The Mini 14 rifle is one the most popular and widely used rifles in the USA. It is pretty much the most popular .223 semi-automatic rifle and combines the features of a lot of other sought-after rifles. The market is filled with options for upgrading and improving the standard Mini 14 magazines, which leaves a lot of gun owners and gun users confused about it.
| Magazines | Name | Editor’s Comment | Rating | Get The Best Deal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Ruger Magazine Mini 14 223 90339 Magazine | 1. 10 rounds is a great compromise between firepower and lightness 2. Used with confidence Law Enforcement Units around the world 3. Ruger factory products are known For rugged reliability | 10/10 | SHOP NOW |
 | Pro Mag Ruger Mini 14 223 Rifle Magazine | 1. A ten-round mag is a perfect balance between weight-saving and firepower 2. Manufactured in the U.S.A. 3. Comes in blued or nickel-plated steel | 9.5/10 | SHOP NOW |
 | KCI Ruger Mini 14 Magazine | Most Recommended Option 1. Super durable construction 2. Loads fast with a speedloader 3. Excellent for target shooting and competitive shooting | 8.5/10 | SHOP NOW |
 | Ruger Magazine: Mini 14 223 Remington/5.56 Nato 90009 | 1. Follow state capacity regs 2. Have been field-tested by various police and military units 3. Blued finish for wear resistance and aesthetics | 8.0/10 | SHOP NOW |
 | Tapco Weapons Accessories Ruger Mini 14 Magazine 223/5.56 | 1. Lightweight 2. Match horizontal grooves on the body for better grip 3. Grooved and textured floorplate for easy drawing | 7.5/10 | SHOP NOW |
 | Ruger Mini 14 Magazine 90583 Magazine | 1. Adhere to tight state capacity laws 2. These Mags Have been proven in the field by dozens of police and military units 3. Outstanding reliability at an affordable price | 7.0/10 | Currently unavailable |
The Criteria: What To Look For In A Mini 14 Magazine?
There are quite a few things to keep in mind when you are considering a Ruger Mini 14 magazines, just like when you are getting other accessories. A magazine is key for feeding the bullets into your Mini 14’s action. If the magazine is not reliable, your feed system will jam every now and then. That makes it troublesome and is not a good sight at any given time.
Before choosing a Ruger Mini 14 magazine, you must make sure that it is reliable and feeds your Ruger Mini 14 well. Make sure to check the spring, which should not be too tight or too loose. At the same time, you should also check to see if the Ruger Mini 14 magazine has a “hold-open” follower. This can be done manually using the switch. However, if it is built in, then it is so much better for your Ruger Mini 14.
Another important criteria to consider is the Ruger Mini 14 magazine’s size. There are different choices of 5 rounds, 10 rounds, 20 rounds, and 30 rounds magazines made for the Mini 14. There are even some larger ones too. So, think carefully about what sizes you really need before getting any of it. Sometimes it can just be a preference of how much it bothers you to change clips.
The weight and the material of the Ruger Mini 14 magazine matters to an extent too. That is because a heavier magazine will add more to the weight of your Ruger Mini 14. That, in turn, may affect your accuracy when you are shooting. At the same time, it is also not a good option if you have to walk quite a long distance with your Ruger Mini 14.
Most of the Ruger Mini 14 magazines are manufactured with polymer or metal material. The polymer lightens these magazines and removes the problem of rusting. But the metal mags are still more durable and long lasting though.
One last factor that may not be a huge deal but is a nice feature is the transparency. There are a lot of Ruger Mini 14 magazines where you can check out the number of rounds left without having to detach them. This will be a great feature for a lot of good reasons too.
The Benefits Of Having Some Spare Mini 14 Magazines
Buying a spare magazine is an optional investment. Having said that, it is easily glossed over by many potential buyers. However, there are some distinctive advantages to having spare magazines. Those advantages includes the following:
Improved Performance
A lot of latest magazines that are currently on the market improves performance with not only small (but crucial) details, such as improved grip when changing the magazine, but also polymer, non-tilt followers which reduce the risk of your Mini 14 jamming.
Whether the improvements are small quality-of-life improvements or to ensure proper function of your gun when you need it the most, having a spare magazine is one of the easiest and most affordable things you can do to improve your shooting performances.
Security
Let’s say something happens to your scope. You may still have iron sights with you. What happens if something happens to your magazine? If you do not have a spare magazine, then you are pretty much out of luck.
That simply will not do, so all other advantages nonetheless, make sure that you have a spare magazine with you all the time. It is for the same reason you have a spare tire with you in your car every time you drive out.
Pricing
While each spare Ruger Mini 14 magazine has a different price point, they’re relatively inexpensive compared to other components. On top of that, some classic magazines are known to provide top-notch quality at a more affordable price. That means you do not have to buy budget brands. All you need to do is to do a bit of research on the magazine, and you are just as good.
Try not to make the common mistake some of the gun owners make – assuming that having spare magazines are not needed. Having a few extra Ruger Mini 14 magazines can improve performances, extend the life of your weapon, and are absolutely important and crucial if something happens to your existing magazine.
Having mentioned all of these, having several extra Ruger Mini 14 magazines can be a brilliant added value to your gun collection. All you have to do is to consult and do some research about some of the best spare magazines that are currently available on the market for you and give yourself some peace of mind.
Precautions and Considerations
If you wish to be more up to date about purchasing magazines for your Ruger Mini 14, then you will need to be aware of some considerations that should not be looked over. Here are some things that you need to know:
Magazine Sizes – Double Check The Laws
Depending on which states you live in The USA, there may be laws or regulations in regards to owning any kinds of magazine sizes. Hence, it will be important to double-check your local laws and state laws to make sure that you do not run into any unintentional legal headaches at some point down the road. From here onwards, you can choose which Ruger Mini 14 magazines will be acquiescent with those laws if push comes to shove.
Compatibility
If you think every Mini 14 magazines can fit all the Ruger Mini 14, then you greatly mistaken, so to speak. If you have not known yet, then the guesswork may be a bit harder. However, in order to save you some time and money, you will need to know the measurements of your Ruger Mini 14’s magwell. That way you can find a magazine that has the right measurements to fit your rifle perfectly.
The 6 Best Mini 14 Magazines in 2022
The following list contains some of the best Mini 14 magazines that you can get for your Ruger Mini 14 that are currently on the market. Look out for any features and characteristics that stands out the most for you before getting it.
1. KCI Ruger Mini 14 Magazine (100 Rounds)
This KCI Ruger Mini 14 magazine was a hit with a handful of new buyers. If you are someone who is currently looking for a large capacity magazine that will get them through the long days at the range (both in a casual and competitive setting) then this is a good one for you.
A lot of gun owners and gun users said that the feeding was smooth and the reliability was top notch. One of the gun users said that the magazine has hardly jammed on him well over 1000 rounds. Which is good news for people who are looking for magazines with a huge number of rounds.
The reason why this magazine stands out to a lot of gun owners and gun users (including us) is that it looks beastly. It is extremely durable as well since it is made of polymer. It is able to contain up to 100 rounds of Mini 14 ammo so you can be ready to take your shot if and when you need to. We know that 100 rounds may seem like it is a lot. But who says that you can’t have too many shots at a time to fire off?
This is a great magazine for any Mini 14 owners who would rather be at the range all day than be anywhere else. Can’t anyone blame you as a gun owner either?
If you have a lot of Mini 14 rounds at your disposal, then this can be the magazine that can be a great fit for all of your shooting purposes. Start your day off at the range and end with hundreds of rounds fired off with your endless supply of paper targets.
The bottom line is that the Mini 14 100 rounds drum magazine is, without a doubt, one of the toughest and most solidly built magazines that you can currently find anywhere on the market.
Furthermore, it can work great in almost any target shooting situations you find yourself in. Whether you are firing off rounds for fun or if you are in the middle of a competition, this magazine will be a fun one to use and try out when you have so many rounds to work with.
2. Ruger Mini 14 223 Remington / 5.56 Nato 90009 (5 Rounds Capacity)
A lot of newer buyers tend to like this magazine, given how it is literally made of steel and is highly durable. The magazine fits snugly inside the weapon, and since these are made by Ruger themselves, they function really properly.
First and foremost, these magazines are made by Ruger. Furthermore, the magazine has been made from blued steel material, which guarantees its durability. Since the feed lips are made of metal, there is almost no likelihood of feeding issues from there onwards.
Sturm, Ruger & Co. was founded in 1949 by a man named Bill Ruger. For the time being, the nation’s largest firearm’s manufacturer, Ruger, is known for its rock-solid reliability that the average citizen can afford.
You can even enjoy a little extra peace of mind when you buy Ruger’s own after-market components. Given how the company’s reputation and the fact that components such as this magazine are designed and built in the same position as your gun.
If you ever need a light and practical hunting mag for your Mini 14crifle, or if you must abide by some new draconian magazine size laws, then this mag may be exactly what you are looking for.
This detachable 5-rounds box magazine is made of extremely reliable blued steel and it has closely resembled a mil-spec magazine. As a matter of fact, the factory original Ruger magazines like this one have been used by about a dozen police forces around the world and by the Royal Bermuda Regiment.
From a military perspective, the capacity of such a magazine is mostly useful for practice purposes. However, that still says a lot about its status. For most regular citizens, 5 rounds are more than sufficient. Even if you are just plinking or shooting paper at the range, for consistent accuracy it is always good to give your barrel a break to cool down for a bit.
Also, these magazines are more likely to be used by bench shooters, competitive shooters, and hunters. On top of that, gun owners with magazine capacity restrictions can also use these as an alternative instead of being stuck with having to choose high capacity magazines. This magazine works great for a hunter who shoots at a slow pace and has a lot of time for reloading.
The bottom line is that these are Ruger-manufactured factory magazines which functions flawlessly and seamlessly with Mini 14 rifles. The magazines are made of steel so you can drop them or throw them, and very little issues will stem from it. Also, the magazines are easy to clean and will last you for many years to come.
At the same time, this is a great low-capacity magazine for normal civilian conditions. The best features are the solid blued steel construction one and the product’s reliability is definitely steady.
3. Tapco Weapons Accessories Magazines 223 5.56 (30 Rounds)
This Tapco Weapons Accessories Ruger Mini 14 magazine features smooth operation both in and out of its receiver. These magazines seem very sturdy and reliable, according to a lot of gun owners.
Most gun owners buy multiple of these magazines due to their price, capacity, and flawless operation. The magazines fit very comfortably into the rifle and are quite easy to insert and remove too.
This magazine is quite well built according to a lot of gun owners, and it also holds 30 rounds at once. Furthermore, the inexpensive price of the magazines also allows you to buy multiple of its units at a time. These are also easy to disassemble and are lightweight to be carried around. What more the texture of these magazines is also quite supportive, to say the least.
Tapco made this 30 round full polymer body magazine for the Mini 14 rifle. It is a single-piece construction made from a fiberglass polymer composite. That makes it somewhat durable and light in weight. The evenly-spaced grooves on its exterior provide a firm grip for easy changing of the magazine.
At the same time, it also features a polymer, non-tilt follower which reduces the risk of jamming while you are shooting. It also comes with a chrome-silicon spring. The floorplate lock tab is connected with its spring and can be removed when you press it with a bullet’s tip for convenient cleaning.
This magazine is the best when used for training and tactical purposes. Due to its obvious high capacity, the magazine allows you to shoot a lot of rounds with a single fill. It can be handy in tactical or home-defense situations or when you are at the range. However, just make sure that your local laws allow the use of such high-capacity magazines where you are.
A lot of gun owners said that the Tapco 30 round magazines fit the Mini 14 rifle very well and operates flawlessly under every condition. The magazines are made from polymer, which makes them really light in weight. Furthermore, the high capacity prevents you from the hassle of quick reloading.
4. Ruger Mini 14 223 90339 (10 Rounds)
Since these magazines are made from blued stainless steel, they are very durable. Most gun users don’t really face a lot of feeding issues and it fits perfectly inside a Mini 14 rifle. Moreover, most gun users appreciate the magazine being originally made by Ruger.
This magazine is an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) by Ruger. That means there are very little to no performance or compatibility issues. At the same time, the oil and water resistant surface prolongs the magazine’s service life. The magazine has metal feed lips, which means it will not bend no matter how much you drop or stomp on it.
A 10 round magazine is a good conciliation between firepower and lightness. Using a magazine or any component designed and manufactured by the same company that made your rifle offers a bit of assurance and a peace of mind.
Unlike the 5 round model, even the base-plate of this magazine is made of blued steel. This more complete steel construction gives the magazine a classic military look – if that is something that you like. The follower appears to be made from a good, nylon anti-tilt variety.
Although Ruger has explicitly designed these mags to only sit in the magazine well when the bolt is open, many gun users have a hard time trying to get used to this design feature. It is quite a common feature, and most gun users can get used to it with a bit of practice.
Given that it is only 10 rounds, this magazine does not require curved internal geometry. Instead, the style goes way back to some of the original military detachable box magazines like those on the M14. It is a design the Mini 14 is based on. These magazines can be relatively hard to find because they are much more vigorously made than those by other aftermarket manufacturers.
The magazine is a bonus for gun owners who are staying in states restricting the use of high capacity magazines. This is if 10 rounds is the maximum you can have in those kinds of states. This magazine is the best for hunters and target shooters. Given how that 10 rounds are more than sufficient for a hunting expedition. Furthermore, the magazine is quite durable to be used at the range.
The 10 round Ruger magazine is a must-have for any Mini 14 gun owners living in capacity restrictive American States. The magazine is quite durable and will last you a lifetime if it is being used properly. The price may seem a bit different when compared to other polymer magazines, but it is definitely worth it.
In all honesty, 10 rounds is a good round number to carry around in a magazine. It may be heavy and unnecessary for a long day’s slog of mountainous hunting, but for plinking, a day at the range, or boar hunting, 10 rounds is the Goldilocks magazine capacity. Of course, it comes with Ruger guarantee.
5. Pro Mag 223 Rifle Magazine
Most gun users opt for this magazine because of the similarity in design and difference in price when compared with the Ruger factory magazines. These magazines are said to be quite durable, and it even looks pleasing. However, some gun users have reported some jamming issues. However, that is not a very common issue and are far and few in between.
The different pull factor for these magazines is their affordable price point. These magazines are almost half in price compared to the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) ones. Furthermore, they are almost on par when it comes to its performance. Another important factor to mention is their aesthetics. They have several colour choices for you to choose from.
Pro Mag is known as a high-quality firearm components manufacturer based in Phoenix, USA. This is another really great 10 round magazine with a classic military design and a heat-treated steel body. This magazine comes in 2 finishes – in blued steel or nickel-plated steel. For obvious reasons, the blued version will look a lot better on a gun with blued steel. On the other hand, the nickel-plated option will best match a stainless steel gun.
Once again, the 10 round capacity of this magazine offers a great compromise between weight and firepower. This model offers very similar looks, feel, and functionality to the 10 round Ruger factory model mentioned above, but comes at a more affordable price. Internally, this magazine features a chrome-silicon spring to prevent it from corrosion and a precision-molded polymer feeder.
Pro Mag products are made in the USA and are warrantied against factory defects. This is a great choice if you are looking for a moderate capacity with a military aesthetic at a prodigious price. This is very true if you are looking for the nickel-plated version to match your stainless steel gun.
These magazines are best used as extras while shooting at the range. You can also choose to use them for hunting, but that totally depends on the discretion of you as a gun user. Not forgetting to mention that people living in restrictive law states can also get their hands on these magazines.
The Pro Mag 223 10 round magazine is an affordable choice for the Ruger Mini 14 factory magazines. Furthermore, this magazine is durable, aesthetically pleasing, and can be used in multiples at the range, considering their price and capacity.
This is a great cost-saving option, especially if you treat magazines as an expendable item. The choice of its aesthetics is nice, especially if that is what you dig. It can be nice having some affordable magazines or other components that you do not care too much about – especially if they get lost or damaged. If that is what you are looking for, then this magazine is definitely meant for you.
6. Ruger Mini 14 90583 (5 Rounds Capacity)
This Ruger Mini 14 magazine displays capable crafting and durable design. It holds 5 rounds and works really well with the Mini 14 rifle. It can be split apart easily if you wish to clean it or for maintenance. Furthermore, the chocolate bar grooves over its body help with getting a better grip.
The Ruger Mini 14 magazine has been meticulously designed with no flaws whatsoever. The steel spring is strong and accommodates flawless feeding. At the same time, the caliber engraved on its right side helps with storage, assortment, and looks really great. On top of all that, it is also an original factory magazine made by Ruger.
Let’s say your Mini 14 is chambered in the popular 300 Blackout round. Or if you ever need a light 5 round magazine for long days of packing your rifle around the bush. Or that if your state has strict capacity laws. Then this Ruger Mini 14 magazine is definitely a great choice. Again, Ruger has a great and stable reputation for dependability that you can afford.
You will be able to rest well after having purchased Ruger’s own in-house magazines – thanks to the company’s reputation and the knowledge that components such as this one are made with your Mini 14 rifles in mind. If you need a light and efficient hunting magazine for your 300 Blackout Mini 14, or if your options are restricted by your local magazine capacity laws, then this magazine is just the one for you.
This detachable 5 round box magazine is made of heavy-duty blued steel and looks a lot like a standard mil-spec magazine. For most regular gun users who are civilians that use cases, 5 rounds are more than enough for them. Even if you are just plinking or spending the day at the range, if you are looking for consistent shot placement, then the best practice is to give your barrel time to cool down. Reloading your magazine every five shots is a reasonable way to do this.
The magazine is the most suitable for hunters and range use. It has a limited capacity of 5 rounds, which is more than enough for a skilled shooter to takedown game. Furthermore, the 5 round capacity allows your rifle some time to cool down while you are out shooting at the range for the day.
The bottom line is that the Ruger Mini 14 .300BLK magazine is an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) component for your rifle. It is strong and has been really well-designed to ensure for a flawless operation. The magazine is best for hunting and works really well as a backup for carrying some extra ammo in a small and confined space.
This is a brilliant low-capacity magazine for your average civilian use cases. Furthermore, its top features are the tough blued steel design and its reliability.
Our Verdict
The bottom line is that there are quite a number of really good Ruger Mini 14 magazines choices that are currently on the market for you to choose from. It is undoubtedly that the original Ruger factory magazines work pretty well on the Mini 14 rifles and are some of the best choices for it too. However, that are quite rare to begin with and are often overpriced compared to a lot of other magazine options.
Light in weight and more affordable models of magazines are often readily available and can be used without much problems. However, it all depends on your individual choices and taste.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the best magazines for the Mini 14 rifle?
There are a few really good Ruger Mini 14 magazines. It is said that the Ruger-made magazines work best for the Mini 14 rifles, although there are also more affordable rifle choices for it on the market too.
How To Choose The Best Aftermarket Mini 14 Magazines?
An aftermarket magazine must be equally reliable and feeds bullets efficiently into your Ruger Mini 14 which can be examined through the tension of the spring and presence of a ‘hold-open’ follower. Of course, the sizing, weight and material of the aftermarket magazines varies. Hence, your usage would determined which size and weight would be ideal for you because a rule of thumb is that a heavier magazine would significantly add weight to your Ruger Mini 14 and may possibly affect the accuracy of your shooting.
Given the availability of many aftermarket magazines, some factory mags haven taken up a notch by manufacturing a transparent aftermarket magazine which would allow you to examine the remaining rounds without manually detaching them. This is definitely a game changer for you gun owners out there.
Hello there, it’s Michael here. A gun lover since young, served the country for the last 20 years. I started the blog to share my experience and gun-related knowledge accumulated throughout the years. Hopefully, you will find something useful over here or just have fun! You can learn more about me here.