Why no love for the Mini-14 ?

[mp5a3]

I own a few AR15's but have been owned a Mini-14. I played around a little with one and have been kicking around the idea of buying one. I'm surprised that not too many people seem to like them. They share a lot of the same design principals with the M1 Garand, which to here tell, was handcrafted by God himself within heavens pearly gates.

(Don't get huffy, Garand lovers, I'm not knocking the M1 at all)

 

[P.B.Walsh]

Not as accuate as an AR-15, and lower aftermarket support, that's all that I can think of.

 

[black_powder_Rob]

its America's AK and people need something to hate.

Also I think it stems from the way Bill Ruger handled the company during the awb in the 90's.

P.S. i love mine.

 

[MikeKeyW]

I was told by a LE firearms instructor that the M-16 was much more reliable than the AC556K's they fielded. Personally while I love my M1A NM the Mini-14 feels like I'm holding a BB or toy gun, I don't have that toy feeling with my AR's, go figure...

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

My Tactical Mini rides shotgun -so to speak- in my trunk daily.

Factory mags and I'm well armed.

 

[ArmedBear]

I love mine.

It's not the perfect rifle for every possible application, but once you get to shooting some, you realize that nothing is.

 

[benEzra]

I think most of the low opinions of the mini-14 (other than grumbling about the price) were generated by the older, pre-580 series mini's. I owned a 188-series Ranch Rifle myself, and finally sold it because in 15+ years, its best 100-yard group ever was 5.5", from a rest and rear bag. My AK will shoot better than that with cheap Wolf.

The other thing is, for the MSRP of a mini-14, you can buy an AK of comparable accuracy, PLUS an optic, PLUS a Surefire light and mount, and you may still have enough change left over for mags and ammo. Or, you could buy an AR, and have a rifle with better accuracy potential and better ergonomics.

On the upside, they are reliable and handy, though.

 

[black_powder_Rob]

Really? AR's feel like toys to me with their plastic stocks. Never liked the Plastic polymers. Don't get me wrong if I was given one to use I would, but I am just as happy use my mini14. I guess its true what they say different strokes for different folks.

 

[ArmedBear]

Owning and shooting both, I fail to see how an AR has better ergonomics.

The Mini points better. The AR handles better as an "entry" carbine.

Of course, a 20" AR is a decent-handling rifle, quite different from both, but it's really fair to compare carbines with carbines.

(My Mini is a stainless/xytel Ranch Rifle)

 

[WardenWolf]

The Mini-14 is a good enough gun. A lot of people were turned off by the early ones that had an out-of-spec barrel and were highly inaccurate, but the newer ones are very fine rifles. However, for the price of a Mini-14, I would rather have a Saiga .223.

 

[ArmedBear]

I shot a Saiga once.

Worst handling carbine I've ever had the displeasure of picking up.

It shoots fine, though.

 

[dom1104]

It is in my opinion, possibly the most overpriced, poorly performing gun I have ever shot.

It is most likely, the worst example of an american fighting carbine.

This is all because it is very VERY overpriced for what you are getting, due to the cost of manufacturing it.

There are better choices. it is handy, and portable, but there are more handy and more portable options in the high speed varmint gun caliber that costs 800 bucks.

By the I would personally get a mini up to the point that it would be USABLE for defense at short ranges, it would cost more than an AR. most likely far more.

Sorry if I am ranting but it was a gun I wanted to like, but just could not find anything redeeming about it in the end.

 

[ArmedBear]

I agree, the prices can be way too high -- although they're available for a lot less than 800 bucks, and I paid 600. And I'm not telling anyone to rush out and get one; I already have one, but I do like it.

By the I would personally get a mini up to the point that it would be USABLE for defense at short ranges

What, exactly, does that require?

Mine was 100% usable out of the box, for short-range defense. I'm not really a mall ninja type, though.

 

[frankiestoys]

Iv'e been seeing alot of post lately on these rifle's.
I own a new model. SS ,synthetic stock, heavy barrel,trigger job, accu-strut and a nikon prostaff on top. IT WILL SHOOT 1 INCH GROUPS.(50 YARDS)
I looked at an older model just a few days ago and its clearly not the same rifle, Ruger seemed to have fix the problems it may have had.
Ive only fired about a thousand rounds through it and had only one jam (wolf ammo) and it never happened again.
These are good guns ,not perfect but they will do what you need them to do.
And they are not toys!

 

[dom1104]

well you must live in a better part of the county for gun prices then, I have not seen one for less than 800 in a long while.

I havent checked in a LONG while, but I belive the factory mags were in the 30 - 35 dollar each range, the rail for red dot or whathaveyou was 50 for a weigand, and some way to put a light on it was pricey too.

It ended up a $1100 ish proposition, for a gun that couldnt shoot any better than an sks. The one I had was probably the worst rifle for accuracy I have ever shot. Including milsurp stuff. Granted I am basing this opinion on 1 rifle, but I have heard the same from everyone I have ever talked to about it.

I really think its market is for people in California who CANT buy an AR.

Dont get me wrong, the idea of a mini-garand is a great one and one I definatly wanted to like, but a rifle that cant shoot straight for that kind of money, is just not a good buy.

 

[dom1104]

I actually know a guy who has 6 of them.

he is a kind of survivalist type tho, buys guns for his family and never shoots them. has more ammo than you can shake a stick at but I bet he hasnt shot 1000 rounds in his lifetime.

So yeah, my mental association with the mini 14 is "Overpriced, innaccurate, heavy for its size, and Y2K."

 

[frankiestoys]

I actually know a guy who has 6 of them.

he is a kind of survivalist type tho, buys guns for his family and never shoots them. has more ammo than you can shake a stick at but I bet he hasnt shot 1000 rounds in his lifetime.

So yeah, my mental association with the mini 14 is "Overpriced, innaccurate, heavy for its size, and Y2K."

sorry to hear that.

 

[taliv]

I'm surprised that not too many people seem to like them.

that's usually a clue

Owning and shooting both, I fail to see how an AR has better ergonomics.

kinda surprised to hear you say this, AB. Try running your mini left-handed for a bit. I don't find any of that style actions (garand/m14/etc) to be very ergonomic. I don't much care for the mag release or the location of the bolt-hold-open or the safety. I find the pistol grip of the AR much more ergonomic, and collapsible/adjustable stocks are better than folders.

 

[MCMXI]

Why no love for the Mini-14 ?

Who cares what others think about the Mini-14? My wife can hit a 1' x 2' steel plate at 300 yards ALL DAY LONG and she enjoys it!! Are the rounds grouping at 3"? Probably not, but WHO FRIGGIN' CARES ... she doesn't so why should I?!! The Mini-14 is a MOM rifle that is ergonomic, light, short, maneuverable, INCREDIBLY reliable, low recoiling and accurate enough for just about any PRACTICAL scenario. In fact, if I had to wander off into the woods in a survival situation, I'd take the Mini before any of my ARs ... no doubt about it. If you decide to buy one, just realize what it is, what it's designed for and most importantly, what it's not.

 

[ArmedBear]

True re shooting left-handed. The magazine release on the Mini is inferior, and the bolt release is right-handed.

The safety is personal preference, but it's ambidextrous on the standard Mini, not the standard AR.

WRT the pistol grip, the standard Mini points better, plain and simple. I don't have a folder on mine, and I don't want one. The collapsible AR makes a nicer "entry" weapon. As I wrote above.

My Mini has never had a FTF or FTE. Can't say that for the AR.

Note that I haven't sold off either.

 

[dom1104]

The Mini-14 is a MOM rifle

Wait.. what? a MOM rifle? hah.. ok thats a first. I like it So you are saying, this is like the Dodge Neon of the gun world? a "Chick Gun"?

Well I have found its niche.

ergonomic, light, short, maneuverable, INCREDIBLY reliable, low recoiling and accurate enough for just about any PRACTICAL scenario.

Hey watch it, your talking about my mom! lol...

This is by FAR the most humor I have had all day. I love it. Now whenever I see a mini I will think "mom gun".

 

[Reid73]

Pros:

(1) simple, reliable design;
(2) handy and easy to use;
(3) traditional styling.

Cons:

(1) factory magazines are expensive and not always available (after-market mags are often unreliable);
(2) out-of-the-box accuracy is typically mediocre at best;
(3) poor sights.

On balance, I would say that the pros outweigh the cons. But there are two other factors which, while they are unimportant to knowledgeable people, are very important to many potential purchasers:

(4) not used by any major military;
(5) low coolness factor (doesn't look like a 'machine gun').

I suspect that the above two factors are the most significant reasons why the Mini-14 is not more popular in today's gun market.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

Well, after all the A-team used them........

 

[MCMXI]

Wait.. what? a MOM rifle? hah.. ok thats a first. I like it So you are saying, this is like the Dodge Neon of the gun world? a "Chick Gun"?

Well I have found its niche.

... actually I meant Minute Of Man (MOM) .... but I like your interpretation better. But seriously, it's a great rifle for petite women. My wife is one of those typical Asian girls that is 5' and 100lb so size is a factor ... of the rifle don't you know!!

 

[Reid73]

IIRC they were featured in The Usual Suspects, too. And don't forget In the Line of Duty: the FBI Murders.

Hollywood producers love the look of the stainless, folding-stock Mini!