Sp I picked up a couple Min-14’s here recently, and while they are so low on the ‘just in case’ totem pole that they don’t even come out as a quinary-level of backup, there are still one or two things I need to do in regards to their care and feeding before I put them away.
The Mini’s have never had decent sights. Ever. Thats why they made the ‘Ranch’ versions. So, when you Google ‘aftermarket mini-14 sights’ what do you think Google spits out? Yup. These guys.
I put a set of Tech Sights on my 10/22 a few years back and they are a very worthy improvement. They are, unfortunately, made in Taiwan but the market for good aftermarket Mini sights isn’t exactly known for breadth and depth.
Since I originally only planned on having the one lonely Mini-14 sitting in Deep Sleep, I’m going to have to order up another of the excellent Tapco Mini-14 mags. And then I should be done. Unless another stupid Mini-14 makes itself known to me at a too-good-to-pass-up-price.
Thanks for mentioning Tech Sights on the 10/22. I’ve had those sights and a Magpul backpacker stock in my Amazon shopping cart for two friggen weeks now for my takedown 10/22. I guess I needed the extra push. On a side note, my threaded Henry 22 mag should be here any day….should be fun. Keep up the good work, much appreciated.
Not saying that Tech Sights are bad (I have a set on a Norinco SKS) but if you mount sights on the frame of a 1022 Take Down every time you assemble the rifle the sights will line up a tiny bit differently. I found this with my 1022TD and the way I corrected this problem was with a set of Skinner sights.
http://www.skinnersights.com/ruger_firearms_22.html.
The rear peep sight mounts to the barrel not the frame, so nothing changes when things are taken apart and reassembled. Here’s what Gun Blast has to say about these sights.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvotUhpCC_k
My iron sighted Mini-14 has a hooded aperture blade replacement sold by Ram-Line back in the day (‘member them ?). That sight blade is over 30 years old now. Replaced the heavy front sight blade (cut tank armor with that mutha !) with an Eagle HK ringed flash hider unit around the same time period. My gun is the early issue pencil barrel model. Its muzzle light and the flash hider puts some weight on the end to help steady it AND have a more refined front sight blade. Still pie-plate accuracy at 100 yard line, but reliable as hell.
Do you know if that rear sight will fit on a ranch rifle? The little flip up sight on my old rancher is a joke. I’ve got the rifle scoped, but would like to make it fully functional.
Check their website.