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So growing up my parents were by no means flush with cash, my Dad worked for a major food manufacturer that got royally screwed by their union and my mom worked part time at best due to health problems. Some of my fondest memories as a child in the late 70's and early 80's was spending time with my parents running errands on Saturday mornings. Gong to bank, paying bills at the various utilities and department stores and grabbing lunch at Steak and Shake. Almost every weekend we would also end up at Montgomery Ward or Sears looking in the sporting goods department. Inevitably my dad would ask to see the new Mini 14 that was behind the counter. Always saying the same thing "son this is similar but smaller version to the M1 I had in the USMC, one of these days I will save up the money and buy one for us son" Well needless to say, "someday" never came about. My dad worked his butt off to support our family, at one point worked 7 days a week 12 hour days for over a year straight. In 1994 he lost my mom and retired to a meager lifestyle shortly after.
Fast forward to 2017 and he turned 80. I was not able to go visit him 2,000 miles away, but will be going back in October for a late celebration.
Now to the meat, a week ago I was making the rounds of LGS's and pawn shops and stumbled across a like new 182 series Mini 14 for less than $500.00. I hesitated and left the store only to come back an hour later to purchase and they were closed... Fast forward to Tuesday and I brought the old girl home.
My plan is to mount a decent optic on it for him as his eyes are not the best, add a nice sling and possibly a barrel stabilizer? Any other modifications that should be done to make it a good reliable shooter? I am new to the Mini platform, however due to the memories above, it is something I cherish.
Sorry for the long winded back story, but I thought it was important to express why I am doing what I am doing in hopes it will bring some new perspective on upgrades that should be done.
-Barrel stabilized, yes or no?
-Proper era scope, any suggestions?
-Bushings?
-Anything I am missing?
Thank you in advance.
Fast forward to 2017 and he turned 80. I was not able to go visit him 2,000 miles away, but will be going back in October for a late celebration.
Now to the meat, a week ago I was making the rounds of LGS's and pawn shops and stumbled across a like new 182 series Mini 14 for less than $500.00. I hesitated and left the store only to come back an hour later to purchase and they were closed... Fast forward to Tuesday and I brought the old girl home.
My plan is to mount a decent optic on it for him as his eyes are not the best, add a nice sling and possibly a barrel stabilizer? Any other modifications that should be done to make it a good reliable shooter? I am new to the Mini platform, however due to the memories above, it is something I cherish.
Sorry for the long winded back story, but I thought it was important to express why I am doing what I am doing in hopes it will bring some new perspective on upgrades that should be done.
-Barrel stabilized, yes or no?
-Proper era scope, any suggestions?
-Bushings?
-Anything I am missing?
Thank you in advance.
Last Edited:
I have thought about getting a Mini-14 or 30 myself so have looked at the many different upgrades available. Seems the Accu-Strut stabilizer, which Brownell's does not mention is a popular one. The longer magazine release would be worth looking at along with the recoil buffer and tune-able gas block. The heavier firing pin spring for steel primer'd ammunition, though it might cause problems with softer primers, as in punching through them so I have read ..... so research that one. 
