[GunBanLand]

It is widely noted that excessive firing will warp the mini 14 so my question is this. Just how many shots would it take. Let's say if there was a 30 rd, 50 rd or a 100 rd magazine and you fired as fast as you could? When would the thing get so how it would warp or do serious damage?
50-100-300-500??? How many rounds?

[Mooseman684]

I have heard of 3 types of warpage on the mini-14...The most common is Stock warpage due to climate/humidity changes, but this is not too serious of a problem to correct. 2nd is Barrel warpage...This can occur using 90 round drums and very rapid firing but it would take 4-5 drums rapid fired back to back to start this due to the diameter of the barrel, this is more likely to occur with the full auto version(AC556). Last is Receiver warpage...The Mini -14 has a very well built receiver but High pressure handloads can cause warpage and Overloads can cause component/Receiver failure like any other gun.Hard to say how many rounds as One Overload could cause a failure.
I hope this helps.
Rich

[GunBanLand]

Interesting and very informative. Thank You, I appreciate that info. I guess shooting my new Mini 14 with two ten round clips repeatedly during my plinking is of no danger then. Again,Thank You for the info Rich.

[Mooseman684]

You're Welcome...My Mini would only heat up after rapid firing 3-4 30 round mags but not enough to cook off a shell so I think you will be fine! If the barrel gets too hot to touch...It's TOO HOT ! Let it cool slowly...Good luck!
Rich

[wolverine]

I dont shoot more than around 100 rounds in fast fire in my mini. I have had that cheap PCA (polymer cased ammo) cook off after about 40 rounds of fast fire.

[RedZCar]

A friend of mine passed away and left me his stainless Mini-14 with Choate Tool Corp folding stock, flash suppressor, and several 20-rd & 30-rd magazines including two stainless 20-rd mags and a boatload of what appears to be mil surplus bandoliered .223 ammo. I'm more of a handgunner than a long-gunner so, outside of my high school NDCC exposure to the M-1, I know little about this firearm. However, when I have occasion to plink at my brother's farm, I noticed that the barrell becomes too hot to touch after only 2~3 20-rd mags at a moderate rate of fire. I am concerned about barrel warpage. Does this sound normal for the barrel to get this hot after 40~60 rounds at a "plinking" rate of fire? Is there a heavier barrel available for this gun and would it be worth it to re-barrel?

[toolman]

I wouldn't worry about it too much in semi-auto fire. I've had several mil-surps that would heat up enough to start weeping cosmoline from the handguard after 3-4 shots. You would have to get pretty crazy to warp a barrel under normal conditions.

[remchuck]

accuracy on my own mini was improved by changing to a hogue overmolded stock.the only drawback is the bolt doesnt hold open after the last shot sometimes.

[Beer Forever]

Hey Moose, where ya been??

[BFRANKlin]

Ya gotta remember! The .223 is a HOT number. They leave the bbl. at near 3000 fps and friction at that speed creates heat, lots of heat and even 10 rd.s rapid fire will make it too hot to touch. That heat can make the bullet jacket gall (?right word?) onto the bbl. where it will stay until properly cleaned. (the jacket actually melts off as it goes down the hot bbl.) A little bit can ruin accuracy but a little extra scrubbing with good bore cleaner (that removes lead and copper fouling) will do wonders for it. It worked for me!
PS; some of the bore cleaners work better on a hot bbl. Makes the fouling release easier.