Ruger Mini-14

The Ruger Mini-14 is a lightweight semi-automatic rifle designed by L. James Sullivan and William B. Ruger between 1967 and 1973 and manufactured by Sturm, Ruger and Co. in the United States, styled as a scaled down descendant of the M14 rifle and chambered in 5.56 by 45 millimeter NATO. Introduced in 1973 and in service from 1974, it has remained in continuous production ever since. Beyond civilian and police use it has appeared in the hands of irregular and militia forces in conflicts including the Rhodesian Bush War, the Troubles in Northern Ireland and the Basque conflict.