Changed gas bushings on mini14

[ArmedCorgi]

I've been wanting to do this for a while. I have a 583 series mini14 and it comes from the factory waaaaaaay over gassed. It pretty much will launch brass into orbit if you give it the right trajectory. It's really annoying and not appreciated by the person six lanes to your right. Or the people in between for that matter, lol.
I ordered a 4 piece kit from Accuracy Systems Inc.. The kit includes .50, .45, .40, .35 bushings. The lower the number the smaller the hole in the bushing. The bushing that is installed at the factory is something like .85. It's WIDE open so no wonder a lot of gas gets through. I supposed they did that to allow for a wider range of ammo to be used. It makes sense but doesn't make sense since, my mini at least, is picky with ammo.

Installation was pretty straight forward. I removed the FCG and stock (which may not have actually been necessary), disassembled my accu-strut and removed the four gas block screws. The gas port on the mini is on the bottom side of the barrel and the gas bushing sits in the lower half of the gas block assembly (obviously). Just pluck the oem bushing out and drop the new one in and reassemble. I opted for the .45 since I would still like a margin of safety to cycle different loads but don't want my brass setting home run records. Compared to the oem bushing all of the new bushing sizes are tiny, so any one you choose will be a big difference.

Now I need to bring her to the range and see where it's at.

 

[GOYABEAN]

I've been wanting to do this for a while. I have a 583 series mini14 and it comes from the factory waaaaaaay over gassed. It pretty much will launch brass into orbit if you give it the right trajectory. It's really annoying and not appreciated by the person six lanes to your right. Or the people in between for that matter, lol.
I ordered a 4 piece kit from Accuracy Systems Inc.. The kit includes .50, .45, .40, .35 bushings. The lower the number the smaller the hole in the bushing. The bushing that is installed at the factory is something like .85. It's WIDE open so no wonder a lot of gas gets through. I supposed they did that to allow for a wider range of ammo to be used. It makes sense but doesn't make sense since, my mini at least, is picky with ammo.

Installation was pretty straight forward. I removed the FCG and stock (which may not have actually been necessary), disassembled my accu-strut and removed the four gas block screws. The gas port on the mini is on the bottom side of the barrel and the gas bushing sits in the lower half of the gas block assembly (obviously). Just pluck the oem bushing out and drop the new one in and reassemble. I opted for the .45 since I would still like a margin of safety to cycle different loads but don't want my brass setting home run records. Compared to the oem bushing all of the new bushing sizes are tiny, so any one you choose will be a big difference.

Now I need to bring her to the range and see where it's at.

 

[ArmedCorgi]

No faith, aye?

 

[GOYABEAN]

No faith, aye?

Plenty but brass being launched into next county is half the fun of mini14

 

[ArmedCorgi]

Plenty but brass being launched into next county is half the fun of mini14

Meh...Idk, I like a nice pile at 3 or 4 o'clock maybe 5ft away. What series mini do you have?

 

[ArmedCorgi]

I also don't understand why the mini doesn't come with 1.25" sling attachments. For a gun that is emulating the M14, you'd think they would make it so that you could use a standard GI web sling.

 

[GOYABEAN]

Meh...Idk, I like a nice pile at 3 or 4 o'clock maybe 5ft away. What series mini do you have?

I've had 4 in the pass years but sold and traded them one being a mini30 I miss them woody guy's

 

[GOYABEAN]

I also don't understand why the mini doesn't come with 1.25" sling attachments. For a gun that is emulating the M14, you'd think they would make it so that you could use a standard GI web sling.

I'm sure they have an after market stock resembling one

 

[ArmedCorgi]

I'm sure they have an after market stock resembling one

I'm just going to get the Tech Sight's 1" GI web sling. I am thinking I may use my mini 14 for my next Appleseed event. Perhaps also for the known distance event.

 

[togmaster]

Plenty but brass being launched into next county is half the fun of mini14

Fuck'em if they can't take a joke.

 

[Marine Cpl]

I also don't understand why the mini doesn't come with 1.25" sling attachments. For a gun that is emulating the M14, you'd think they would make it so that you could use a standard GI web sling.

Ruger has a thing with fuddery. I'm going through this with the PCC. Their sling points are for traditional old style slings that you can't use to keep the weapon in front of you. It's real annoying. You have to get aftermarket everything with a Ruger to make things work.

 

[ArmedCorgi]

Ruger has a thing with fuddery. I'm going through this with the PCC. Their sling points are for traditional old style slings that you can't use to keep the weapon in front of you. It's real annoying. You have to get aftermarket everything with a Ruger to make things work.

They are getting better though. I think in the case of the PCC they may still be feeling things out and seeing where it goes. After all, it is a revisited pc9 which didn't do well.

 

[tapper3]

@ArmedCorgi

A range report will be greatly appreciated. I have a 583 also and have two issues with it.

First, the slam of the bolt / operating rod is brutal on optics. I put a 1x4 on it and it crapped out (windage adjustment locked up). Okay, bad scope, send it back. Replacement lasted not even 50 rounds. Sent that back for replacement and put the new scope on the AR. No more problems.

Secondly, cannot get through 10 rounds without a failure to eject. The case seems to get trapped by the returning operating rod so it ends up parallel to the one trying to come up from the magazine. Seems like a timing issue. Possibly due to too much gas. I dunno - I only ride 'em, I don't know what makes 'em work. Woof, woof.

I have not minded the orbiting ejected brass as I have my own range to shoot on but if your enhancement tames that beast I may have to give it a try.

 

[ArmedCorgi]

@tapper3, to put it in perspective visually, the bushing with the wider hole is the factory bushing. The smaller one is the .40 bushing. .05 smaller than the one I just installed.


Less gas will soften the wear and tear on the mini's components and receiver.

Even if changing the bushing out wouldn't solve your issue, doing so would lengthen the operating life of your rifle.

 

[ArmedCorgi]

I will definitely do a range report!

 

[tapper3]

^^^^ Thanks. I checked that site, too. Interesting that one of their sales points is less slamming of the action. If 25 bucks cures this I may re-think actually using the gun. I hate spending money above and beyond the initial cost just to make a gun usable but this might be money well spent.

That is a huge difference in those ports. Geez us.

 

[ArmedCorgi]

^^^^ Thanks. I checked that site, too. Interesting that one of their sales points is less slamming of the action. If 25 bucks cures this I may re-think actually using the gun. I hate spending money above and beyond the initial cost just to make a gun usable but this might be money well spent.

That is a huge difference in those ports. Geez us.

Definitely get the kit with multiple bushing options so you can get the results you want.

 

[GTN]

@ArmedCorgi

A range report will be greatly appreciated. I have a 583 also and have two issues with it.

First, the slam of the bolt / operating rod is brutal on optics. I put a 1x4 on it and it crapped out (windage adjustment locked up). Okay, bad scope, send it back. Replacement lasted not even 50 rounds. Sent that back for replacement and put the new scope on the AR. No more problems.

Secondly, cannot get through 10 rounds without a failure to eject. The case seems to get trapped by the returning operating rod so it ends up parallel to the one trying to come up from the magazine. Seems like a timing issue. Possibly due to too much gas. I dunno - I only ride 'em, I don't know what makes 'em work. Woof, woof.

I have not minded the orbiting ejected brass as I have my own range to shoot on but if your enhancement tames that beast I may have to give it a try.

I’ve got the same two problems

 

[FLA45fan]

I'm not a gunsmith but if you go to the Perfect Union website, there is a Mini 14/30 forum that addresses some of the idiosyncrasies of the Minis. Some folks are using 1911 buffers to cushion the slam of the bolt. These guys are die hard Mini guys with a lot of expertise. You may do well to visit . . .

 

[ArmedCorgi]

I'm not a gunsmith but if you go to the Perfect Union website, there is a Mini 14/30 forum that addresses some of the idiosyncrasies of the Minis. Some folks are using 1911 buffers to cushion the slam of the bolt. These guys are die hard Mini guys with a lot of expertise. You may do well to visit . . .

I'm on there already. I joined when I got my mini. I haven't been there in a while though.

 

[FLA45fan]

Yeah they had some great info on my new 30's inability to digest Russian surplus ammo (firing pin issues).

 

[BDinPutnam]

@tapper3, to put it in perspective visually, the bushing with the wider hole is the factory bushing. The smaller one is the .40 bushing. .05 smaller than the one I just installed.
View attachment 35885

Less gas will soften the wear and tear on the mini's components and receiver.

Even if changing the bushing out wouldn't solve your issue, doing so would lengthen the operating life of your rifle.

I have never actually seen these since I am an AR guy though always thought a mini would be nice to have.

That factory bushing looks like a freakin' thread protector!

 

[GTN]

Yeah they had some great info on my new 30's inability to digest Russian surplus ammo (firing pin issues).

How do you like the Mini30?
I’ve been on that 308 fence and want to look at all options. What was it’s problem with the firing pin?

 

[ArmedCorgi]

I have never actually seen these since I am an AR guy though always thought a mini would be nice to have.

That factory bushing looks like a freakin' thread protector!

If you are able to buy a new mini14/30 I would do so. They are a lot of fun and so far seem to be under the ban radar. They can do most things an AR can with some exception. Obviously they are not as accurate or modular, but still a good platform. Good enough for the A-Team so fuck it!

 

[ArmedCorgi]

Just ordered this for my mini14. Mini-14 Clip Guide 582+
Why? Because fuck you that's why. It's just one more option for loading the gun and it doesn't sacrifice or interfere with anything, so why not have this option?

 

[GTN]

Just ordered this for my mini14. Mini-14 Clip Guide 582+
Why? Because fuck you that's why. It's just one more option for loading the gun and it doesn't sacrifice or interfere with anything, so why not have this option?

Just might be easier than racking that mag in

 

[ArmedCorgi]

Just might be easier than racking that mag in

I'm just trying to think ahead of what's possibly coming for us.

 

[ArmedCorgi]

Yeah they had some great info on my new 30's inability to digest Russian surplus ammo (firing pin issues).

When did you get a mini30?

 

[GTN]

Just might be easier than racking that mag in

Well after reading the description it might not be

 

[ArmedCorgi]

Well after reading the description it might not be

It might not be, but it's still an option. We'll see.