Vicious-Peanut
Member
Darn it, my list wouldn't work. The forum wouldn't format it...
Ignore this post.
Ignore this post.
Any reason to choose Mini-14 over a Saiga .223?
- Thread starter Dollar An Hour
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glockman19
Member
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Avenger,
New Mini's have heavier barrels improved accuracy and now offer 20 round magazines.
New Mini's have heavier barrels improved accuracy and now offer 20 round magazines.
MIL-DOT
member
I remeber saying on another related thread a year or so ago, " If Ruger would put on a heavier barrel, parkerize it, and make it compatible with AR mags,i don't think they'd be able to keep them on the shelves."
azhunter12
Member
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- Jan 22, 2007
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- 417
I voted saiga.
guntotinguy
Member
I have both a Mini-14 and a Saiga .223...go Saiga for sure!
alaskanativeson
Member
Deer Hunter said:
That may be true if your question is "Do I get better quality because I buy only 'Made in USA' stuff" but that was not my question when I bought one. My question was "Will the majority of the money I'm paying out go to an American company or a foreign one?" I'm aware of the vagaries of a global economy but I prefer to buy American if I can.
BigGunsMoreFun
Member
I've never cared for the .223 but
I have never cared for the .223 but if I were going to add one of the afore-mentioned guns to my collection, I would definitely go with the Mini-14. It costs more but it's a damn fine rifle.
My dad and a couple of friends have Mini-14s that I have put a few hundred rounds through. They are an excellent gun. Very accurate and very nicely made. Never a moments trouble with these guns.
I've only shot a Saiga once or twice and I just didn't like the looks or the feel of it. Sure, it's a cheaper gun but it's ugly and its not near as well built or as accurate as the Mini-14.
There is also a Mini-30 that you might want to take a look at. I don't know what they cost but I shot one of them a couple of times and it was a well built, fairly accurate gun also. It is not a .223 however. It shoots the good old 7.62x39 cartridge.
See if there is a range near you that rents them out or ask your buddies if they have one and try them both first. I'd rather pay a little extra for an excellent gun than save a couple hundred and have a mediocre, ugly gun that is not all that accurate nor well made.
My 2 cents. I'm sure others will see things differently.
Get what makes you happy. That's all that matters. When it doesn't make you happy any more, sell it and get something else. (I'm talking about guns here, not your wives fellas
)
Molon Labe,
Joe
I have never cared for the .223 but if I were going to add one of the afore-mentioned guns to my collection, I would definitely go with the Mini-14. It costs more but it's a damn fine rifle.
My dad and a couple of friends have Mini-14s that I have put a few hundred rounds through. They are an excellent gun. Very accurate and very nicely made. Never a moments trouble with these guns.
I've only shot a Saiga once or twice and I just didn't like the looks or the feel of it. Sure, it's a cheaper gun but it's ugly and its not near as well built or as accurate as the Mini-14.
There is also a Mini-30 that you might want to take a look at. I don't know what they cost but I shot one of them a couple of times and it was a well built, fairly accurate gun also. It is not a .223 however. It shoots the good old 7.62x39 cartridge.
See if there is a range near you that rents them out or ask your buddies if they have one and try them both first. I'd rather pay a little extra for an excellent gun than save a couple hundred and have a mediocre, ugly gun that is not all that accurate nor well made.
My 2 cents. I'm sure others will see things differently.
Get what makes you happy. That's all that matters. When it doesn't make you happy any more, sell it and get something else. (I'm talking about guns here, not your wives fellas
)Molon Labe,
Joe
I wouldn't be so quick to bash the saiga's accuracy. These rifles are not just high quality but some of the best quality Ak rifles on the market. And for how cheap they are being sold for I'm surprised more people dont jump on the deal and pick one of for themselves.
I dont shoot from any bench, I don't have the privilege of doing so, but I'm sure if I got the chance I'd be showing you some very decently sized groups on paper.
The Saiga line of rifles have absolutely no business being as accurate as they are, but fortunately I won't complain.
I dont shoot from any bench, I don't have the privilege of doing so, but I'm sure if I got the chance I'd be showing you some very decently sized groups on paper.
The Saiga line of rifles have absolutely no business being as accurate as they are, but fortunately I won't complain.
A saiga in .223 is likely to be as accurate or even more accurate than a mini 14. I laugh when people bag on the accuracy of a Saiga and then opine that a mini would be a better choice (I've heard this a few times).
Such comments often come from people who have never shot a saiga or shot one exemplar on one occasion and are forming their opinon on the basis that everyone knows AKs can't hit anything.
I am one who will pay more for a quality item, but in the case of the saiga vs the mini you dont get $300 more of gun. In fact if I were looking for something in the price range of a mini I would spend a few more dollars and build an AR. When you factor in magazine prices the price difference between the two is pretty negligable.
Looks and the like are totaly subjective.
Such comments often come from people who have never shot a saiga or shot one exemplar on one occasion and are forming their opinon on the basis that everyone knows AKs can't hit anything.
I am one who will pay more for a quality item, but in the case of the saiga vs the mini you dont get $300 more of gun. In fact if I were looking for something in the price range of a mini I would spend a few more dollars and build an AR. When you factor in magazine prices the price difference between the two is pretty negligable.
Looks and the like are totaly subjective.
rangerruck
Member
sure, to spend more money, on a weapon with less parts, accessories, just about everything you can think of to be worse, and also to have a less accurate weapon.
cluttonfred
Member
Another vote for the Saiga, not because there's anything wrong with the Ruger, just because you can get two for the price of a Mini-14, pimp one out with all the mods and keep the other one stock. That way, when they come to take away your evil black assault rifle, you'll still have your "varmint rifle."
By the way, Saiga owners, I like those new Dragunov-style stocks, I wish someone would post a review comparing the handling and shooting of that one vs. the standard stock.
By the way, Saiga owners, I like those new Dragunov-style stocks, I wish someone would post a review comparing the handling and shooting of that one vs. the standard stock.
MD_Willington
Member
Petition Ruger to build an AK variant in .223
They would need to keep the price down and have it use full capacity, i.e. larger than 5 or 10 round, mini-14 magazines...
No 922r rules to play by... other wise get a Saiga and stuff as many US parts into it as possible.
They would need to keep the price down and have it use full capacity, i.e. larger than 5 or 10 round, mini-14 magazines...
No 922r rules to play by... other wise get a Saiga and stuff as many US parts into it as possible.
Saiga.
1. You are helping those commies embrace the capitalism we fought 50 yrs for them to have.
2. The most venerable, reliable semi-auto action design ever (Kalashnikov).
3. After market parts and magazines are plentiful and cheaper.
4. Fun fun fun to shoot and you will have more money for ammo so you can do it more often
I agree with the assertation that nothing is wrong per se with the mini. It is just that the saiga is a much better buy. The cost of a Saiga, the conversion (includes a much improved trigger), and 10 orlite 35 round magazines is still less than a the entry level bare bones mini 14.
The reason to get a mini is that you dont care one bit about the price and you want a M1 esque carbine in .223 just for fun. I love the look of the minis and the above isn't a bad reason to own one, but in an objective comparison (i.e. factors such as strong personal preference for a certain look or sentimental feelings for one or the other re left out) the saiga wins by mile.
1. You are helping those commies embrace the capitalism we fought 50 yrs for them to have.
2. The most venerable, reliable semi-auto action design ever (Kalashnikov).
3. After market parts and magazines are plentiful and cheaper.
4. Fun fun fun to shoot and you will have more money for ammo so you can do it more often
I agree with the assertation that nothing is wrong per se with the mini. It is just that the saiga is a much better buy. The cost of a Saiga, the conversion (includes a much improved trigger), and 10 orlite 35 round magazines is still less than a the entry level bare bones mini 14.
The reason to get a mini is that you dont care one bit about the price and you want a M1 esque carbine in .223 just for fun. I love the look of the minis and the above isn't a bad reason to own one, but in an objective comparison (i.e. factors such as strong personal preference for a certain look or sentimental feelings for one or the other re left out) the saiga wins by mile.
MD_Willington
Member
I don't have any problem with the mini either, just that the new ones cost about the same as my Saiga after I de-PC'd it...
I have never shot or fired a saiga and I am sure they are fine rifles but I have been turned off by all the AK based firearms after I have had the chance to shoulder/fire a few. And before anyone mentioned it, most of them were higher end AKs including a milled reciever arsenal AK variant. Of course I have the same issue with an FAL, hell of a good reliable rifle, but the egernomics on it suck and the iron sights suck
I like the Mini, but it's gotten too pricey to suit me. For the money, the Saiga seems like the better deal.
I have both and that's my assessment. I've had a Mini-14 from about the time they came out in the 70s. I don't think I'd buy one now that they are at least around $800. I don't have near as many rounds through mt Saiga to determine the longevity but Saigas are less than half the price. I found reliability and accuracy equal (flawless). Accuracy runs 2-4" with both depending if I'm doing my part.
I have both and that's my assessment. I've had a Mini-14 from about the time they came out in the 70s. I don't think I'd buy one now that they are at least around $800. I don't have near as many rounds through mt Saiga to determine the longevity but Saigas are less than half the price. I found reliability and accuracy equal (flawless). Accuracy runs 2-4" with both depending if I'm doing my part.
nalioth
Member
There is no such thing as a 'higher end AK". Just marketing bushwah.BeJaRa said:
The AK was not designed to be "high end" or "low end", but to be a brutishly functional infantry weapon.
No matter how much you pay, they all go 'bang' when you pull the trigger.
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