Mini-14 after-market magazines

6032 Views 94 Replies 30 Participants Last post by TENNGRIZZ, Feb 3, 2022

crowtalks

Discussion Starter · Jan 14, 2022

I have a 186 series Mini-14 that from day one had issues running rounds with promag magazines, but shoots fine with factory mags.

I know of a few more folks that have this same issue.

I was wondering who has success with after-market mags in the earlier series rifles?

Has anyone had any luck tweaking the Promag steel mags to run reliably?

I love this gun, but it is one of the few mag-fed weapons I have, or have had, that sucks with aftermarket mags.

1 - 20 of 95 Posts

40nascar

· #2 · Jan 15, 2022

Stick with factory mags....problem solved.

Reactions: 2

Kravi

· #3 · Jan 15, 2022

Yeah, Mini's are notorious for being unreliable with after market mags. I've tried them. Now I use exclusively Ruger mags. No problems. I know it's tempting because after market mags are so much cheaper. But save yourself the headache.

Reactions: 3

Imarangemaster

· #4 · Jan 15, 2022

The only aftermarket mags that worked well fro me in a Mini-14 are Thermold and Tapco Gen II. With that said, during Commiefornia Freedom Week, I stocked up on Ruger factory 20s and 30s to go with the ones I had from my LEO days. Now that's all I use in the Mini-14 or Mini-30

Reactions: 5

PFunk

· #5 · Jan 15, 2022

I run metal Promags in my 588 series. Never had an issue with them.

Reactions: 1

yavapaisam

· #6 · Jan 15, 2022

Wonder why, with almost six million Mini14 owners out there, does magpull still avoid the Ruger market?

There ya go

Reactions: 2

Wilson's Creek kid

· #7 · Jan 15, 2022 (Edited)

I took a dremel to my Promags. The tab that guides the bullet near the ogive needs blended. They've been working good for years. My factory mags don't always hold the bolt open when empty. My Promags and Tapco Gen 2 do.
Edit: my Promags are steel.

Reactions: 2

PFunk

· #8 · Jan 15, 2022

I will say Promag’s polymer 20-rd mags are absolute garbage. They are cheap and plentiful online for a reason.

Reactions: 3

JohnnyDollar

· #9 · Jan 15, 2022

I have a 182-series Mini-14. that I bought used in the late 80's. I have 6 magazines

1x5rnd Ruger - bought at a gunshow because being in Texas,
I didn't know they made one that small.

2x30rnd Tapco Gen II
2x30rnd unmarked/unknown steel
1x40rnd unmarked/unknown steel

They all work fine.

Reactions: 2

Corndog

· #10 · Jan 15, 2022

I have a couple no-name brands bought years ago from gun shows when Ruger would not sell HC magazines. Their functioning was spotty. Then Ruger (after Bill) started selling the metal 20's for my Mini 30 and I bought 6.

Like another here, I took a Dremel tool and did some shade tree machining, matching the feed lips up as well as I could. Now my no names work almost as well as the Rugers.

However, I am OCD and like RUGER printed on my mags. I use the 5's most of the time anyway to conserve my boolits.

Reactions: 4

rugersr9csr45sr22

· #11 · Jan 15, 2022

I had trouble with the pro mags as well. I never thought about using the Dremel to try and mod them. I will have to give it a try... Just seems odd that if they can be easily modified to work reliably then why doesn't pro mag do that during the manufacturing? Maybe a patent copy or something?

Reactions: 1

Corndog

· #12 · Jan 15, 2022

rugersr9csr45sr22 said:
I had trouble with the pro mags as well. I never thought about using the Dremel to try and mod them. I will have to give it a try... Just seems odd that if they can be easily modified to work reliably then why doesn't pro mag do that during the manufacturing? Maybe a patent copy or something?

I put a Ruger beside my no name and carefully worked. Measured when I could and eye balled when I needed to.

Then at the end, I paid close attention to the angle that the top round had coming off the magazine.

Reactions: 4

40nascar

· #13 · Jan 15, 2022

rugersr9csr45sr22 said:
I had trouble with the pro mags as well. I never thought about using the Dremel to try and mod them. I will have to give it a try... Just seems odd that if they can be easily modified to work reliably then why doesn't pro mag do that during the manufacturing? Maybe a patent copy or something?

They are cheap for a reason. Time = Money

Kravi

· #14 · Jan 15, 2022

Corndog said:
I have a couple no-name brands bought years ago from gun shows when Ruger would not sell HC magazines. Their functioning was spotty. Then Ruger (after Bill) started selling the metal 20's for my Mini 30 and I bought 6.

Like another here, I took a Dremel tool and did some shade tree machining, matching the feed lips up as well as I could. Now my no names work almost as well as the Rugers.

However, I am OCD and like RUGER printed on my mags. I use the 5's most of the time anyway to conserve my boolits.

Same. I use the 5 rd mag, mainly because while carrying it slung over my back for distance, there are fewer sharp corners.

Reactions: 2

crowtalks

Discussion Starter · #15 · Jan 15, 2022

40nascar said:
They are cheap for a reason. Time = Money

I understand being a purist has its rewards, but for those of us that already have these after-market mags, I hate seeing them go to waste.

Reactions: 3

JohnnyDollar

· #16 · Jan 15, 2022

crowtalks said:
I understand being a purist has its rewards, but for those of us that already have these after-market mags, I hate seeing them go to waste.

I feel the same way, but it you can't cheaply modify them to make them work reliably,
at some point, I'm not sure it's worth the effort.

Reactions: 2

40nascar

· #17 · Jan 15, 2022

crowtalks said:
I understand being a purist has its rewards, but for those of us that already have these after-market mags, I hate seeing them go to waste.

The fix I use is to buy and install factory followers that I get from Midway. If that doesn't work, it becomes target practice.

Reactions: 4

JohnnyDollar

· #18 · Jan 15, 2022

40nascar said:
<snip>If that doesn't work, it becomes target practice.

That made me laugh. glad I wasn't drinking anything......

Reactions: 4

crowtalks

Discussion Starter · #19 · Jan 15, 2022

JohnnyDollar said:
I feel the same way, but it you can't cheaply modify them to make them work reliably,
at some point, I'm not sure it's worth the effort.

I agree, and I have been looking for a quick, cheap solution and it seems some have been successful.

Reactions: 1

firescout

· #20 · Jan 15, 2022

Imarangemaster said:
The only aftermarket mags that worked well fro me in a Mini-14 are Thermold and Tapco Gen II. With that said, during Commiefornia Freedom Week, I stocked up on Ruger factory 20s and 30s to go with the ones I had from my LEO days. Now that's all I use in the Mini-14 or Mini-30

Yes, I've read quite a bit about the Tapco gen II working well. The Thermold mags can sometimes become misshapened over time. That said, I only purchase Ruger brand magazines for my Mini 14. Shop around and buy once, cry once. I have 12 magazines. I don't understand the big deal about Ruger brand magazine prices, unless one is dropping their magazines on the "battlefield" and leaving them there...

Reactions: 3

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