Um, that wasn’t the only problem with the Mini-14. There were *many* other issues corrected in the recent “580” redesign:
http://www.rifleshootermag.com/featured_rifles/rugranch_071807/index1.html
“Soft barrel” was the least of the problems.
Sounds like the Mini-14 is finally what it should have been all along. Well done Ruger!