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Like many here,
I am of the age where a Mini 14 holds a special place.
But I never grabbed one.
The local gun shop called to tell me they had a bunch of new CZs in,
A new Italy M9A3, etc.
I stopped by,
And a black synthetic stick, SS Mini 14 with a cheap Tasco scout type scope.
One of the Ranch ones maybe five or six years old with a nice leather sling and a 450$ price tag.
It has a pair of factory 20 rounders.
Any tips on good new mags would be appreciated.
With Minis of any caliber, factory is the way to go. Pay a bit more for them but they work. Dont waste your time money and ammo rediscovering this...lord knows I did that with a Mini-30. Enjoy!!
I don’t have a ton of experience with them, but the factory Mags were always a safe bet from what I remember.
We had around 42 Mini-14's in our Armory at one time. We found the Ruger 20 round magazines to function just fine as well as a couple 30 rounders we had. I remember hearing that if going with a 30 round magazine, Ruger was the best. We no longer use that rifle after 30 years in the department and parts are rather expensive as compared to AR parts.
Factory 20s. 30s are ok but kinda awkward. I've always loved the mini but always seemed to let them go. Just picked up a nice stainless 582 series the other day.
Factory mags are the safe bet. But gen2 TAPCO 30rd mags have also worked fine for me in very limited testing. I don't really shoot the Mini much these days!
Thermolds work great for some reason... Also there is a specialty metal 30 that works too but I can't remember the name. However, OEM work best and are easier to find than anything else good.
So yes. Factory!
Dennis.
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I've had the best luck with Ruger factory mags, both 20 & 30 round.
Broken record time.............Factory.
I have also not had any issues with the Tapco Gen 2 polymer mags. The ones with the metal insert. The Gen 1's were problematic from what I hear, but I never owned one, and they were already onto Gen 2 by the time I got a mini and started buying mags for it.
I have followed advise from other mini owners and avoided everything else, and have been happy.
Thanks.
Knocked out an order and will end up with a total of 3 ten, 3 20, and 3 30s.
Painful after getting used to AR mag prices.
It is 20 degrees out right now but heading to the range.
OEM 20s, only.
PMI metal magazines maybe? PMI and Thermolds never gave me an issue in mine. Sold it prior to the ban expiring and never had reason to pop $60+ on factory magazines at the time.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dennis
Yep, 20 rounder factory mags all day.
Mini 14s are more fun than they are accurate. I had a Folder years back and once I realized I wouldnt be shooting up the town bullies with Mr. T; off it went.
The straight stock with wood and a GB stainless barrel is a pretty gun though
PMI mags were the cats ass for mini mags! Wish they were still around.
I've always loved the Mini. This thread is due for a pic. Just got this one.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...f2728077e2.jpg
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I think that some of our favorable memories of aftermarket Mini mags isn't driven by hard testing and consideration but rather simple availability during AWB 94 and a prolonged lack of other options.
The Thermolds and PMI mags worked fine and weren't super prevalent, especially PMI. I think I saw as many of not more of the factory 20 and 30 round mags than those 2.
Thermold M16 magazines were a whole different story in 20, 30, or the 30/45 storage mags. Their 5.56 charger guides are the trick though and what little I have played with their stripper clips (Canadian or North Carolina made) has been positive too for reloads, but never tried them as an emergency fire starter.
PMI construction was as good as any magazine I have ever seen. Very good fit and finish.
What was common was USA brand and unmarked magazines that were beneath a lot of jungle workshop QC standards and the Ramline 3 way mags that I assume wouldn't function in the AR180 either based on sucking in a Mini 14 and AR15.
Factory 20 round...
Every aftermarket I tried was junk or at least not as good. Hold them side by side, look at the block the mag catch engages with.
I still enjoy stainless GBs, even if ARs are arguable superior.
For me it was watching the A Team as a kid. Most rounds fired, no one ever killed.Quote:
Originally Posted by ST911
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Factory 20’s are great. The 30’s worked well for me too but are heavy when loaded up. I also never had problems with the Tapco gen 2’s or the ProMag 20 round steel.
Don't toss those Ramlines. I replaced the weak springs in a couple and then they ran like champs in my AR180 and AR15's. Don't have a Mini 14, but I bet they'd run the same.Quote:
Originally Posted by JasonB1
I had one for some time, was a pleasure to shoot but I let it go finally as I always grab an ar. Factory mags here also, they work and work always.
To be fair, the one episode where folks actually got smoked was the one where they went back to Vietnam and had M16s and M203s :)Quote:
Originally Posted by usmcvet
I missed that one.Quote:
Originally Posted by Firefly
https://youtu.be/sjyBVfq8Rto
You’d think they could get the uniforms right. Those berets are awful!
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...ff3f3b3826.jpg
https://youtu.be/kF_dtbSfIqE
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Mr T pities the fool that doesn't use factory mags in his Mini...
I’ve used factory 20’s, 30’s, and beta mags in my mini/ac556. All functioned perfectly in both.
Exactly. Factory Mags. It’s nice they’re available again after the years when Ruger was not selling high caps to civilians.Quote:
Originally Posted by kerplode
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My first semi-auto rifle was a Mini-14. They are great handling little rifles. During the ban, PMI pre-ban mags were at least as good as factory, on the off chance you run across any. That being said, there's really no reason not to use factory mags - I prefer the 20 rounders for ergos and absolute reliability.
That is why I mentioned PMI and Thermold...they do, or at least did work. That was really surprising with Thermolds considering the rest of their magazines on average and I would be cautious with 23+ year old Thermolds now. I wouldn't pay more than a factory magazine price for either, but if you find a PMI mag at a fair price in decent shape it will likely be fine. The people turning them out took some pains in their making.Quote:
Originally Posted by sundance435
Just to be sure there isn't confusion, PMI was not Pro Mag
Industries, it was Precision Mag Industries.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...fdcf0a8f95.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...5bce6608a7.jpg
I'm not sure if these are good prices but they were in my email today.
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Not exactly sure how this topic went so long but I dug up a 30ish year old mag duo that fits and functions better than factory mags. It feeds soft tips and short 50gr HPs with no problems.
However I have no idea how it's still working after all this time given the weak looking rivets and spring system!
Dennis. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...a4373f1729.jpg
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This. The tapcos are GTG. The Gen 2's have the metal band at the top.Quote:
Originally Posted by SomeOtherGuy
Ok, I will be hitting the range tomorrow with a couple of Ruger 20s and 30s. The ten rounders I bought were listed as OEM Ruger mags. But are not labeled Ruger.
It's been 3 years how did it go?Quote:
Originally Posted by ramairthree
I got a Mini 5.56 myself. 😎
Only plan on using factory mags but I also found and got a Gen 2 Tapco. They are out of buisness now.
The only ones to bet your life on are factory 20s. Even the factory 30s are hit or miss.
Still no problem with factory 20’s and 30’s for me. The Tapco’s I have both had feed issues. I had to file down the inside of the front of them to get the round to stop stove piping. They seem to work fine now.
Back in the day Thermold and Eagle (with the constant force spring) 35rd mags worked great both in my Mioni-14 and in an acquaintances the full auto AC556 I got to play with. I never had any issue with them. Nor did the owner of the AC556.
TED
Quote:
Originally Posted by usmcvet
They're in line. I remember after the AWB expired, throwing away my Thermold and USA Magazines mags, and buying the factory 20s for $25.
I may have mentioned this above, but the 20s are the bet-your-life ones. The factory 30s are hit or miss.
The above ad was from January 2018.
Did those MGW 90 round side-drums ever work?
I only knew one guy who had one. He said it did.
I have an AC556. Both the factory 20's and 30's run without issue in it.