I didn't want to get Mr. Taylor's thread about his Mini-14 problems off track, and in posting my answer I got to thinking about Minis.
I do have 3 of them. Two are the original 180- series, and one is a 181- series. I was in the military when the M14 rifle made its appearance, and it was love at first sight. When I was discharged, 1964, the civilian version (M1A) wasn't yet available, and the M14 was illegal to own as they had a full auto capability, and none had been released by the military.
So, when I read in the gun rags about Ruger being in the process of developing a similar rifle, but civilian legal, to be known as the X-GI I was standing in line to be among the first to get one. But, sadly, if I've got the story right, Bill Ruger himself cancelled the project, stating that the rifle just could not be made to shoot accurately enough for his standards. BIG disappointment! It was to have been a 7.62mm/.308 Win.--- a great loss.
But, it wasn't too long, about 1977, when the Mini-14 was introduced. I immediately ordered one through my LGS and got the 2nd sold in the county, a S.O. Deputy getting the first. The Deputy was a close friend of mine, and he was one of those guys who trades guns he likes every couple of weeks, and guns he really likes every couple of months. I should have just waited, because about two months after he acquired it he had it up for sale back at the LGS on consignment. I got the rifle, 5 boxes of ammo, an extra magazine, and a nice hard case for $500.
The reason he offered for selling it was that it just wasn't accurate enough. He bought an early civilian-legal AR-15 which he praised highly. Right about that same time, during the two month period he had retained possession, I had an interesting conversation at the LGS with a San Quentin Prison Guard. He said that the Mini-14s were inferior to the AR-15s. He explained that every morning the Mini-14s they were equipped with as tower guns were test fired, and that they had experienced parts breakage and unreliability with the Minis, but had changed to the AR-15 and the problems disappeared. He also claimed that they lacked sufficient accuracy for their purposes.
Anyway, shortly thereafter I found myself in possession of two series 180- minis, and I noted that the Deputy's ex-rifle had a cracked bolt roller. He claimed to have fired approximately 250 rounds through the rifle, so that seemed premature, as the M14s I had fired extensively in the service sometimes lost their bolt roller after a couple of thousand rounds. It was an Ordnance-level repair, so when it happed you were issued a different rifle. I've fired another 500 rounds through the Mini with the cracked roller, and it shows no signs of giving up. Would you believe that, due to working nights and sleeping days, I had not as yet fired the one I purchased.....and it remains unfired, NIB to this day, now more of an investment.
Accuracy on the previously owned 180- series Mini is about 4" at 100 yards. As time went by, eventually I had 5 minis, but decided to cut the herd and ended up with my 3rd being a 181- series. It proved very inaccurate. I tried several different scopes and mounting combinations without success until the UltiMak mount came out. I mounted one on the barrel and now it shoots to about the same level as the 180- series rifle, but is nothing to brag about.
Then, just a few years ago, Ruger did a redesign on the Mini. I have never fired one of the new models. They look about the same, except for that kind of peculiar front sight, not nearly as nice looking as the original. However, the gun rags gave good reports on improved accuracy. I'm thinking about looking for a Mini-30 in stainless, because I've never warmed to the AR-15.
I've been trained on them, qualified with them, sold some through my past business, but never found them to have the charisma of wood and steel. I guess I'm a victim of arrested development. I've always liked the M1 Carbine and the SKS rifle, while never developing an enthusiasm for the 5.56mm/.223 Rem. round. Also very fond of the M1 Rifle and M14/M1A, but at age 78 they're getting heavy. Seems as though a stainless Mini-30 would scratch all of those itches, plus improved corrosion resistance. Also, the window for obtaining multiple high capacity magazines is still open. But, they're expensive, if available.
So, I'd be very interested to hear what forum members have to say about Mini-14s. I'd like to hear about your old and new experiences with them, war stories, problems, praises. All Mini-14s, and especially about the newer stainless Mini-30s.