CaliforniaSon

Hi,

I have an old 180 series (1976) mini-14 I'm working on for a buddy. I thought i had found a good replacement stock for it, but it's not fitting correctly and was hoping someone might know of an actual OEM or good quality / affordable replacement sight.

I only need the rear sight, the front is perfect.

any ideas or anyone with an old mini-14 like this that they have worked on?

I'm very close to saying to heck with it and scoping it, but I'd much prefer my iron sights.

thanks in advance!

CaliforniaSon

<bump>

WyoShooter

Some stocks won't fit the 180 series. I had an older Choate folding stock for one of my 180's that fit.
Good luck on the scope mount. If you look at a 180 compared to the 181's and up, the receiver for the bolt release on the left side is completely different and this is why it's hard to find a scope mount that actually works.
My suggestion would be to leave it in stock configuration with iron sights. Not sure who would have a rear sight. Looking at Numrich Gun Parts most of the rear sight parts are sold out for the 180 series. May have to get hold of a local gunsmith for availability.

Ballenxj

If you find a good replacement for the rear sight, I'd like to hear about it as well.
Here's an old thread were this was somewhat talked about as well. See post #11.
http://rugerforum.net/ruger-semi-aut...ues-1970s.html
And for the heck of it I'll throw in the link to the scope mount discussion for that rifle too.
Scope mount for the mini-14
-Bruce

WyoShooter

The second 180 series I owned had bolt problems.
During firing... the ejector, extractor and spring would fly out of the bolt. Happened twice. After the second time I got rid of the gun. Wound up buying a third 180 a few years later and that one was good shooter.

CaliforniaSon

Thanks guy! And yea, if I find anything about a good replacement sight, I will make sure to post it here.

My buddy and I love this 180 series, I personally like the feel better than my newer 581, but without a rear sight it does him no good and I thought I might be able to fix it until I ran into the scarce parts issue.

Ballenxj

There are sources for parts if you do a little searching.
I think World's Largest Supplier of Gun Parts, Gunsmith Tools & Shooting Accessories - Brownells may be one. There are others too that I can't think of at the moment, but you get the idea.
Meanwhile, allow me to post one more link that may be of interest to you.
Be sure to check out MOUNTAIN WILLIAMS rifle on post #2.
MINI 14 and barrel issues
-Bruce

CaliforniaSon

I think I'm going to order one of each of the following and try them. I will make sure to let you guys know how it turns out...

WGOS REPLACEMENT SLIDE/GHOST RING - Brownells

APERTURE REAR SIGHTS - Brownells

Ballenxj

Great! Waiting to hear your results.
-Bruce

CaliforniaSon

So here is the semi-update.

WGOS REPLACEMENT SLIDE/GHOST RING - Brownells

works well enough, but they only give you extremely cheap screws with it, which makes it hard to tighten correctly. However, once you get the place in place and get the sight on and lok-tited on, you're good to go.

Glen Watkins

Cali or anyone else.Do you know if any of these sights you looked at would work on a 581 series? The stock ones don't work for me too well but it might be age creeping in too!

CaliforniaSon

Hey Glen,

I know there are a couple for the newer mini-14 and mini-30, I looked at them for my 581 series and I will see if I can find those for you.

Old Scribe

I replaced the rear site on my 180 series Mini with a factory replacement from Ruger...I think. A decent scope mount for the 180's is the Scout Rail by Aimtech. It replaces the handguard and allows you to still use the iron sites. Brownells has them.