(Photo courtesy of Cory Ross)
January 01, 2026
By Cory Ross
Readers of a certain age may remember “The A-Team,” a TV series that ran for four years in the 1980s and followed the exploits of a fictional band of ex-Special Forces members turned soldiers of fortune. If you’ve seen the show, the rifle featured in this article will likely be familiar. A stainless Ruger Mini-14 with folding stock was one of the guns prominently featured on the show.
The Mini-14’s designer was Leroy James Sullivan, an influential but largely unknown inventor who helped developed guns like the M16, the Stoner 63 and the Ultimax 100L LMG. The Mini-14 has been available in several configurations over its nearly 50-year lifespan. One was the Mini-14 GB-F, which Ruger designed to better serve law enforcement. It featured a paratrooper-style folding stock, a pistol grip, a flash hider and a bayonet lug, and it’s almost identical to the new model I had the chance to review here.
This folding-stock version, inspired by the GB-F model, is part of the Mini-14 Tactical family, and the side folder itself is made with the original Ruger castings and toolings dating back to the 1970s and 1980s. The stock folds to the right and locks in place via the folding buttpad. You actuate a button within the butt and fold the stock, then lock it onto a nub on the fore-end. The stock locks solidly, with only one or two millimeters of play as the stock swings out.
The new rifle is a “limited availability” model chambered to 5.56 NATO, and it ships with two bright, nickel-Teflon 20-round magazines. (There’s also a Davidson’s distributor exclusive, a similar side-folder chambered to .300 BLK.) This one sports an 18.5-inch barrel with factory-installed flash hider that’s cold hammer forged, and the matte stainless barrel is threaded 1/2x28 in case you want to change out the flash hider for a suppressor or other muzzle device.
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Application The included Picatinny rail provides for easy optic mounting. The rear sling attachment point is located just behind the receiver. (Photo courtesy of Cory Ross) Ruger’s original goal with the Mini-14 was to downsize the M14 service rifle to fit the smaller service calibers of the era, specifically the 5.56 NATO. While it doesn’t share the same operating system as the M14, it bears some resemblance to the former 7.62 NATO service rifle while incorporating many modern touches.
The Mini features Ruger’s integral mount bases machined into the receiver fore and aft of the ejection port, and a pair of Ruger one-inch rings and a Picatinny rail to fit this system are included with the rifle. This being 2025, I think it’d be smart for Ruger to substitute 30mm rings for the one-inch versions. This rifle really begs for a low-power variable scope of some type, and very few of those have one-inch tubes.
The Ruger Mini-14 Tactical ships with nice iron sights as well. The rear is an adjustable ghost-ring aperture. The front sight is unique. It features a blade protected by wings, but instead of being located at the muzzle, it’s set several inches back and includes an integral bayonet lug.
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The wood portion of the stock is matte-finished walnut, and the wood is so-so with no distinguishing figuring—just a utilitarian stock. There are sling mounts on the left-hand side: one at the tip of the fore-end, and the other above the pistol grip.
Tacti-Cool The folding stock not only gives the rifle a cool retro look but also makes for convenient transport and storage. Folding and lockup are solid and secure. (Photo courtesy of Cory Ross) All this combines into a cool and distinctive rifle that exudes 1980s nostalgia. It features a simple gas system, at least when compared to the M14’s complex setup. The system attaches to the barrel with four bolts and includes the clamp-on gas block, gas pipe and slide assembly, which is Ruger’s version of the M14 operating rod.
The magazine release is located forward of the trigger guard and functions similarly to the M14. Unless you have exceedingly large hands, you’ll have to break your firing grip to operate it. The magazine is best inserted via the “rock-and-lock” method, placing the forward edge of the mag in first and then rocking it rearward to lock it in place. The safety sits inside the trigger guard, as on the M14. Push forward for Fire; pull rearward for Safe.
The bolt handle is on the right side. I operate it with my off hand and reach over so that my dominant hand remains in the ready position. The polymer grip sits at a unique angle. I much prefer the grip angle of something like the Magpul K2 series, so I didn’t find this to be the most comfortable arrangement.
The two-stage trigger was the biggest letdown. The average pull weight over 10 pulls using a Lyman digital gauge was four pounds, 10 ounces. It has a solid first stage followed by a gritty second stage with a hitchy feel to it. The trigger’s reset was noticeable and about 3mm to 4mm. Overall, though, the trigger is functional and designed more for tactical applications rather than precision shooting.
Accuracy (Accuracy results provided by the author) For accuracy testing at 50 yards I added a Vortex Sparc Solar red dot to the supplied Picatinny rail. As you can see in the accompanying chart, I used a variety of bullet weights—all in .223 Rem.—and I was interested to see how the rifle would handle the heavier loads with its 1:9 twist barrel.
With regard to bench accuracy, keep in mind that the Mini-14 not a precision rifle and was never meant to be one. In the past Ruger did release some “accurized” versions, but even those weren’t precise by today’s standards. Furthermore, the Mini-14 stock’s ergonomics aren’t ideal for bench shooting. I supported the stock tip with a small rear bag, using my off hand to apply slight downward pressure on the handguard, forward of the red dot, to steady the rifle and help it ride in the bag.
As the chart demonstrates, the best performer of the group was the Berger 73-grain load, which came as a surprise since that’s a relatively heavy bullet for a 1:9 twist. In fact, I hope Ruger will consider changing the twist to a more modern 1:8.
I actually had one group with the Berger that approached an inch, but a flyer pushed it out to more than 2.75. Subsequent groups hovered around two inches. Again, this was all with a red-dot sight—no magnification to help with precision shots.
Preferences The front sight sits several inches back from the muzzle and includes an integral bayonet lug. (Photo courtesy of Cory Ross) The rifle didn’t like all the heavier loads, though, and the results with the Federal 77-grainer were more in line with what I would’ve expected with the 1:9 twist. The HOP 55-grain load managed a sub two-inch group, which I found satisfying. Based on my testing, for longer shots I would choose the Remington with the Sierra MatchKing, along with the Berger round.
In limited field exercises, the rifle proved well-balanced, thanks in part to its Garand-style action, which helps keep the weight centralized. While the folding stock seemed minimalist, it was comfortable, and with its short length of pull it worked well for me. And both from the bench and from the shoulder the rifle proved 100 percent reliable.
The Ruger Mini-14 is a popular rifle that bears a resemblance to its namesake, the M14. While it combines elements of two well-known American military arms, it is inherently a unique design. Moreover, the Mini-14’s popularity seems to fluctuate over time.
In a world where AR-15s dominate, the Mini-14 is not as mainstream, but its presence in popular media helps keep it relevant. In a market flooded with black rifles, the Mini-14 manages to stand out. This was evident at the range, where many people approached me to ask about the rifle.
"I Pity The Fool" While the Mini-14’s gas system is different than the M14’s, the bolt is quite Garand-like. The receiver is machined to accept the supplied Ruger rings, and the ghost-ring sight is adjustable. (Photo courtesy of Cory Ross) However, this particular Mini-14 Tactical is pricey, with a suggested retail price of $1,849. And because it’s a limited-availability offering, you won’t find it everywhere. Still, if you’re a serious firearms collector—and/or a fan of “The A-Team”—this Mini-14 definitely deserves a spot in your collection.
Ruger Mini-14 Tactical Specs Type: semiautomatic centerfireCaliber: 5.56 NATOCapacity: two 20-round detachable magazines suppliedBarrel: 18.50 in., 1:9 twist, flash hider; threaded 1/2x28Overall Length: 39.25 in.; 29.75 in. foldedWeight: 7.5 lb.Finish: stainless steelStock: walnut w/stainless side-folderSights: adjustable ghost-ring rear, fixed frontSafety: 2-position rocker inside trigger guardTrigger: 2-stage; 4 lb., 10 oz. pull (measured)Price: $1,849Manufacturer: Ruger, ruger.com Top Selling New Semi-Auto Rifles Sold in December 2025 Source: gungenius.com/top-selling/
To learn more or shop for any of the guns listed, visit Gun Genius at www.gungenius.com/top-selling .
Editor's note: In the report, guns are rated from one to five within each category, with the number one gun being the most popular that month. The numbers are color-coded to show any changes in the ranks from the previous report.
Black = Steady Green = Up Red = Down
Source: gungenius.com/top-selling/
To learn more or shop for any of the guns listed, visit Gun Genius at www.gungenius.com/top-selling .
