AR 15 or Mini 14

[GambJoe]

I want them both but in the near future I'm looking for something that's ultra reliable, reasonably easy to maintain and accurate with iron sites. The locale Bass Mountain (no shill am I) had a mini-14 For 780 bucks. What could I get in an AR at that price point? The Mini 14 came with only 1-5 round mag. A gyp if you ask me. So when they come available again AR or Mini? Right now I'm on a learning curve willing to learn.

 

[mf-dif]

You could buy an intro AR at that price like an M&P15 Sport. It's plenty capable, reliable, accurate, easy to maintain and just as customizable as any other AR.

The Mini-14 are not known to be tack drivers without modifications. Reliability seems good, but the ergos are not going to be anywhere near as good as an AR. Maintenance seems similar to the Garand platform. IE: awkward lining up and tilting of lugs in the receiver, carrier, charging handle, bolt etc to get things to come apart and go back together.

 

[rule303]

The new Minis with the heavier barrels are much more accurate than the old ones. I would say 2moa is a reasonable expectation. I prefer the ergonomics the the AR, but that is certainly only my personal preference. The AR definitely wins if you plan on customizing it at all. AR mags are also cheap and plentiful, where the only good Mini-14 mags are the factory ones which are at least 2x more expensive than a Pmag for the AR. The Ruger uses proprietary scope rings, which are a very good design, but really limits you to conventional scopes, where a flat top AR allows you to mount anything with a Weaver or Picitinny base. Reliability is a toss up, and both are easy to maintain.

 

[subdude]

I own and love them both. If you need to choose one to start, you'll need to decide what purpose you have for it. As mf-dif as said, the AR tends to be more accurate out of the box. Not saying the Mini isn't, but it takes a bit more attention to get it there.

For under $800 you should be able to find a perfectly respectable AR with irons. Mags are cheaper than Rugers. (btw, don't bother with aftermarket mags for the Mini, stick with OEM)

From your first sentence (reliable, easy to maintain, accurate), I'd suggest you start with the AR. But, keep the Mini on your list, you NEED both...

 

[ID-shooting]

Own two mini and no AR's. carried one for many years in the Army and was an armorer so am quite familiar with em.

No real reason other than they don't intrest me.

Minis are very reliable, extremely sturdy and rarely ever break. Cons are that mags are expensive and can be tough to find. Only factory mags are worth it, all others cause problems. Sights on older ones were terrible, new gen ones are much nicer. Traditional styling or can be uber tactical with add on bits. Will shoot the cheap ammo all day long

AR's have mags a dime a dozen, many, many mods. Most are reliable can be picky with the cheap ammo. Some are poorly put together and will be problematic. They are more accurate than mini's in the right hands.

 

[pintler]

There are tradeoffs that depend on what you want the rifle for.

1)Reliable AR mags are a lot cheaper than reliable Mini mags

2)Ergonomics are a personal thing

3)At close range, having the sight axis close to the barrel (like on a mini) simplifies things a little bit.

4)IMHO, mini's are a little simpler, i.e. you can see what is going on with malfunctions because the action is open to view.

5)Changing mags with a mini is a little bit more fiddly (AR mags go straight in-n-out, you have to rock mini mags in).

6)There is a study from the ???mid 90's??? where juries were a more sympathetic to defendants who had used traditional looking mini's in a marginal home defense shooting.

7)You can customise AR's out the ying-yang.

It boils down to your personal priorities. Both make pretty good general utility rifles at that price point. If you want to have 20 spare mags, advantage AR; if you only want two mags, either will work. If dropping .002 seconds off your mag change matters, advantage AR. If having a rifle where your wife can diagnose problems w/o a lot or range time matters, advantage mini. If you spent years in the military and know AR's like the back of your hand, advantage AR.

 

[Dean1818]

AR....all day

 

[jmr40]

I haven't priced anything since stuff got crazy, but prior to that I could see no reason to choose a Mini over an AR. A basic Mini was selling at Walmart for around $700. About the same price as a PSA, Windham, Bushmaster, Rock River or other mid level AR. BUT... The AR's were coming with a hard case, telescoping stock. cleaning kit, two 30 round magazines, picatinney rail, and a flash hider for the same price. Buy a Mini-14, buy the same accessories, pay tax, and you're over $1,000 for a less accurate, less reliable rifle. At that time AR mags were often under $10 each if bought in bulk, P-mags were $15 each while Mini-14 mags were $50 each.

Since all the proposed gun control hysteria, things may well have changed. I don't dislike the Mini-14. I've owned several over the years when they were selling new for $350, used for under $300 and the only AR's were $1,000. If guns were still selling at those prices I'd buy another. But I've found even the budget AR's to be better in every way.

 

[2ndtimer]

AR, +1 on the S&W M&P 15 Sport. Mine with the 1 in 8" 5R barrel is pretty much MOA accurate. Don't know if the new ones with the SAAMI spec 6 groove 1 in 9" twist shoot as well. Do know the local dept store just got one in for $699. IMO, it is a no brainer. Go AR, might as well start with one, since if you want reliability and accuracy, you will eventually have to go there to get it.

 

[GambJoe]

Thanks guys this pretty much reinforces what I been reading up on. Surprise to me that the mini is harder to take apart and put together. If it were for to looks I'd get a Mini but it comes down to what subdude said I need em both.

 

[9thchild]

jmr40, there may be some debate over whether a Mini is more reliable, but it is certainly not less reliable.

 

[jackblack86]

own both, love both If I was going to buy both again I would buy the ar first. With multiple suppliers the ar prices have receded back to pre crazy price levels. Were as the mini 14 with only 1 supplier is still a little hi and in my opinion will drop more.

 

[Ed Ames]

I have both. I've used both to introduce new people to shooting.

$780 will today get you a very low end AR. They are out there at that price even today. About $1000 will get you an AR that is equivalent in quality to the $780 mini. There are bigger differences than quality of course.

Re: introducing new people to shooting...a large percentage of new shooters, given the opportunity to shoot both, gravitated to the mini. That's an outcome I wouldn't have predicted before taking people out and letting them try both.

Also: I disagree on the comparison of the mini to an M1. I also have an M1A. When it comes to ease of teardown and cleaning the it goes mini, AR, M1 (easiest to hardest) The AR is easiest to field strip, not easiest to clean.

 

[ID-shooting]

Reliability? I will go head-to-head all day long against any sub $1000 AR for $100 with either of my mini's. you choose the brand of ammo, we both shoot the same ammo, no cleaning or added oil. First one with a stoppage other than an empty mag looses. The other walks away with $200 bucks.

 

[InkEd]

I have done the "none mainstream" 5.56 game. (Mini-14 and Sig 556 Classsic) I know own a Colt AR-15. Could not be happier with it. The Sig offered little over an AK and had QC issues. The Mini-14 was cool. Had some features similar to the Garande/M-14 platform. Accuracy was not one of them though. Magazines were stupidly expensive too.

The term "ranch rifle" is often used to classify the Ruger. It is pretty rugged and not picky on ammo. A great "truck gun" but not a battle or target rifle.

 

[-Jake-]

not even a fair comparison. AR15 the end.

 

[Jackal]

Mini 14 if you want a normal rifle with a wood stock and dont like pistol grips/rails/alloy. I prefer a Mini myself, but I also dont like/enjoy shooing pistol gripped weapons.

 

[briansmithwins]

Reliability? I will go head-to-head all day long against any sub $1000 AR for $100 with either of my mini's. you choose the brand of ammo, we both shoot the same ammo, no cleaning or added oil. First one with a stoppage other than an empty mag looses. The other walks away with $200 bucks.

Can we add dust and mud to the test? I'd bet my AR against any rifle that wears its guts on the outside like the Mini-14.

How far is Nampa from Portland Oregon?

BSW

 

[gotigers]

If you're in a state that allows ARs, get an AR. Much better accuracy, better accessories and much more.

 

[ID-shooting]

Can we add dust and mud to the test? I'd bet my AR against any rifle that wears its guts on the outside like the Mini-14.

How far is Nampa from Portland Oregon?

BSW

You bet we can. Lock the bolts open, toss in a handful of sand shake once and go at it? Any day.

About a 6 hour drive.

 

[orionengnr]

No law against owning both...yet.

And yes, I do.

In the last 30 years, I've owned four ARs and three Mini 14s (and one Mini 30).

Had trouble with my very first AR--someone had done some "tinkering", and it would fire multiple rounds with one trigger pull. I got tossed out of the range, and (considering it was CA) I am lucky that was all that happened.

Again, this was nearly 30 years ago. I replaced all of the FC parts, and all was well....kind of. I never trusted that particular rifle again, and sold it.

All that said, they are two very different rifles that fire the same round. And honestly, I don't think you can go wrong either way.

Just my .02.

 

[Jackal]

Can we add dust and mud to the test? I'd bet my AR against any rifle that wears its guts on the outside like the Mini-14.

That would be a foolish thing to do, against a gun that derives its design from the M-14....

 

[MistWolf]

Buy an S&W Sport
http://www.gandrtactical.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=811036
View attachment 664818
This one has a 1/9 twist (why, I don't know) but it still beats the Mini-14 (if you have to ask why, you were asleep in class)

 

[Ash]

I have owned three AR's, A Rock River, a Stag, and a pre-selloff Bushmaster. I still own a Mini14. The Mini is going to be more reliable, but that is in the fringes like very cold or very muddy places. In the cold northern Alaska, guys who go with 223 go with the Ruger over the AR. In most other places they have the same reliability. Magazines are more expensive for the Mini, but at $30 each for factory 30 rounders that never killed it for me.

For some reason, I just flat out prefer the Mini 14 design. Part of the reason is that I have a Winchester Garand as well as an LRB M14 as well as an M1 Carbine. Transition between them is simple. Another reason is that I just prefer the cleaner, smoother lines of the Mini. But I don't feel the need to go Commando and attach things all over my rifle. I prefer mine to be pretty streamlined. I don't need scopes, lasers, lights, or extra grips everywhere, so rails and the like don't impress me. I have rifles that have scopes, of course, some hunting bolt guns and some snipers' rifles such as an NDM-86 and a PSL. For my use, at the farm, the Mini-14 fills every need I could ever want.

As much as I wanted to love the AR, and I dropped a couple of grand in the process of trying to love it, I never could. Other guys can enjoy them, fine by me, but for me and mine, the Mini-14 fits the bill. The only caveat I have is that the Mini I carry is a retired MS State Trooper GB model with flash hider and bayonet lug.

In the end, go with what rifle draws you. Which one is most interesting to you. That is what you will keep. For many, for most, that is an AR. For me, and many like me, it is a Mini.

 

[Beentown]

Apparently the Ole' Nag is asking for it again...so I will beat her a bit and maybe she will finally die.

Both are serviceable. The Mini is "handier" and doesn't have that EBR look. All other aspects the AR wins.