somewhere around 10 years ago i lost interest in guns and shooting. sad i know. but over the last year and a half or so ive gotten back into it. started out with a ruger 10/22. then a mossberg 500. now im looking into mini-14s. i had one back in 96 or 97. had the folding stock, 30 round mags, flash suppressor and i want to put together something similar. i went to a gun shop who had a ranch model and i asked if it was a pre-ban and they hopped online and started checking serial numbers because none of them knew off hand. the guy said he couldn't find the information and told me to write down the serial number and call ruger. so i went home and got online and found the serial number info in about 2 minutes. but then i stumbled across something interesting. i was finding sites stating that the "assault weapons" ban had expired in 04. keep in mind i haven't been up to par with my gun info for about 10 years. so if this is true i wont have to hunt around for a pre-ban mini-14. the reason i question the validity of these ban expiration articles is because the guys at the gun shop didn't even mention the ban being expired. id figure they would know about something like that. so can anyone confirm this? it will make my search for a mini-14 a bit easier. thanx.

Yes, the federal ban expired. Check your state / local laws to ensure that there is not further restriction where you live.

Welcome to the forum.

somewhere around 10 years ago i lost interest in guns and shooting. sad i know. but over the last year and a half or so ive gotten back into it. started out with a Ruger 10/22. then a Mossberg 500. now I'm looking into mini-14s. i had one back in 96 or 97. had the folding stock, 30 round mags, flash suppressor and i want to put together something similar. i went to a gun shop who had a ranch model and i asked if it was a pre-ban and they hopped online and started checking serial numbers because none of them knew off hand. the guy said he couldn't find the information and told me to write down the serial number and call Ruger. so i went home and got online and found the serial number info in about 2 minutes. but then i stumbled across something interesting. i was finding sites stating that the "assault weapons" ban had expired in 04. keep in mind i haven't been up to par with my gun info for about 10 years. so if this is true i wont have to hunt around for a pre-ban mini-14. the reason i question the validity of these ban expiration articles is because the guys at the gun shop didn't even mention the ban being expired. id figure they would know about something like that. so can anyone confirm this? it will make my search for a mini-14 a bit easier. thanks.


I would probably visit a different gun shop if they were unaware that the Clinton gun ban expired September 13, 2004. All the best...
Gil

Don't worry after the elections I have a feeling the ban will be back.

bsn,
We must make sure that it never returns! Talk it up! Let people know why and how you think! Never give up! Vote accordingly!
Greg

I would probably visit a different gun shop if they were unaware that the Clinton gun ban expired September 13, 2004. All the best...
Gil

i found out that new york kept the ban going after 04 so everything is as it was. which explains why the guys at the shop didnt say anything when i asked if it was a pre-ban. i can however get hi cpacity mags and use them in a post band gun as long as the mags are pre-ban. thats all i really cared about anyway. thanks though.