Just came from the my local store. He said they marked it down last Thursday to $599. Couldn't give me a time frame but said they will get marked down further if no sales. If you time it right, you might get a steal on one like some got when they marked the ARs down half price.
Heads up. Walmart putting their Mini14s on clearance
- Thread starter nipprdog
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MedWheeler
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^^ Where does Wal-Mart still sell ARs? I think it's more a move away from any centerfire rifle capable of taking a detachable magazine that is available in a greater-than-ten-round version.
somethingbenign
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Guess I'm going shopping then! As saddened as I am to see retailers moving away from firearms with the internet I don't think it is the deathblow some fear. As long as there is a FFL in a reasonable distance than the whole world of guns is available. I wonder if gun shows will be more popular now?
FL-NC
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I love gun shows. So many dealers under one roof competing, new and old stuff to either look at or buy, nostalgia, etc.
jmorris
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I used to go to them but quit years ago. It was good exercise but a walk in the woods is too and I’d rather buy new at lower prices than pay too much for used stuff.
I got my mini 14 years ago, not sure I could get myself to cough up $600 for one today. I guess the prices on them went up and the AR went down...
HB
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They don’t. But I highly doubt it’s a political move... it’s because there is very little market for the Mini and there is very little margin in them anyway.
Do Walmart’s in Alaska still sell handguns?
Jackal
Member
The Mini 14: The best $400 gun you can buy for $800.
MachIVshooter
Member
Pretty much. Ruger priced themselves right out of the market.
They're aesthetically attractive little rifles, but their performance doesn't justify the price. They were an appealing alternative 20 years ago at $400-$500 when the cheapest ARs were double that. Economy of scale changed the game entirely, and with many states that had bans on ARs whilst minis came in under the radar having changed the rules to include guns like the mini and SKS, I'd say it's future looks pretty grim.
I'd wager the disparity is much, much larger.
Jackal
Member
I'm a big Ruger fan, but I agree entirely. They've made enough of them, they should be able to get their MSRP's down by now. I wont even stock them, I only offer Mini's as a special order. Its hard to sell a customer on a $849 Mini when I have $549 quality AR's sitting right beside them.
I like the look of the mini and I would buy one if the price was right.
I couldn’t justify 700-800$ though, especially when I think about having to buy something other than stanag magazines. They’re probably more appealing to me than most though since I live in communist MA.
I couldn’t justify 700-800$ though, especially when I think about having to buy something other than stanag magazines. They’re probably more appealing to me than most though since I live in communist MA.
maxxhavoc
Member
Thanks for the heads up. The one in my local store wasn't marked down, but it came up as $599 when he did a price check.
I've wanted one for awhile, but couldn't stomach the $750 price tag. Apparently $599 was good enough for me.
I've wanted one for awhile, but couldn't stomach the $750 price tag. Apparently $599 was good enough for me.
FL-NC
Member
Between the primary issues of magazine price (for factory mags) and the fact that other than optics they aren't "accessory friendly", I couldn't bring myself to pay over $400 for one when there are so many AR options out there. It would be cool to have one of the newer ones with my old aimpoint 5000 on it, but $400 would be my limit.
Why? they are fun to shoot but are notoriously inaccurate after the barrel warms up even a little. I can barely get 3" groups (sometimes) at 100 yards out of mine for the first 3 shots in 10 seconds or so. Then the group starts to open up and it gets worse as the barrel warms up more. I have seen it open up to dinner plate size groups at 100 yards.
Coal Dragger
member
Nah, the Mini-14 should be about a $300 rifle for what it actually delivers.
The minis IMO are niche items, people that love them usually have never warmed up to the AR or AK platforms. After having spent a couple grand trying to find an AR configuration i really like, I dont think spending 500-800 bucks (I paid 799 for my mini in 2010) is really all that much. Minis fit and feel are exactly what I want in a semi auto intermediate cartridge rifle. I do wish they were more accurate, but my gun was a solid 1.5" rifle 3 shots would usually be much less.
I also like the SKS, but its longer and heavier than a mini-30. Im not sure how accurate my SKS is, as i have a peep on it which limits my ability to shoot groups, but i doubt its any more accurate that my Mini-14 was.
I want (and probably will) build an AR with a sporter style stock, but thats going to end up costing 800 at least. The only reason im going to do that is because ill be able to swap calibers more easily.
If all i wanted was a .223, x39, or one of the other chamberings the minis come in id just buy another one of those (i may still).
I also like the SKS, but its longer and heavier than a mini-30. Im not sure how accurate my SKS is, as i have a peep on it which limits my ability to shoot groups, but i doubt its any more accurate that my Mini-14 was.
I want (and probably will) build an AR with a sporter style stock, but thats going to end up costing 800 at least. The only reason im going to do that is because ill be able to swap calibers more easily.
If all i wanted was a .223, x39, or one of the other chamberings the minis come in id just buy another one of those (i may still).
Mosin Bubba
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For one - I wouldn't automatically write this off as a political move. Wal-Mart is at the forefront of Big Data and data-driven logistics, and have been using it to trim down their inventory for years. They know very well what is and isn't selling, and if Minis aren't moving, Wal-Mart will dump them just like a bag of Easter M&Ms.
The other thing is that aside from the oft-mentioned price tag, the Minis don't do anything special to make them interesting. Not light or handy enough to be a good carbine, not accurate enough to be a good rifle, and not rugged enough to make it as a beater. Other than the classic M14 look, $800 doesn't buy you very much.
The other thing is that aside from the oft-mentioned price tag, the Minis don't do anything special to make them interesting. Not light or handy enough to be a good carbine, not accurate enough to be a good rifle, and not rugged enough to make it as a beater. Other than the classic M14 look, $800 doesn't buy you very much.
ozarkhillbilly
Member
Walmart is also clearing out their Weatherby Vanguard Delux's they were $650 and now $499.
MedWheeler
Member
Still... Ima gonna go take a look. Two of the three WMs in my town carry firearms, and at least one of them carried the Mini (as the Ranch Rifle) the last time I looked, which was admittedly several months ago (but it had been in there the better part of a year.)
Nathanael_Greene
Member
I don't know that I've ever seen a Mini-14 in a Walmart. Maybe I'll go take a look and see if there's anything else I've missed.
With the way AR prices have crashed, and considering expensive factory mags, it's still tough to pay that much for a Mini. I'd have to think real hard about it if prices dipped under $500.
The other part is that there were all kinds of shenanigans going on with .22 lr and the AR selloff back in the day. I don't have much faith in finding one if it does dip more.
The other part is that there were all kinds of shenanigans going on with .22 lr and the AR selloff back in the day. I don't have much faith in finding one if it does dip more.
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