Mini-14 ranch rifle Vs Sig 556!

I prefer the Garand, M1A, mini-14 format over the AR format. Kind of a Ford vs Chevy type thing. All rational after that is to just support my decision. I've found the mini-14 to be accurate and the 580 series in my hand are capable of 3 MOA, which is as good as I can shoot. At one point I posted a big test of different ammo that I did and they all more or less shot 4 MOA or better. For social plinking or self-defense, I find it a nice reliable, accurate enough rifle. If I want something more accurate, I'm going to choose a bolt action anyway.

I don't visit this forum too much anymore, but i thought maybe some of the ''i know it all people might have left'' i guess not!. This debate was settled awhile back with an AR vs MINI challenge, where several people( including myself) proved that the 580 series mini's are reliable and while not tack drivers, accurate to 2'' at 100 yrds Its been proven!
With that said i own a DPMS AR , a Bulgarian AK-74 and my 580 series Mini-14 and i like them all, and would trust my life with any of them. I don't own the SIG (YET) but have a p226 that i love, Sig's are great firearms! Make a choice that is best for you and don't listen to the nay sayers most people who think they know it all no jack!

Which one do you like? Get that one and be happy with it!

With the Sig it is a crap shoot if you get a rilfe that was Q/C'ed.
I have sent mine back to Sig and will be getting a new rifle back as the dang thing would shoot 4 inches to the left with maximum correction of the sights.
They say Sig doesn't make the sights and that they are of someone else's manufacture, but this doesnt excuse Sig for putting them on their product. My Sig's problem isnt just with the sights, after discussing with the Sig Q/C rep I was told the Gun smith rejected it for the barrel to reciever fit, that is what was was incorrect on mine and that is why my rifle was rejected and replaced.
I like the concept of the Sig system, I just hate the idea of a rifle with a MSRP of 2K (yes you can get a much better deal but look at the MSRP on Sig's website.) that has so many Q/C issues. When I sent mine back (with photos) it had four Q/C issues. The Sights that wouldn't allign or lock down on the rail, a mystery spring that fell out of the buttstock, a folding buttstock that wouldn't lock, etc. etc. Thats a lotta stuff wrong on something you put your name on.
Honestly I would not buy either and just keep shoppng.

Between the two, sig, but I don't think you're giving the ar a fair shake in terms of reliability.

Personally I wouldn't seriously consider buying either of the two over a quality ar.

Finally, I hate the fact that to remove the bolt on the Mini, you have to remove the ejector.

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This one really throws me. I have never had to do this.

I only own an older mini but I have never seen the need to replace it. If I did it would be for a newer mini. I also own the Garand and M1A though so there is a little bit of bias for the action.

crazyivan

Has anyone here tried the Sig with russian ammo?

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I've shot 300 or so rounds of Wolf 55 grain since I got mine. It's shot a 2 inch group at 100 yards with the Wolf once, I was more interested in shooting silhouettes at 200 yards that were sized to simulate 400 yards that day. It did fine for that.

The only time it's malfunctioned on me was when I first got it and tried to use a couple of the old cheap aluminum GI mags. I picked up some Pmags with the nifty little window for $15 each and it's been good since then.

Why are the mini 14 mags so ungodly expensive? I mean, they sell Pmags for $15 with the window and $13 without, my AK74's mags are $10 each, my CMMG 22LRs mags are going for $20 each currently, hell I picked up a steel M1A mag recently for $13 that worked great. Is it just that Ruger overcharges for their factory mags?

Why are the mini 14 mags so ungodly expensive? I mean, they sell Pmags for $15

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You can get a mini 14 Tapco mag for that price. I'm sure they are on par quality wise with a Pmag, right?

The new Tapco mags for the Mini are great i bought two of them for $15.99 each they run fine.

Do you think they are the same quality as a Pmag?

Girodin said:

Do you think they are the same quality as a Pmag?

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Even though the Ruger mags are more money they are the best. I bought a few factory mags (30 rounders ) at a show for $35 each to me thats a good deal. The one and only promag i have works fine, i think the quality/reliability of the Tapco is better but its too early to say for sure ive only emptied each of them twice.

If you think Ruger magazines are costly, consider that magazines for my CZ pistol are more than $35. Or a good 1911 magazine is maybe $20.

They are two completely different guns.

Pretty much the only thing the Sig 556 has in common with the Mini-14 is that they both shoot the same caliber, besides that they can not be reasonably compared to each other.

Buy one of each, flip a coin, or just buy the one that appeals to you more. Both are good guns but they feel very different and will appeal to different people for different reasons.

I've always had a crush on the Sig 55x line of military rifles which is why I own a Sig 556, it's as close as I can get to owning a Sig 550/551/552 so I'll take what I can get. The Mini-14 is cool little gun and I wouldn't mind owning one but it's not high on my priority list of guns to own.

I recently bought one of the new model Mini-14's. It has a heavier barrel, a heat shield, very nice wood, the tolerances are tighter, and easily adjustable sights. After adjusting them, I was able to shoot tighter groups than I could with my Stag Arms AR. I'm happy with it for a number of reasons:

1. Cost less than the Sig.
2. Looks like a normal hunting rifle rather than a military rifle. Down here on the border that's a definite plus. An observer doesn't see you as a threat.
3, Shoots accurately enough for coyotes and rabbits.

From all that I know I would buy a Mini-14 Tactical and put a Tapco Fusion stock on it and maybe a Tapco buttpad.

* Cheaper
* Lighter
* Factory 30rd mags
* Runs cleaner than an AR
* Doesnt take much to make it pretty accurate. Cryo the barrel, trigger job, bed the action and the gas block, and it you go for the 18.5" barrel maybe consider an Accu-Strut. Info from http://www.perfectunion.com/vb/showthread.php?t=79450.

The one and only promag i have works fine, i think the quality/reliability of the Tapco is better but its too early to say for sure ive only emptied each of them twice.

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A tapco mag is not as well made or as durable as a Magpul Pmag, a pro mag certainly is not. You will forgive me if your 30 round torture test of two mags does not sway my opinion. Get out and run your gun hard and start having your mags hit the ground etc and then you will at least have basis for judging them.

* Cheaper

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Doesnt take much to make it pretty accurate. Cryo the barrel, trigger job, bed the action and the gas block, and it you go for the 18.5" barrel maybe consider an Accu-Strut. Info from http://www.perfectunion.com/vb/showthread.php?t=79450.

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I just thought I would juxtapose those two statements together to note that if you do all that you likely are no longer cheaper than a sig 556.

* Factory 30rd mags

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Better, less expensive, 30 round mags for the Sig, e.g Pmags

Runs cleaner than an AR

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ummmm, you know we are not talking about ARs in this thread right. The sig 556 is not an AR. The sig 556 is not a DI gun. It is a piston gun. I'm lost as to what relevance your statement is in this thread.

Oh i forgot this forum was full of people who know it all !
Im a 42 yr old vet and have been around firearms since a boy, my father also a former vet
and a retired NRA instructor raised me with a M1 in hand. When someone gives his or her opinion show a little respect even if you don't agree !

When someone gives his or her opinion show a little respect even if you don't agree !

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Pointing out that someone contention or basis for their opinion is weak is not being disrespectful per se.

Im a 42 yr old vet and have been around firearms since a boy, my father also a former vet
and a retired NRA instructor raised me with a M1 in hand.

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That is wonderful, but what does it have to do with the price of tea in China, or the relative merits of the sig 556 and the Mini 14 for that matter?

Girodin, I doubt after doing those accuracy upgrades it will cost anywhere near a Sig 556. And my comment about running cleaner than an AR was intended to point out that just like a Sig 556, the Mini-14 also runs cleaner than an AR. Though not as clean as a Sig 556...

I wouldn't say that my Sig 556 runs any cleaner than an AR15/M4/M16. Sure the bolt and bolt carrier stay clean but I have to scrub the daylights out of the gas block, gas tube, and piston. I've never even handled a Mini 14 so I can't speak to how clean it stays, but I'd guess you have to clean the gas block, tube, and piston in a similar manner. I have to scrub those parts of my M1A every time I shoot it, otherwise it's a PITA getting the gas block off after it gets really filthy.

The Sig 556 can be had for just under $1,000 currently. It was going for around $2,200 over the summer of 09, and was down to $1,500 for the SWAT model by the fall of 09 when I got mine. I'm just glad I didn't buy one when it was over 2 grand.

Girodin, I doubt after doing those accuracy upgrades it will cost anywhere near a Sig 556

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Well a Sig cost $971 shipped. A mini tactical is going to run $668 roughly a $300 difference.

Treating a barrel costs about $50 plus unless you live near a place to do it you are going to need to ship it, both ways. Say $15 each way this could be high, it depends on where you are going to ship it to, how you ship it, if you insure it, etc. I'm basing my rough estimate on the last time I paid shipping for something like that.

The price of the other work will depend on who does it, but a decent trigger job might run say $80? Cheap trigger jobs are a sign the person is using a rotary tool and the type of trigger job renowned for leading to failures.

Bedding the action cost about the same.

An Accu strut is $95 plus shipping.

So that lets do some math.

80+80+80+95= 335

Now lets add 335 to 668. That equals 1003 which last time I checked is more than 971. Even if I overestimated slightly on shipping or something there is some wiggle for the mini and work it to still be 971 (and remember I didn't add shipping for the accu strut).

For your $1000 you have a nice pigs ear though.

I saw an accuracy package at one smiths website which included trigger job, accu strut, and bedded action that ran 220 so add the estimate of 80 dollars we estimated for the chryo treatment and that's $300. So again you are right around the price of a 556 which also comes with a cheapo red dot sight.

I guess with newer Minis, you probably dont need an Accu-Strut. According to the Mini-nuts.

I've never actually fired a SIG 556 but when picking one up I don't like the way it handles. Mainly it's too front heavy but also what bothers me is it's too proprietary and too ugly. The word that it just doesn't stack up to other SIG 55x models seems to be spreading which may explain the fire sales lately but even at $1000 it just doesn't make sense to me. I know they can be made to work but there are better solutions.

I do like the Mini-14 and have enjoyed using them over the years. The price is more attractive than the SIG and I love the Garand action. However even though I voted for the Mini-14 in the poll I never have with my wallet (though I have bought other Rugers). Instead I bought AR and AK.

Two years ago, I purchased my first AR - been shooting it regularly ever since:
* Its a 2 MOA gun
* It's never jammed; not even in the field or during carbine classes.

Four years ago, I purchased a Polish Vector AKM - I still shoot it occasionally:
* Its a 3 MOA gun
* It's never jammed; not on the range, not in the field, not during classes.

Two years ago, my shooting buddy got a Sig 556 - I have shot it many times:
* Its a 2 MOA gun
* Its never jammed for me or for him; not on the range or in the field.

3 years ago, my brother in law got a Mini-14 - I have shot it and shoot with him often:
* Its a 3 MOA gun
* Its never jammed for me or for him. Have only shot it on the range though.

Does this look repetitive? GOOD - maybe that will get the point across.

I too get tired of all the 'X Vs. Y' threads, and the blatant snobbery. ANY of the rifle systems from the reputable manufacturers are accurate enough, durable enough, and reliable enough to use in the real world. ALL of them have their own little maintenance quirks and hitches in the 'manual of arms'. It is the responsibility of the USER to know them and act accordingly.

Too many shooters spend their time fretting, fidgeting, and worrying about whether or not their magic talisman will let them down. THIS CAUSED BY INSUFFICIENT TRAINING. Guns are tools - dont just parot that on a forum - believe it and get some training.

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