Why are mini 14's so expensive

Accuracy story.

I had a 181 series Mini. Since it was marked 223 that is what I shot in it. Accuracy was 4 moa at best. I lent it to a federal game warden on base who shot it with issued m193 ball. It shot that to 1.5 moa. He made me an offer I couldn't refuse (before he told me about the accuracy improvement of course) and bought it.

Moral of the story, don't just try one type of ammo before declaring a firearm to be a lousy grouper.

whm1974 said:

So why are Mini-14's so expensive now compared to 2006?

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Isn't that about the time the 580 series came out? All 580 series are Ranch Rifle type receivers and come with scope rings. Ranch rifles always were more expensive than regular Minis. The new heavy barrel is also a higher cost to produce than the older thin barrels. For just a couple possible reasons.

If Mini-14s are supposed to be accurate, or reliable, I wish some body would explain that to mine, because it doesn't understand...

JDH answered for me. The heavier ruger produced barrel and scope mounts added to both design and material costs, while the ar15 platform continues to be process streamlined by a lot of competition in the marketplace. Ar15s are actually just a little too cheap to be sustainably manufactured at the moment, and mini's are selling to the anti AR crowd, and are slightly inflated cost wise IMHO. Don't get me wrong, a mini is a great gun new from Ruger, but a bargain it is not...

FL-NC said:

I bought one in 1986 for less than $300. To me, that seems like a fair price for one today. They just don't pass the common sense test for the cost and performance of the product, IMO. Unless of course someone is in a place where the AR and similar rifles are illegal.

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$300 in 1986, with inflation, is $702 today.

I have a hard time understanding why there seems to be this dichotomy between AR owners and Mini-14's. If you don't like Mini-14's, don't buy one.

No need to constantly create threads bashing Mini's. Obviously some people do like them, feel they're worth the money, are accurate enough for their needs, and buy them. If it's not for you, just don't buy it.

Ruger's mistake was changing the name and serial number slightly when they improved the rifle.

They changed the forging process, build materials, and all of the tooling used. Although the rifle looks the same, and is still a Mini-14, it really is a different rifle. They should have called it the Mini-14 MkII or something.

Ruger had some good videos out about the new production line. They said the Mini 14s (as well as a couple other guns like the GP100) had better metal, better casting processes, and more accurate machining. They put millions into improving the Mini. and it shows.

Unfortunately, the Mini's reputation for accuracy was already established...they should have made the name change more obvious.

Speedo66 said:

$300 in 1986, with inflation, is $702 today.

I have a hard time understanding why there seems to be this dichotomy between AR owners and Mini-14's. If you don't like Mini-14's, don't buy one.

No need to constantly create threads bashing Mini's. Obviously some people do like them, feel they're worth the money, are accurate enough for their needs, and buy them. If it's not for you, just don't buy it.

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People need to be aware so they can at least spend their money with open eyes. Lots of people decide to buy one anyway.

I can't believe no one else is mentioning the piston system vs DI on an AR. Minis are right around the same price or less that AR piston guns. Am I wrong? I definitely could be. Lol.

Elkins45 said:

People need to be aware so they can at least spend their money with open eyes. Lots of people decide to buy one anyway.

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An honest review is one thing, unfortunately, most of the time it's an "AR's are great" thing. Not everyone is an AR fan, myself included.

If someone talks about Mini's, the AR fanboys immediately jump in and ask why anyone would buy one when they could have an AR.

Sometimes just being different is enough. Wood and steel, as opposed to plastic and aluminum, make it even better.

Speedo66 said:

An honest review is one thing, unfortunately, most of the time it's an "AR's are great" thing. Not everyone is an AR fan, myself included.

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I haven't been an AR fan either. I think the turn-off is the same as with, for example, 6.5Creedmoor... fanatics hyping their own thing to the exclusion of all else.

If someone talks about Mini's, the AR fanboys immediately jump in and ask why anyone would buy one when they could have an AR.

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Yeah, and it gets old.

Sometimes just being different is enough. Wood and steel, as opposed to plastic and aluminum, make it even better.

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This subject matter has a lot of room for a lot of interesting stuff. Why not enjoy the variety.

General Geoff said:

The Mini 14 is not renowned for its accuracy, and is functionally inferior to the AR15. Thus there is a much lower supply and requisitely higher per-unit production costs.

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Not as accurate and Inferior to the AR, do we really need to go there again? That is subject to debate. Otherwise your post is pretty accurate. There is a lot that goes into a Mini. What was missed is simple supply and demand. Where the AR is a target of the anti 2a, most times the mini falls under the radar. Lots of AR vendors. Just one for the mini. I have a mini in 5.56, 6.8, and 7.62x39. One would be hard pressed to find an AR as accurate as my 6.8 mini.

dh1633pm said:

Not as accurate and Inferior to the AR, do we really need to go there again? That is subject to debate.

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It is not a debate. The design and function of the AR is objectively better than the m14/mini 14. Better accuracy, better optics mounting options, better potential reliability in adverse field conditions due to the receiver being much more closed and sealed against sand and debris.

The only thing the mini 14 has going for it is its traditional aesthetic, which helps it avoid some legal prohibitions.

This coming from a guy who owns an M1A and no ARs.

One would be hard pressed to find an AR as accurate as my 6.8 mini.

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Your 6.8 Mini is sub-1 MOA?

ZZZZZZZZZZZ

I have both types of rifles.. The AR 15 + 5 loaded 20 round mags is zipped up its case in the closet,it rarely moves from there. If some heavy bother happens,it is what I would go collect to deal with it. The 5.56 Ranch rifle ((thick barrel) is what I use for around the ranch I caretaker. I carry it or have it in the truck /ATV rack I'm using. The rifle is perfect for this role and there is no way I would sell it,I trust it completely. I have 3 x 20 round Ruger mags,but I really like it with the 5 round mag.
Both rifles serve their purpose well.

I had the 300 blackout mini14. Was not impressed. Had it for 6 months. Accuracy was horrible. Sights kept loosing up.

I have always appreciated the older style wood and iron guns. I wanted a mini 14 or a M1 carbine for quite some time but the price kept me away. When I want to have fun at the range now I take a bolt action or single shot .22 rifle. I like to take my time when I want to have fun. I completely understand the feelings about AR-15 rifles. I teach an AR-15 armorer's course and I too get tired of the black rifles scene from time to time. Sometimes you just want something that harkens back to an era when people weren't in as much of a hurry. Same reason I like revolvers.

Slappy White said:

I can't believe no one else is mentioning the piston system vs DI on an AR. Minis are right around the same price or less that AR piston guns. Am I wrong? I definitely could be. Lol.

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I'd like to hear more about this, please.

I think the price issue is more manufacturing process and design related than any general `anti` reasons.

I'm not really into pistol gripped rifles so know know the AR market and piston vs DI.

Mini’s are a great rifle. I also have an AR. It’s a RRA bull barrel upper and DPMS single shot lower. It works. The prices sure did go up this year on mini’s. There are all sorts of things to make a Mini shoot better just like any other rifle. The mini certainly doesn’t foul up the bolt with spent gas. Not as big of a deal as some might say. In the military I certainly shot the AR platform enough.

A mini can also throw you brass into the next county. You might need to adjust a few things when you get one. Trigger, gas bushings come to mind. The newer series are much better. My mini 30 didn’t like military ammo. Firing pin issue. Easy fix.

My mini family, 14 on top, 6.8 middle, and 30 on the bottom.

My Mini-14 is a 582 series with the heavier barrel. It really likes the 62 grain Silver Bear ammo.

Dibbs said:

If Mini-14s are supposed to be accurate, or reliable, I wish some body would explain that to mine, because it doesn't understand...

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Have you tried different ammo? Mine doesn't like the off the shelf 55gr FMJ that everybody buys. I load 63 and 77 gr using .556 data and it shoots very well up to 100 yards. Its not a tack driver but certainly will do everything its designed for. BTW, I don't have any problems hitting a 8 inch gong at 200 yards with the stock sights. I've owned 2 mid price range AR's that wouldn't do that with any ammo I tried.

The Mini-14 price is entirely a result of limited production. As the sole manufacturer Ruger seems only interested in plodding along and producing just enough Minis to keep it alive. But not enough to gain any costs savings from scale and boost sales. If someone like S&W or PSA started making a clone and revived interest in the design, the price would drop significantly.

The answer is blindingly simple.

Ruger has priced them for ban-states. Where you can't buy a proper AR or AK.

I honestly don't blame them. It's the perfectly rational thing to do.

They're not going to be able to compete with the glut of barely functional ARs assembled from parts out of the trash can. So they're recouping the retooling costs of the newer Mini-14s by pricing them as high as they can for ban states, where the "high" price is actually a bargain for not having to deal with the workarounds for ARs and AKs.

They of course can't have two seperate prices because there's no such thing as a ban/non-ban Mini-14. So the price is jacked across the board.

No idea how long the AR garbage gun glut will last. No idea if some SCOTUS case will force states to scrap their bans. Eventually the market will shake itself out as the trash works it's way through the system.

Dibbs said:

If Mini-14s are supposed to be accurate, or reliable, I wish some body would explain that to mine, because it doesn't understand...

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What sort of ammo are you using?

Old or new style Mini?

Have you replaced the gas bushing? Mini-14s leave the factory with RELIABILITY above everything. They are overgassed to a hilarious degree, to the point that they'll often cycle just fine even with grossly underpowered amunition. This hurts accuracy, but is great for reliability.

General Geoff said:

It is not a debate. The design and function of the AR is objectively better than the m14/mini 14. Better accuracy, better optics mounting options, better potential reliability in adverse field conditions due to the receiver being much more closed and sealed against sand and debris.

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I am sorry, but you are simply incorrect.

The issue of accuracy is tricky. You have ARs built of parts from the trash can that barely function with brass-cased amunition and shoot 3+" groups. You have 12 pound .5 MOA ARs that cost the same as 2-3 Minis. You have the fact that Minis have always been overgassed from the factory for reliability at the expence of accuracy. (A problem that is easily fixed.)

So the issue becomes what AR, what ammo, and has the Mini had the $40 worth of work done to not eject brass into the next county? For the type of gun you'd keep in your car or truck, the accuracy is identical. Without the gun bolted to a bench you're hard pressed to tell a .5 MOA gun from a 2 MOA gun. Feed both steel case and your targets will look identical.

The issue of mounting optics on the Mini hasn't been an issue for close to 20 years. 20 years ago the AR didn't exactly have the range of options available today either.

Your "better potential reliability its because closed/sealed" is just a rehashing of "It works if you keep it clean". Your rifle works if nothing gets inside. How impressive. *sarcasam*

The design has numerous problems that are quite objective. The magazine is a huge weak-point. The charging handle is literally an akward afterthought and requires the rifle have the extra complexity of a seperate forward assist. The safety on the Mini is objectively superior to the AR, with its wierd 90 degrees of movement nessisary. The extractor on the AR is another weak point. The inability to fit a folding stock is another huge limitation.

Simply look at how many features have been copied in designs that came afterwards? Not a lot. Clearly the people who design guns arn't that impressed.

You're assuming your bias is objective fact. It's not. We all have our biases and preferences.

Your "better potential reliability its because closed/sealed" is just a rehashing of "It works if you keep it clean". Your rifle works if nothing gets inside. How impressive. *sarcasam*

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Any repeating rifle can lock up if crud gets into the wrong spots. The AR's receiver is more conducive to keeping that crud out than the more open M14/Mini-14 receiver. When the rifle keeps itself cleaner, I call that a superior design.

The magazine is a huge weak-point.

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Are there known reliable AR mags? If yes, that's not an inherent weak point nor a poor reflection on the rifle's overall design, but rather an observation that some types of mags on the market are unreliable.

The charging handle is literally an akward afterthought and requires the rifle have the extra complexity of a seperate forward assist.

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The non-reciprocating charging handle was intentional, not an afterthought. Its position was modified during the early AR-10 testing/prototyping phases. The forward assist is not required at all.

The safety on the Mini is objectively superior to the AR, with its wierd 90 degrees of movement nessisary.

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You mean the safety that requires your finger to be inside the trigger guard to disengage it?

The extractor on the AR is another weak point.

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First I've heard of it.

The inability to fit a folding stock is another huge limitation.

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A limitation yes, but not a huge one in my opinion.

Simply look at how many features have been copied in designs that came afterwards? Not a lot. Clearly the people who design guns arn't that impressed.

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You mean like the multi lug rotating bolt?

Most of the AR's features were not new with the AR.

You're assuming your bias is objective fact.

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Not my bias. I don't even own an AR. Tell it to the militaries of the world.

I'd also like to point out that the MIni-14 does have one thing going for it: Minimum manufacturing standards.

Since Ruger is the only company building them, they are in a unique position to ensure quality control so that every Mini-14 leaves the factory in safe, reliable working order. Since everyone and their cousin makes AR-15 parts and there are probably hundreds of thousands of them built up from a hodgepodge of different parts from different manufacturers, the quality of AR-15s is all over the map.
I would submit that comparing an $800 Mini-14 to a $400 AR-15, the Mini-14 could in all likelihood be a more reliable rifle. An $800 AR vs the Mini-14 though, the AR is typically the better rifle.

JO JO: partly because they look like Compact Military M-14s and M-1 Carbines.

If US soldiers in war movies and tv had carried totally different guns, the Minis would have such a different appearance.

If the late Bill Ruger hadn't been such a shameless appeaser of the anti-Sec. Amend. crowd, far more people would still be Ruger fans. This kept Mini prices from going higher.