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== RugerForum.com - Mini 14 model history and the 196 ==RugerForum.com - Mini 14 model history and the 196* http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=256533----The first 180's were made in Southport, Connecticut have a walnut stock, gold bead front sight and a bolt hold open device located on the outside of the receiver.After 1400 to 1600 of those were produced, Ruger started making them in Newport, NH they were given the large blade type front sight (retaining the hold open device monstrosity on the left side of the receiver).Ruger changed the hold open device to one that was internal and started numbering them with a 181- prefix. All guns from the 181- prefix through 188- are essentially the same, except the 187's are the Ranch rifle model with Ruger's integral ring system cast right into the receiver.Most of the 189's are Mini-30's but when Ruger ran out of regular serial numbers with the standard model and the Ranch model, they were mixed in with the 189- prefix until that prefix was used up.When 189-99999 was reached, Ruger went to 195- since the 190-, 191- and 192- was used with Ruger's AC556.Serial numbering went into the 197- prefix when Ruger decided to update the Mini and give it new sights....calling it the New Mini-14 Ranch Rifle, or New Mini-Thirty, and starting them out at the 580- prefix and 581- prefix respectively. When the 580- prefix was complete used up Ruger mixed all New Mini-s in the 581- prefix.As far as rifling on the old Mini-14 series 180 through 189- and 195- to 197-, there were at least two and maybe at least 3 rifling changes.Chet15----Some have better sights than others, but none were produced using the best rear sight in conjunction with the best front sight. The point there being that the best rear sighting arrangement went bye-bye with the pre-Ranch models, and the best front sight is only found on the 580-up models.By design, some eject out the top, some out the side...meaning that the Ranch Rifle models are much easier to successfully mount a scope onto. If that's your thing, you may also be interested to know that somewhere towards the end of the "581-series" of serial numbers, Ruger began D&T'ing the Mini receiver and included a matching rail in the box for those who prefer conventional "Weaver type" rings.As a group, and in terms of sitting at a bench while chasing small groups on a paper target, most of the blued Mini's I've owned would consistently outshoot most of the otherwise identical stainless models I've owned. I can't say why that is, I just know that that's been my experience. And FWIW, most of the as-issued Mini-30's that I've owned (or worked with) would outshoot most of the as-issued Mini-14's that I's that I've owned.As far as barrel design goes, the 581-up has the best Mini-14 barrel by far...but, that particular barrel will not directly interchange on any other serial number series. Plus, it uses a 1-9 twist which may or may not be optimum what whatever use you have in mind. That said though, as far as I'm concerned...when Ruger began installing their "new-fangled barrel", they all but made their previous Mini-14's obsolete for anything other than casual plinking. Yeah, it really is that much better.Are any of the others "notoriously poor" or "the best of the bunch"?...well no, not really. After all, when ya get right down to it, the Mini-14 is what it is, any/all of 'em will do exactly what they were intended to do, and baring some sort of factory defect, will reliably keep doing it time after time, year after year.On the other hand, it is not now, nor has it ever been what it is not...so my advice to anyone whom may be thinking about buying one is to align his expectations accordingly. Otherwise, he'll surely be setting himself up for failure.DGW