The Ruger Mini-14 Ranch Rifle takes a completely different approach to the 5.56 NATO semi-auto. Instead of the AR-15's modular upper/lower receiver design, it uses a fixed-piston gas system derived from the M1 Garand and M14, with a one-piece alloy steel receiver and a rotating bolt. The hardwood stock, blued finish, and 18.5-inch barrel give it the profile of a traditional sporting rifle rather than a tactical carbine. At 112 oz (7.0 lbs), it is lighter than most AR-pattern rifles in this caliber.

The Ranch Rifle ships with a Picatinny rail on the receiver for optic mounting, factory ghost ring aperture rear sight, and protected blade front sight. The 1:9 twist rate stabilizes 55-grain ammunition well but may not fully stabilize heavier 77-grain match bullets. It comes with two 5-round magazines, and Ruger sells factory 10- and 20-round magazines separately. The Mini-14 traces its design back to 1973, when Ruger introduced it as a lighter, handier alternative to the M14. More than fifty years later, it remains one of the few non-AR semi-auto 5.56 rifles in current production.