[Saddlebag Preacher]

I just noticed within the last few weeks, our local walmart is carrying Panther Arms AR rifles and Bushmaster Cruiser carbines. The Panther is in the mid $500's and the Bushmaster is in the mid $800's. They also started carrying the Ruger mini 14 with the larger (20 round?) Magazine for a little over $600.00. With those being my price ranges, and I know none are top of the line, what would be a good deal for close quarter (under 100-125 yard) coyote, pest control, truck gun.

[rcmodel]

Depends on which weapons platform you prefer.

Any of them are fully serviceable, and will do a number on a coyote, if you don't mind empty cases poking holes in the headliner, bouncing off the sun visor, and falling down the defroster vents!

Myself, for a truck gun, I'd probably go with the Mini-14.

I own both, and the Mini just seems more user friendly inside a truck cab for several reason.

rc

[foghornl]

Hmmmmm

I haven't seen them in my local Wal-Warts, but the closest W-W to me quit selling fireamrs a few years back. Next closest sold guns last time I looked, about 3 months ago

[snakeman]

For the up close stuff. Any of the above should be good. The mini would be better as a truck gun i guess simply because it works better dirty. The ar would be my choice though because I like to shoot the more accurate gun.

[TexasPatriot.308]

if it is series 581 mini 14, they are shooters.

[fluffi]

I know for a fact that some gun makers produce firearms differently (cheaper) just for walmart. I believe it's because they demand such low prices from the makers,they take a few shortcuts to help with the cost. I dont know about the above mentioned manufacturers.Support your local gun shop if u can,someday you will have questions,or need service.

[Saddlebag Preacher]

The store in Leitchfield, KY has the AR's and the Mini 14. The Hardinsburg KY one is just carrying the Mini.

Of course this has been some time ago, but K-Mart here sold handguns also, I remember buying a S&W Model 10 back in the early 80's. Those were the days.

[mr.trooper]

I know for a fact that some gun makers produce firearms differently (cheaper) just for walmart.

"For a fact" you say?

Please do prove this. I have seen this repeated 1,000 times on the internet, but nobody ever shows any kind of documentation.

Someone please upload a photo showing two equivalent weapons of identical manufacture date, one from Walmart and one from another store, which illustrates the differences between the two. Remember to include scans of your receipts.

An internal memo from the manufacturer for which you work would also suffice.

[Snowdog]

I almost purchased my first AR at Walmart (Windham?) a few months ago.

I was first drawn in, then scared off, by the price... it simply seemed too good to be true. I opted for a PSA upper/lower instead and slapped it together, works great.

[kenken]

About 3 months ago I bought a Colt LE6920 from my Wal Mart in Texas. I couldn't believe that it was on the shelf when I walked in the store, but it wasn't when I left :neener:. They also had a Sig and a Bushmaster on the shelf. They always have a mini on hand also.

kenken

[Skyshot]

"For a fact" you say?

Please do prove this. I have seen this repeated 1,000 times on the internet, but nobody ever shows any kind of documentation.

Someone please upload a photo showing two equivalent weapons of identical manufacture date, one from Walmart and one from another store, which illustrates the differences between the two. Remember to include scans of your receipts.

An internal memo from the manufacturer for which you work would also suffice.
I would also like to see this documentation.

[adelbridge]

"For a fact" you say?

Please do prove this. I have seen this repeated 1,000 times on the internet, but nobody ever shows any kind of documentation.


A short run of 2,000 blued 586s were produced on special order for the Dick’s Sporting Goods chain midway through the first decade of the 21st century, and were quickly snapped up. These, to my knowledge, were the only 586s produced with 7-shot cylinders.
http://www.gunsmagazine.com/return-of-a-classic/
Its true, big retailers do get special order guns. I was just looking at my buddies 700 varmint variant of some sort he got from dick's. they usually go with a cheaper finish.

[hentown]

I know for a fact that some gun makers produce firearms differently (cheaper) just for walmart. I believe it's because they demand such low prices from the makers,they take a few shortcuts to help with the cost. I dont know about the above mentioned manufacturers.Support your local gun shop if u can,someday you will have questions,or need service.

Wal-Mart does occasionally run firearms, e.g., one of their 10-22s, that only they sell. They're EXACTLY the same quality as any other Ruger 10-22. If you buy a Bushmaster from Wal-Mart, and it's the same model # as the Bushy in the LGS, it'll be EXACTLY the same Bushy.

LGSs have been spreading this horsehockey for years.. Wonder what their motivation might be?? :eek::D

[fatcat4620]

I was told by a Dicks employee that manufacturers cut back on features for them to lower cost.

[sirgilligan]

Speaking for the Mini-14: Just got a new one a few weeks ago. It is an excellent truck gun. With the sights so close to the bore axis it is a very flat shooting rifle.

That sight height makes a varmint gun!

For instance: Mini-14, zero at 100 yards:
40 yards : 0"
50 yards : 0.1"
75 yards : 0.2"
100 yards: 0"
125 yards: -0.6"
150 yards: -1.5"

And here is another rifle I have with the sights at 3.5" above the bore axis:

40 y : -1.5"
50 y : -1.1"
75 y : -0.4"
100 y : 0.0"
125 y: 0.1"
150 y: -0.3"

So, for a shooter from close range to 150 yards, just put the sights in the middle of the shoulder of the coyote and pull the trigger.

[Carl N. Brown]

My local gun shops are good about service after sale, and conversation at least a good as the local barber. The LGS proprietors usually know more about guns and hunting than the usual Walmart desk clerk. One really good guy closed the shop and went with me and my son to the local range to test fire a used Marlin 336C before my son decided to buy. In 1999 when I went looking for a 336W (the plain-jane birch-stock sister of the 336C) for myself, he leveled with me, that I would be better off buying at WalMart because wholesale from his distributer was just a few bucks less than the WalMart list price. The 336W has shot as accurately and reliably as the 336C, but I still prefer to go to the LGS rather than WM , but it is not because the big-box guns are lower quality.

As far as Marlin went, the house brands they made for Sears, Monkey Wards, Western Auto, etc were equal to their Glenfield line, which internally were equal to the Marlin line, just plainer wood. I suspect house brands made for WalMart are similar. My LGS told me the diff in WalMart prices is that WalMart buys thousands at a time.

[TonyAngel]

The mini would be better as a truck gun i guess simply because it works better dirty.

This is not true and should not be a basis for making a decision.

In any case, if this is going to be a truck gun, I'd go for the mini. It's plenty accurate enough for the stated purpose and is less bulky.

[SpentCasing]

I was told by a Dicks employee that manufacturers cut back on features for them to lower cost.

I was told by a Dicks employee that he was a SEAL in 'nam and that the Chicom AKs also shot 556NATO. Point being that Im sure neither has any proof for such claims. Heck, no one does. I would love to see 2 exact same model rifles, each purchased from big box store vs LGS and see these said differences.

[murphys_law]

They do make slightly different models sometimes, you just have to look at what your buying. I have a Marlin lever which is model 30aw, which is a Marlin 336 with slightly cheaper wood and sights. That being said my local wally world has a few different AR's, sigs, etc. Looking forward to what walmart's buying power will do to the prices, I like capitalism and that's what it is all about. Competition lowers the prices period. If you don't like free market you may want to quit whining and move. ;)

[adelbridge]

I was told by a Dicks employee that manufacturers cut back on features for them to lower cost.
Competing retailers/distributors love to bitch moan and cry about competition and it doesn't cost a penny and gets wonderful results.
A cheaper finish/wood/sights only saves a few bucks but it allows the manufacturers to say "hey look, it aint the same gun the big boxes are selling for $50 less than your cost"

[kenken]

I will put my LE6920 Colt up against any other so that I can compare the quality of my Wal Mart gun to any other. I don't believe there is any difference in them. Maybe not as much wood grain in the plastic as one at a LGS.

I do enjoy mine alot.

kenken

[fluffi]

The only proof of my statement is my own experience.A long time ago my lgs smith told me walmart guns were sometimes made cheaper than others.i asked him to back up his statement.He did so by taking a shotgun of the same model number off his shelf and opening it up next to a walmart gun he was repairing.he pointed out a couple of pieces that were plastic ,not metal in the walmart gun.
the wood type and finish were better on the lgs gun as well.I cant speak for all manufacturers,just the one i saw.If you dont believe me i dont care.I support a few local shops.In return,they hire me when they can.(construction). When Walmart invaded my small town, they used contractors from out of town.Alot of them.Im not saying never buy at walmart, i still have to shop there sometimes.
many of the things i need, i can only buy there, because the local stores had to close when walmart moved in. Ahh, progress.
Thats my rant for today.
Fluffi

[451 Detonics]

The Mini-14 will shoot minute of felon (or coyote) all day long. It is also a bit more PC looking to many folks including some LEOs, especially with the flush magazine in it.

[BoneDigger]

A POS is a POS and once it leaves Walmart it is no longer a WalMart gun, it's just a gun. I doubt many manufacturers would want people buying crappy guns from them just because the seller is WalMart. If I buy a Remington from WalMart and the gun won't cycle, I'm going to be on here complaining about Remington, not WalMart.

As for the mom and pop LGS thing, I have had better service from Academy Sports and GM than I ever get from my LGS. I have to pay more at the LGS, get charged a 4% credit card fee, then if the gun breaks I get told to "send it to the manufacturer" with no offer for help doing so from them. Isn't hard to see that I am gaining nothing by buying from them.

Now, I own a mom and pop company (not gun related) so I am all about the little guy making it, but you have to EARN that. WalMart is part of life, the LGS has to step up their game to compete.

As to your question, I have heard that an AR is generally more accurate, and just as well made, as a Mini 14. I would probably go the AR route.

Todd


Sent via Todd's IPhone using Tapatalk.

[ScottieG59]

Just think about the manufacturing process. Some large retailers can purchase special runs, however, I have never seen the same item number with different specifications. If anything, a buyer like Walmart has the clout to make quality demands others just cannot make.

Walmart is the big retailer and everyone else is at a loss to take them on in the marketplace. Some have stories about quality and some guy knows some guy who is the unbiased expert.

Anyway, Walmart makes certain demands of suppliers wishing to do business with them. The key objective is to integrate into the inventory control mechanism. This includes packing materials, used of RFID tags, etc. The goal is precision in inventory control throughout the entire supply chain.

Walmart can shape the word supply chain and they have. This leaves the rest of the retail world picking up the scraps left over.

My question is why anyone would expect the biggest buyer in the world to ask for lower quality? They have the power to get it all. The local gunstore has to provide greater value to make up for their higher prices. Lies told to the customer will not get the little retailer far.

[sirgilligan]

A few other reasons Mini's make good truck guns:
- The stock is solid. If it falls in the floor board or out the door or such it shouldn't break the stock. Mini has the synthetic stock, which I recommend.
- Factory mags are steel and make me believe they are tougher than my aluminum AR mags. I don't have the flat 5 rounder yet, but that would be even more handy, if you can't get the varmint in 5 shots... well, reload I guess.
- Iron sights are tough and can take getting bumped about too. I think open sights are the way to go, but if optics are your thing, they come with scope mounts (mine did anyway).
- Practical accuracy, which I will define as off hand shooting while standing next to your truck, tractor, etc., is just the same as my other two 5.56 rifles that I have owned (one gone, one still with me).

If you want to shoot the heaviest .223 ammo then I would look for a 1 in 7 twist setup, the Mini is 1 in 9. If the common 55 grain stuff is the diet then 1 in 9 twist is fine.

I do not own an AR 15 rifle. Never have. I have had three 5.56 rifles, all different.

One day, maybe an AR 15, but for now, that money can go to ammo, optics, mags, fees, etc., for my other firearms. If I were getting an AR 15, and I always do my homework, I would probably go for the popular and easily found S&W rifle.

If parts are different in guns because they are in a "big box" store, then I would not want to save $50.00 for the lesser parts. I think there are gun manufacturers that live and breath on the fact that most guns get shot within two months of purchase and then shelved (and yes that is my empirical stat and comes from no formal study). A weapon isn't tested until 200 rounds is fired, IMO.

The expense of most any common weapon will be ammo, storage, cleaning, etc., and the initial cost of the weapon will be long forgotten in a couple of years. I always say, save and get what you want and want what is quality. Being too cheap is usually very costly.

[jmr40]

It is no secret that many gun companies have made special runs of guns with unique features just for Walmart. They do the same thing for companies such as Sportsmans Warehouse, Gander Mountain and Cabelas. It is a myth that they are lower qualtity than a comparable gun sold elsewhere.

A Mini-14 is a great gun....at around $300. I woudn't pay a penny more and I've owned several over the years. Walmart isn't the only place selling AR's cheaper than Mini's. It has been happening for several years now at many places.

I have 3 AR's, including one of the $500 DPMS rifles. It is 2X better than the Mini-14, for a lot less. I didn't buy mine from Walmart, but mine came with a hard case, two 30 round magazines, telescoping stock, cleaning kit, picatinney rail and a flash hider and I paid $650 OTD. The Walmart version should come with the same. Buy a Mini, the same accessories plus tax and you are looking at very little change from $1,000. And you'll have a less accurate, less reliable rifle. Mini-14 magazines are $40-$50 each vs $10-$12 for AR magazines. I've never seen an AR that wouldn't shoot MOA with optics and quality ammo. The $500 DPMS is no exception. That is a rare trait with Mini's, even the new and improved versions.

[wally]

I know for a fact that some gun makers produce firearms differently (cheaper) just for walmart."For a fact" you say?

Please do prove this. I have seen this repeated 1,000 times on the internet, but nobody ever shows any kind of documentation.


I can't really "prove" anything but there was a Ruger 10/22 stainless with a funky "boat-oar" black polymer stock that I've never seen offered for sale anywhere but Walmart back in the nineties. It was a good bit cheaper than the "standard" 10/22 of the time with the wood stock which every gun shop seemed to have.

[sirgilligan]

Well, I am going to just have to get me an AR-15!

BTW: My Mini-14 is the tactical, with the 16" barrel, black synthetic stock, flash hider, etc. $670.00. I got a 30 round mag at the store that day for $43.00 and can get them online cheaper.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yQYCRS2BfRE/T5_hLdRHOWI/AAAAAAAACK0/-4Gt9e-TnIs/s1600/IMG_2567.JPG

I wouldn't pay $1000.00 today for a Mini or an AR-15, but that is because I already have my "go to" carbine and the other purchases are "wants" and not "needs".

Now the reason I got the rifle... my wife knew I liked the looks of them, and she went and got it! So, first, get a good wife. :-)
Look at it.... it is just a cool looking rifle. At least I think so. And it shoots just fine.

[TexasPatriot.308]

I got a mini 14 tactical and it is all as advertised, accurate as ever, dependable, bit pricey, but I think it is a great weapon,.

[Art Eatman]

Of the OP's listed rifles: "...what would be a good deal for close quarter (under 100-125 yard) coyote, pest control, truck gun."

This is the subject, not WalMart gun sales.

[CZguy]

OP

I just noticed within the last few weeks, our local walmart is carrying Panther Arms AR rifles and Bushmaster Cruiser carbines. The Panther is in the mid $500's and the Bushmaster is in the mid $800's. They also started carrying the Ruger mini 14 with the larger (20 round?) Magazine for a little over $600.00. With those being my price ranges, and I know none are top of the line, what would be a good deal for close quarter (under 100-125 yard) coyote, pest control, truck gun.

Would you consider thinking out of the box about a bolt action rifle in .223?

[wwace]

I shop At Wall Mart, but I cannot say I would buy a firearm or ANY other piece of equipment that was over a couple of hundred bucks, especially any computer or TV as I have seen first hand Pc's containing recycled/refurbished drives with no mention of such on the packaging. I understand firearms are different and that they should be exactly the same no matter where you bought it but frankly the guns I have seen at my local WM have not been that great of a deal cost wise. I would go the my LGS and have them price match.

Oh yeah, buy the mini if you just want a truck gun, they are great! You can always buy an AR later, I did, twice.

[RinkRat]

Gad I wish the WW down the street had handguns too. All they have is long-guns. I'll bet they'd have the new S&W-M&P shield for about $300.

Saw a Colt LE6920 there for $895. and I almost bought it but such = :cuss: sez my wife :uhoh:

Get an AR their more versatile lots of additives and parts are less

Oh ... so the shampoo I get thar at Wally's ain't the same as I get at Piggly Wiggly :what:

[DAdams]

If you want something to "fiddle with", change sights, stocks, grips, add lights, lasers, scopes, change out triggers get the AR.

For a truck/varmit gun I would go the Mini route. I have them both.

Our local Wally is getting some different rifles these days (for WalMart) but I haven't seen any Minis show up yet.

[Dr. Sandman]

To the OP: Truck gun is a matter of personal preference. Ask 100 people and you will get 100 different answers. I like the Marlin 336A lever action 30-30.

As for Wal-Mart vs LGS guns, here's my story...
I bought a Remmington 870 at my LGS, it had problems from the get go, rounds would get stuck in the chamber after you fire, you couldn't work the action. I took it back to the LGS where I bought it. They did not remember me and they said something like "Oh, you bought this one at Wal-Mart, they make them cheaper for Wal-Mart and you get problems like this" I wish I had bought it at Wal-Mart in the end, it might have worked and been a lot less messing around. I do not believe that identical models bought at different stores are different.

[Art Eatman]

Looks like the OP has learned more than he ever wanted to know about Wally, and nowhere near enough about the question he asked. :D

[RinkRat]

Well OP … :rolleyes:

If you’re just lookin for a car bean to bounce around behind your truck~seat and too have to pull on that elusive yote a-twill than; I think a mini-14 will/may take that abusive treatment better that an AR15

But if your intentions are for better performance, better accuracy, and you will take somewhat decent care of it by not having it reside under your truck ~seat, keepin it tidy, and juiced then; get an AR15

[Saddlebag Preacher]

The OP is very appreciative. I've read and actually appreciate all the responces. I have a 336 in .35 Remington and a good Rossi .45 I use leverevolution in, but I was just looking for something auto with some quick followup shots that was accuare and the ammo didn't cost an arm and a leg. I was emailed that the mini thirty actually was less costly on ammo, just not as flat shooting. I love my lever guns, but you know how it is when you get a new itch...

The question about walley world was just 'cause I saw them cheaper than my regular gun store, but I didn't know much about Panther Arms and they were the cheapest (price) ar I've seen. It was just an off the shelf question for a good gun rack rifle that was something new for me.

[Mr. D]

Saddlebag Preacher, how are the laws concerning guns in vehicles in your state? For example, in PA, I can only have a long gun in the vehicle if it is unloaded, so the only practical way to do a truck gun would be something fed from a detachable mag. If this is not the case in your state, the 336 would be a really viable option, IMHO. However, it seems like a lot of guys (you included, perhaps) really prefer semi-autos for their truck gun, which is completely understandable.

~D

[gunnysmith]

Here's my "cheaply" made Wallyworld special offer, I added the sights to make it look more expensive. LOL

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i221/gunnysmith/1022international1.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i221/gunnysmith/1022international.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i221/gunnysmith/1022international2.jpg