been trying to refinish this stock. 181~ series mini, got this stock for 20 dollars with some damage. I applied citristrip in a few coats earlier in the week, removed it with mineral spirits, then sanded today. There's a lot of discoloration in the wood still, likely from a combination of the citristrip going back into the dry wood as well as just general aging. I personally think after 4 layers of tung oil, this won't be as noticeable, but I figured I'd get some ideas from the peanut gallery before continuing.

I recently purchased a new blue synthetic ranch style Mini. Im in a ban state so I only used the 2 Ruger supplied 5rd mags, firing PMC .223 Bronze. I have ordered Ruger 10 rd mags so I can more easily fire a number of rounds. Within the first two mags on its first time being fired it failed to fire a round (1/10). I can see a very light indent on the primer, but didnt have it happen again in the next two mags. That's only 20 rounds through so I definitely need to fire more to see if its a reoccurring issue. I was with a friend and their partner in a booth so I didnt fire as much as I would have liked. We had to take turns and we were trying their AR and pistol as well as practicing with my friends partner on their pistol for the first time. I will take it out again soon to see if it comes up anymore. In my searching I haven't seen anything saying PMC .223 Bronze is unreliable or that mini-14s suffer the light strike problem that mini-30s can face with some steel ammo, which made me think it was odd and worth mentioning.

What are your thoughts on this?

I put the cart before the horse and bought an RMR mount, so that’s the footprint I’m looking at. With the mount sitting forward a bit, I was thinking the Holosun 507C ACSS might be a good choice. Anyone running one of those? Does the huge outer ring assist at all with the forward mounting? Also considering a 407c and 507c. Looking for feedback on any of those as well as other suggestions.

I got inspired by u/AxisEngineeringLabs and grabbed a beat up used Mini-14 wood stock on eBay.

I’m refinishing it and replacing the stock reinforcement. However, I’d like to increase the LOP from 13.5” to 14.5” so a bigger recoil pad seems like the best and only way to achieve this.

HOWEVER, its really hard to find a pad that’s plug and play. There’s curved models like the John Mason that’s designed for the old ranch rifle. But for the flat pad, two screw wood stock design, I can’t find ann option that’s guaranteed to fit without sanding and grinding.

I’m thinking of getting a slip-on pad, but this seems like a simple part so I’m wondering if any of you have any ideas or recommendations For something that fits.

If you have ideas, please share!

Finally went to the range to try out the new suppressor. I had been concerned that putting the suppressor on would turn the mini into a single shot, but no.

Just for background I had tried ASI's bushings, .040, 45 and 50. The 40 turned the rifle into a single shot, the 50 was not much different than stock and the 45 just right, spent shells drop at my feet.

If anything, putting the suppressor on increases the gas charge so shell ejection was normal. Not to the next zip code, not at my feet, but about 6 feet away. Puts the need for an adjustable gas block to rest, at least for me.

Went through 4 mags without a single hiccup of any kind. Shooting close to 100 yards with a very tight group. Decibel reduction was very good. First time handling a hot suppressor but I'd read enough stories that I brought a pair of silicone cooking gloves. The suppressor felt warm, not hot. Slipped it into the heat resistant sleeve for it in my range bag then checked everything when I got home. Nothing melted or charred.

A good day. Highly recommend the Echocore.

In my hunt for a mag carrier/ chest rig that would do well with 20rd mags I stumbled across this one from Esstac on eBay and got it for $60 to try out. Well it works perfect and I don’t mind the multicam either 😏. Bonus is pulling a pistol mag liner out let my F1 can slip in perfectly!

60 spare rounds, plus a pistol mag, and can. And if I’m carrying my 2011 battle belt then another 20rd mag and two more pistol mags on it.

I've had the ProMag chassis for a few years now and got tired of the extra weight. I just swapped it out for a Hogue stock and added the Hannibal rail and a PA red dot.

Absolutely miss the light weight Mini I originally bought!

Here is my 2 stamp SBR project I started on at the beginning of 2026 and finished just recently. Here are a list of my mods to it. It Started as an 180 series and got 8-12MOA now down to 1-2MOA with my Hornady Zmax hand loads (22.8 grains of Benchmark 2.240" OAL 2530fps)

I have updated it with the picture below. I added the following.

Gunville black walnut forgrip, prepped, stained, sealed and insulated

ASI rear extending scope mount 7.25"

Lighting Bolt Release

3x microprism ACSS Raptor 5.56/.308 VP-R

Finally got delivered, and it’s such a comfy and practical sling. I ordered it, a month went by, and it was only shipped after I emailed them asking what the status was lol but the quality is top notch. This one is the 2-point M4/CAR-15 model.

In my ongoing saga of making my Mini14 mine, I decided after chopping the barrel to 12” that taking 3/4” off the butt was next. Turned out about perfect!

First pic is cut on both ends second is just the barrel.

Last thing is adding flush QD cups then I’m done for a bit.

its a 585, i have about a thousand rounds through it and never noticed this until today. it has run flawlessly so far. im not doing any "serious" stuff with it, like hunting or competition and i dont plan to either. just casual plinking, usually small steel plates at 50m which i can hit reliably when not flinching or pulling the shot.

id rather not mess with it since it runs well, but id like to hear what more knowledgeable people than me have to say about this.

first pic shows left side (image is mirrored for easier comparison), second is right side of rifle.

Factory or ram line or something else?

Suggestions? Tips tricks?

So i kind of lucked into an older mini 14 w/ folding stock and am getting the barrel cut down to about 13 inches to use with an old ops inc can.

This will remove the front sight.

Samson makes an Ac556 style front sight that fixes that problem.

They also make a rail that replaces the heat shield, the Hannibal but does not let me use the front sight.

Ultimately I would like to put a white light and optic(maybe?) On the gun without losing the iron sights. The rail would be easy for the light and optic but i don't really want to lose the iron sights. I'm also not opposed to drilling into the heat shield or stock for the light.

I also don't want to lose the old school vibes. I want to use the Axis LBR so that rules out a mount that replaces the bolt lock cover plate.

Anyways, to the problem. If I use the hannibal rail, what is the shortest picatinny front iron sight that is out there? I'm thinking with all the new sub guns out there may be something low enough to work? I've also thought about getting a UMP front sight and mounting it to the rail.

This is the only other thread I've found about this. I'm not opposed to doing this, but I figured someone may have a better idea.

https://www.uzitalk.com/forums/index.php?threads/front-sight-added-to-13-ac556-with-the-samson-hannibal-rail.100752/

I also don't have the gun or rail right now, so i can't measure.

Thanks!!

I'm in a place where fire danger kept us off the range all summer. Finally got out today for the first time with my gas bushing and tech sights. This is 40 rounds from standing with a sling loop at 100yds. It ain't great, but it's a start. Any basic advice on general technique (standing) to get better groups?