Full Auto Mini-14 Conversion

[MontanaRenegade86]

I recently ran across a Mini-14 that was converted to full-auto before the '86 cutoff. It is an S&S Arms conversion of what appears to be a 181 or later series rifle. It looks to be full auto and semi auto only. It is for sale for what I consider to be an excellent price which is several thousand dollars below an AC556.

Does anybody here have any experience with a full auto Mini-14? Other than the lack of a three round burst option, how does it compare to an AC556? For $8k is it worth buying or is the AC556 worth the extra couple of grand?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

 

[KickStand]

I've actually got one converted by the same company. It was registered by an individual and he shipped it off for them to do the conversion. Mine is a GB mini 14, which comes with bayonet lug, threaded barrel and flashhider. So if it's a GB get it, it will add value (not a fortune though). It runs like a top in either semi or full auto.
I've also got an ac556f and it runs great. If you want a select fire mini 14 for thousands less than an ac556 get it.
It also has a nice selector, slightly resembles an M14 selector.

See attched pic of mine

 

[komodoj]

If it’s cheaper than this then yes. But if not I’d take this over a conversion! Plus I think this guy is flexible?? Imho!!



http://www.sturmgewehr.com/forums/index.php?/topic/10889-wts-early-ruger-ac-556/#comment-31136

 

[KickStand]

If it’s cheaper than this then yes. But if not I’d take this over a conversion! Plus I think this guy is flexible?? Imho!!



http://www.sturmgewehr.com/forums/index.php?/topic/10889-wts-early-ruger-ac-556/#comment-31136

I agree with you 100%. The good thing about the converted mini 14 is it's a 181 series like mine. It uses all newer parts unlike the old 180 ac556.

 

[komodoj]

Btw. Spoke to Mark yesterday. Congrats buddy!!

I agree with you 100%. The good thing about the converted mini 14 is it's a 181 series like mine. It uses all newer parts unlike the old 180 ac556.

 

[KickStand]

Thanks komodoj.

MontanaRenegade86,
Let me know if you need any other info.

 

[MontanaRenegade86]

Thank you for the quick replies, Gentlemen! Much appreciated.

That early AC556 is SWEEEEEEET!!!

 

[Battering ram NIB]

Real ac556s take forever to sell and sell low. I think your better off to buy the real deal

$1,000 more gets you a real gun not a conversion

Values on these guns have been going down hill fast I’ve noticed. I got my ss folder in like new condition for $11,250 2 years ago. I see blued folders selling around the $11,000 range. That would be the smarter buy

Shorter, more tacticool looking.

The burst is most of what i use. It’s not a very controllable gun. Fa is kinda worthless

For a 223 your better to get a Mac 11 and get on the Lage list. $7500 for the Mac and $3,000 for the upper

I wonder if this is why the rugers aren’t selling well lately. I also think the Mac 11 is killing the Uzi sales too

 

[MontanaRenegade86]

Real ac556s take forever to sell and sell low. I think your better off to buy the real deal

$1,000 more gets you a real gun not a conversion

Values on these guns have been going down hill fast I’ve noticed. I got my ss folder in like new condition for $11,250 2 years ago. I see blued folders selling around the $11,000 range. That would be the smarter buy

Shorter, more tacticool looking.

The burst is most of what i use. It’s not a very controllable gun. Fa is kinda worthless

For a 223 your better to get a Mac 11 and get on the Lage list. $7500 for the Mac and $3,000 for the upper

I wonder if this is why the rugers aren’t selling well lately. I also think the Mac 11 is killing the Uzi sales too

I am inclined to agree. As relatively cheap as the conversion is, I like the idea of a three round burst option.

MACs have never really done it for me. Even Lage can't bring me over.

 

[Battering ram NIB]

If you know someone w one you might want to try it.

The folders are kinda neat but the gun is not very controllable

It’s fun to shoot 1-2x a year.

Last gun I’d take to a gun fight

It’s a range toy

 

[TheChunkNorris]

Real ac556s take forever to sell and sell low. I think your better off to buy the real deal

$1,000 more gets you a real gun not a conversion

Values on these guns have been going down hill fast I’ve noticed. I got my ss folder in like new condition for $11,250 2 years ago. I see blued folders selling around the $11,000 range. That would be the smarter buy

Shorter, more tacticool looking.

The burst is most of what i use. It’s not a very controllable gun. Fa is kinda worthless

For a 223 your better to get a Mac 11 and get on the Lage list. $7500 for the Mac and $3,000 for the upper

I wonder if this is why the rugers aren’t selling well lately. I also think the Mac 11 is killing the Uzi sales too

For what it's worth, I paid 9500.00 for my very clean blue K folder about 2yrs ago. I've seen models like mine go for about 11k, with maybe one mag. Your SS is worth more than that.

Said AC556K:

 

[Battering ram NIB]

Prices are down right now. I think Midwest frank has a ss folder for $11-12,000 right now. The ss folders were up to $14,000+ for a while

It’s bargain time on the rugers right now. No shortage of them on the market

 

[TheChunkNorris]

Prices are down right now. I think Midwest frank has a ss folder for $11-12,000 right now. The ss folders were up to $14,000+ for a while

It’s bargain time on the rugers right now. No shortage of them on the market

That is true. NFA Sales and DealerNFA have some now, Ruben is selling a folder like mine for $14,995.

 

[MontanaRenegade86]

If you know someone w one you might want to try it.

The folders are kinda neat but the gun is not very controllable

It’s fun to shoot 1-2x a year.

Last gun I’d take to a gun fight

It’s a range toy

What kind of accuracy is an AC556 capable of?

 

[Battering ram NIB]

semi auto....good as any gun..

burst..25 yards on a human size target

full auto--shooting birds after 3 shots

im not impressed with a m16 in full auto either...its much better, but still not controllable much beyond 3 shots.....the lage 11/15 looks very controllable in full auto....
try shooting an AK or m14 in full auto....im not sure the 2nd shot even hits at 25 yards.....ive shot both(m14 on a bipod while laying on the ground) and i decided neither will be a purchase for me

the AC556 internals are a bit nutty...its pretty much a shrunk m1 garand/m14....very,very complex trigger group....to the point where you just dont touch it..even have to be careful on disassembly.. i have to look up how to dissemble every time...

if you can get a SS folder for $11-12k in nice shape i think its a bargain and id go for it....or a blued folder for $10-11k.....its still a fun gun....just dont plan on shooting 50-100 yards on full auto w/o a bipod

i think the SS folder looks great and i love its quirky buttons and function.

i prefer subguns as i can actually hit something in full auto at 50 yards

 

[ScottinTexas]

For what it's worth, I paid 9500.00 for my very clean blue K folder about 2yrs ago. I've seen models like mine go for about 11k, with maybe one mag. Your SS is worth more than that.

Said AC556K:

What stock is that?

 

[MontanaRenegade86]

semi auto....good as any gun..

burst..25 yards on a human size target

full auto--shooting birds after 3 shots

im not impressed with a m16 in full auto either...its much better, but still not controllable much beyond 3 shots.....the lage 11/15 looks very controllable in full auto....
try shooting an AK or m14 in full auto....im not sure the 2nd shot even hits at 25 yards.....ive shot both(m14 on a bipod while laying on the ground) and i decided neither will be a purchase for me

the AC556 internals are a bit nutty...its pretty much a shrunk m1 garand/m14....very,very complex trigger group....to the point where you just dont touch it..even have to be careful on disassembly.. i have to look up how to dissemble every time...

if you can get a SS folder for $11-12k in nice shape i think its a bargain and id go for it....or a blued folder for $10-11k.....its still a fun gun....just dont plan on shooting 50-100 yards on full auto w/o a bipod

i think the SS folder looks great and i love its quirky buttons and function.

i prefer subguns as i can actually hit something in full auto at 50 yards

Nice write up. Thank you.

I'm an M16 fan but I don't want to shell out $20k+. I was looking at Lightning Links but the ones I can find are damn near what a registered receiver costs. Crazy.

The AC556 seems like an acceptable compromise. My next purchase will probably be my last, at least for a while. I want to be sure that I am going to like whatever is it that I end up buying. That's why I am asking all these (probably dumb) questions.

BTW, I have shot an AK on full auto. It's a beast. Never have shot an M14 although I've seen one in action up close.

 

[cajun 22]

What stock is that?

It looks like the one Clyde Armory sold in the past. Had one for a mini 14 and it was nice. Sold it to a guy with a AC556 that literally begged me for a year because he could not find one in the wild.

 

[Battering ram NIB]

I would get a Mac 11, a Lage max31, and a Lage 11/15

Get other uppers as time goes on.

Get 6 guns vs 1 ruger ac556

And probably have a more controllable 223 vs the ruger

AND probably have a gun that goes up in value quicker. Rugers are going down now

If you can swing a $19 colt sp1 I’d go for it


M14 is a beast of a gun. Ive got a few semi 308s. But full auto 308 needs a bipod only. To me that’s not fun shooting. I want to move around a bit and blast at multiple targets. Sitting at a bench with a bipod isn’t my thing.

 

[KickStand]

BATTERING RAM NIB,
I don't think the recoil / control is that bad BUT I will agree with you to a point.
In my opinion it's between M16 < ak47, with it definitely being more towards the AK. I think the more you shoot it the better you get. For example my brother shot my converted mini 14 for first time and he did a mag dump, let's just say he might have hit a target at 25 yards 5 times out of 20. It was hilarious, GRANTED THIS WAS HIS FIRST TIME EVER SHOOTING A MACHINE GUN.
At the end of the day he was doing great with 90% on target at 25yds. If your worried about recoil get a comp for it.

TheChunkNorris,
Sent me video of his ac556 with the Clyde stock. I beleive it was his first time firing it and he was testing it. It was prolly 10 yards and he did a really good job with it (the stock probably helps with control bc the stock is more inline with the barrel). I would say he would have easily hit a 25 yard target 100% with a mag dump. He might also have a lot of experience shooting higher caliber Machine guns though. If your interested in seeing it PM him and he will prolly send you the same video. All I can say is, I'm getting that Clyde armory stock.

Either way, just one mans opinion.