Ruger Mini-14
| Ruger Mini-14 | |
|---|---|
The Mini-14 GB
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| Type |
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| 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:
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| Specifications | |
| Weight | 6 lb 6oz (2.90 kg) |
| Length | 37.25 in (946 mm) |
| Barrel length |
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| Cartridge |
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| Action | Gas-operated, rotating bolt |
| Rate of fire |
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| 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 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 7.62×39 mm cartridge. At the time, large quantities of surplus military ammunition were being imported into the United States at rock bottoms prices. Also, the 7.62×39 mm 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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