Mini-14 Rifle
(Manufactured from 1978 to 2004)
Caliber: 223 Rem, 222 Rem
Beginning Serial Number: Years of Production:
181-07488 1978
181-48351 1979
181-84879 1980
182-45601 1981
183-03581 1982
183-40455 1983
184-17175 1984
184-26063 1985
184-95448 1986
185-14140 1987
185-50455 1988
185-56556 1989
185-81009 1990
186-05029 1991
186-18250 1992
186-20065 1993
186-31116 1994
186-42502 1995
186-58133 1996
186-66855 1997
186-81445 1998
186-87432 1999
*196-06325 2000
*196-44553 2001
*196-80982 2002
*196-99207 2003
*197-12180 2004

* Mini-14 serial numbers rollmarked with Mini-14 Ranch Rifles beginning in 2000

The above chart shows the approximate first serial number shipped for the indicated year. This number should be used as a point of reference only. It is not necessarily the very first serial number shipped, but it can be used to determine the approximate year your Ruger firearm was shipped.

Ruger does not necessarily produce firearms in serial number order. There are occasions when blocks of serial numbers have been manufactured out of sequence, sometimes years later. Also, within a model family the same serial number prefix may be used to produce a variety of different models, all in the same block of serial numbers. And in some cases, firearms may be stored for a length of time before they are shipped.

For details on your specific serial number you may contact our Service Department: 336-949-5200

For serial numbers manufactured prior to our electronic records, or for an official letter confirming the details on your firearm please download and mail in the Request for Letter of Authenticity form.