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Mini-14

Ruger Mini-14
Mini14GB.jpg
The Mini-14 GB
Type
Place of origin United States
Service history
Used by See Users
Production history
Designer L. James Sullivan, William B. Ruger
Designed 1967–73
Manufacturer Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.
Produced 1973–present
Variants

See Variants:

  • Ranch Rifle
  • Mini Thirty
  • Mini-6.8
  • Bolt-Action Only (BOA)
  • AC-556
  • GB
  • Target
  • Tactical
  • NRA Edition
Specifications
Weight 6 lb 6oz (2.90 kg)
Length 37.25 in (946 mm)
Barrel length
  • 22.00 in (559 mm) (Target Rifle)
  • 18.50 in (470 mm) (Ranch Rifle, Mini-30)
  • 16.12 in (409 mm) (Tactical, Mini-30, NRA Edition)
  • 13 in (330 mm) (AC-556)

Cartridge
Action Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire
Muzzle velocity 3240 ft/s (990 m/s)
Feed system 5-, 10-, 20-, or 30-round factory box magazine. Numerous aftermarket magazines and drums.
Sights Iron sights

See Variants:

The Mini-14 is a lightweight .223 caliber (5.56 mm) semi-automatic rifle manufactured by Sturm, Ruger & Co. that is popular with law enforcement, security personnel, hunters, ranchers and target shooters. It is made in a number of variants including the Ranch Rifle with an integral scope base on the receiver, the Mini Thirty which is chambered for 7.62×39mm, and the AC-556, a select-fire assault rifle.

The Mini-14 was first introduced in 1973 by Sturm, Ruger & Co. The name Mini-14 was coined because it resembles a smaller version of the military M14 rifle. Designed by L. James Sullivan and William B. Ruger, it incorporated numerous innovations and cost-saving engineering changes. The Mini-14 rifle employs an investment cast, heat-treated receiver and is mechanically similar to the M1 Garand rifle, with a self-cleaning, fixed-piston gas system. Initial rifles were produced with a complex, exposed bolt hold open device with no button for manual engagement. Stocks were somewhat angular and heat shields were made of wood. These rifles, with serial number prefixes before 181, were tooled and redesigned with a new stock, new bolt hold-open mechanism, and other small changes.

The original Mini-14 rifle had a rear aperture sight with large protective wings, and no integral scope bases. In 1982, Ruger introduced the Ranch Rifle with an integral scope base on the receiver, a new folding aperture rear sight and factory scope rings. It introduced a plastic heat shield and ejected spent cartridge cases at a lower angle to avoid hitting low-mounted scopes.

In 1987, Ruger introduced the Mini Thirty rifle chambered for the Russian 7.62×39mm cartridge. At the time, large quantities of surplus military ammunition were being imported into the United States at rock bottom prices. Also, the 7.62×39mm is ballistically similar to the .30-30 Winchester cartridge. As a result, the Mini Thirty proved to be an effective deer rifle.


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Wikipedia

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