Choice be AR an Mini 14

[JohnWS]

At a given range 50 to 200 yds a typical AR and Stainless Mini 14 which rifle is the most most weather proof ? The rifle would be subject to being droped in sand , mud and on stone , exposure too salt water. Which rifle would stand the most out and out beating??? What I 've discribed is coastal northern New England ..

 

[husker]

i dont no. salt water and metal just dont mix. where are you planning on playing? Aberdeen proving grounds. have both rifles i will go with ar-15

 

[SimpleIsGood229]

I would be inclined to say the Mini, but neither would do well without some basic maintenance.

 

[Handgunner]

Mini.

 

[paradox998]

ARs were deisgned to work in a winde range of environments and are as corrosion resistant as any rifle available. That said, no rifle can be abused and ignored for ever. The chrome bore and barrel is a plus in the environment you describe. I would go with an AR, used, and from a mid-tier manufacturer.

 

[45B@cav]

AR all day long.

 

[FMJMIKE]

Mini-14 is my choice...........

 

[glockman19]

Mini-14.

 

[DFW1911]

Stainless Mini for sure.

 

[Auburn1992]

Mini 14 I would say. Due to it being stainless and as reliable or more reliable than an AR... just not as accurate.

 

[Quoheleth]

Ruger's stainless steels are about as good as it comes. I wouldn't hesitate using my SP101 in a wet climate.

ARs, by design, are also good all-weather guns.

Win/win, either way.

Q

 

[targshooter]

Probably the Mini

The Mini-14 will be functioning long after the AR is stopped by sand, mud, grit or loss of lubrication. Having kept firearms on boats I found all steels react poorly to salt water, including stainless and chromed. Either the Mini-14 or the AR will require rust preventing sprays to keep from becoming corroded junk. I used to spray the firearms weekly on the boat. Ammunition gets verdigris quickly in the salt water environment also; this influencing its ability to chamber. Again, the Mini-14 will chamber dirty ammo that will stop the AR. My choice would be the Mini, but instead of the .223 I would go for the 7.62x39 Mini-30. The larger bore will stay free of corrosion longer due to capillary action of incidental water such as spray being far less likely in the larger bore.

 

[SHvar]

As far as reliability in dirt and grit, both are good, but the mini will take more crude.
The important factor is that the mini wont hit accurately at 200 yds, let alone 100 yds consistantly, the AR will all day long.

 

[Art Eatman]

Back when the Stainless Mini first came on the market, a buddy of mine bought one as his boat gun for fishing trips in the Gulf of Mexico. It served him well for years. Regular spraying with WD40 kept it pretty much rust-free.

 

[Kurt_D]

Well seeing as M16 (you know, that well built and QC'd AR) have been doing this for over 40 something years I'd say they are the way to go. No mini is even in the same ballpark, nor has any mini ever been tested to that extent. I can promise you parts will break under heavy abuse and the AR will be infinitely easier to fix with a spare parts kit vs. calling Ruger for some fitted parts. An AR barrel (hard chrome lined) will completely out last the stainless mini's with similar maintenance.

One thing's for sure, both will go to pot without some basic maintenance performed; and a AK would probably out last both...

 

[Spyvie]

The SS Mini will hold up better and funtion more reliably under marine conditions. Tha's not even an opinion, that's just the truth.

The AR is more accurate, but the newest taper barrel Minis are accurate enough.

 

[Eb1]

My AR-15 seems to be a great weather resistant rifle.

 

[Travlin]

For a rifle that will see a lot of abuse you should consider that the mini will cost much less and be easier to find.

 

[broham]

I love them both. I will say my mini hasn't missed a beat in many many years. I love the AR platform too, Much more accurate. If I had a chioce between the two I thik the mini is more durable. I can't tell you how many times I have seen an AR at the range with feeding probs. Usually ammo related but my mini eats it all without a problem, from the best ammo to the cheapest crap that you could feed it.

 

[SHvar]

Theres no doubt that my stainless steel mini is more durable to salt and water than an AR, but I can tell you that from experience the AR/M-16 can take being wet over and over, muddy, dirty, and holds up without rusting for alot longer than the M249 SAW ever could. The AR is very very durable to corrosion.

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Mini

 

[Lloyd Smale]

id say its a tossup. First of all id stay away from a stainless gun for what your doing. You may think im nuts but heres the reason. Even a stainless mini has internal parts that arent stainless. A guy tends to ignore a gun that looks fine on the outside. About the time you go to use it you find you have a frozen fire control system. Get a blued gun and when you see rust develope clean the WHOLE gun. I guess if i had to chose between the two id take the ar. What would probably be ideal is an ar with a stainless barrrel. guys claim the minis run better dirty but ive just not seen it. Ive had as many minis choke dirty as i have ars. ALL guns need to be cleaned regularly if your going to trust your life to them. Also not to many of us will ever be called on to crawl through mud and then use our guns.

 

[The Deer Hunter]

Regular spraying with WD40 kept it pretty much rust-free.

Keep in mind. When your on the ocean, everything rusts.

Everything.

 

[30 cal slob]

for zombie striped bass in long island sound, i prefer a greased up AR sealed in a watertight plastic bag. i won't waste a 5.56 mm round on a bloofish, tho.

fyi, between apr and dec i'm frequently in a wetsuit prowling the shore in neighboring south county ri, and my g26 is my trusty rock-hopping companion.

 

[briansmithwins]

I'd pick an AR over a Mini-14 any day.

Under the conditions you describe, anything is going to fail without cleaning and care, including an AK.

The Mini-14 open bolt and op rod track don't help much when you have lots of garbage in the area. BSW