[Myrddin]

The standard gas block on the mini-14 pushes too much gas into the piston. There is an adjustable after market block that just bolts in place of the original. A simple screw adjustment allows you to reduce the gas flow to the minimum necessary to operate the action. Properly adjusted, it will drop the brass at your feet instead of flinging into the next county. It is much easier on the op rod too.

[Shooter 2.5]

Every time someone tells me their Mini launches the brass into the hinderworld, I ask them if they had ever taked the gas cylinder apart. The answer is usually "yes". The next question I ask them is if they remembered to reinstall their Gas Block Bushing. That's when the blank look on their faces appears. Without the bushing, they increased the amount of gas to the piston.

[Dogrobber]

There is an adjustable after market block that just bolts in place of the original. A simple screw adjustment allows you to reduce the gas flow to the minimum necessary to operate the action.

I am schooled; with new and valuable information also. I had dismissed the Mini 14 from my mind as a reasonable weapon because of issues relating to barrel heating. This mod appears to address barrel heating and overdriving of the op rod. Now all one would need is better ventilation of the forend to reduce heating issues and the problem might be solved. I will leave to the Mini 14 fans further exploration of the appropriate mods to effect the cure above.