How about a mini-14

[chrissmallwood]

Ill be happy to get a 5 inch group at a hundred yards, that would be awesome for me. Ive got a new one with the ghost ring rear sight. When I picked it up at my dealer today I looked through thier case full of magazines and they had 2 factory 20 round magazines for $44 each. I didnt buy one because I was saving my money for the ammo. Ill save up a few dollars and go back and get them in a few weeks, I asked about them and they said they had been there a while and werent going anywhere so Im not worried about losing them.

 

[Rokman]

I have had two mini's for forever and one AR for 9 months. I bought one ranch rifle in 1990 and was given the other a few years ago. I can't begin to tell you when I shot either of them last. The mini's are fun and have been durable, reliable guns, but I love shooting my AR. I spend a lot of time thinking about which AR I am going to purchase next. I never did that with my mini's.

 

[Neo-Luddite]

My wife even likes it so thats a plus for me. Does anyone have any advice for a new Mini owner.

1) Get a 2" thick rubber butt pad that replaces the factory buttplate (does Ruger still insult you by putting a cheapo plastic one on the rifle that is the same as the one on the 10/22?). The added eye relief helps.

2) Mags; yes, get at least a couple factory mage if you can. Some aftermarket ones work fine but it is hit or miss.

3) Get a pin-on m-14 style flash hider.

4) Buy cheap ammo when you can (the HARDEST part right now).

5) Save for the AR--let your Mrs. see which one she likes better.

 

[chrissmallwood]

Mine has a thick rubber pad maybe a half-inch wide, I was looking at the john masen double brake-flash hider but I didnt know how good it is. I already got plenty of cheap ammo, they had american eagle 55 grn FMJ for 4.47 a box at walmart. I bought 24 boxes which was all they had in the case, for some people thats only one range trip but that will last me awhile.

 

[rc109a]

Chris
I was given a mini a few weeks ago and noticed that the stock appears to be flat on the top towards the rear. Is yours like this? Do you have a scope? If so how is your cheek weld when looking through it? Mine is pretty high and they installed a b-square mount that feels just weird. Just wondering if they are all like this? Also does anyone know how to tell what model you have?

 

[chrissmallwood]

Do you mean there is a flat spot on the top of the stock or that it doesnt curve from front to rear? Mine doesnt curve if thats what you mean. I dont have a scope so I cant help you there. I believe you can tell which model you have from the serial number prefix. Mine is a 580 series which is the newest one that is supposed to have been improved over older models.

 

[Lovesbeer99]

I posted about the mini14 some time ago and based on the responses got the AR and have never regretted it.

But I still don't get it. No one ever complains about the action or reliability, only the accuracy, thin barrel and inability to hold zero. I find it really hard to believe that, like the 10/22, there are no replacement barrels, triggers and accurizing things. Wouldn't a target replacment barrel bedded in a Hogue stock with a timney trigger just do the trick? Anyone?

 

[rc109a]

The stock looks like someone flattend the top of it towards the end. I will check mine and see the prefix. Thanks...
Mine is a 186. Don't know if that is good or bad.

 

[Neo-Luddite]

they had american eagle 55 grn FMJ for 4.47 a box at walmart.

Blue skies, green lights!

 

[tpaw]

Anything I should be aware of with the Mini.

Aside from the fact that they are not as accurate as the AR's, probably nothing to be afraid of. I'd go with the AR.

 

[chrissmallwood]

Im hoping they keep it that price for a little bit longer so I can keep stocking up. Also does anyone know if they make a handguard that resembles the one on the M-14?

 

[Rshooter]

I own both. I agree with others and see no reason not to own a mini-14 as long as you do not try to make it what it is not. Yes, if you break it you have to send it back to Ruger but when was the last time you saw a broken one that broke honestly?

As far as accuracy I have seen this little bugger and it peaks my interest, do not know if is worth the money. Any body use one? Any info would be appreciated. --> http://www.rogco.biz/

Get one and have fun. Get an AR for accuracy.

 

[Pecos21]

rant

Dont worry about what other people say about your choice to purchase a Mini.
The negative qualities about the Ruger Ranch Rifle are highly exaggerated just as the positive qualities of the AR family are highly exaggerated.

We are seeing a shift in the average rifle shooter here in America.
Many years ago, most people shot and used their rifles on ranches, farms, deer leases, public land, private land....

now, the average rifle shooter is a middle class suburbanite that works 8-5 on weekdays and spends his time on the range on the weekends.

Now you can see why there are so many people that insist on 1 MOA accuarcy as a standard.

The mini was designed for the former being a gun that fits best in the back country, back woods, and back forty rather than on the rifle range.

The mini will serve you well and you will be happy with it as long as you dont seek approval from the internet or rifle range crowd.

 

[blackhawk2000]

If you want a less durable, unaccurate, AK that takes expensive mags, and is made by a company that craps on the 2A, then by all means get yourself a mini.

 

[KBintheSLC]

People either love the mini or hate it. Occasionally they display pure neutral apathy, but that is the exception, not the rule. I think they are great guns and a viable alternative to an AR. Heres my observation. AR's are more accurate, minis are more reliable in harsh conditions. An AR will outshoot a mini, but a mini will outlast and AR. Also, you can get a top notch mini with all of the bling, for less than the price of the crappiest AR.

 

[rnr4me]

chrissmallwood said: I just got my new Mini-14 today. ..... Does anyone have any advice for a new Mini owner. No jokes about dumping it for an AR please, LOL. Im pretty pleased with it.

Get one of These and install it. Very easy to do and it reduces the slam back of the bolt. This is severe enough to destroy a scope after a while.

And if you want to mess w/ it a bit look at this guys site. Check out the tuneable gas block. Again a home fix that you can do for pretty cheap.

 

[ThomasT]

I wanted a rifle to shoot 223 ammo. After reading about the mini 14 complaints and the AR 15 has never appealed to me i decided on the Remington 7615. Its easy to scope plus i have a Williams reciever sight for it. The factory open sights are just fine.

It takes the cheap AR mags and is superbly accurate scoped or not. Plus i still have every piece of reloadable brass that has ever been fired in that gun.

It has a 1 in 9 twist and will handle heavier bullets if needed. I wouldn't trade it straight up for either of the other guns.

 

[Eljay]

I bought a stainless ranch rifle some years ago because you could not have a AR in NJ. Now that you can have the AR I have two, but still love my Mini, but I also have two Garands (luv em) and the Mini like a baby Garand, and it won't rust! I have never had any mag issues with the NJ 15 rounders. now if I can come up with the $$$ for an M1A the set will be complete.

 

[edrice]

The last time I fired any AR-15 type weapon, it was the M16 version in Vietnam. Today I own a Mini. The M16 was well suited for that purpose then but the Mini suits my purposes much better today. I'm not fighting a war, nor do I intend to, but the Mini is an excellent choice for any small-scale, SHTF close-up type of engagement that I'll most likely not encounter. But I'd probably start out with a pump and buckshot anyway. That's what Schwarzkopf kept next to his bed during the Gulf War and there's a lesson in there. He could have anything he wanted.

There have been comments about high rate-of-fire and accuracy, but believe me, you will not get both simultaneously out of either the AR-15 or the Mini. The *only* reason I would be using a Mini in distress is because of the *higher* rate-of-fire. If I were using the AR-15 in its place, the better accuracy would be worthless.

That said, the last time I fired the Mini (which has been a while) I was able to get shots into less then 4 inches (mostly under 3) at a hundred yards with iron sights. I probably couldn't do that today with either rifle. More than this I do not need and I would be obsessive if I thought so. I don't hunt with it and if any danger is more than a hundred yards away, I'm not likely to be shooting at it anyway. Why draw attention to yourself? I didn't do that in Vietnam nor would I dream of doing it today.

Another advantage to the Mini is that it is more compact and doesn't have all the appendages hanging off of it. They snag on things in close quarters. Just ask me.

The original reason for all the appendages is because of rate-of-fire capability (M16). You don't get that with either the Mini or the AR-15, so why even have 'em? They get in the way and you still only get one shot per finger-wiggle. When you fire full auto, it makes more sense, so the AR-15 is no better than the Mini in that respect.

I'm not trying to discourage anyone from an AR-15 or run it down. They are excellent weapons, but it's just not suitable for my situation. If I was going to gather up a group of friends and go out and attack an enemy village then it might be an excellent choice. But being realistic, that's not likely to happen. I don't daydream about putting on camos and going out and razing the countryside. I'm the quiet type.

Before training with the M16, I trained with the M14. I was fascinated with that weapon and still am. But I still can't come up with any practical reason for owning one unless engaging in some kind of warfare. The Mini is a practical close-quarters substitute and just makes the best all-round choice for me and many others.

"Heresy!" they shout! (but down deep you know it's true)

Ed

 

[ndh87]

I had one, it worked well...some days. Some days it would put rounds perfectly on target, other days it wouldnt hit a barn door, and sometimes that would vary from mag to mag. now lets just say that part was my fault. it also had a tendency to rattle screws loose, that cost me my rear sight. Yes, my rear sight literally fell out because the recoil loosened the set screw. That wasnt too much of a problem until the crosshairs in the bushnell scope i had on it broke from the recoil as well.

I traded it for a WASR and havent looked back once.

oh and the 20 round ruger mags are absurdly expensive and the aftermarket ones i had would get knocked out if you bumped them...sometimes the recoil would do it for you.

 

[TexasRifleman]

Anything I should be aware of with the Mini.

If you are gonna shoot 5.56 surplus you might put a heavier recoil spring in. Wolff makes some I know, I am sure there are others. It beats the rifle up pretty good with 5.56 and the stock spring.

 

[jerkface11]

Was that just a half page rant about how AR's are only suitable for warfare??? Can anyone say FUD?

 

[HOLY DIVER]

well every thing that can be said has been said.all i can say is get what you have your heart sett on.had the mini have the HAVE an AR now now i never shot the mini at 500yds because i knew it was not made for that......a mini will shot dern near any kinda ammo....AR will not.....i own an AR now and i love it...but if i ran across a an older model mini at the right price i'd have both...i like them both i gues

 

[bhk]

I have a newer SS mini 580 series and like it. It is my truck/farm gun. If I have one caution (other than not being as accurate as an AR), it would be that the stock comb is a little low to get a good check weld when a scope is mounted. This may or may not be a problem for you. The comb height is perfect for the iron sights. If this is going to be your only centerfire rifle, I might be tempted to get the AR instead. I have many rifles, and consider the mini good for what I use it for.

The only other significant problem you will have my owning a mini is the constant bashing the mini gets on the internet. This bothers me quite a bit sometimes, cause I really like accurate rifles (and have several). The mini isn't one of them, although it seems to do much better than most I read about. The coyotes I shoot with it haven't complained about the lack of accuracy. This is my second mini, and neither has ever jammed with any kind of ammo.

I often (including right now) consider selling my mini and getting an AR. I know it is a 'better' rifle. I even have a buyer for my mini right now and an AR picked out. But it probably won't happen, at least right now. Like the above poster, I get bothered by the constant military/swat atmosphere that surrounds the AR. I am retired and an avid hunter, target shooter (sometimes competitive) , and self-defense gun owner - just not a tactical kind of guy. I even bought a new magazine about ARs yesterday. Almost every photo (in the articles and ads) had guys fully decked out in military camo or swat gear. And all the talk we hear about moving over to the 'dark side.' Kind of turns me off. I know they are great guns for hunting, especially for the coyote hunting I like to do. Just can't make the move yet. I wish the advertising folks would aim more of the rifles at hunters and sportsman.

And yes, I have shot the AR quite a bit (in the army during the early 70's) and respect them and their owners a great deal. Right now I will continue to use my mini for my truck gun and close-up coyotes and my bolt gun for the long shots. The new AR - maybe next month, or summer, or ...... They are good guns. Maybe I am just too old (late 50's) to get into the AR thing?

 

[Rshooter]

Can anyone say FUD?

I thought that was frowned upon here? The man has his opinion and was polite about it. He spent his time in the jungle with the AR and has more than earned his right to his opinion thank-you!

USMC Retired