Mini 14 and MFS ammo, FTF's?

[Louddog]

Finally got my mini 14 out for the first time to shoot. I was using some very cheaply acquired MFS steel cased ammo. It was the only ammo i had with me, i shoot maybe 100-150 rounds and had 4-5 failures to fire. Oddly, all the FTF's were loaded back in a magazine and fired the second time.

I didn't take photos, but on the rounds that did not fire there was little a little or no dent in the primer, but at the same time, it seemed like the primer was set a little deep. (didn't keep track of them or recheck)

It seemed to get better later, the last couple of mags (20 round) were failure free.

Thoughts? New gun breaking in and iffy ammo or do i have something to worry about?

[Rix86]

I'd bet ammo.

[golddigger14s]

Don't listen to the ammo naysayers. All I shoot is steel case, usually with no issues,

[Bxc53]

Finally got my mini 14 out for the first time to shoot. I was using some very cheaply acquired MFS steel cased ammo. It was the only ammo i had with me, i shoot maybe 100-150 rounds and had 4-5 failures to fire. Oddly, all the FTF's were loaded back in a magazine and fired the second time.

I didn't take photos, but on the rounds that did not fire there was little a little or no dent in the primer, but at the same time, it seemed like the primer was set a little deep. (didn't keep track of them or recheck)

It seemed to get better later, the last couple of mags (20 round) were failure free.

Thoughts? New gun breaking in and iffy ammo or do i have something to worry about?

My then new Mini14 had a similar situation out of the box. It turned out to have some manufacturing debris in bolt assy that impeded the firing pin movement. You could try a full strip and clean out the bolt. Use little or no lube with the firing pin.
I'd also try some good quality brass ammo.

[PMB]

I've got mini 30s and mini 14s... The owner's manuals say to only use US manufactured brass case ammo.

I have used steel case ammo a few times (maybe 50 rounds each caliber) and have not had an issue. I always thought it was strange that Ruger states so clearly only US Manufactured brass cases are to be used in both minis.
I assumed that they were counting on better QA and QC in the US.

[delliottg]

I've owned three Mini-14's and a Mini-30, the only problem I've ever had was with my second one breaking a firing pin (quickly fixed by our own TA). I shoot the cheapest stuff I can find out of them, with nary a problem.

[Rix86]

I shoot steel cased sometimes. Never an issue. But at least check the firing pin.

[Louddog]

Think i found the problem, dumb design, dumber user. I had pulled off the tacticool rails I wasn't using and put the little covers on that came with the gun. Apparently when you pull out the screws holding the rail in, the little nuts on the other side are free to go where ever they want.

They must have been held in place just enough that they didn't rattle when i took them out, but today when i picked it up i heard a rattle. i went fishing and found a nut, and seen I had 5 more to find once i realized where it came from. Got them all out, two took some hits.

I'm guessing the nuts were randomly not letting the slide go far enough forward and the cause of my undented primers on my FTF's.

[Rix86]

That'd do it. Glad you didn't have an out of battery fire.