Ruger NRA Edition Mini 14

[Bill T]

http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=5835&return=Y

I finally gave into temptation last week and bought a Ruger Mini 14. I've been very critical of this rifle in the past for it's cost, and it's inaccuracy. It appears that Ruger has at least tried to address both with this new NRA Edition Mini 14. The reasons I opened my wallet for this one are several. First they included the gun stocked in a nice Hogue Overmolded Stock. It has a very nice soft, "grippy" feel to it instead of that hard plastic feeling the standard Ruger synthetics have. It also seems to have a little longer length of pull that makes it fit me a lot better. Second, they shortened the barrel to 16 1/8" from the normal 18", and put a thicker barrel on it, especially up near the gas block. This was done in an effort to minimize warping or tweaking of the barrel, which is one of the main causes for the guns inaccurate reputation. Last, and best of all, is the gun ships with 2, 20 round Ruger Hi-Cap magazines. These magazines sell for right around the $50.00 mark when you can find them. The magazines along with the Hogue stock add up to around $175.00 in extras over the standard model Mini. Also, I think this is the first time Ruger has delivered a "black on black" Mini 14, (Black stock & blued metal). I'm hoping the accuracy will be acceptable. I'm not expecting MOA performance with this rifle, as I mostly bought it for a "range plinker". The gun , like most Rugers, is very well made and has a good fit and finish to it. It even has a Gold NRA medallion inlaid into the pistol grip. In the future I'm most likely going to scope it, as they included a set of scope rings with the rifle. I hope Ruger makes these features stick in a regular cataloged model, and continues to see the error of there ways, and keep the 20 round magazines available to all of the people who have purchased one of these guns since their introduction some 35 years ago. I hope the price gets adjusted accordingly. $50.00+ is silly for a stamped steel 20 round magazine, especially when the tooling has paid for itself over and over in the last 3+ decades. 30 round AR-15 magazines can be had brand new all day long for $9.99 a pop. But as I said, at least it's a step in the right direction making them available to the general public instead of forcing customers to rely on poorly functioning after market magazines. Bill T.

[targshooter]

Bill T;
Congratulations on your purchase. I firmly believe Ruger could be making our next service rifle with slight modifications to the Mini series of rifles. I have owned eight AR rifles over almost 30 years. I believe they are one of the most accurate military rifles the US has issued; but they are certainly not the most durable. I presently own three. I have owned five Mini derivatives over thirty plus years. I still have three of them. I look forward to your range report on the accuracy of the NRA Edition Mini-14. I would like to see the price of Ruger magazines drop; but I have found that a Ruger magazine works right, all the time, and in any Ruger rifle that it is intended for. I have personally found that I cannot make that statement for the AR magazines.

[Bill T]

I have a scope coming from Midway that should arrive next Tuesday. Hopefully if the weather cooperates next Wednesday or Thursday I'll be able to pop a few caps with it. I'm looking forward to shooting it. I have 5, AR-15's and I'm used to that platform. I know the AR-15 is a snap to field strip, not so with the Mini 14. It's going to require a lot more time and patience. I've got plenty of ammo so I'll give it a good wringing out.  Bill T.

[Bill T]

The scope is mounted, and she's ready for the range! It's a Bushnell Trophy 3-9X 40 MM with Mil-Dot Reticle. The rings Ruger shipped with the rifle worked out very well. Just high enough so I can get the lens cover on the front objective. I checked with a set of points and the rings lined up perfectly. I even got the crosshairs straight the first time! A first for me. Tomorrow, weather permitting,  we'll see how she prints.



It's a little hard to see with all the crap in the background, but if you look you can see where the barrel is a little shorter, and thicker where it exits the gas block. I'm hoping this will aid accuracy a bit. We shall see. Now all I have to do is figure out how to use the Mil-Dot system.  Bill T.

[Bill T]

Well, accuracy is about what I expected. not a lot to get excited about. Function was flawless. I mounted the scope without any bore sighting and it was dead nuts in elevation at 100 yards, and about 6" left. I was zeroed after the third round. That Mil-Dot makes adjustments a snap. The 2 targets pictured represent a good average of the guns performance. Not the best, and not the worst. It seems to settle down after it warms up a bit. Like the idle on my truck. I didn't do any extended rapid fire, but did shoot a couple of 4 shot strings fast on steel gongs at 200 yards, and found them surprisingly easy to hit with the magnification dialed down. The gun handles well, and is very comfortable to mount and shoot quickly. Both 20 round magazines supplied with the gun functioned flawlessly, as did the 5 rounder I bought. All held the action open with the last shot. All 3 magazines inserted and locked into place without any issues, or excessive play. Brass ejection wasn't into the next county as on other Mini's I've seen. It lands about 10 feet to the right, and about 3 feet behind the shooter. None of it showed any denting or crushed case mouths. I really like the Bushnell scope I mounted as much or more than the Leupold VX II's I've got. It is very clear and bright. All total I ran 255 rounds through it. Both handloads and Remington UMC, as well as a couple of boxes of Federal XM-193 Ball. All shot well, and cycled the action without incident. It seemed to like the hotter Federal XM-193, 5.56 load the best. All and all it was a good day at the range with no unpleasant surprises. I wish the accuracy was better, but compared to some Mini 14's I've seen, this one isn't giving me much to complain about. This gun is going to get shot a lot in time to come, and has somewhat changed my mind about the Ruger Mini 14. I would say to anyone intending to purchase one, to get the NRA Edition. I think the thicker, shorter barrel helps a lot. It's not a match rifle, but it's a nice "fun gun". And that's what it's all about anyway. Bill T.