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Suitability of Ruger Mini 14 Rifles and .223 Ammo
Self ^ | 10-2-2001 | Don Myers

Posted on 11/02/2001 7:08:49 PM PST by Don Myers

This is a pure vanity. We have been doing a lot of talking about terrorism and the "war." I have two Ruger Mini 14s. Well, one is a Ranch Rifle and one is a Mini 14. They are virtually the safe rifle with minor differences. I have not even been able to fire them yet. A local police agency turned them in to a local gun store. I think that I should have bought more of them. The Ranch rifle has a scope.

Anyway, I am sure there are many of you who have these guns. I am curious as to what you think about the suitability of the gun and the ammo in a self-defense role in which rifles may be used. There may be a time when a rifle may be necessary to repel multiple hostiles.


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To: Travis McGee
So I would say yes, go with the 55grain stuff, it tumbles, and causes worse wounds.

The 55 is better stabilized than the 62 in any barrel. If you want something marginally stabilized like the 55's were in the the 1-14 original M-16 you would need a slower twist or a heavier bullet.

141 posted on 11/03/2001 6:29:10 AM PST by Nov3
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To: Don Myers
At a minimum, the Mini-14 can be used to "liberate" many other, larger, higher capacity weapons, from the 'opposition'.

Personally, having fired many, many rounds through a Mini-14, I think they are a great little gun, with lots of potential.

142 posted on 11/03/2001 6:34:41 AM PST by wcbtinman
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To: DCBryan1
Cole--- good outfit, good service, good prices.....
143 posted on 11/03/2001 6:38:31 AM PST by litehaus
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To: Travis McGee
"So folks may need to rethink the old "cener mass" thing in certain situations."

Then just use the old "brute force" thing, .50BMG

You may survive the bullet, but you won't survive the wallop.

144 posted on 11/03/2001 6:39:32 AM PST by wcbtinman
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To: Don Myers
.223 is having a sale right now.
145 posted on 11/03/2001 6:42:52 AM PST by advocate10
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To: big ern
I wanna be an chairborne ranger,
I wanna live the life of danger
Flippin channels at pace that'll daze ya
never see a commercial the whole dang day ya
fox news, cnn, cspan, and geraldo
Oh I wanna be a chairborne ranger.

I never claimed to be doug from upland.


ROFLMAO!
Good One!
146 posted on 11/03/2001 6:43:23 AM PST by Fiddlstix
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To: Don Myers
Consider getting one or two mini-30's. Common cartridge with AK's adn SKS's. Same design and function of the mini-14 with just a little more punch. Mine works fine.
147 posted on 11/03/2001 6:49:16 AM PST by Eagle Eye
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To: pcl
"I have my Mini-14 mounted in a BullPup stock. It makes a very nice, small but very effective assualt rifle."

Is that thing supposed to look life a "pulse rifle" from Aliens?

148 posted on 11/03/2001 6:58:44 AM PST by Mr. Bungle
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To: big ern
"I wanna be an chairborne ranger,...

LOL!!

149 posted on 11/03/2001 7:03:15 AM PST by Mr. Bungle
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To: Don Myers
What a great thread! This is the kind of the thread that could never ever see the light of a CRT screen over at Salon or Democraticunderground. And yet . . . and yet, probably more than few liberal lizards lurk on threads such as this one, secretly coveting a Ruger Mini of their very own.
150 posted on 11/03/2001 7:04:21 AM PST by Kevin Curry
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To: Kalashnikov_68
"As it turns out, it was due to the magazines I was using. I had 5 identical USA 20 round magazines."

Reliable high-cap mags for Minis are hard to find and (very) expensive.

It's easy to get reliable 30-round AR-15 mags for $15 - but you can't get reliable high-cap ones for Minis under $50, usually a lot more. The only reliable high-caps for Minis are the Thermold 30-round and the factory Ruger; count on $70+ for factory Ruger.

Add to that general unreliability. The Mini that I eventually got rid of just sometimes failed to completely close its bolt - even though it appeared to have.

GUN REVIEWS untainted by ad money - read before you shop!

151 posted on 11/03/2001 7:10:09 AM PST by glc1173@aol.com
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To: Kevin Curry
"What a great thread!"

Yes, it is.

152 posted on 11/03/2001 7:15:29 AM PST by Don Myers
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To: Don Myers
         

 

 

 

 

 



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Overall Length: 37 1/8"
Weight: 6lbs 14oz
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153 posted on 11/03/2001 7:28:35 AM PST by advocate10
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To: Travis McGee
"clip off the front 1/8" of your bullets"

A better effect is the Nosler Ballistic Tips or the Horandy TAP. They "explode" on impact and penetrate 1/4 steel, no problem. With their polymer tip, the bullets have a natural lubricant for steel and other hard targets.

Also, a grinder works perfectly on 55 gr ball for nipping the tips. The result is a very jagged wound channel.

154 posted on 11/03/2001 8:20:26 AM PST by PatrioticAmerican
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To: big ern
"I read the 5.56 has slightly higher pressures and that if your barrel isn't stamped 5.56 you should not use the NATO round but stick with the .223 only."

Correctamundo. But, most ARs, especially from Colt and Bushmaster, are 5.56 NATO.

"Paramilitary 5.56mm ammunition should not be fired in commercial rifles with chambers reamed to SAAMI specifications. The SAAMI chamber used in sporting firearms has a smaller diameter bullet seat, a shorter throat and less free bore than military chambers. Chamber pressures can rise dramatically when military ammunition is fired in them. SAAMI specifications for commercial .223 ammunition specify an average chamber pressure of 52,000 CUP. When military ammunition is fired in the SAAMI chamber, pressures may rise to 55,000 or 60,000 CUP! U.S. manufactured paramilitary ammunition intended for civilian consumption is purposely loaded down to SAAMI pressure levels and bullets are often seated deeper to accommodate the SAAMI chamber. Ammunition certified to meet Mil-C-9963F (the military specification for M193 Ball) is only available to U.S. government agencies and private security firms under contract to provide security for U.S. government installations. Imported ammunition of that type is generally loaded to standard military levels and should be fired only in firearms with military dimensioned chambers. To the author's knowledge, the only U.S. manufactured commercial firearms with military chambers are the Colt AR-15 series, the Ruger Mini-14 and Ruger No. 1 rifles manufactured since 1986."

155 posted on 11/03/2001 8:28:40 AM PST by PatrioticAmerican
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To: Don Myers
Think FN-FAL and DS Arms (www.dsarms.com). The AR-15 is a great little assault rifle. The FAL is a true battle rifle; a little dated, but very accurate, dependable, heavier punch (7.62 NATO vs. .223).

Better yet - get both - why get all worked up over such a quandry!

prambo

156 posted on 11/03/2001 8:31:32 AM PST by prambo
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To: Don Myers
They are excellent guns, I've put custom sites on mine making it pretty darn accurate without a scope. With FMJ ammo I've fired rounds through 1/4 inch steel plate at 50 yards. And don't worry , as a man stopper, I'd like to see anyone get up after getting hit properly with a .223. If you would like to get an idea of the energy transfer of a .223 round get a 5 gallon bucket and fill it with motor oil then get back about 50 feet at least and fire one round. The bucket will literally explode from the transfer of energy. I've done this with pistol rounds and a .45-70 rifle and none of these had even close to the effect. Plus .223 ammo is alot cheaper than .308. Mini 14's are also alot easier to clean and maintain compared to an AR-15 and alot cheaper. To round out your arsenal I would recommend a 12 gauge pump and a Colt 1911 pistol.
157 posted on 11/03/2001 8:36:17 AM PST by culpeper
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To: Travis McGee
Well Travis.....i see you're still teaching the same lessons on the 5.56 you taught your's truly last year. More ammo, lighter weight, easier swing radius and control.....all fine points...that I have heeded and passed onto to other .30 caliber proponents.

I had a stainless Mini-14 in the late 70s and it worked fine. Murdered many a poor defenseless swamp deer at relatively close range with iron sights. The large clips were a bitch though...jamming frequently....I believe they were Federal clips. Now I've got 2 Norinco SKS(s) for 135/each and for the money and short range accuracy...and very cheap ammo....no complaints.

Now for high end reach out and touch stuff....I think that relatively new Sako Lapua .338 mag would be a sweet ticket but once again back to reality.....didn't Hathcock score most of his hits with a 7.62 Rem BDL ???

As for hunting these days.....a .54 side hammer frontloader shooting a 545 grain maxi/minnie....."she loads a might slow" and the range is a wee short but God help anything it hits....a subsonic 545 grain projectile dispenses all it's energy in the target usually.....and minnies tend to flare after the powder hits 'em at the base....some are even designed to split.....nasty weapon. How those guys in the old days just stood there at 100 yards or so facing off and trading volleys is beyond me.

Regards

158 posted on 11/03/2001 8:52:56 AM PST by wardaddy
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To: culpeper
"To round out your arsenal I would recommend a 12 gauge pump and a Colt 1911 pistol."

Yeah, I have those. I think the .223 round is sufficient for its intended purpose. What do you think of softpoints in this round?

159 posted on 11/03/2001 8:57:05 AM PST by Don Myers
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To: prambo
I have an FN-FAL rifle. It was made in Brazil. Do you have an opinion on the Brazil FN-FALs?
160 posted on 11/03/2001 8:58:24 AM PST by Don Myers
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