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Did Ruger redesign the Mini-14???

CS8161CS8161 Member Posts: 13,596 ✭✭✭
edited May 2002 in Ask the Experts
I keep seeing information on this board that Ruger has redesigned the Mini-14's so that they will not accept any of the preban hi cap 20, 30 or 40 round mags. Is this fact or fiction?

Chris8161
Admit nothing, deny everything, demand proof!
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Comments

  • NighthawkNighthawk Member Posts: 12,022 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    YESsir they did modify the mini-14 where it will not accept any type of HI CAP MAG. I have seen it with my own eyes and talked to Ruger about it. I did talk to a young lady that answers the phone again last week, she said no we didnt change anythng. I politely ask her to double check, she returned to the phone and apoligized. She told me what I already knew they had changed the mag well to make it narrower so Hi Caps wont fit. None of any kind except L.E. But the mini-30 has not changed Ruger never made a Hi Cap for it so they were all aftermarket made from the beginning. So it will still take the pre Ban mags that are plentyful. You can give them a call and ask Ruger about it, if they tell you they have not redesighned it ask the rep to double check. Heres the no. 1-603-865-2442.

    Rugster
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  • GreenLanternGreenLantern Member Posts: 1,647 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Did they happen to say why they redesigned it, other than to shoot themselves in the foot?
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  • CS8161CS8161 Member Posts: 13,596 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    OK, I just got off the phone with a supervisor/manager at Ruger. I asked him if the design had been changed and he said ABSOLUTLEY NOT TRUE, all current production Mini-14's will still accept any preban 20, 30 or 40 round magazine made for the rifle. I asked him if there were plans for the future to make this change and he said ABSOLUTELY NOT. Ruger has no plans to redesign this rifle to make it accept only five or ten round mags. Rugster, you said you saw proof of this? Can you describe it, did you try a preban mag in the rifle? What kind of mag was it that you tried, if you remember? Thanks for any more info you could supply.

    Chris8161
    Admit nothing, deny everything, demand proof!

    Edited by - Chris8161 on 05/17/2002 15:32:03
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  • gundummygundummy Member Posts: 254 ✭
    edited November -1
    I still won't believe it till I see it. IF they did do the insane, they just committed suicide. And IF they did, those who have the NORMAL mini's should keep it cause it's value will only go up. I know that some AK's have already changed to single stack mags so it won't accept the hi-cap double stacks but think it's stupid for Ruger to follow. I would imagine it's gonna cost about the same to mfr the mini, but they have to sell it for a couple hundred dollars less because people won't buy it because it won't take hi-caps. How many mini 14 owners (including CA) have hi-caps? I would say most, if not all. Dumb, dumb, dumb. GD
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  • JudgeColtJudgeColt Member Posts: 1,790 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    This is the second time rugster has posted this nonsense. Look at the 2002 Ruger catalog. Check out the magazine section. There is only one magazine listed for the Mini-14. There is no mention of a "Pre-2002" magazine and a "Post-2001" magazine, as there would have to be if there were a new magazine pattern.

    While William Ruger is the one responsible for the magazine limits we now endure, and his mindset might still be thinking along these lines, I cannot see it being done. Why would it? The Mini-14 (no matter when made) is not an evil "assault weapon" and is sold with only 5-round magazines. Most antis probably do not know there are evil high capacity magazines available for it. The sale of the Mini-14 would essentially stop if they would not accept high capacity magazines. The less expensive AR-15 clones would eat their lunch.

    I was at the 2002 SHOT Show and saw nothing changed about the Mini-14 I inspected. There was no literature mentioning the change at the display. No representative mentioned any such change.

    The situation with the single-stack Ak-47-style rifles is different because they are imported and Klinton issued some executive orders preventing importation of rifles that will accept high capacity magazines. Nothing like that is involved with the Mini-14.
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  • competentonecompetentone Member Posts: 4,696 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have to second everything JudgeColt just said.

    I wonder if Rugster is trying to cover a short position in Ruger's stock? (NYSE: RGR) The stock has been showing strength recently. (The dividend yield I'm getting from my RGR shares is better than any money-market or CD rate I can find. Maybe I should buy some more and squeeze Rugster?)
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  • rokkmannrokkmann Member Posts: 47 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    If Ruger changed the mini-14 so it would not take high cap mags they would be cutting their nose off to spite their face.I would think that the sales of new mini-14's would fall off the chart and everyone would only look at thee older one's.
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  • NighthawkNighthawk Member Posts: 12,022 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Fellows I have been sitting here reading this topic over and over for about 30 minutes. I was at my favorite gun shop buying another firearm, when the owner of the shop who I have dealt with for years. He had got a shipment of mini-14s in that day. He ask me to come in the back of the store, he handed me a mini-14 and said what do you think of that. I was admiring the gun,I am a fan of the mini14 and 30s. He then gave me a ten round mag, I dont know what the brand was, but he said insert it. I began to insert the mag, it would not began to go in. He said their all like that, as he handed me another gun. I tried it as well same result. I can say I had a lump in my throat,as I watched him sell a used mini-14 for more than a new one cost.The sound of disappointment from inside the store still echoes in my ears.My friend the shop owner is very knowlageable about firearms, as he has been in business about 35 years, and no he's not a crook. I had no reason to doubt him but I could not accept what Ruger had done. So I called Ruger and ask the guy on the phone about the change,and he immediately confirmed my night mare. The topic came up here and there was some disbelief, and I could not blame it. So I call Ruger again and spoke to a nice young lady and she said there was no change made. I politely ask her to double check,she came back on the line and said the change had been made. I have been back in the gunshop several times since,and the owner still believes what we had found out. The only explanation I can come to tonight is maybe he got a mini-30 mag mixed up and thats why it wouldnt go in. But that dont explain my two conformations from Ruger. But you can bet monday, as this friday night I will come to a definate conclusion. If I have misinformed any one I sincerly apoligise. I hope it is wrong information I will go buy another mini-14 to go with the ones I have. I hope I come up with a different answer I just cant see Ruger conforming the change twice. But If they have not been changed the Gun shop owner should knock at least $100.00 off the price of the gun for my trouble, I certainly will buy another, just from what I hope is just a scare. And I will take my own preban mag to try. Once again if I gave inaccurate information I did study the subject before I gave it out,and I truly am sorry. And I would appreciate someone else also checking with Ruger I still cant figure that one out. Or why someone has not reinformed the gun shop that there has been no change. Ill be happy to be wrong!!!

    Rugster
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  • rmeyerrmeyer Member Posts: 566 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Rugster being a big fan of the mini 14 and mini 30's I would find it amazing if you can't tell the difference between those mags. Look nothing alike to me at all.
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  • gundummygundummy Member Posts: 254 ✭
    edited November -1
    Boy, I can't believe how much fuss this subject brought out - again.
    Those who have a mini 14 can spot a mag mile away, so confusing it with a mini 30, well, I don't know. Lets just say that everyone makes a mistake here and there. Hey, if Rugster ends up being right, we'll all have to buy him beer.

    By the way, did you guys hear of the .22LR conversion kit for the .50 BMG? I wonder how it'll hold it's target at 1000 yds? LOL
    Just a joke!! Have nice weekend gentlemen and don't lose any sleep about this, I know I won't.....ZZZZZZ. GD
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  • leeblackmanleeblackman Member Posts: 5,303 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have to back up Judgecolt, he's an authority with vast knowledge on firearms.

    Not only that but my dealer just got a new min-14 in, and every hi-cap mag we tried fit like a gem.

    I think that there is some explination for Rugsters mis-conception, possibly mixed mags, or a bad mag, and a dealer did a swap around to make a sell or something, but I've seen it with my own eyes, that the new ones do in fact accept hi-caps, and nothing was modified.



    If I'm wrong please correct me, I won't be offended.
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