Difference between revisions of "Talk:Ruger Mini-14"

Revision as of 07:37, 3 December 2021

Ruger Mini-14/30 Barrel Twist Rates

Ruger Mini-14/30 Barrel Twist Rates

• http://sunflowerammo.blogspot.com/2012/11/ruger-mini-1430-barrel-twist-rates.html

   180 Series Mini-14Beginning
   Serial Nbr
   180-00001--1974--1 in 10
   180-05101--1975--1 in 10
   180-28282--1976--1 in 10
   180-59251--1977--1 in 10

   Mini-14
   Thin barrel, ejector is in the bolt, no scope ring scallops cast into the receiver.Beginning
   Serial Nbr
   181-07488--1978--1 in 10
   181-48351--1979--1 in 10
   181-84879--1980--1 in 10
   182-45601--1981--1 in 10
   183-03581--1982--1 in 10
   183-40455--1983--1 in 10
   184-17175--1984--1 in 10
   184-26063--1985--1 in 10
   184-95448--1986--1 in 10 and 1 in 7
   185-14140--1987--1 in 7
   185-50455--1988--1 in 7
   185-56556--1989--1 in 7
   185-81009--1990--1 in 7
   186-05029--1991--1 in 7
   186-18250--1992--1 in 7
   186-20065--1993--1 in 7
   186-31116--1994--1 in 7
   186-42502--1995--1 in 7
   186-58133--1996--1 in 7
   186-66855--1997--1 in 7 and 1 in 9
   186-81445--1998--1 in 9
   186-87432--1999--1 in 9
   *196-06325-2000--1 in 9
   *196-44553-2001--1 in 9
   *196-80982-2002--1 in 9
   *196-99207-2003--1 in 9
   *197-12180-2004--1 in 9
   * Mini-14 serial numbers rollmarked with Mini-14 Ranch Rifles beginning in 2000

   Ranch Rifle
   Thin barrel, ejector in the bolt stop assembly, scope ring scallops cast into the receiver, buffer system using the recoil spring assembly.Beginning
   Serial Nbr
   187-00001--1982--1 in 10
   187-02611--1983--1 in 10
   187-13218--1984--1 in 10
   187-27226--1985--1 in 10
   187-50919--1986--1 in 10 and 1 in 7
   187-59308--1987--1 in 7
   187-70033--1988--1 in 7
   187-84127--1989--1 in 7
   188-01157--1990--1 in 7
   188-30499--1991--1 in 7
   188-50902--1992--1 in 7
   188-66901--1993--1 in 7
   188-71086--1994--1 in 7
   188-85981--1995--1 in 7
   195-06037--1996--1 in 7
   195-27761--1997--1 in 7 and 1 in 9
   195-44221--1998--1 in 9
   195-63542--1999--1 in 9
   196-06325--2000--1 in 9
   196-44553--2001--1 in 9
   196-80982--2002--1 in 9
   196-99207--2003--1 in 9
   197-12180--2004--1 in 9

   New Mini-14 Ranch Rifle
   580 Ranch Rifle (early version): Thin barrel, ejector in the bolt stop assembly, scope ring scallops cast into the receiver, buffer system using the recoil 
   spring assembly, new tooling resulting in a slightly different look to the receiver (more rounded edges, etc.)
   580 Ranch Rifle (later version)-581: Thicker flanged barrel, ejector in the bolt stop assembly, scope ring scallops cast into the receiver, buffer system 
   using the recoil spring assembly, new tooling resulting in a slightly different look to the receiver (more rounded edges, etc.)Beginning
   Serial Nbr
   580-00001--2005--1 in 9
   580-15286--2006--1 in 9
   580-32382--2007--1 in 9
   580-50951--2008--1 in 9
   * 580-76276
   and 581-00000--2009--1 in 9
   * 581-48753--2010--1 in 9
   * 581-71056--2011--1 in 9
   * 581-95645--2012--1 in 9
   * New Mini-14 Ranch Rifles rollmarked with Mini Thirty Rifles beginning in 2009.

   Mini-30Beginning
   Serial Nbr 
   186-00501--1986--1 in 10
   189-00001--1987--1 in 10
   189-15143--1988--1 in 10
   189-17652--1989--1 in 10
   189-25005--1990--1 in 10
   189-38805--1991--1 in 10
   189-51041--1992--1 in 10
   189-52528--1993--1 in 10
   189-59348--1994--1 in 10
   189-65480--1995--1 in 10
   189-75697--1996--1 in 10
   189-82126--1997--1 in 10
   189-84971--1998--1 in 10
   189-89313--1999--1 in 10
   189-96162--2000--1 in 10
   *196-06325-2001--1 in 10
   *196-44553-2002--1 in 10
   *196-99207-2003--1 in 10
   *197-12180-2004--1 in 10
   * Mini Thirty serial numbers rollmarked with Mini-14 Ranch Rifles beginning in 2001

   New Mini-30Beginning
   Serial Nbr
   581-01002--2006--1 in 10
   581-05892--2007--1 in 10
   581-06747--2008--1 in 10
   581-11910--2009--1 in 10
   581-48753--2010--1 in 10
   581-71056--2011--1 in 10
   581-95645--2012--1 in 10

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

Mini-14 Rifle (Manufactured from 1978 to 2004)

Mini-14 Rifle (Manufactured from 1978 to 2004)

• https://ruger.com/service/productHistory/RI-Mini14A.html

Caliber: 223 Rem, 222 Rem
Beginning Serial Number: 	Years of Production:
181-07488 	1978
181-48351 	1979
181-84879 	1980
182-45601 	1981
183-03581 	1982
183-40455 	1983
184-17175 	1984
184-26063 	1985
184-95448 	1986
185-14140 	1987
185-50455 	1988
185-56556 	1989
185-81009 	1990
186-05029 	1991
186-18250 	1992
186-20065 	1993
186-31116 	1994
186-42502 	1995
186-58133 	1996
186-66855 	1997
186-81445 	1998
186-87432 	1999
*196-06325 	2000
*196-44553 	2001
*196-80982 	2002
*196-99207 	2003
*197-12180 	2004

• Mini-14 serial numbers rollmarked with Mini-14 Ranch Rifles beginning in 2000

The above chart shows the approximate first serial number shipped for the indicated year. This number should be used as a point of reference only. It is not necessarily the very first serial number shipped, but it can be used to determine the approximate year your Ruger firearm was shipped.

Ruger does not necessarily produce firearms in serial number order. There are occasions when blocks of serial numbers have been manufactured out of sequence, sometimes years later. Also, within a model family the same serial number prefix may be used to produce a variety of different models, all in the same block of serial numbers. And in some cases, firearms may be stored for a length of time before they are shipped.