I have a Mini-14 GB that I like for nostalgic purposes. Trouble is, finding good, reliable magazines for the Mini-14 has always been a fool’s errand. I’m sure someone will jump into the comments about how their TripleK/USA Brand/RandoCo magazine has been utterly reliable for them. Hey, may be. But I’m willing to believe those are outliers. The fact is that there have been only two aftermarket Mini-14’s that are reliable – the long-discontinued Eagle 35-rd mag, and the recently discontinued Tapco Gen 2. What’s that leave? The Ruger OEM product.
So, I have a 30-rd Ruger-marked mag here and for some reason its been giving me some headaches. I suspect the magazine spring was losing it’s enthusiasm. A new Ruger 30-rd mag is a little under $40…ridiculous. So, I ordered up some Wolff replacement ‘extra strength’ mag springs. They arrived today.
Normally, magazine springs aren’t something I worry about. In a world of $10 Magpul magazines it makes more sense to just buy a new Glock or AR mag. But when you’re looking at a magazine costing almost $40, thats a different story.
So, I wound up with a handful (a ten-pack,actually) of Wolff Mini-14 mag springs that I now have to carve out some storage space for.
Have used Wolff for a couple decades-great products and service(I mean, who else carries Mak springs?) Hope it does the job.
I’m pretty sure I have a few leftover factory 20 and 30 round ruger magazines for the mini. If I come across them I’ll let you know.
I really liked the Mini-14 until I did a couple of mag dumps and the barrel warped. It went from 2-3 inch groups @100 yards to completly missing the target. Ruger replaced the barrel at no charge and I promptly sold it.
So that’s why they never hit anything! Did they use them from the back of the van as a way of air cooling them?
If you ask “Who?” you’re going to make half of us feel even older than normal.
Was there a little irony in your post heading with what’s coming in tonight ?
Picked up a mini with an accuracy mod by some fellow supposed to be famous for making them better . Heavier barrel and such .
It shoots a bit better than what I read most of them do . But it came with only 2 magazines .
Ah yes, the A-team theme song emanating from the bunker, whilst rebuilding ruger mags and loading em up for your next assignment. Yes, for this model type of magazine that is not as ubiquitous as muh ar mags it is shrewed to just re-spring them all anyway, due to some maybe being in service since the 80s in the L.A. underground with those A-Team lads. Have a secondary set aside quantity of springs in reserve, and bases covered here. Having a cool ass heckin van to roll in with the boys when fighting crime and evil doers would just be so right on. Heavy spring tension means staying frosty.
Commander:
Don’t leave us in suspense!
Did the new spring do the job?
Or is that for your next post – you tease!
Ceejay
John Mason magazines @
Galati International
What about them? You need a bit more exposition than that.
They fit properly, and work, in the mini, unlike most other after market rip offs…
PMI or Precision Mag Industries made the best aftermarket mags I ever used in the Mini. 100% reliable @ $10 each back in the ’80s.
If the feed lips look mag issues are usually either springs or ghosts. Replace the spring and if that doesn’t fix it then toss it.