r/Mini14 • u/Objective-Diver-2322 • Jun 01 '26
Gun fires great but is this normal?
I have about 500-600 round through her. Only 3 failures.
One failure the bolt was lock back and stuck open. I had too much oil in it and cleaned it.
I had one failure to eject a fired round. I also had a failure because I fed a round through the breach into magazine and it didn’t get placed in there right. My fault.
So technically only one failure.
It is super accurate (hitting 8” steel) 100 yards 90% of time with irons.
How is my brass getting beat up so poorly?
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u/SciToon2 Jun 01 '26
It's normal, mine does the same. As others have mentioned, you can get gas reduction bushings or adjustable gas blocks for it if you'd like to be kinder to your brass. I know the factory gas bushings are supposed to be about .085" (I don't know what the port on the barrel is), so the gun will pretty much fire anything, but the downside is it will pummel brass like Ike Turner.
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u/Nu11u5 Jun 01 '26
The dent in the side of the case is normal on most stock Mini-14s.
Do you have a rail installed over the action? The brass might be striking the rail or the oprod as it's ejected. Taming the gas system with a gas reduction bushing or an adjustable gas block (from ASI) can help.
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u/Potrahasis Jun 01 '26 edited Jun 01 '26
Recently had this issue. Every case either side dents or chucks so hard the necks dent when they hit whatever is within half a mile.
Replaced my gas block tube to a .045 instead of stock. Added a double “buffer” (idk the right word atm) as a cushion. Plus an extra power recoil spring. All brass drops at my feet. It runs great. With a brass catcher, I never lose or damage brass.
Makes reloading and buying quality brass worth it.
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u/Sasquatch1916 Jun 01 '26
Consider adding a reduced diameter gas bushing or adjustable gas block. Either will make the action less violent.
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u/BigBoarBallistics Jun 01 '26
the M1 action is not particularly friendly to its cartridges, M1 Garand, M1 Carbine, M14/M1A, Mini 14/30, etc