanding!
Thanks, Michael. I appreciate your kind words! Izzy
EXCELLENT, very informative review! Thank you!
Great review, Izzy! Thanks!
Israel this is the most authoritative and comprehensive assessment of the Mini-14 i have seen, bar none. Well done!
Thank you for the video buddy! 🤙🏻 you gave a lot of information on this rifle. Just purchased a mini 14 and absolutely love it, just wish they made more upgrades to this rifle. Thank you for sharing.
very informative video. I'm purchasing a mini 14 this weekend. thanks for the video!
Really enjoyed the great information on the video. You're a born teacher.
Honest review. I am undecided and I appreciate you sharing your real life experience.
I may buy one.
Thank you very much, excellent review!
Thank you, IE, for this great video! Yes, it does have some (coolness). Much Appreciated!!
Thankyou for a great overview.
Thanks for this explanation. Bravo!
The current production Mini 14's do now come with drilled and taped holes in the top of the receiver and a picatinny rail does come with the rifle that can be mounted to utilize picatinny rail mounting equipment.
Thank you for the info you provided.
Loved the video! Ordered mine about 10 days ago and am satisfying my hunger for it until it comes in by watching vids! Ordered the 5819 Syn/SS. Loved the honest, no hype opinions. I appreciate the low-key straight-forward approach rather than the "look how big of a man I am" approach a lot of guys give you. I am reading that the newer ones come with a drilled and tapped receiver and a Picatinny rail that mounts on the receiver so that should solve the optics mounting problems you were discussing with those side mount units. Looking for a good (but not crazy expensive) red dot to through on this thing when it comes in.
Also, a music teacher and sax player here so seeing the pics of the recording equipment is cool too. Always wanted to watch a recording engineer work - seems like a neat thing to get into. Thanks for the great info.
I have two newer models (580,581) and trust them completely my 580 sits in a Archangel aamini stock, scoped ,trigger job and a socom strut with just off the shelf ammo it consistently shoots under an inch The other one is in a ATI stock and is my go to rifle plus they both eat steel or brass ! Sold my AR's I don't think ill ever own another one Mini 14 for me .
Great informative video. Thanks.
Dear Sir.
A device which feeds ammunition into a firearm is called a magazine, no matter whether box or tube, pan, drum or rotary, gravity or spring-driven, removable or fixed, no matter the capacity.
The clip is a piece of metal that holds cartridges together for easier loading into a magazine.
For example: to load the M1 Garand you stick an 8-round en-bloc clip into the internal magazine.
Another example: the M14 uses removable magazines, but its magazine can be loaded with additional rounds via a stripper clip without removing it from the gun.
Dear Dumb Ass, Get a life.
@@joebloe4561 amen
Informative vid. Great presentation.
Great tutorial video .Very well spoken and produced........
Very good video! I just got mine in Aug. of 2020 (.223 &5.56), and I am really enjoying it. Just the basic Ranch Rifle, because I live in the People's Republic of New York State, and it's still legal here. You totally added to your credibility, by talking about analog vs. digital audio...I'm old school, and I CAN HEAR THE DIFFERENCE! Well done Dude!
I recently purchased a stainless steel Mini-14, with the polymer stock. It came with the Ruger scope rings, AND a Ruger Picatinny rail. I mounted a reflex sight, bore sighted by laser and fine tuned at the range. Newer Mini-14s are drilled and tapped for the Picatinny rail. Adapting a non-Ruger rail would require a machine shop's assistance to match the mount pattern. Fortunately, the factory rail works well, but be advised that there's a cut out on the right side of the rail to clear ejecting shell cases. Bring the rail to your gun shop and make sure the sight you want doesn't fall afoul of that cut out. I live in NY state, and no magazine may exceed 10 rounds. If you have some that do, you are required to modify them to 10 max, or dispose of them. I have two Ruger 10 round mags, two ProMag 10 round mags and the two 5 round factory mags as well. The ProMag magazines work, but they fit rather sloppy compared to Ruger mags.
Accuracy is very much as you described. 5 round groups at 100 yards measured from 1.7" to 2.6" shooting various MIL Spec 5.56mm FMJ ammo. I got the best accuracy with Federal American Eagle 55 grain 5.56mm ammo. Tula 55 grain .223 steel case ammo produced the largest groups, often at or slightly in excess of 3". This was non-lacquered ammo. At $225 for 1,000 rounds, most folks could live with the lesser accuracy if it's just used for plinking. Along with my old Marlin Camp 9 carbine (bought in 1988), these two rifles are simply fun to shoot. The Marlin is upgraded with an aftermarket buffer, 21 lb Wolff recoil spring (a good idea if you shoot +P or +P+ ammo or hot hand loads). Like the Ruger, the Marlin has a Picatinny rail and reflex sight. My aging eyes (need reading glasses) really benefit from the reflex holographic sights. They are inexpensive, accurate and durable.
Wow! Great in depth review. Thanks.
I fell in love with the Mini-14 back in 1976 when my wife and I were at a neighborhood get-together (farm neighbors) and one of the guys brought his new Mini-14 out of his pickup for everyone to feast their eyes on. My wife saw the way my eyes lit-up and made me promise that I would not buy one ... then. I was a struggling young farmer at the time and money was very tight. Over the years, it always seemed like when I had a little extra money there were other things that were a little more important. This spring I had squirreled away enough money to buy a Ruger GP100 in 10mm with a 7.5 inch barrel and I suddenly had that old Mini-14 itch again. This time I decided to scratch that itch, but I wanted a wood and stainless steel model. My LGS didn't have one, so I turned to GunBroker and started bidding on them. Unfortunately, I didn't want them as bad as other people or, rather, I wasn't willing to pay what I thought was an insane price for one. I finally found one that looked almost pristine. Starting price was 650 and I bid a little over that and then promptly forgot about it for a few days until I got an email telling me I had won the auction. I was flabbergasted that no one else even bid on it. Unbelievable! So for 650 bucks I had my own Mini-14 that I fell in love with 43 years ago. And it is in pristine condition ... not a scratch on it.
Nice review, Sir. Would love to see a new vid on the Mini with the changes that have occurred over time (picatinny rail, etc.), and if 3 yrs has strengthened your comments or if you feel a need to update them. Thanks!
superb review my man! excellent work, your video is one of the most outstanding on the web for the mini 14! well done!
Great job on the video ,I have to say I enjoy your style :) , very concise review .
Thank you, sir. I appreciate it. I mostly make my own music now, but if I had to listen to something it might be: Tomahawk, GAM, Nick Cave, Mark Lanegan, The Jesus Lizard, The Dirty Three, or something like that. Rock on! Izzy
Great video a complete excellent review of the mini 14 glad I found this as I just got one. Mine came with a collapsible stainless skeleton stock I think it's from 90s. Trying to figure out what I have honestly
LOVE THE VIDEO!!!
Great video, thanks. I have two, a SS mini 14 from the early 90's and a Mini 30. Great guns. I did add an M14 style flash hider to the Mini 14 and it looks good without harming the accuracy. I find the accuracy on both well within acceptable standards. I left mine with wood furnishings because I like the old wood and steel look much better.
I hung a target on a 6 inch treated wood post and was surprised that my 55gr FMJ rounds blew right through that post. My Mini-14 is a 186 series manufactured in 1994,so it has a little heavier barrel, but nothing like those that came out post-2006. My Mini-14 is wood and stainless steel, but I have added an Accu-Strut and an Amega scout rail. I had mounted a 4x12x40mm Nikon Prostaff 223 BDC 600 scope on the scout rail as far back as I could using the Nikon P-223 rings, but it was too low and not far enough back to get good eye relief. So I installed a 15 slot bridge with a half inch rise and that set the scope up perfectly. Additionally, the bridge hanging out over the ejection port protects the scope from flying cartridge cases. Now all I need to do is get out to sight it in.
I should also mention that I do have two AR15s - my first was a Colt M4 Blackhawk and the second was the Ruger SR556 piston drive. I love shooting both, but I LOVE shooting my SR556.
Take care and keep your barrel clean.
bo_leggs.
Very good run down of this rifle my friend. Thanks for doing a video on one of my favorite rifles. true not the most accurate of assault rifles but great for street fighting.
Have owned two gave one to my son good talk and I like (analog) sounds in live situations!!
I know this video is 7 years ago but this was great bro you seem very legit/you should try to do more vids nowadays now that they are fixing to try taking our guns
I just happened to purchase the mini-14 today and Im very pleased with it. not cheap, $950.00. I was lucky enough to have a son that gave me the money for it for fathers day that is coming up soon. your video was very informative & educational. I like how you put things in perspective. you looks at things and approach situation just like I would..i have only one more thing to say......THANKS
Excellent video sir...nice addition to your rifle...
very good informative vid, thumbs up
Nice review. Thanks.
Thank you! Izzy
Bill Ruger knew that with the military (US) adopting the 5.56/.223 ammo was going to be available and cheap. He was a wise man to see the marketing potential. I've owned several, my first was made in 74 my newest is a takedown. I love the weapon, always have. I HATE the factory barrels, or as my Dad used to say, "the hose they use for the barrel is pretty rigid... for a hose." Thanks for the video. Great job.
Very nice video. Well done. I have a SIG 556 SWAT Patrol. Am thinking of buying The Mini 14 for knock around the property.
The original Mini 14s were not called "Ranch Rifles." They had peep sights similar to the M14 and that's all. Not until Ruger saw the many attempts people came up with ways to mount scopes did Ruger come out with a rifle that had the scope ring notches and the proprietary scope rings did they call that version the "Ranch Rifle." They continued the original Mini14s and distinguished the two different models by calling the scope model the "Ranch Rifle." Over time they discontinued the older model and only sold Ranch Rifles and later on the Target Model and the Tactical model.
Thanks for that clarification, Bill. I was just talking to a guy on Friday about his Mini-14 that has no scope ring notches. He must have one of those older versions. Izzy
Great info bro,mini 14 on the way
Nice review my friend
I agree with a former poster... don't call the Ranch Rifle an Assault Rifle. Not using some good common sense.
What I like about the Mini is the fact that it is chambered for 5.56 like the AR but it is for hunting coyotes and the AR is for war. Same M855 cartridge can do the same exact damage.
The other thing I like about the Mini is it's name... Mini means small, tiny, impotent... So people that don't know know firearms think it is an ineffective, low damage rifle.
And nobody gives the wood/blue 14 a second look. Not an evil black tactical rifle.
It rides under the radar and I like that.
I bought on last year in 300 AAC Blackout and love it. More than accurate enough for me at 50 yd with a red dot.
Good video. Just bought one mine is a 580 series built in 2009
That was an outstanding review. I may get the ATI stock like yours or may get the tapco stock. Any opinions on the tapco stock verses the one you have? Also the red dot you had mounted is mounted with the ruger factory scope rings? Thanks.
i have AR's and both mini 14 and 30 and absolutely love them all. I like my minis the way its designed and have no intention of modifying or upgrading it...I think they are meant to look the way they are designed for. non conspicuous battle rifle.
Good review
Just got a wood stock ranch rifle from Walmart on clearance for 599.00. A lot of older vets including my dad who grew up with the Springfield 1903, then when the Garand came along with the en block clip, he pretty much called anything you inserted into a rifle or pistol a clip.
Excellent review, I have a ruger ac 556
Hi, you can install a Comp with or without bayonet lug using a 1/8" punch, small hammer, and Locktite. Remember to remove right to left and install left to right
Is that an old time phone! So funny. What’s next a kick start motorcycle.
Thank you, sir! I'm keeping mine! Their too expensive to replace! Izzy
Love your video
Your Very well spoken
This video is from 2013.......but still current today. Good Information
Good review jus subbed
It appears that you appreciate the mini about as much as I do. I have done two videos on it already and am about to do two more
gg&g rail mount works great ,it's a bit high over bore but it is sturdy as heck and definitely holds a zero for a long time.
Hey John. Yes, I had forgotten about that. As you said, it is a more forward mount system, which would be good for a holographic or red dot site for quick target acquisition. No good for a regular scope though. . .Thanks!
Izzy
nice mini bro looking at getting one soon
Thanks for the video. I have an AR and Mini 14 like the one in your video. I reload and use a RCBS small base die. I have found it necessary to chamber every round in the AR before loading magazines to confirm that they will chamber. Not the case with the Mini. it will take everything. Guess which one I trust my life on?
best mini vid. I'm buying with the right rounds.
thanks for the info
My 2011 mini 14 is stamped 223 cal. My 2019 Mini 14 is stamped 5.56NATO. so nice that they take both 223REM &5.56 ammo.
Look out they're comin' right for us!
love your video.what brand of scope and mount are you using?
Ruger Company should hire you for MKT.
Great Presentation~~
Nice review. Not sure if you are aware but Ruger is making a pic rail that replaces the hand guard for more forward mounted scopes and accessories. Little pricey, but gives you more options. Look on the shopruger site under accessories. Can't post link in this post....
The mini is definitely a battle rifle
My 10/22 has never jammed. I don't even clean it, maybe once in 5 years. Thousands of rounds. Trading my AR for a mini. Trained with M14 in 68 Fort Knox.
Great review. I agree with basically all of your points. I also like your brief digs at the gun grabbers. With that said, I hope that viewers here, who haven't joined a gun rights organization, will do so. About the cost of a Ruger factory twenty round mag.
I'm diggin it, you should do more videos "Storytime with Izzy" Got a Mini-14 Tactical, kinda have a love/hate relationship with mine, kinda like with my ole lady!!
Ha! I feel ya. I'm gonna do more Story Time with Izzy videos!
Too funny about the love hate relationship. I've always and still do love my Mini. I think too many people give the Mini's a bad rap. And those same people are too stuck on the AR's/AK's. Don't get me wrong, I love my AR's too. I agree with 2Hr, about the AK is an ugly gun...which it is. And I don't like the lose tolerances in the AK either. AK people say the AR is too finicky and always has to be cleaned and well lubed. Maybe the AR's of yester-year. Todays AR's, are quite reliable. And you don't need to run them soaking wet lubed. With AR's in piston/gas variants running with a Nickel Boron (NiB) Bolt Carrier Group (BCG). You have an AR that's just as reliable and still more accurate than an AK. In fact, I bet you'll see more Nickel Boron BCG's that are standard in some AR's Currently, NiB is an expensive upgrade. However, NiB is NOT hype and the actions function is quite significant too. Though the BCG can be ran dry. I don't recommend it. It's still metal on metal. So I use a light coating of lube (use Slip 2000 EWL). And I can easily go 1K-1.5K rounds without having to re-apply any lubrication with no failures.
In the event, if I had to run my BCG dry, I feel quite confident in the rifle functioning at its optimum level. Without doing any subsequent damage to the BCG, barrel etc. I run NiB, BCG's in all my AR's. Many companies have them now. But, I found Fail Zero (inventor of NiB Plating) M16 bolt carrier group at Botach dot come for $160 with free shipping. Other places sell them for roughly $200 to $250. Most manufactures are getting the BCG's plated from Fail Zero, e.g. Spike's Tactical et. al. Also, Fail Zero's, BCG's are all Mil-Spec, Shot Peened, MPI/HPT. As well as, the bolt is "Chamfered" which is a really nice upgrade on any bolt. Chamfering, is simply corners or angles that are rounded opposed to being squared. This allows less stress on the lugs & bolt face while entering and exiting the chamber. Which lessens potential damage to the lugs and face of the bolt.
thank you for taking the time to produce the video and all the attention to detail - I am looking to buy a ruger mini 14 living in New Zealand. We have a relatively wet climate and I am considering buying a stainless steel mini 14. I will use it as a ranch rifle shooting rabbits possums wild goat and pig. The retailer tells me that the blue riffle does not build up as much heat as the stainless steel ones does. What is your thought / suggestion stainless vs blue as I cannot find any object information for a ruger mini 14
Great video and the other end of the accuracy spectrum a f class - prs rifles shoot .2-.3 moa and do 2.5" 5 shot groups at 500 yards out of at 13lbs custom cut rifled barrel. Ie Bruce- bartlein- Krieger- with load development
UltiMAK makes a nice metal picatinny rail that replaces the forend top cover.
UltiMAK M4-B / M4-S
I have a sort of "older" i.e. not the latest gen. Mini 30 that's in pretty good shape. However, it has a "stick bolt" - by this I mean it will go half the way all the way back & then it encounters stiff resistance. I've cleaned it completely twice & it still "sticks". Any thoughts or suggestions?? Thank You. Sincerely, JAMES.
Obviously at the time the top rail may have been an issue. I used the Promag Sparta stock and the top rail is great. No issues thus far holding my red dot zero. However, one slight annoying issue I do have, is when a casing is ejected it reflects off of the charging handle back into the firearm. Leaving brass, or other slight markings right near the ejection port on the slide action. Man, I spent around $1.200.00 dollars on the firearm and set up. Just to see this happen. Kinda like... here is my new car, hell lets take a key to it! That being said, from what little info. I could dig up on this issue, it seems to be fairly common. I suppose it is like an over sight on a brass deflector. No matter in the end, because my overall idea for this platform to begin with. As long as it functions, reliable, and serves the role I had in mind... well if a few dings, scratches, markings, or whatever make look rough; then you really need a Mrs. Priss type firearm. Lol, hell... rock and roll!
I checked the ati stock and looked at your pistol grip. what kind of grip is it? Thank you.
I have a SS Ranch rifle- its been a great trouble free truck/atv gun. Just bot a .45acp carbine that might be a touch better all around combo than the .223.
I agree direct impingement is not the go to unless you have time to clean and a good supply of clp
What scope do you have mounted on your ruger , model / number. Looking to source 1 for a Mini 30 2018 production model.
I've got a 16" tactical model w/ folding stock and rails, and want another Mini! Not exactly the same version, but either the SS ranch or synthetic tactical 5848 (no rails). Comes down to 16" or 18" barrel. I'm not going to war but want good accuracy. Maybe some varmint work, homestead defense. (great video, by the way, and I'm an analog guy as well!) Opinion please?
How does that single ring setup on your sight hold up under repeated fire? I have a promag picatinny mount on my mini-14 that fits in the ruger factory mounts. But it makes the scope sit too high. I watched your video and saw that you only mounted your sight to the rear factory mount and figured I might give that a try so give me a reply and let me know how well it's held zero.
I have had numerous mini 14 my only failure has been a cracked bolt while shooting some surplus 5.56 ammunition from Malaysia . Still own them but careful what I run thru them.
Good info long but worth it
Great video.I have an old Mini-14 and it is definitely not a tac driver,but it is a simple reliable fun rifle to shoot.When and if I ever needed a rifle to defend my life it would be a main battle rifle like an M-14,FN FAL or a G3.
I agree very much. Great fun gun. Very reliable. Wouldn't mind having one of the guns you mentioned, either! Izzy
Well done video.
Thank you, Dan. I appreciate it. Izzy
Hey Darien. That is indeed a smoking deal! Good score. Maybe someday you all can overturn the Nazis in the city! Good luck! Izzy
1st of all thank you for your sharing i learned a lot from that.
A question, which one will you recommend Mini 14 or Mini 30. No hunting requirements, just personal defense (shit hit the fan maybe ) and shooting range .
@@vicpapefu4770 thanks a lot, have purchased mini 14 2 month ago based on the same opinion as yours 🤝👍
Here we are 6 years later... just purchased one... couldn't find one during this Plandemic. Went to Big 5 for ammo. Someone was looking at a mini 14 (I thought they were picking it up) it was available, I bought it.
Yeah people seem to think mini 14s are everywhere,, they are not........ people think they are cheap to buy, if you think about $1000 is cheap i guess so
Excellent video. Held my attention and got me to sub! As for looks... an AR maybe "tacticool" but I've always thought the Mini-14 was sexy as hell!. On funcitonality, the AR platform takes it's roots from the M16 which was junk. But more modernly they have corrected most of the issues. However, the M-14 / Garand heritage of the Mini-14 has not undergone many changes. Like you said, it is a system that continues to function well. Also like you said... it's probably because Joe Average cant' screw with it, like they can with an AR. Someday, I'll probably own an AR platform, but overall, I love my Mini and for what I need a short rifle for, it works well.
I agree with you completely. I wouldn't mind at all having an AR-15 that had a floated match grade barrel and a great trigger, but those aren't the cheap ones!
True.. you could buy 3 Mini-14s fo rthe price on one "well equipped" AR.. but why? :)