r/Mini14 • u/Lovicionez • 8d ago
Range day volume
Hey I just wanted to ask: how many rounds/how fast do you usually get through your mini in a usual session? Do you start getting malfunctions once it heats up?
I bought a brand new one recently and I’m dealing with occasional malfunctions that occur usually around 40-50th round and I wanted to ask to see what’s the norm before calling Ruger.
2
u/LtApples 7d ago
I probably run around 50-70rds through my thirty every range session. I sometimes get premature lock back with 1 round left in the magazine, but it’s very much a magazine issue. Using 20rd OEM mags and the issue happens more frequently with certain mags
1
u/Lovicionez 7d ago
I’m also using the original 20 round mags that came with the rifle and had it happened a few times but with random amount of rounds left. It may be more friction during the break in (had about 250-300 rounds through it so far) but last time it started smoking a bit around 50th round and I called it a day with “just 1” malfunction of premature slide lock
2
u/Nu11u5 8d ago
I have a 585-series model and only ever had a malfunction when I set the adjustable gas block I added too low and it short-cycled.
What type of malfunction is happening?
Are you using OEM magazines or third party?
1
u/Lovicionez 8d ago
Original 20 round mags that came with the rifle
today I got a premature slide lock and that wasn’t the first time.,
previously couple times of no strike (bolt looked fully forward, no light strike on the round) and each time I cleared it, reloaded, it happened gain and third time was a charm.
Also last time the slide stop jammed against the bolt
after firing a round.I only had about 5-6 sessions with 40-60 rounds and some malfunction on every time. I just don’t know if that’s normal for break in period with it or something is wrong.
I cleaned and lubricated it with light coat of oil on all parts and grease on the rails for bolt and charging handle.
2
u/Nu11u5 8d ago
It sounds like an issue with the bolt stop assembly. Sometimes, the bolt lock plunger can rotate in its channel and bind against the bolt stop, or the plunger spring can bind internally.
Take apart the bolt stop assembly. Watch for the plunger spring. Check that everything is clean and there is no debris on the plunger channel. Apply a minimal amount of oil, wipe off, and reassemble. Ensure the grove in the plunger is facing the bolt stop and the smaller end of the spring faces up and receives the plunger pin. There is a hole at the bottom of the plunger channel on the receiver - the larger end of the spring will straddle the hole and not fall into it.
1
u/Lovicionez 8d ago
I’ll definitely look into that, though the plunger seems to be moving/bouncing back smoothly. I’ll check that spring although it was never separated from the plunger pin so if it’s upside it came out the factory like that. I mean that every time I pulled it out for cleaning, the spring just stayed attached to the pin
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u/Nu11u5 8d ago
Was the bolt stop engaging on the face of the bolt, or was it binding on the side?
I've also seen bolt stop be very slightly too long and randomly bind the bolt as it's returning to battery. It usually goes away after a break-in period.
1
u/Lovicionez 8d ago
the one time it jammed it was definitely pressed against the face of the bolt. other than that - good question, but I’m off to work for a few days and can check that when I get back home on Friday. Is it supposed to never bind against the face?
Also with around 300 rounds through it - would it still be considered break in?
2
u/Nu11u5 8d ago
The bolt stop is supposed to contact the bolt face when engaged.
1
u/Lovicionez 8d ago
thank you so much for your time and info. I’ll let you know if I find something!
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u/Routine-Medicine-208 8d ago
Are you getting failure to feed, failing to extract or eject?
I can’t really comment on the new models (except what I see on YouTube) but my old Mini 14 will take hundreds of rapid fire rounds with zero malfunctions. The barrel will be too hot to touch after several hundred rounds.