Thoughts on the mini 14?

to me they are a cool rifle at $350/$400 but at current price $600/ $700 and up I will pass just to many good rifles out there for what mini's are on the shelf for in my opinion and many rifles are at an all time low price now a days , unless your getting a smoking deal I would look at others

The newer models are more accurate than the older models (the older barrels we're too thin, amongst other reasons). Dollar for dollar you're going to get more usable accuracy with an AR-type rifle.

I own a Mini Thirty (Mini-14 that shoots 7.62x39). I LOVE the thirty...but the reason is that the 7.62x39 cartridge is at best a 200 yard cartridge. With a 2 MOA gun (which is what I can get with reloads), 4" is "usable" accuracy at 200 yards is all I really need for what I'd use that caliber for. The .223, with much more usable range, makes less sense in Ruger's Mini platform.

Just my $.02.

Dustin

More accurate than an AR of the same or lower price?? The odds are against the Mini-14. But, there can be considerable variation in accuracy and reliability amoungst rifles of the same model, so YMMV.

I like the -14 (and -30, for that matter) and if it's what looks good to you - then by all means, get it!
The AR has vastly more options for customization, plentiful inexpensive magazines, etc. From a purely practical standpoint, the AR has it.

I say stay away, unless you are somewhere that the AR is illegal but the mini is ok. They only function reliably with Ruger mags, which aren't cheap or plentiful. Pretty much any AR will outperform it in accuracy, unless said AR is just a piece of junk. They don't have nearly the capabilities of the AR when it comes to accessories, optics mounting, etc. I bought one in 1986 new for the princely some of $260-something. You could buy them in box stores for $300. Used for $200. They are what we bought back then because we couldn't afford the AR. Do they feel good in the hand? Sure, I think so. Are they fun to shoot? Of course they are- they are a gun! Now, with the prices of good AR's between $400-$600 (S&W, PSA, Ruger) and minis costing what they do, to me they just don't make sense unless you live in a place where the AR is illegal or you really liked that A Team tv show.

IMO, they are a better iron sight rifle, for shorter ranges, than the AR. YMMV.

My stock answer when this comes up. And it is often. I don't dislike the Mini-14. Years ago they sold for about 1/3 the cost of an AR and were a viable alternative, I've had several over the years. But today you can buy a very good AR for less money than a Mini-14. No practical reason to choose one over an AR. Unless you live somewhere that AR's are banned.

Or,if you just don't like the AR. There are lots of those guys and if you simply prefer one they are a rugged reliable gun. Older Mini's were not terribly accurate, but when 1/3 the price of an AR a lot of folks could live with the it. New ones are much better and on par with low end AR's selling for $200-$300 less than a Mini. But in the same price my money is on any AR. Reliability has always been good.

But the cost of magazines and accessories is the killer. Mini-14 mags are way more expensive and only available through Ruger. You can pick up AR magazines everywhere and often at around $10 each.

I don’t shoot my Ranch rifle much any more but I shot a friends regular Mini 14 awhile back and up to that point I didn’t know they were different. If you know you want one and won’t be using optics the regular mini 14 is the one I would get.

From every account I've ever heard, the mini is much less accurate than an entry AR, except double the price. It comes down to which action you prefer.

They are a little heavy and their stocks are stupid long. And unlike a $500 AR, the LOP is non adjustable.

I love the concept and love the looks, but the execution of the Mini leaves something to be desired. And $750 for them is just too much.

If you want a more traditional semi-auto, I'd get an SKS.

I have an older Mini-14 186 Series. I like it and will never sell it. It's been completely reliable from day one. Haven't had any accuracy issues with it. Does what it was made for.

Feels good, looks good, shoots good and works good. What more do you want? Buy it!

At the moment I would really like a mini 30 but I don't want to pay what they are now worth, and I would probably be disappointed with the accuracy to the point I wouldn't want to shoot it.

I owned a Mini back in the 80s, bought used from a guy who owned sheep. He hired Basques from the old country and got a few for his crews to fend off coyotes. Those guys didn't know how to take care of them well, and the unit I got looked like it had been through WW3.
It shot okay for the first ten rounds or so, but the barrel would heat up and the groups would open considerably. I only paid 175 for it, wanted an AR but they cost too much at the time. Stock was cracked and replaced it with one of the first synthetic aftermarket units, which was simply a plastic copy of the OEM stock.
It served well enough for coyotes and was light enough to carry in cougar country, but I traded it for a bolt deer rifle because the caliber was too small. Still miss that old beater.

I payed list price for my mini and felt it was a good purchase. My gun ran fine on ruger, and every other mag, besides tapco.
Accuracy was 1.5-2" at 100yds with ok ammo like fed AE, wolf, or win white box. With my handloads it shot consistently at 1.5 or better. I took two sheep at 200-250yds with two shots the last time i took it hunting.

Would i buy another at list price, yep, were i interested in another semi .223/5.56.

I built 3 different .223 uppers for my ar during the same time and sold them all. The mini was just more fun, and felt better to me than the ar.

If i could get a .458 Socom mini I wouldn't own an AR. I may have one built actually.

Obviously i like the mini.

LoonWulf said:

If i could get a .458 Socom mini I wouldn't own an AR. I may have one built actually.

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That would be really neat

I'd like one because I like the wood-n-steel platform. But, as mentioned, they're expensive for a "GP" rifle. I think I'd like the Mini-30 better but, for a knock-around .30 caliber rifle in wood-n-steel, I'll stick to my sub-$300 SKS.

When I buy a gun for over, say, $400, I take into consideration how easily I'd get that money back within one year if I decided I didn't like it. Around here, I'm not sure I'd be able to do that with a Mini-rifle; everybody wants ARs.

They were more fragile and less accurate than AR back in the day. The barrel harmonics has been fixed, don't know about the fragility. But Ruger came out with a nice budget AR too. If you can have an AR15, go that route. A Mini 30 and BRASS 7.62X39 is GTG, if you find an affordable one.

Let me preface this by saying I absolutely dislike the AR15, not because there is anything wrong with it, have owned a couple, does nothing for me. That being said, at the prices Mini-14 is fetching, i wouldbuyan AR at $200 less andspend the rest of the money on ammo.

I really like my 5816 series.223/5.56 Ranch Rifle. It meets all the requirements I wanted for ranch work when I bought it. With iron sights,it puts rounds in a 3" circle at 100 yds from a rest. Off hand it will put all the rounds in the center torso area of a silhouette target at the same range. I also like the looks and feel of a wood and steel rifle and the fact it doesn't draw attention like an AR. As with my.45 Colt Commander....Are there more modern,lighter and probably more accurate firearms than these now on the market? Undoubtedly,but I'm more than satisfied with both platforms....I guess I'm a mid 20th century Luddite.

If the mini-14 were a decent value, there'd be one amongst my collection segment of 26 autoloading rifles. Alas, there is no mini, just a bunch of ARs in 5.56, for good reason.

If you're just sold on the wood and blue, the baby M14 look, and it's worth paying more for a less accurate, less reliable rifle using more expensive magazines, go for it. If you're looking for performance, though, I'll echo what everyone else is telling you: The AR is the obvious choice.

FL-NC said:

They only function reliably with Ruger mags, which aren't cheap or plentiful.

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Maybe back in the day that was true. My 581 series Ranch Rifle, acquired in 2012, handles Ruger, ProMag, John Masen and even CDNN "no name" mags without a problem.

FL-NC said:

They don't have nearly the capabilities of the AR when it comes to accessories, optics mounting, etc.

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If you mean that the wood and steel models can't be tricked out to be tacticool, I agree. OTOH, there are plenty of practical accessories, optics mounts, etc. available for those

JohnB-40 said:

I really like my 5816 series.223/5.56 Ranch Rifle. It meets all the requirements I wanted for ranch work when I bought it. With iron sights,it puts rounds in a 3" circle at 100 yds from a rest. Off hand it will put all the rounds in the center torso area of a silhouette target at the same range. I also like the looks and feel of a wood and steel rifle and the fact it doesn't draw attention like an AR. Are there more modern,lighter and probably more accurate firearms than these now on the market? Undoubtedly, but I'm more than satisfied with both platforms....I guess I'm a mid 20th century Luddite.

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I agree

bluzman said:

If you mean that the wood and steel models can't be tricked out to be tacticool, I agree. OTOH, there are plenty of practical accessories, optics mounts, etc. available for those

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There's nothing other than a factory Ruger scope mount for the mini that doesn't add weight whilst looking and feeling clunky/awkward. The most practical/least hideous & bulky are the Butler Creek side folding stocks, and even those fail miserably in the ergonomics department compared to what's out there for ARs (and even AKs).

The aftermarket has invested little in upgrades & accessories for the mini, and virtually nothing over the last decade. There's a reason for that. The mini had it's hayday during the AWB. Today? Aesthetics/nostalgia is the only reason I could fathom going for one. I might buy if I came across one at $300 or less because they do have a visual appeal, but at the current average prices? Not a chance.

The Mini is the best $300 semi auto rifle made, it just happens to cost $700....

I have an AR, a DPMS Panther and a 580 series Mini-14 with the heavier tapered barrel.. I took the AR and the Mini to my buds land and we shot them side by side. After we both shot we both preferred the Mini. I have fired 80 rounds from the AR and its stored back in the box it came in. I just like the Mini better. I like that mine is a wood stock and stainless steel action. I like the way it feels in my hands far better than the AR.

I have shot the Mini it 100 yards with cheap Academy Monarch ammo and with open sights and 56 year old eyes i can stay in the 1.5-2.5" range. Thats about as well as I can shoot any open sighted rifle at that range. And the Mini I have works perfectly with the factory mags or the nine 20 round Pro-Mags I have. And remember the PM and factory mags are made of hardened steel, not thin light weight aluminum like the AR mags I have.

I paid $600 IIRC plus shipping and transfer (about $60) a Rock River carry handle that was new from a poster for $100 shipped. I beleive that handle sells for $150. So I have an AR that cost me around $760. About what a Mini cost now.

Yes the AR has more stuff you can add to it. But I can't think of anything I want to add to mine. As for the "Cheap" ARs you can get now don't they come without any sights? So you have to add sights or a scope. Aren't they stripped down with no dust cover or forward assist? No bayonet lug? No flash hider? So if a stripped down rifle is what you want and price is your only guiding factor then I guess an AR is what you need. I'll take the Mini first any day.