Better Built, Mini 14 VS AR15?

Pete, you made the point I'm making. Different tools are used in different cases - of course, there are .22lr AR's and they are not in the Olympics, but the reality is that the right tool for the job is not always going to be a Crescent Wrench. My boots aren't on the basketball court but that does not make them bad. My Mini is not used in competition but so what? I don't compete and use a Mini for specific reasons and, based on those reasons, it has gravitated to the top, ahead of the three AR's I owned. My specs are in no way inferior to those of a competition shooter (or professional basketball player). And no, the Mini-14 does not work in a different way from an M14 except in the oprod, which is only slightly different. Everything else works the same. All parts are designed based on the M14's evolution of the M1.

Quality build? Returning to the original question, the question cannot be answered because it can be answered in an infinite number of ways. The answer lies not in the design elements of the AR or the Mini 14, but in the company manufacturing the firearm. Examples better than the Mini can be found, but so can examples far worse in quality can be found.

Robert said:

Comparing pot metal rifles to the mini is not really fair. A more accurate comparision would be to use a RRA or M&P Sport.

I own and shoot both. I have never thought of my mini as a hard use rifle. My AR on the other hand is used, and somewhat abused, in tactical rifle matches where I routinely subject the rifle to sand, dirt and baby powder like grit. It runs just fine. The only issues I have had with the rifle were user caused. So I would invite you to come to match and let's do a non scientific test. For fun, nothing serious. I do not believe we have ever had a shooter use a mini at the match.

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are you saying because you do not see the minis in a tactical match it is because they will fall apart or jam? the AR is the in thing now that is why you see so many. some guys have to have what the soldiers are using and have not gotten over when they were kids with cowboy cap guns imitating what they saw the cowboys using on tv

Saying the Mini-14 works like the M14 is funny when you consider that the major improvements Army Ordnance made to the M1 to create the M14 are eliminated on the Mini.

Roller for the bolt lug- eliminated.
Short stroke gas cut off and expanding piston system- eliminated.
Hard chrome of chamber and bore- eliminated.

I really get the feeling these changes were made to get the manufacturing cost down, not because they were not real improvements. Except for that goofy, overly complex White patent gas cut off and expansion gas piston. Way more elaborate than what's really needed.

BSW

Ok first off I would like to say that I DO own an AR (RRA), and I do NOT own a Mini. I am a fan of ARs. However, in all these threads, where you have guys saying that they drag their ARs through "hell" in competition and have never had a failure of what have you, I always want to either call BS or ask what their particular definition of hard usage is. I am an 11B in the Army and obviously use m4s frequently. I have seen them jam very often, have all manner of failures to feed or eject, **** I've even seen many an m4 become "bricked" if you will, or 100% completely inoperable. Granted I'm talking about situations where you are stuffing muddy filthy mags in your weapon or crawling around in sand, dirt, mud, or any other kind of filth you can imagine. The AR is a reliable system within its limitations, but it is in no way infallible.

How many times can this horse be beaten? The AR is superior to the mini in every aspect. There its been said, move along, nothing left to see here.

"The AR is superior to the mini in every aspect."

Except that you are wrong.

Anybody wanna bet that this subject will be discussed before, say, Labor Day? Or maybe, Thanksgiving?

Horsey very tired.

I'd bet on before the 4th. of July!!

rc

I'd bet before the end of next week. This pot of silliness will get started up again over the AR VS Mini in one form or another.
What I find so remarkable is that some think what they say means anything to the person on the other end of the discussion.
Folks people are going to buy what they like regardless of what you think.
Get over it. Don't take yourself so seriously.

mattm0691 said:

Ok first off I would like to say that I DO own an AR (RRA), and I do NOT own a Mini. I am a fan of ARs. However, in all these threads, where you have guys saying that they drag their ARs through "hell" in competition and have never had a failure of what have you, I always want to either call BS or ask what their particular definition of hard usage is. I am an 11B in the Army and obviously use m4s frequently. I have seen them jam very often, have all manner of failures to feed or eject, **** I've even seen many an m4 become "bricked" if you will, or 100% completely inoperable. Granted I'm talking about situations where you are stuffing muddy filthy mags in your weapon or crawling around in sand, dirt, mud, or any other kind of filth you can imagine. The AR is a reliable system within its limitations, but it is in no way infallible.

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thank you Matt the AR is a range gun and always was even after millions put into it after 50 years of refinement. and also Matt the gun must be judged in harsh conditions like you described not at a match in perfect weather where you can lube it in between shooting

briansmithwins said:

Saying the Mini-14 works like the M14 is funny when you consider that the major improvements Army Ordnance made to the M1 to create the M14 are eliminated on the Mini.

Roller for the bolt lug- eliminated.
Short stroke gas cut off and expanding piston system- eliminated.
Hard chrome of chamber and bore- eliminated.

I really get the feeling these changes were made to get the manufacturing cost down, not because they were not real improvements. Except for that goofy, overly complex White patent gas cut off and expansion gas piston. Way more elaborate than what's really needed.

BSW

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brian the roller was only for full auto and the gas system on the mini is less complicated then the M14 and more reliable with less moving parts

Roadking Rider said:

I'd bet before the end of next week. This pot of silliness will get started up again over the AR VS Mini in one form or another.
What I find so remarkable is that some think what they say means anything to the person on the other end of the discussion.
Folks people are going to buy what they like regardless of what you think.
Get over it. Don't take yourself so seriously.

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so what roadking it gives us something to talk about. it is better then the threads where guys say I am torn between getting a 270 or 280 or 30-06

Gigglesnort. Some calendars are controlled by a delete key.

My only question about the Mini is, if you put it in the same harsh conditions that AR's are put through (mud, dirt, sand, snow) would it fail just the same???

I would think so..

Better made... Or better designed? On average, ARs are cheaper/easier to keep running.

Ironic thing: I'm old enough to remember with the M16 was supposed to be the biggest piece of junk rifle ever designed and made. Now it's nearly held up as the model of reliability - well at least the AR-15 is. Yes it took many years to get to this point.

I agree with the apples and oranges analogy. I have both. I have not shot my Mini-14 for over a year (yikes). It's a great and fun rifle. It's not super hard to field strip it, but it certainly is more of a pain than an AR. So I shoot my AR more.

I paid less than $700 new for my Mini. I paid around $1400 new for my DD AR. So is that a fair comparison? Or is it best to compare to a $700 AR?

Meh, who cares. Do I suddenly have an urge to shoot my Mini 14? OF COURSE!!!

^ I thnk the best comparison between the 2 is to get the standard Colt AR15 (Model 6920) and compare it side by side with the Mini14.

this is the only true and apples to apples comparo you can do. Put them through all the same tests and see which one is more reliable, shoots better accuracy, and faster to shoot.

Which is more reliable? You don't see a forward assist on a Mini-14, now do you?

^ That is irrelevant. Many AR's now do not have a forward assist.

Do Mini14's come in as Belt-fed or SBR?

Which is more reliable? You don't see a forward assist on a Mini-14, now do you?

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Score! And why are these guys dropping there guns in the mud all the time?

And why are these guys dropping there guns in the mud all the time?

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It never ceases to amaze me the amount of Midwestern armchair commandos on youtube, doing over the beach tests on guns...

Also, with the current price of Mini-14's, the AR makes even more sense.

At $400/$500, the mini is a great rifle, not at $700/$800.

Also, with the current price of Mini-14's, the AR makes even more sense.

At $400/$500, the mini is a great rifle, not at $700/$800.

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I saw a used Mini14 at the LGS not long ago with the folding stock (not sure what model). They were asking like $1200 or something. I would buy one if it was ~$500 but not at the price of a Top-tier Milspec AR15.

In the end, it really boils down to which will work for your personal taste and use. If I just wanted cheap and reliable, an AK is a better option.

double post, learning how to quote.

justice06rr said:

^ That is irrelevant. Many AR's now do not have a forward assist.

Do Mini14's come in as Belt-fed or SBR?

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Yes, the mini has been made as a SBR. A select fire capable of 3 shot burst, full auto fire, and as a select fire SBR. Look up the AC556 and AC556K