Ruger Mini-14 series 580-6XXXX Ranch Rifle chambering

[Trailrider]

One I have looked at is stamped, ".223".  I understand that the Mini-14 TARGET rifle is chambered for .223 ammo ONLY.  Question is:  Is this #580-6XXXXX rifle chambered for .223 or 5.56 NATO?  (For the uninitiated, the 5.56 NATO uses the same case as .223 Remington, but has a longer throat.  Firing the NATO ammo in a rifle chambered specifically for the civilian round could produce higher pressures!

[Stillwater]

One I have looked at is stamped, ".223".  I understand that the Mini-14 TARGET rifle is chambered for .223 ammo ONLY.  Question is:  Is this #580-6XXXXX rifle chambered for .223 or 5.56 NATO?  (For the uninitiated, the 5.56 NATO uses the same case as .223 Remington, but has a longer throat.  Firing the NATO ammo in a rifle chambered specifically for the civilian round could produce higher pressures!

It sounds like you have a question that Ruger should answer.

However, if the rifle were mine, and if the rifle was marked .223 Remington, then I would consider it to be a .223 instead of 5.56X45...

Bill

[Shotgun Franklin]

Years ago Ruger said that the Mini-14 could handle both civilian and military loads but go to their web site and confirm it. I shot nothing but military ammo out of mine.

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[Dirty Brass]

I was told the same thing by Ruger years ago, and have put hundreds of milsurp NATO 5.56 rounds through my Mini14's without any problems. I also was told that the Mini 30 could shoot both .308 and .311 bullets without any pressure problems, back when the steel tipped ammo from China was surplussed into the country.