Mini-14 Vs. AR-15

The Ruger, whether there was any cleaning solvent to be had, or not.

In that post-apocalyptic world you described, I wouldn't be worried about knockin' the wings off'n gnats at 100 yards, or punchin' small groups of holes in paper.

welcome to the Forum. you'll get lots of opinions - for me I have very limited experience with an AR but a Mini I can dis and re-assemble with my eyes closed.

AR-15 please!! You can't go to a shooting range and fire a round through your AR wihout the brass bouncing off two more!! That means the parts can be found literally everywhere! The AR is not as sensitive as the error-net would have people believe, and magazines are around by the millions. Wrap a bore snake in piece of cloth(cloth is for inside receiver and bolt/firing pin wipe down), and stuff it in the grip. Now you have all the cleaning kit you'll ever need. Use scavenged engine oil as lube, or run it with a dry lube. You'll run out of ammo before you choke her on carbon. Keep a spare bolt, firing pin, firing pin retaining pin(weakest part of the system IMHO, but easily replaced), and maybe a spare lower parts kit just in case Murphy happens.

How many Mini's do you see out and about?

Still 2 Many Choices!?

Mini 14. It just keeps on running.

RMD

AR.

Can still use motor oil for lube. Tons of parts. And it's allready the staple of my tactical training.

Just a plain better defensive weapon. Really not fair to compare it to the Ruger Mini 14 IMO. I'd hate to defend myself with one of those nightmares.

Got to be AR

You talking about a world where I can't send a broken rifle to ruger because they won't sell the spare parts you need to stock up on to keep goin in a world where civilization has collapsed.

My ar can wait to be cleaned till I can find something remotely solvent based to clean with Paint thinner, gasoline, kerosene, alcohol, lamp oil ect ect. Lets see how well a local blacksmith does at making a mini bolt or firing pin.

AR 15. The gun is the most popular selling out there. Parts are everywhere and they are battlefield tested, meaning improvisation to achieve functionality has been happening for decades (substitute solvents/lubricants, etc). The Mini 14 is cool, but in your scenario, once broken, good luck repairing it.

AR 15 hands down. I am very intimate with the AR, it can actually shoot hundreds if not thousands of rounds without cleaning (believe it or not), and as mentioned earlier parts and complete rifles are everywhere.

The Mini 14 because as someone else mentioned they just keep going and going, dirty or not.

Accuracy is not on par with an AR, but good enough to serve its purpose.

Oh, and welcome to THR!

Take care,
DFW1911

You talking about a world where I can't send a broken rifle to ruger because they won't sell the spare parts you need to stock up on to keep goin

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I have spare firing pins and extractors for every rifle I own, except the Rugers...

Oh wait, I sold the Rugers.

BSW

People shouldn't comment so authoritatively if they have no experience with the rifles in question.

After using both rifles, I would be happy with either.

The new Mini-14s are more accurate than most shooters out there, and with serious abuse or cheap magazines either rifle will malfunction.

AR15s don't require buckets of oil to run reliably as many AK/Mini guys believe. Mini-14s aren't the inaccurate pieces of junk that people who wasted too much money on their ARs believe.

Both are proven guns, ARs on battlefields and Mini-14s in prison guard towers nationwide since the '80s.

How many prison guard tower shootings do you think have happened in those past 30 years? I have shot both guns alot and own an AR. SHTF I want my AR! (See reasons above)^^^

Both are proven guns, ARs on battlefields and Mini-14s in prison guard towers nationwide since the '80s.

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If that is the test criteria I will choose the AR, I think the round count in the battlefields is much higher. I don't know how the rest of the country is but I'm pretty shure the DOC in Co. finished changing over to AR's about 5 yrs ago along with glocks.

i've spent plenty of time on AR-15 designs (M16A2, A4, and M4) and would choose that because i'm COMFORTABLE with it. after experience with a Mini-14, my opinion may or may not change, but right now, i'll take an AR-15 if SHTF.

I own more than one of each. I was always told the Mini-14 was relatively innaccurate -- that the barrel was too light. That accurizing them made no difference because the action was so loose. But you can't believe everything you hear. Then I shot them. And an acquaintence I shot with routinely even sent his out to be accurized...

Damned if they aren't inaccurate and can't be fixed (which is why this pal's was sent out in the first place -- it was frustrating to shoot!). I kept mine as particulalrly collectible. Luckily my buddy sold his to a gun shop for a pittance as it was used to murder someone a few weeks later in the closest major metropolitan city. But it worked!

Al

Mini 14

The Mini-14 is a nice rifle but I can't image choosing it over the AR-15. I'd grab the AR without a second thought.

Battlefields imply a supply chain and armorer, don't they?

First - Wouldn't you take anything you found?
Second - Which gun was designed to operate with a supply line and spare parts?
Third - Probably neither is ideal, but it isn't an issue of lube or solvent, substitutes exist in abundance for both lubrication or solvent.

If that is the test criteria I will choose the AR, I think the round count in the battlefields is much higher.

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Which is part of the point: Even if something aweful happens, most people will never fire their weapon at all, much less engage in a high round count firefight with marauding ninjas or zombies.

That said, from what I understand, the tower guns see quite a few rounds for qualification, training, etc. and hold up well over time.

Neither rifle is bad at doing what it does: Sit in a corner, closet or safe for years, aside from range trips, and occasionally deal with a pesty critter in the yard. This isn't likely to change no matter what events mix things up.

AR15s don't require buckets of oil to run reliably as many AK/Mini guys believe. Mini-14s aren't the inaccurate pieces of junk that people who wasted too much money on their ARs believe.

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^^^ +1 on this comment.

AR.

I know it better, know it runs better than what people give it credit for, and even though I'd never see a can of Hoppes again, you didn't say that there was no hope of another can of CLP anywhere. Loophole, sir!

While you have your ample collection of spare ejectors, extractors, pins and other itsy-bitsy parts out to repair the AR, someone might well sneak up and steal your lunch.

Perhaps there's a good reason why the marketplace is rife with aftermarket replacement AR parts and isn't, for the Minis? Other than the reluctance of Sturm, Ruger to make them as freely available.

I've shot and cleaned/serviced my share of rifles based on the AR platform, including a dozen at one time after a club High Power youth clinic. Part of the reason I no longer own any. If I'd wanted to spend much time repeatedly tinkerin' with bitty parts, would've become a watch repairman.

I've had several Mini-14's and several AR's. Sold the Rugers and have kept the AR's. The mini is dependable, with good magazines. The problem is that there are almost ZERO dependable mags holding over 5 rounds. All the aftermarket stuff I tried was a joke. New 20 round Ruger mags are being sold, but how many have you actually seen. And they are $40 each when you find them. Dependable 20-30 round AR amgazines are everywhere and cheap. The fact that Rugers prices have sky rocketed while AR's have come down mean you can buy both for nearly the same price now. That gives the edge to the AR for me.