Ruger does make heavier barrels for the Mini-14,though I'm unsure if they'er still availiable from the company. I own 3 Mini's myself and my customized little beast with the heavier (and shorter then average) barrel is the only one that can handle higher grain rounds.Look around,you may pay more then you care to,but a Mini-14 is far superior to a savage;for suppression fire if nothing else.