Ruger Mini-14

The Mini-14 is a lightweight semi-automatic rifle manufactured by Sturm, Ruger & Co. used by military personnel, law enforcement personnel, and civilians. A .223 caliber (5.56 mm) firearm, it is made in a number of variants, including: the Ranch Rifle (a basic, civilian variant), the Mini-14 GB, and the Mini Thirty, which is chambered for 7.62×39mm.

Mini-14
The Mini-14 GB (Government Bayonet)
Type
Place of originUnited States
Service history
Used bySee Users
WarsRhodesian Bush War[1]
The Troubles[2]
Production history
DesignerL. James Sullivan, William B. Ruger
Designed1967–1973
ManufacturerSturm, Ruger & Co.
Produced1973–present
VariantsSee Variants
Specifications
Mass6 lb 6 oz (2.90 kg)
Length37.25 in (946 mm)
Barrel length13 in (330 mm) to 22.0 in (559 mm)
Cartridge.223 Remington
.222 Remington
5.56×45mm NATO
7.62×39mm
.300 AAC Blackout
6.8 SPC
ActionGas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire750 rpm (Full-auto rate-of-fire for AC-556 model only)[3]
Muzzle velocity3240 ft/s (990 m/s)
Feed system5- to 30-round factory box magazine.
SightsIron sights

History and design
Stainless steel Mini-14 Ranch Rifle with various accessories

Introduced in 1973 by Sturm, Ruger & Co.,[4] the Mini-14 resembles a smaller version of the military M14 rifle.[5] Designed by L. James Sullivan[6] and William B. Ruger, it incorporated numerous innovations and cost-saving engineering changes. The Mini-14 rifle has an investment-cast, heat-treated receiver and is mechanically similar to the M1 rifle, with a self-cleaning, fixed-piston gas system.[7][8]

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.[9]

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.

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.

In 2003, the design was overhauled to improve accuracy, update the styling, and reduce production costs. The standard Mini-14 was discontinued and the name became the family name for all Mini-14 type rifles. As of 2005, all Mini-14 type rifles are based on the Ranch Rifle design, with integral scope bases, a non-folding ghost ring aperture rear sight, and a winged front sight similar to that used on the Ruger Police Carbine.[9] They have serial numbers beginning with 580 and are sometimes referred to as 580-series Ranch Rifles.[10] They also have a new modified gas system designed to reduce barrel vibration[9] and can shoot two-inch groups at 100 yards, which is 2 MOA (minute of angle) accuracy.[10]

Around 2007 or 2008, Ruger added a heavier, larger-diameter barrel visibly tapered from gas block to muzzle. These changes combined with tighter tolerances result in greater potential accuracy.[8]

All Mini-14 type rifles are available in stainless steel or blued finish with hardwood, synthetic, or laminated stocks with 16.12-inch (409 mm) or 18.5-inch (470 mm) barrels.[10]

Variants

Ranch Rifle
Ranch Rifle. Note: scope mounts and ghost ring rear sight
Ruger Mini-14 Ranch Rifle with a Bushnell 3-9 X 40mm rifle scope

The Ranch Rifle is a basic model offered in a wood or synthetic rifle stock paired with a blued or stainless steel receiver and a standard 18.5" tapered barrel (1:9" RH twist rate). These rifles feature an adjustable ghost ring rear sight and winged front sight, and they are sold with a detachable Picatinny scope rail mount and a choice of two 20-round or 5-round detachable box magazines to comply with some U.S. states and other countries which have laws restricting magazine capacity. All models are chambered in both .223 Remington and 5.56×45mm NATO ammunition except the Target Rifle variant (which is .223 only).[9]

Target Rifle

Introduced in 2007,[11] the "Target Rifle" version has a 22-inch (560 mm) cold hammer-forged heavy barrel, adjustable harmonic tuner with adjustable minute-of-angle accuracy, and either a laminated wood or Hogue overmolded synthetic stock.[12][13] The Target Rifle does not have iron sights but includes the standard scope rings and Picatinny rail mount.[13] It is designed for use with the .223 Remington round only; 5.56 NATO is not warranted by Ruger.[14]

Tactical Rifle
A stainless Mini-14 Tactical (top) and Mini-14 GB-F

Introduced in 2009,[15] the "Tactical Rifle" is the newest variant, which includes the shorter 16.12" barrel with flash suppressor, and is available with a standard fixed stock/forend, or a collapsible ATI-brand stock with Picatinny rails. This model is chambered in both .223 Remington/5.56×45mm NATO[16] and .300 AAC Blackout as of 2015.[17]

Mini Thirty
Early Mini-Thirty rifle is identical to the Ranch Rifle. Note: folding rear sight
Ruger Mini Thirty with pistol grip folding stock, Harris bipod, 30-round magazine, AK-74 style flash hider with added flash diverter and 3–9×40mm scope on Ruger high-post rings

In 1987, Ruger began production of the Mini Thirty. The Mini Thirty is chambered for the Russian 7.62×39mm cartridge, used in the SKS and AK-47, as many states prohibit hunting of deer with calibers smaller than 6 mm (.243 in). The 7.62×39mm has ballistics similar to the well-known .30-30 Winchester.[18] The Mini Thirty is available with a 16.12" (Tactical Model) or 18.50" barrel having a twist rate of 1:10" RH, and is sold with two 20-round or 5-round box magazines.[19] Ruger does not currently produce 30-round Mini Thirty magazines. The Mini Thirty shares many of the same design and accessory options with those of the smaller caliber Mini-14 Ranch Rifle.

Mini Thirty Tactical Rifle

The "Mini Thirty Tactical Rifle" variant was introduced in 2010.[20] It closely mimics the Mini-14 Tactical Rifle variant, but in 7.62x39mm. It also has a shorter 16.12" barrel with flash suppressor, and is available with a standard fixed stock/forend, or a collapsible ATI-brand stock with Picatinny rails.

Mini-14 GB
Ruger Mini-14GB with a pistol grip, side folding stock, 30-round magazine, bayonet lug, threaded barrel, flash suppressor and M7 bayonet.

The Mini-14 GB ("government barrel") models feature either a pistol grip, side folding stock or a standard semi-pistol grip rifle stock, a 20 or 30-round magazine, bayonet lug, threaded barrel, and flash suppressor. Proof that GB stands for Government Barrel and not Government Bayonet can be seen in Ruger's new Tactical models and Ruger continuing to use "GB" which are catalogued for example KM-14/20GBCP. These models have no bayonet lug but do have the flash hider. Sales of the models with bayonet lug were intended only for law enforcement, military and private security markets, and could only be found in Ruger's Law Enforcement Catalog. [21] However, many have entered the civilian market.[22]

AC-556

Introduced in 1979, the AC-556 is a selective-fire version of the Mini-14 marketed for military and law enforcement use. The design incorporates a selector on the right/rear of the receiver to select either semi-automatic, 3-round burst, or full-automatic fire modes; the manual safety at the front of the trigger guard operates the same as a standard Mini-14. The front sight is winged and incorporates a bayonet lug. The 13-inch (330 mm) or 18-inch (460 mm) barrel incorporates a flash suppressor, which can be used to launch approved tear-gas and smoke rifle grenades. A folding stock was used on the AC-556F and AC-556K. The rifle came equipped with 20-round magazines and a 30-round version was available for a time. The AC-556 was dropped from production in 1999 and Ruger stopped offering service for the rifle in 2009.[23][24] By that time, some models became available for private civilian purchase in the NFA market.[25]

Mousqueton A.M.D
French CRS police officer with Mousqueton A.M.D. with tangent rear sight. Note: selector lever at the rear of the receiver.

In France, the AC-556 is known as the Mousqueton A.M.D. where it was used by several governmental agencies within the French Interior Ministry: the Police Aux Frontières ("P.A.F."—Border Police), the Police Nationale Compagnies Républicaines de Sécurité (or "C.R.S."—Riot Control Brigade) and the Groupe d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale ("GIGN") special operations unit.[26][27] The A.M.D. come in two versions, the first has the standard Ruger aperture rear sight. On the other, the aperture rear sight has been completely removed and replaced with a tangent rear sight located on top of the barrel just forward of the receiver.

Straight-pull action

A small number of straight-pull only (a.k.a. bolt-action only) Mini-14 and Mini-30 rifles were manufactured for sale in the United Kingdom as a result of legislation which banned semi-automatic centerfire rifles in 1988.[28]

Other calibers and accessories
Mini-14 with various accessories
Disassembled Mini-14 with various accessories

.222 Remington

Ruger produced a .222 Remington caliber model as of 1984.[29] Designated Mini-14/5R.222, these rifles were made mostly for civilian markets overseas where .223 and 5.56 caliber firearms are generally banned. These were discontinued in the early 1980s.[30][31]

7.62 Soviet

In 1987, Ruger began production of the Mini Thirty chambered for the Soviet 7.62×39mm cartridge.

6.8 mm Remington

In 2007, Ruger began production of the Mini-6.8 utilizing the commercial 6.8mm Remington SPC cartridge.[32] However, they were discontinued in 2012 and are no longer listed in the Ruger catalog.

300 Blackout

In 2015 Ruger introduced the Mini-14 Tactical chambered in .300 AAC Blackout.[17]

Accessories

There are a wide range of aftermarket accessories available for the Mini-14 and Mini-30, including numerous stocks, magazines, weaver and Picatinny rail mounts.[9]

Users
Royal Bermuda Regiment soldier armed with a Mini-14 GB in 1994
French police armed with Mousqueton A.M.D. rifles


Criminal use

The Ruger Mini-14 was used in several notable crimes:

References
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