Nature Boy
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No.
Stick with your original plan and get the "Biggie 14" (M1A)
Stick with your original plan and get the "Biggie 14" (M1A)
Should I Get a Mini 14?
- Thread starter Panzerschwein
- Start date
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The new model 583 series is the best Mini 14 I have seen come from the Ruger factory. Yes, they are expensive but there is no competition to the design except a full sized M1A. There is a lot of machining involved with the Mini so this tends to drive up the price. Also, since no one else is making them there is no "economy of scale" as with the AR market. I have 3 Mini's and I wish I had the need for a 4th. Everyone needs a .223/5.56 in their rifle stable. If you want one, get a new 583.
kwg
kwg
briansmithwins
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If you don't like the AR the new Mini-14s are a reasonable choice. They are light and handy, if not as accurate or reliable as an AR.
My Mini had to go back to Ruger twice for FTEject. They eventually fixed it after replacing the ejector and bolt.
I don't get too wrapped up around the lack of adjustment for range with the stock sights. If you hold on the head of a man sized target at 300 yards (with a 200 yard zero) you'll hit in the torso.
My new style 58x Mini is about 1.5. MOA , which is plenty good enough for the shooting I do. At our local match we frequently shoot 6" steel plate at 300 yards and the Mini will do that. The AK, not so much.
BSW
My Mini had to go back to Ruger twice for FTEject. They eventually fixed it after replacing the ejector and bolt.
I don't get too wrapped up around the lack of adjustment for range with the stock sights. If you hold on the head of a man sized target at 300 yards (with a 200 yard zero) you'll hit in the torso.
My new style 58x Mini is about 1.5. MOA , which is plenty good enough for the shooting I do. At our local match we frequently shoot 6" steel plate at 300 yards and the Mini will do that. The AK, not so much.
BSW
Sunray
Member
300 yards is not an SD distance.
A Mini-14 is not worth the thousand bucks Ruger thinks they're worth.(MSRP is $999 for a 'Ranch Rifle'. $1069 and up for other models.) Not accurate enough for that kind of money. No more Target models listed by Ruger. They do go bang every time though. And $40 for a 20 round factory mag. My old Plainfield M1 Carbine will shoot circles around any Mini-14.
A Mini-14 is not worth the thousand bucks Ruger thinks they're worth.(MSRP is $999 for a 'Ranch Rifle'. $1069 and up for other models.) Not accurate enough for that kind of money. No more Target models listed by Ruger. They do go bang every time though. And $40 for a 20 round factory mag. My old Plainfield M1 Carbine will shoot circles around any Mini-14.
Mosin Bubba
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Ruger's MSRP is like car dealers' MSRP - it's always high. I will be shocked if a plain Jane wood Mini sells for more than $800 anywhere.
OP
OP
Panzerschwein
member
Do you use the factory iron sights? If so, what is your secret?
I have a Click Adjustable Tech sight on there:
http://www.tech-sights.com/mini-products/
But 400yds doesn't need a sight adjustment.
Edited to add, I put the rear sight on before I ever fired the rifle. There was a 700yd range about 45 minutes from my house, it has gone out of business. 400yds sandbagged from the bench using brass ammo - PMC XTac 62gr worked well.
Downside of the gun, just about impossible to co-witness a red dot.
http://www.tech-sights.com/mini-products/
But 400yds doesn't need a sight adjustment.
Edited to add, I put the rear sight on before I ever fired the rifle. There was a 700yd range about 45 minutes from my house, it has gone out of business. 400yds sandbagged from the bench using brass ammo - PMC XTac 62gr worked well.
Downside of the gun, just about impossible to co-witness a red dot.
Last edited:
OP
OP
Panzerschwein
member
Ah I see. Do you just hold over?
illinoisburt
Member
I have an older mini14. I do enjoy shooting it and its been one of my favorite rifles for the past 25 years. After a lot of tinkering it is an honest 2 moa rifle with pretty much anything i feed it. The newer rifles i have seen are more accurate out of the box. But in all reality unless you just happen to want wood and steel or are in a state with draconian laws, i would highly recommend you look at an AR pattern rifle instead. Available accessories, magazine reliability, and ergonomics are MUCH better all at a lower price.
kBob
Member
I clicked YES before reading the OPs first post.
I might still click it, shoot, I would still click it.
When the local Sheriff's department got their chance at LEAA M-16 A1 rifles they jumped at them and turned in their Mini-14s. I got told by a couple of deputies that the ARs were going to be so much better than the Mini's. Easier to clean. Easier to use. So much more accurate.
Still trying to figure out how they figured those last more than a dozen years later. Certainly no easier to clean a AR (and I have plenty of experience with both) to keep either running. Different to use than an AR, but not more difficult.
Accuracy? What is accuracy? Yes the old pencil barrel Minis groups did tend to open up and wander a bit in the midst of second or third magazines of fast shooting. More so than even a pencil barreled SP1 or M-16A1.
Heard of many home defense situations where an individual shooter fired more than a 20 round mag, never mind a 30?
How many police shootings have a single officer using enough rounds to open the groups shot by a Mini?
The Mini's are handy little rifles. They get even handier with something like a Choate Folder on them. With the traditional stocks they don't look so much like evil assault rifles. The look down right sedate with the flush five round magazine in them and a 20 discretely in a pocket.
So they don't have a range adjustable sight. Cooldil said he just wanted to use it to 300 yards. With M193 ball in one of the older carbines a zero like 250 or so would mean hits no more than nine inches low out at 300 or 14 inches high someplace around 175. With the M-16A1 we used the non marked aperature only to 300 meters. Some folks got taught to flip to L at 300, but a good COM hold on a kneeling man target at 300 meters with a properly 250BZ rifle meant a target fell and the score card got marked "hit".
Despite the choices available at our house my wife still likes her old Ranch Rifle. If it is what is out of the safe, I do not feel markedly ill at ease with it as a HD gun.
I do not see the Rock-and-Lock magazines as a disadvantage. 87 gazillian AK users seem to have few difficulties with Rock-and-Lock. For every R-n-L rifle I have seen over riding a top round, locking the bolt back on a magazine back or mysteriously "just not working" I have seen an AR magazine falling to the ground or being hammered on to seat after it failed to feed. Can't say I have ever seen a right handed Mini user forced to work left handed that accidentally pressed the mag release on their gear and dropped a mag in their lap and have seen that multiple times with variously marked ARs.
Both are training issues not design issues.
If you like the look and feel of the Mini-14 series rifles and like the chamberings available and think the price fair TO YOU.......get a Mini and don't worry what the internet Egg Spurts have to say.
-kBob
I might still click it, shoot, I would still click it.
When the local Sheriff's department got their chance at LEAA M-16 A1 rifles they jumped at them and turned in their Mini-14s. I got told by a couple of deputies that the ARs were going to be so much better than the Mini's. Easier to clean. Easier to use. So much more accurate.
Still trying to figure out how they figured those last more than a dozen years later. Certainly no easier to clean a AR (and I have plenty of experience with both) to keep either running. Different to use than an AR, but not more difficult.
Accuracy? What is accuracy? Yes the old pencil barrel Minis groups did tend to open up and wander a bit in the midst of second or third magazines of fast shooting. More so than even a pencil barreled SP1 or M-16A1.
Heard of many home defense situations where an individual shooter fired more than a 20 round mag, never mind a 30?
How many police shootings have a single officer using enough rounds to open the groups shot by a Mini?
The Mini's are handy little rifles. They get even handier with something like a Choate Folder on them. With the traditional stocks they don't look so much like evil assault rifles. The look down right sedate with the flush five round magazine in them and a 20 discretely in a pocket.
So they don't have a range adjustable sight. Cooldil said he just wanted to use it to 300 yards. With M193 ball in one of the older carbines a zero like 250 or so would mean hits no more than nine inches low out at 300 or 14 inches high someplace around 175. With the M-16A1 we used the non marked aperature only to 300 meters. Some folks got taught to flip to L at 300, but a good COM hold on a kneeling man target at 300 meters with a properly 250BZ rifle meant a target fell and the score card got marked "hit".
Despite the choices available at our house my wife still likes her old Ranch Rifle. If it is what is out of the safe, I do not feel markedly ill at ease with it as a HD gun.
I do not see the Rock-and-Lock magazines as a disadvantage. 87 gazillian AK users seem to have few difficulties with Rock-and-Lock. For every R-n-L rifle I have seen over riding a top round, locking the bolt back on a magazine back or mysteriously "just not working" I have seen an AR magazine falling to the ground or being hammered on to seat after it failed to feed. Can't say I have ever seen a right handed Mini user forced to work left handed that accidentally pressed the mag release on their gear and dropped a mag in their lap and have seen that multiple times with variously marked ARs.
Both are training issues not design issues.
If you like the look and feel of the Mini-14 series rifles and like the chamberings available and think the price fair TO YOU.......get a Mini and don't worry what the internet Egg Spurts have to say.
-kBob
Not really it's pretty flat shooting cartridge.
I sight in at 25 then confirm at 100.
kBob
Member
With the M-1, M-14 and M-16A1 We were taught to adjust our point of aim depending on the rifle and the range out to 300 meters and not touch the range drums or L apperature until after 300.
Think about the old IPSC targets with the eight inch "A" zone at center mass. For the 25 meter popups we were not supposed to aim but aiming about where there top of the A ring would have been put a round fair close to where the center would have been. For the 50 meter targets which we could aim at "legally" (no required to use Quick Kill) aim dead freaking center. 100, aim a hair low. 150 and 200center the bottom third of the target. 250, Dead on. 300 between the chin and COM.
If you properly zeroed and followed that advice the only reason you got scored as a miss was shot out targets. 100 yard pop up were notorious for being the most often missed, even more than 300s because dispite the "self sealing" plastic material one could often see through the center of such targets and a bullet might past through without activating the drop mechanism. There were sensors much like the window break sensors on home security systems that sensed a bullet hit and told the mechanism to drop a hit target and wait for reset commands. I personally gamed the system if I thought the 100 yarder too shot out and aimed for a hit in the bottom third of the target and it usually worked.
Keeping in mind that the number NATIONALLY of police shootings at more than 75 yards since the dawn of modern policing can likely be counted on one hand and that you are likely to have a VERY difficult time explaining to a grand jury any sort of HD shooting at anywhere NEAR that range.....all that is a bit moot for those issues.
Any home I ever lived in a mini would need no range adjustments to hit say a three inch target indoors or as far out doors as I would like to explain to that Grand Jury.
-kBob
Think about the old IPSC targets with the eight inch "A" zone at center mass. For the 25 meter popups we were not supposed to aim but aiming about where there top of the A ring would have been put a round fair close to where the center would have been. For the 50 meter targets which we could aim at "legally" (no required to use Quick Kill) aim dead freaking center. 100, aim a hair low. 150 and 200center the bottom third of the target. 250, Dead on. 300 between the chin and COM.
If you properly zeroed and followed that advice the only reason you got scored as a miss was shot out targets. 100 yard pop up were notorious for being the most often missed, even more than 300s because dispite the "self sealing" plastic material one could often see through the center of such targets and a bullet might past through without activating the drop mechanism. There were sensors much like the window break sensors on home security systems that sensed a bullet hit and told the mechanism to drop a hit target and wait for reset commands. I personally gamed the system if I thought the 100 yarder too shot out and aimed for a hit in the bottom third of the target and it usually worked.
Keeping in mind that the number NATIONALLY of police shootings at more than 75 yards since the dawn of modern policing can likely be counted on one hand and that you are likely to have a VERY difficult time explaining to a grand jury any sort of HD shooting at anywhere NEAR that range.....all that is a bit moot for those issues.
Any home I ever lived in a mini would need no range adjustments to hit say a three inch target indoors or as far out doors as I would like to explain to that Grand Jury.
-kBob
MedWheeler
Member
I didn't read all the replies. Hopefully, at least one read along the lines of:
"Go ahead and get it. If you don't like it, you'll be able to turn it back into money easily. Besides, you can buy an AR any time you want."
"Go ahead and get it. If you don't like it, you'll be able to turn it back into money easily. Besides, you can buy an AR any time you want."
BSA1
member
I have spent a lot of trigger time with the Mini-14 during the 1990’s and early 2000’s. I found them to be very reliable and dependable with factory ammunition. Our department owned ones spent a lot of time on the shooting range and I can’t recall any problems other than wearing the barrels out from all of the shooting we did. The guns still functioned just fine. Accuracy just disappeared. My personal one was reliable with my reloads whereas my AR chokes on the same ammunition that I have left over from when I sold my Mini-14.
Just about all of my shooting was at 100 yards with 4” groups the norm. I never shot it at 300 yards but it with the right loads and right nut behind the trigger maybe so.
A friend has a Mini-14 and loves it’s reliability. He is a Vietnam Vet so he is not unfamiliar with the AR. The Mini has plenty of accuracy for him.
I sold my Mini-14 because it wasn’t accurate enough for me. Later I got to missing having a .223 carbine (along with the fact that I had a bunch of ammunition and no gun to shoot it in) so in 2012 p.o. (pre-Obama) I brought a Saiga Sport carbine in .223. So I ended up exchanging one gun for a different one with about the same level of accuracy and the Mini has a better rear sight. I should have just kept the Mini-14.
Logically the AR is superior to the Mini-14 in all respects. But who says we have to do everything just because it is logical?
TexasPatriot.308
Member
I've owned many mini 14s over the years, some were minute of pie plate but always fun to shoot, currently got one in mini 14 Tactical, with a Leupold VX2 2x7x33, 2" groups are regular...I am an old grunt that carried an M14 and currently own an M1A, I love this little rifle...fun to shoot and deadly on hogs and coyotes.
I consider AR15's to be dime a dozen guns. However, I don't feel right unless I have at least 1 in the safe. They are so cheaply priced right now, that you really should own one.
There was a Del-Ton DTI ar selling for $399 a few months ago. I've used Del-Ton uppers previously, work just fine
My current AR is a Wynham carbine. Not worth taking a picture of it as it looks like all the past AR's I've owned. It works well too.
Then there's the Fostech Echo trigger... Look into that thing.
There was a Del-Ton DTI ar selling for $399 a few months ago. I've used Del-Ton uppers previously, work just fine
My current AR is a Wynham carbine. Not worth taking a picture of it as it looks like all the past AR's I've owned. It works well too.
Then there's the Fostech Echo trigger... Look into that thing.
FL-NC
Member
The AR is just a better deal from the angles of price, availability of parts and accessories, and support, not to mention accuray. Plus with a mini you really need factory mags for reliable use which are pricey. So unless you are placing the appearance over everything else, the AR wins.
cdb1
Member
I sold a few Mini-14's when I worked the gun counter at Cabela's. The people who bought them came in the store specifically to get one. Never sold a Mini-14 to a person looking for a semi-automatic rifle and was wanting to look at several types.
They feel more solid and substantial in my hands than an AR and based on what I've seen, it would cost more to make one than an AR. I still believe they are over priced comparatively. I believe they are as reliable as the AR platform. I believe the newer model Mini-14 is more accurate than the older models.
I don't believe it makes one bit of difference which platform the OP gets for his stated purposes.
I voted no.
They feel more solid and substantial in my hands than an AR and based on what I've seen, it would cost more to make one than an AR. I still believe they are over priced comparatively. I believe they are as reliable as the AR platform. I believe the newer model Mini-14 is more accurate than the older models.
I don't believe it makes one bit of difference which platform the OP gets for his stated purposes.
I voted no.
CoalTrain49
Member
I've considered buying one more than once, probably never will though.
I can buy a nice .223 bolt rifle for that price that will shoot 1 MOA.
I've had some rifles that looked cool but if they won't shoot 2 MOA I send them down the road.
I think the Mini14 falls in that category. Some AR's probably fall in there also.
I can buy a nice .223 bolt rifle for that price that will shoot 1 MOA.
I've had some rifles that looked cool but if they won't shoot 2 MOA I send them down the road.
I think the Mini14 falls in that category. Some AR's probably fall in there also.
SwampWolf
Member
I keep my s/s variant in the "RamBox" of my Ram pickup truck. Imo, the Mini is the perfect "truck gun"; plenty accurate for what it is and extremely durable and reliable.
DDDWho
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- Dec 3, 2016
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I've owned Mini's off and on for over 40 years. The one I have now I bought at Wally a few years ago for about the price the OP suggests. I put a cheap shotgun scope on it for distances up 100 yards. It is a dead accurate at the distances I need it for. With varmint loads it will absolutely tear a critter to pieces. It is now my porch gun replacing a .22 auto that did not do a good job on ground hogs and armadillos. I have some hi cap mags for it if SHTF ever occurs.
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