Mini-14's

ROT_BLACK

I live in California (BooHoo). Haven't been on this forum in awhile. Was wondering if it is legal to have any kind of a collapsable stock on a Mini14. What is legal and what is not about any accesories for this weapon (For Cali). Please help!

Gene B.

Im pretty sure a collapsable stock on a mini 14 would be called an assualt rifle in California. A threaded barrel is called an assualt something too, because you can put a silencer on it. Of coarse no silencers. Im not sure about flash hiders though. It sure must suck living in California.

gruntled

If you already had one they were grand-fathered in if you registered it. Too late now to buy one or register it if you already had one.

smooth_operator

If your mini14 is pre94, you can legally install a collapsible stock on it. If not, move to texas or nevada and have fun with the abundance of assault weapons you can legally buy...hell, even class 3 firearms and silencers if you want! Otherwise, you might just have to put up with all the BS that your politicians are continuously manipulating. I used to live there...and when I moved to nevada, I was like a kid going to toys r us for the first time.good luck-smooth

JudgeColt

I do not know about Kalifornia law, but a standard (non-GB) Mini-14 is NOT an assault weapon under federal law and cannot now be made into one no matter when the rifle was made. Standard Mini-14s are not "grandfathered" as assault rifles just because they were made prior to 9-13-94. Merely adding a folding stock will probably give the rifle a total of two of the forbidden features (folding stock and "protruding" pistol grip), thereby creating an "assault rifle" in violation of federal law. If it is in violation of the federal law, it is likely in violation of the Kalifonia law, since the federal law is based on the Kalifornia law. This comes up all the time with Mini-14s. They are not, and never have been, "assault weapons" as defined by the federal law, and therefore are not "grandfathered." They cannot now not be altered by adding the forbidden accessories without violating the law, no matter when they were made.

HK Cool

JudgeColt,Not to doubt you as you seem to be an authority, but wouldn't adding the folding stock make a total of 3 Forbidden Features?1) Folding Stock2) Pistol Grip3) Ability to accept hi-cap mags You say : "They are not, and never have been, "assault weapons" as defined by the federal law, and therefore are not "grandfathered." My question; Would this mean by adding a folding stock/pistol grip a person would be creating an assult weapon as defined by 922R?Just checking!HK Cool

ROT_BLACK

What if i buy a new one? They are still legal in Cali right? I don't think the stock Mini's have a pistol grip do they? I just want one with a stock that is shorter than the standard. Do they have shorter stocks?Thanks for your responses by the way.

gruntled

I was referring to the folding stock not the rifle. I didn't want to register mine so I took it to Nevada & sold it. I tried first to get a non-folding stock but that was when I discovered the parts problem with the 180 series Mini-14s. This has nothing to do with Federal law, he was asking about folding stocks in Kalifornia.

tr fox

gruntled: what is the "parts problem with the 180 series mini 14?

JudgeColt

Mr. Cool:As I understand it, the ability of a semi-automatic rifle to accept detachable magazines is the root of the definition of an "assault weapon." If a semi-automatic rifle will not accept detachable magazines (.22 rimfires and SKS rifles are all I can think of right now, but I assume there are others), it cannot be an assault rifle no matter what features it has. Therefore, when one starts with the "root" semi-automatic rifle with the ability to accept detachable magazines, one has only to add two of the forbidden features to create an "assault weapon." If the "root" semi-automatic rifle will not accept detachable magazines, at least under federal law, you can add all the forbidden features you want. As a prime example of that situation, I see DSA has a new Model T-48 "California Special" that has flash hider, etc., but it has a fixed magazine that must be loaded with stripper clips. Because it will not accept detachable magazines, it is not an "assault weapon" even under California law.Mr. fox:As far as the Mini-14 Series 180 parts problem, I would say the problem is that many parts are simply not available. The high mortality extractor seems to be the big one, but the stocks are different too, as are many other parts. If an extractor breaks, I am told that Ruger buys the rifle back from you for $200. Since the extractor is a small, inexpensive part, I assume there must be some other major problem with the Series 180 as well (maybe brittle receivers, weak chambers, bad bolts, etc.) that makes Ruger want to get them out of circulation. That situation has caused me to quit shooting my Series 180 with all the really early features (walnut stock, metal butt plate, 10/22 front sight, "M1-style" rear sight, etc.). Anybody know the real story on the reason why Ruger will not supply parts for the Series 180?