Overall, the Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle is a fantastic hunting rifle, and a hard-use, survival or battle rifle — and exactly what Jeff Cooper had in mind with the scout-rifle concept. I was opposed to it at first, because it kind of breaks the classic bolt action mold. At no time did the rifle give me the slightest problem, even with ice and snow in the action. I was able to get an SCR lower and BCG only. Removed the heavy front sight and replaced with an Eagle HK type front sight assembly, which accomplished two steps. Ruger Mini 14 Ranch Rifle Full Review. This article will offer a brief historical overview of the design and production of the Mini-14, and a practical assessment of what the rifle offers today’s shooters. The M14 is a boat anchor and costs even more than the Ruger. Undaunted, Sturm, Ruger and Co. sold the gun to police agencies domestically and abroad with some success. semi-automatic rifles, Ruger’s Mini-14 has long been one of the obvious choices. I did find one new, maybe the only new one for miles. He has taken the trigger group apart and painstakingly polished up all the parts that matter. Remember the days when TTAG would give guns less than 4 stars? After giving the rifle a once through with some CLP I took it to the range on the first day for some “break in”. It doesn’t take much movement to throw shots off. The rifle experienced no issues cycling. The rifle tested for this review is a case in point. Are there any semi 308 rifles as light as a Mini 14? The butt plate comes to my ahoulder easier and quicker without dragging on clothing or gear. 7 Responses to The World’s Shallowest Review of the Ruger American Rifle Ranch 5.56. Model Number: 19115 Caliber: 9mm Luger Stock Black Synthetic with Aluminum Free-Float Handguard; Capacity 17; Barrel Length 16.12" 40.9 cm; Overall Length 34.37" 87.2 cm; Front Sight Protected Blade; Rear Sight Adjustable Ghost Ring; Barrel Feature Threaded, Fluted; Thread Pattern 1/2"-28; Weight 7 lb. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. yeah,..laid out about $400 for mine…these new prices seem ridiculous…. Totally agree with this review. “Fire…Ready…Aim”…. Shoots great. Also it jumped around and wasn’t very comfortable. The newer heavy-barrel Mini is a 1 MOA rifle, if taken to mean ‘Minute Of Asshole’. The Mini is a highly-reliable arm that has the same manual of arms as the M-14 (or M1a). These days I think the biggest selling point to the Mini is to thumb your nose at the tacti-cool crowd. I prefer the Mini because it handles better for the way I like to use a rifle. While you definitely don’t see as many today bobbing around today in the sea of black rifles, the stalwart little Ruger can still take care of business at home and afield. This makes it a great stand-in for the AR-15 in certain states like California, where … Highest Quality Ruger American Aftermarket Parts designed by Combat Veterans! But the rifle kept on ticking so I was able to obtain accuracy data without an issue. The 5.56 IS a 223 caliber round so every (with 1 exception) Mini 14 ever built can safely chamber and fire 5.56 ammunition. Therefore, it seems to be a more accurate rifle than the older model. It was a design used in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam and there are not legions of stories detailing the horrors of conscripted-soldiers mowing down their brethren. We offer a wide selection of firearms, including: handguns, shotguns, rifles, ammunition, rifle scopes and optics, as well as collectible machine guns and other NFA/Class 3 guns. The hi-cap Ruger magazines were very difficult to find (like you needed to find a secret source for them it seemed). I have NEVER experienced even a hint of a failure or jam. The Mini-14 is generally reliable, but will often falter when subjected to a heavy firing schedule. A stainless GB model with factory folding stock. Great shooting rifle and I will never complain about a grouping like that. CAD $709.99. The barrel is a 1 in 8 twist, so perfect for the heavier bullets. Thank you TTAG for the review. This was at 100 yds. May 14, 2018 By Layne Simpson. If you have one, grasp the peep itself on the rear sight base and pull it up and down vertically. Actually, if you look at the back of the receiver, where it says 223, it actually says 223 Caliber not 223 Remington. Groups are the average of four five-shot groups. The Mini-14 is generally tough, but does not offer the same, hard-running performance as the AR-15 and other contemporary designs. Once sighted in, the Ruger Ranch Rifle ran well enough with some small caveats. 1 is a modernized Farquharson with an internal hammer falling block action This kit will work for all variations of the Ruger American Rifle. Your very best day of hunting might happen on the back 80 acres of your family deer property, or on an unnamed backcountry ridge in Alaska. The Mini-14 was only commercially introduced in 1975, with full production beginning the following year, far too late to gain any traction with the Vietnam War-era U.S. Military: Over 10 years prior the AR-15’s star was ascendant, and the Black Rifle was summarily adopted as the M16 in 1964, securing for decades to come the attention (and budget) of the American military. There would not be multiple manuals to learn, just one. Just like the 1911 in a pistol, there is a reason all tactical rifles are measured against the AR15, because they are superior. Considering the vast mechanical differences, you may think it fair to call the name Mini-14 misleading. As a civilian, it’s hard for me to imagine a scenario where I would be trading bullets with anyone at distances beyond which this rifle is deadly accurate. I would have loved it of this compact rifle had a length of pull to match. one chambered in 5.56 NATO , the second which you did not mention is chambered in 6.8 spc. We both have piled up the deer and pigs over the years with both of them. Josh Wayner is a Michigan native, active competitor, Grand Valley State University alumni, troublemaker, and fiction author. Accuracy on early guns was pretty poor, with the average Mini producing groups of around 5 inches at 100 yards. Got one coming as we speak. The main reason is that the old, original rear sight has play in all directions. Magazines are expensive compared to AR magazine and not as widely available. The heart of the rifle is a beefy, modern-looking action with a bit of European flair. I would not turn one down or give it away if it is all I had, or I already owned one, but if I was seriously shopping for the best tool for the job the Mini would not be my first choice. The 20-round Ruger-branded magazine is very well made, much heavier- duty than equivalent metal magazine for ARs. It was a stainless model and the receiver looked like pot metal. More from The Truth About Guns: Gun Review: Savage 110 Scout Rifle With AccuFit System. Even 1 moa rifles will not group that well in the hands of the average shooter. Model #8517. Today’s Mini-14’s combine the features from several earlier variations, but are otherwise identical in all essential characteristics as the very first guns that were introduced in 1975. For me – it works. I found that changing the gas port helps reduce case denting (and a bunch of other things, like throwing your brass 30 feet away). Hello and welcome to my Ruger American Ranch review. What nap and esoteric said. ... {recision Hunter loaded up with 143-grain ELD-X’s and headed to the ranch to zero the gun. Anyone know what that is for? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. But we’re used to that up here in Michigan and I don’t wear an especially thick coat. We’ve had absurdly low temperatures, tons of ice and snow, barely any sunlight, and bad outbreaks of cabin fever. There is a large aftermarket following for the Mini-14 line, but they generally come in the form of stocks and some accurizing accessories. Now, Ruger has chambered the Ranch Compact for the .350 Legend straight-wall cartridge. Still, the length of pull while fully kitted out was a stretch. This newest version of the Ruger American Ranch Rifle is a companion piece to the equally new Winchester 350 Legend cartridge introduced at the 2019 Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trades (SHOT) Show in Las Vegas. Compared to my early M16A1 and later Colt A2s, the Mini 14 design is far superior than any direct empingment rifle, my only real complaint is the Mini 14 gas piston on slide design, maybe if they changed it to more of the M1 Carbine style gas piston system, that would correct a lot of the remaining issues, and the ejector system. For others, nothing short of a 5,000 round gauntlet of smoking heat, mud, water and gravel will suffice. The reasons for buying this rifle are: After a handful of shots I would have trouble keeping the shots inside of a 12 inch circle at 50 yards, and it would fail to fire at least a couple of rounds per box of 20, and that was with an after market spring behind the firing pin. Well when seated properly, the OAL is too long for the cartridge to fit the magazine. Reliable, but accuracy was mediocre. It is plenty accurate enough for defense, hunting most kinds of game, and can be easily fitted with an optic and sling, covering the bare necessities nicely. This rifle is scoped with a Burris Compact 3-9 in factory Ruger rings. Despite the temperature, shooting the rifle is tons of fun. Rugged, reliable, and good looking. If you are thinking of acquiring a semi-auto rifle for home defense or general preparedness and desire Ruger’s little rifle, be sure you are not simply charmed by the Mini’s classic form factor and operation; an AR will outstrip it in every category. Easy to clean (piston as well as a Robar-coated BCG). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Others that I have talked to over the years have found the same thing. I had no issues with it in the deep cold of Michigan’s most recent winter storm and it functioned well even with snow and ice all over it. Mini 14 I would think was a mini m-14, not Garand. A certifed, indestructible classic: our review of the stainless steel Ruger Mini-14 Ranch Rifle chambered in .223/5.56 NATO. But you’ve made the gun sound a bit fragile in certain environments and that has just never been my experience. I saw that too. I did add a 50mm Vortex scope. The newest release of the Mini 14 now do say 5.56. The Ruger American Ranch Rifle comes with a number of features common to the line, including: cold hammer-forged barrel, adjustable trigger, integral bedding block system, lightweight synthetic stock and threaded muzzle. While plenty reliable for most field conditions when given a modicum of care, the Mini will generally not tolerate hard-use, neglect or abuse like an AR or AK will, and was not designed to. I went to an indoor range today to sight in my stainless mini 14. We’ll pick our favorite one at the end. I made my own barrel support/heat dissipator rod, put in a .065 gas port like you mentioned, but I did a lot of work with reloads, actually converting Russian steel cases to Boxer primers, loaded with 150 Hornady bullets, and I actually shot a 3 shot one contiguous hole group at 200 yards. I commend you for pointing out the many flaws and downsides of the Mini-14 that you have addressed in your review. Mine was purchased when Minis were much cheaper than ARs somthe new price seems steep. The standard, winged aperture sight unit was also omitted and replaced with a folding emergency sight, the scope being seen as the primary sighting system and the obsession with back-up iron sights being some way off in the future. The Mini-14 is at its best as a no-frills, less expensive rifle for general purpose, hence the Ranch Rifle moniker is fitting. Watching her do her Colonel Hannibel Smith impersonation complete with cigar is hilarious. A gas bushing, a set of shok buffers,a bedding job and a barrel strut will get you to around 90% of it’s potential, but pursuing that last 10% is basically setting your money on fire. The 1 exception is the Mini 14 Target Rifle. Bill Rugar supported gun restrictions and his mini was left alone, {self serving gun control) I’ve owned 3 of these POS all so inaccurate you could not hit the side of a barn at 3 feet, they were bending the barrels when pushing the front sight on!, FYI got better accuracy out of a Norinko SKS. However a pre-ranch model a friend of mine has will feed just fine from any magazine we’ve ever tried in it. Rating Required. The rifle was easy to shoot with and did well during rapid fire. Your mileage may vary. Even better, the rifle can feed from Ruger BX-25 magazines which hold a total of 25 rounds - a lot of shooting for a bolt action rifle. First, as to being an open-topped design, virtually all bolt-action rifles are open-topped and that is never regarded as a failing. Ruger combined their inexpensive .223 rifle with the American bolt-action line to provide this economy rifle. As thousands before me have learned, shooting the Mini-14 is a pleasant experience. I must say that for the $900 outlay the internet critic of the weapon overall gives me pause. MSRP: $1069 (street price about $900). If I remember right, it did just fine. Mike C It’s designed to be rugged and looks the part. There’ll be a .350 Legend AR upper before long. Bill Ruger’s idea was the M1 Garand action, as an archetype, was so regarded and loved by military brass and troops alike it would have been a shoe-in for the next generation of small-caliber infantry rifle, and Ruger believed his little rifle superior to all comers, and more than capable of serving as an infantry rifle. If you are looking for good plastic mags for the Mini-14, the Tapco Gen. II’s work great, and are around $15 each. Even though most Mini 14’s are marked .223 on the reciever most are actually chambered for 5.56 (with the exception of the Target model it is .223 only!). This was in part due to the lack of intrinsic accuracy of the rifle, a mediocre trigger and the front sight being overly thick and not suited to precision shooting. Now I will agree completely with the magazine issue with any Ranch model old or new Ive encountered. Wish me luck! And this leads to the final reason, not touched on, to prefer the Mini-14 – consistent manual of arms. Maybe it’s a Drew thing, the M1 carbine is my favorite rifle to shoot as well. About the only thing that I can think that would justify buying a Mini-14 is that it is not subject to the same limitations/restrictions that ARs are in some anti-gun states. I do wish they would make one that took cheap PMags. Like any metal magazine, the feed lips must be paid special care to prevent damage and they should be decommissioned at if they present any feed malfunctions. Ergonomics * * * The author left me hanging with his article by saying that the Ruger rifle was a 1,000 yard rifle, but he only reported groups sizes at 100 yards. Beside the action, there are a few other differences you’ll notice compared to an AR. “[P]ursuing that last 10% is basically setting your money on fire.” I’ve found this to be true with so many things in life. I’m no expert (living in NY I’m not really allowed to be, sigh), but it strikes me that other rifle platforms have done a better job hitting the sweet spot for a lightweight, easy-shooting, semi-auto .308. It is not a failing at all. Ruger Mini 14 or Mini 30 Stainless Steel Ranch Rifle Thumbhole stock Order #222 - Built on your rifle action $1239.97 New Mini 14 5.56 or 223 REM. I don’t have any problems at all with damaged cases anymore. Combining their favored .223 Ranch rifle with their American bolt-action line, Ruger has produced an economy rifle … It would be interesting to see the difference in the accuracy in, say, 80 degree weather with same ammo and wind speed. From the initial prototypes in 1971, the rifle was intended to be essentially a 5.56mm scaled down version of the M14. He did it to the gun. In my state the 556 caliber is not legal for deer. I think they are more fun to shoot than my AR and even my wife loves the Mini 14, it being her favorite rifle. It looks like it might hold the receiver to the stock after you take out the trigger assembly. It’s a solid design, albeit dated, made of wood, metal and bakelite. Nearly a 40% Ruger American Trigger Adjustment giving you a lighter and smoother Ruger American Trigger! At first I thought they loaded them too hot. That it is different from an AR is no weakness, only that AR manuals of arms do not apply to the Mini-14. 1 is a timeless classic that's still relevant; The No. The blade safety (again, similar to the Garand’s or the M14) just forward of the trigger guard is convenient enough to use, if not exactly elegant. For heavy-duty use, the Mini stumbles. But I went with a Fightlite “SCR.” it shoulders like a mini 14 ranch, but the SCR is about 75% AR-15 parts and near 100% AR accessories like magazines. The then-new Ranch Rifle featured integral scope bases that the standard Mini-14 lacked, and an altered, side ejection pattern to allow use of a scope over the ejection port. My hunting partner recently replaced a decades-old bolt action rifle with a Ruger American Ranch, which is somewhat of a modern spin on an old bolt action rifle. It was not a failing with the Garand in WWII or Korea – there are not stories of dead Marines with their broken-down, hopelessly-jammed Garand being cleaned like there are with the M16 in Vietnam. I would be interested in finding out if this in 300 Blk out, can run suppressed with sub sonic ammo? I love the rifle, detest the magazine. The magazines are a change from the AR pattern in that they rock in instead of just inserting straight up. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "af0fc681875b0edcc982f6fe33d2106f" );document.getElementById("hbe3531a12").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Aftermarket solutions are available, however. That said, the accuracy with iron sights are fine for most work inside 200 yards which is the kind of job it’s designed for (think varmint control). Some subsonic may not cycle properly without a silencer. Mike’s rifle is exactly the same Ranch Rifle as my dad’s. Ruger American Ranch Compact Rifle in .350 Legend Since debuting eight years ago, the Ruger American rifle line has expanded to include 17 different chamberings in six configurations. Thank you. The only way to tell if you will like a certain candy bar is bite into it. I have a Mini 14. great varmint rifle. The BCG is slightly proprietary but the bolt is standard AR. Remember most mini-14s are 223 not 556. – Florida VA Doctor Shot by Patient In a Gun-Free Zone, About Face: Baltimore School Police Will Carry Guns After All, DEATH AND TAXES: Help Your Family Value Your Guns and Safely Sell Unwanted Firearms and Accessories, Diamondback DBX57 Video Review: 5.7x28mm Piston-Driven Pistol, Obscure Object of Desire: Norinco Sporter Hunter. In production since the 1960s, the Ruger No. Now I’m kind of curious though…. to around 150 yards. And can ‘dented’ neck brass be safely reloaded? EVERY Mini-14 – with the exception of their Target model – is chambered for 5.56 NATO, regardless of what is stamped on the receiver. Ruger is one of the most recognizable names in the firearms industry and for good reason. I purchased the Ruger Ranch in .223 Remington. I also like the open top (scopes are bad) in case I do have a stoppage. Semi-automatic, and fed from a detachable magazine, it is sometimes believed to be nothing more than a miniaturized M14 chambered for the smaller 5.56mm, the truth is quite different. The Mini 14 is extreamly dependable and very rugged in most all types of conditions that I’ve ever seen and honestly read about. It was not a failing with the M1 Carbine. Upgrade your Ruger American Predator trigger pull with the Best Ruger American Trigger Job on the market! Share 11; Tweet; Pin 6; One of the largest, most prolific and innovative American gun manufacturers is the firm of Sturm, Ruger and Co., more commonly known as just Ruger. This website is enrolled in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Ruger’s flagship semi-auto rifle, the Mini-14, is one such design, and definitely stands out among a sea of AK’s and AR’s. The rifles are gas piston and are clean running , reliable , great rifles. Stripper clips are fun too. That was too much for my chrony, so I didn’t get to record velocity. Comments Required. The Mini’s safety in particular is very lacking, a holdover from the M1 Garand and M14. I should have waited longer and bought an AR (which I ultimately did several times over). Your mileage may vary. I have no idea how many people own one…..but it has to be in the tens of thousands….So you know thousands of AR owners, do you? Might want to think about that statement a bit. Specifications: Ruger Mini-14 Ranch Rifle Stainless, Caliber: .223/5.56 Like the rest of the American line it features a three-lug "fat" bolt and a one-piece receiver with a narrowed ejection port for added stiffness to improve accuracy. Reliability * * * * * When it comes to .223 Rem. 1 such a classic rifle? As for the comments as to being .223 only. Marketplace Insight. The side-folding stocks are offered with the .223 chambered Mini-14 Ranch Rifles that hit the ... Stop by to potentially win a Ruger Mini-14 rifle with the Samson A-TM ... Review… Long live the Mini-14! Perceived recoil is somewhere between a AR 10 and and an AR 15. I like the idea of a magazine that seats flush with the stock, but if also like the ability to run 10, 20, or 30 round magazines. That sort of makes this blog/forum suspect of being realistic. A substantial portion of the population is located in warmer, more humid southern states, and this is a good gun for those conditions as well. The Ruger Mini Thirty is an advanced version of the Mini 14 Ranch, chambered for the 7.62x39mm round. Had a 4 foot flame ball come out at the end of the barrel and the action actually jammed all the way back. I’ve owned five Mini-14s that I can recall. I have the mini14 and mini30 and they are just so fun to shoot. If you can forego that last ten per cent 98% of the time, you should be able to splurge on the things that matter to you most. It’s fast – just not fast for someone trained on the AR. Second, the safety location is just fine. I own 2 mini 14 . With one exception. well the stock issues is an easy fix, find one that’s more your size. Although the Mini-14 has largely been phased out in law enforcement roles in favor of the superior AR-15, it still sees significant use in domestic and foreign corrections departments. While that seems bad, it is, in fact, the ideal conditions to test the stainless steel Ruger Mini-14 Ranch Rifle. They are easy to handle and shoot, generally robust, and handy. The trademarked "Ruger Marksman Adjustable™" trigger is a functionally two-stage trigger similar in design to the Savage AccuTrigger, which allows the user to adjust the weight of pull between 3–5 lb (1.4–2.3 kg) by means of a set screw on the trigger housing. While similar in overall design to a classic military rifle, the ghost ring sights on the Mini-14 Ranch Rifle are just different enough to be noticeable though they’re easy to get used to. There’s more than a fair amount of creep, though it breaks cleanly enough at just over five pounds. Gun magazines, for example, seldom say that a product is badly flawed because doing sot drives away advertising. This was an interesting read but I must disagree with you just a bit. First let me say I’m no expert or anything of the sort. Sorry. 1. The Mini-14, as mentioned above, loads and operates virtually identically to its larger, battle rifle inspiration: A box magazine of 5, 10, 20 or 30 rounds is locked into the receiver by rocking it from front to rear at a shallow angle, and released via pressing a lever in front of the trigger guard and rocking the magazine forward. I would think, if they are as bad as some people make them out to be, there should be web pages full of used Mini 14’s. These sporty rifles are perfect for modifications, so we made a review of the best Ruger Mini 14 stocks on the market. The aftermarket magazines are for range use only. mags are AR, upper is AR, barrel and rail are AR. On par with most AKs. The mags are expensive. When I tested it in sub-zero conditions, I had to assume a somewhat awkward position in order to shoulder the rifle with my winter coat on. Many, Mini 14 owners have referred to it as the “american AK” because of its rugged dependability. I have the 2×7 Vortex and 3×9 Nikon on the rifles and they are a great combo. My Buddy said I looked like I should have been on a copy of soldier of fortune with that 4 foot flame ball……LOL, Sick and tired of this crap regarding Mini-14s and acceptable ammo. Let’s see what it offers. My brief encounter with a Mini 14 left me unimpressed. It was so cold that you could hear trees cracking due the severe temperatures, but the Mini-14 didn’t seem to care. A reason for the earlier rifles apparently throwing their shots around is hardly ever mentioned. SIG SAUER 77gr Match—————————-2.5” I had my bench rest with me and ended up gettting a 5 shot group that were all touching. Gun Review: Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle in .450 Bushmaster The magazine drops free and I insert a replacement magazine. Ruger's Ranch Rifle. Secondly a rifle that is not named “ Scout” but sure meets many of the requirements is the grand old “Ranch Rifle” by Ruger or so named years ago, now being the Mini 14 or Mini 30 carbines. I’d be very interested in how you arrived at the “I was a Green Beret….” motivation as the reason “Most people who buy the AR….”. You can verify this with the owners manual which says they can safely fire 5.56 or you can verify it with Ruger. In addition to the Mini 14 mentioned above, I also have a AR upper that I converted to a piston, am still playing with that one too. I have an old Mini 14 that is known for it’s “Minute of Milk Jug” accuracy. When I was in an assault rifle ban state last year I looked at the Mini. Bedding the action to the stock, while laborious and sometimes costly, can improve mechanical accuracy, and a trigger job performed by a competent ‘smith can help the shooter extract it. The Ruger No. The Ranch model is a bolt action with a synthetic stock and a detachable box magazine. It seems fragile to me but has never failed. When you are wearing a coat or thick clothing it tends to get hung up on fabric and is also hard to shoulder. A significant fault to me. i remember liking that move since Clooneys love interest was very attractive even though she was a prostitute in the film…I like her a lot……did I mention that I liked her? I’ve never seen that on any FFS before. The gun comes with scope mounts, but wasn’t tested with an optic, which would have tightened groups up a bit. True story, but it’s the closest you’ll probably get if you truly want a “scaled up” Mini-14. If you are trained on the M-14, if that is your preferred platform in 7.62×51, then the Mini-14 is the logical carbine to have. “The relatively simple Mini-14 design, one that Ruger’s been selling for more than 45 years, is rather simple…”. I have a mini-30, and accuracy was poor as well. Aesthetics * * * * For a survivalist, that kind of performance and reliability would seem to be somewhat important. But then…. That might be a nice thumper if it would fit. Mini is a great gun, but if you are getting a ranch version because you live in a ban state, there are better options.