First Gun I owned as a young man was a blued Ruger Mini-14; it was a Christmas present 😮😱 from my stepdad. He was Army Infantry- ended up putting a Choate machine and tool sodefolder on her..😂😂 Close as I could get it to the “..A-Team” look- lived that rifle.!
Not all factory folder Mini-14s had the bayonet lug and flash hider. Some had the simple blade front sight. The reproduction Mini-14 is a GB-F(Government Barrel, meaning it has the flash hider/bayo lug, Folder.) The way to tell if a gun is a factory folding stock model is by the rear sight and gas block. The gas block will have the sling loop on the left side and the rear sight housing is cast as part of the receiver. And the serial # won't be higher than 185 series. Samson didn't start making the reproduction stocks until somewhere around 2016.
I think you mispoke at 5:33. Rugers ARE cast NOT forged. Their whole premise on the Mini14 was to cast it because it was cheaper - hence the "mini" in Mini14. There are very few forged or machined parts on this rifle.
I managed to find a Mini-14 GB that’s a 185 series and was a Texas DPS prison gun that I paid $700 for at a pawn shop, what a good deal. I only wanted an older GB variants since it most resembles the M-14 it was modeled after but those rear sights are not going to win any matches, lol. I recently put a Samson folder on it and it looks great now. Thanks for the video sir, like you I used to watch the A Team as a teenager.
In the A-Team they don't actually use the GB's, they use the ranch rifles with the folding stock, no bayonet lug. They also have a variant they used with a stainless barrel shroud a couple of times. Point is, there are a lot of variants out there.
The most distinguishing thing about the Mini-14 tactical rifle is the 'Nam vet Special Forces operators working as urban mercenaries _never managed to hit any of the bad guys_ with it. Though their suppressive fire combined with home made tanks and IEDs proved superlative.
If you watch the original A team series they didn't use the GB model rifle, it was the ranch style rifle in a GB stock with a pinned on flash hider and converted to full auto. My problem with Ruger is that they stopped making the 30 round mags to pease the anti gun lobbies when in reality they can never be satisfied. Ruger needs to make the 30 round mags again so the rifle can become more popular again.
I know this video is about guns, but I can't helped commenting on the theme songs of the 80s and 90s shows. I would ranked Magnum pi as my favourite theme, followed by 5-0, and the Greatest American Hero 😂😂. As an international viewer, I watched these American shows while growing up. Back then, the shows were more entertaining and innocent
Nice video! "Does is have a place in modern law enforcement? Nah" I do not agree with that statement. Just because a Ruger Mini is out of the norm of todays proliferation of black rifles doesn't make it ineffective functionally or from a training standpoint.
The 13” AC556 is king but this will scratch the itch if you’re nostalgic, for sure. 👍
First Gun I owned as a young man was a blued Ruger Mini-14; it was a Christmas present 😮😱 from my stepdad. He was Army Infantry- ended up putting a Choate machine and tool sodefolder on her..😂😂
Close as I could get it to the “..A-Team” look- lived that rifle.!
Just got mine today 😊
getting mine this coming week.
Not all factory folder Mini-14s had the bayonet lug and flash hider. Some had the simple blade front sight. The reproduction Mini-14 is a GB-F(Government Barrel, meaning it has the flash hider/bayo lug, Folder.) The way to tell if a gun is a factory folding stock model is by the rear sight and gas block. The gas block will have the sling loop on the left side and the rear sight housing is cast as part of the receiver. And the serial # won't be higher than 185 series.
Samson didn't start making the reproduction stocks until somewhere around 2016.
I think you mispoke at 5:33. Rugers ARE cast NOT forged. Their whole premise on the Mini14 was to cast it because it was cheaper - hence the "mini" in Mini14. There are very few forged or machined parts on this rifle.
Thought the “mini” designation was in reference to it being a scaled down version of the full size M-14 battle rifle.
Love the introduction
I have so much nostalgia for the A-Team TV show.
I managed to find a Mini-14 GB that’s a 185 series and was a Texas DPS prison gun that I paid $700 for at a pawn shop, what a good deal. I only wanted an older GB variants since it most resembles the M-14 it was modeled after but those rear sights are not going to win any matches, lol. I recently put a Samson folder on it and it looks great now. Thanks for the video sir, like you I used to watch the A Team as a teenager.
I put the Tech-Sights rear sight on mine. I highly recommend it.
@@thegrandinquisitor8239 thank you for the suggestion sir.
you forgot to mention samsons Hannibal rail that replaces the heat guard
Absolutely
great rifle for a collection, wish the stainless mags were easy to come by
Great video!!
In the A-Team they don't actually use the GB's, they use the ranch rifles with the folding stock, no bayonet lug. They also have a variant they used with a stainless barrel shroud a couple of times. Point is, there are a lot of variants out there.
I noticed the cheese grater hand guard and the longer flash hider on the show too. Still love them all.
I also have very early memories of this one. Would love to see you make a video of mounting a red dot or other optic on it
nice!
The most distinguishing thing about the Mini-14 tactical rifle is the 'Nam vet Special Forces operators working as urban mercenaries _never managed to hit any of the bad guys_ with it. Though their suppressive fire combined with home made tanks and IEDs proved superlative.
To be fair, the Army guys that were trying to bring them to justice never hit any of the team members with their M-16s or 1911s...
They hit everything they aimed for.
If you watch the original A team series they didn't use the GB model rifle, it was the ranch style rifle in a GB stock with a pinned on flash hider and converted to full auto. My problem with Ruger is that they stopped making the 30 round mags to pease the anti gun lobbies when in reality they can never be satisfied. Ruger needs to make the 30 round mags again so the rifle can become more popular again.
Ruger still makes the 30 rd. mags , plenty out there to buy .
@tomstone6247 how much per mag?
I remember MR T with this rifle
I pity the fool.🤪
Anyone have the 300 Blackout version?
I know this video is about guns, but I can't helped commenting on the theme songs of the 80s and 90s shows. I would ranked Magnum pi as my favourite theme, followed by 5-0, and the Greatest American Hero 😂😂. As an international viewer, I watched these American shows while growing up. Back then, the shows were more entertaining and innocent
Nice video! "Does is have a place in modern law enforcement? Nah" I do not agree with that statement. Just because a Ruger Mini is out of the norm of todays proliferation of black rifles doesn't make it ineffective functionally or from a training standpoint.
Dude...Your side arm fell out!