looking at a mini 14
- Thread starter tbogh
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Rmart30
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I like mine, its no tack driver but its a nice compact easy to handle package and works great on coyote 
They are well built reliable guns. I would trust my life to one. While not being the most accurate guns, it would fit the bill for what you need it for. I've read that the new models have had changes to the design that improve the accuracy and Ruger has a new one in 6.8 remington spc. I have an old mini-30 that'll probably get traded in a few years but if i could snag a new mini-14 or 6.8 I would.
Just bought a stainless steel all weather one, for about $650, which seems like an average price
Haven't got to try it out yet tho...
If you buy a new one right now you can send in to ruger for a free 20 rd mag and purchase 2 additional ones for 30$ a piece, which is great because it seems like there are no really good after market mags for the mini-14 and factory 20 rounders retail in stores for about $60.
Haven't got to try it out yet tho...
If you buy a new one right now you can send in to ruger for a free 20 rd mag and purchase 2 additional ones for 30$ a piece, which is great because it seems like there are no really good after market mags for the mini-14 and factory 20 rounders retail in stores for about $60.
MachIVshooter
Member
I like my mini. That said, I bought it when they were half the price of an AR-15. THese days, you can get into an AR for about the same price, and the AR is a superior rifle.
If you can find a nice used mini for $400 or so, go for it. But if you're looking at spending upwards of $600, build or buy a basic AR-15. I'd take my Armalite M-15 Carbine over my mini for any task on any day.
If you can find a nice used mini for $400 or so, go for it. But if you're looking at spending upwards of $600, build or buy a basic AR-15. I'd take my Armalite M-15 Carbine over my mini for any task on any day.
blacksmithsc
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- Apr 23, 2008
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My son and I have had a mini 14 and a mini 30. The mini 14 functioned flawlessly, never a problem. the one thing we didn't like about it was the barrel. It was way too small in diameter. If we would be shooting targets and shoot 10 rounds at a time, the first 2-3 rounds would hit right where you were aiming, the remaining rounds would start going off to the right. By the 10th round, it was 6" away from the bulls eye. If you are only shooting a few rounds at a pop, like at a varmint or something, they are fine. If you are plinking and shooting off a lot of rounds at a time, they are not that accurate at all. AR's seem to be considerably more accurate.
woof
Member
I have heard the new ranch rifle in 6.8 is much more accurate than the old mini.
SCMtns
Member
I've had one for a few years and like it a lot. I've always thought it'd be a great truck gun around a ranch, and that seems to have been the idea behind its creation. Mine has never even hiccuped on me-- not a single FTF or FTE. Wood stock, stainless steel, tough little rifle.
As people will tell you, they're not very accurate. 3" at 100 yards is about the best I've gotten out of mine, but that's good enough for just about anything you're likely to actually shoot at. The ridiculous out-of-the-box accuracy of the typical AR has made a lot of people feel that anything over 1 moa isn't good enough for them. You can spend several hundred dollars more on aftermarket parts to tighten up your groups and get a 1-1.5 moa Mini, but by then you're well over the price you'd pay for a basic AR.
With a little range time, you can learn to account for the Mini's tendency to start stringing its shots higher and higher as it warms up, and it really does warm up. That little barrel gets hot! By the 10th round of a 10-rd mag, my shots are going about 6-8" high at 100 yds. Crappy barrel harmonics. Apparently getting the barrel chopped to 16" and recrowned will give it much better harmonics (less whip) and accuracy and, depending on what the gunsmiths are like in your area, can be a pretty cheap fix.
Aftermarket magazines are the biggest issue. Either get the factory ones from Ruger (at least $50 a pop) or go with John Masen. All my mags are John Masen and, like I said, I've never had a single problem. As I recall, they were around 20 bucks each, and he ships fast. I've also heard PMI makes reliable aftermarket mags. Apparently most reliability issues anyone's ever had with the Mini have been because of aftermarket mags.
In short: great little rifle, dead reliable, lots of fun to plink with, don't mind if it gets a little banged up as it's a workhorse not a showpiece. They're so over-engineered (like most Rugers) that I wouldn't hesitate to buy one used, and at that point you're definitely saving money over an AR.
Lots of folks will still tell you "just get an AR," though. Can't go wrong with either, I guess.
As people will tell you, they're not very accurate. 3" at 100 yards is about the best I've gotten out of mine, but that's good enough for just about anything you're likely to actually shoot at. The ridiculous out-of-the-box accuracy of the typical AR has made a lot of people feel that anything over 1 moa isn't good enough for them. You can spend several hundred dollars more on aftermarket parts to tighten up your groups and get a 1-1.5 moa Mini, but by then you're well over the price you'd pay for a basic AR.
With a little range time, you can learn to account for the Mini's tendency to start stringing its shots higher and higher as it warms up, and it really does warm up. That little barrel gets hot! By the 10th round of a 10-rd mag, my shots are going about 6-8" high at 100 yds. Crappy barrel harmonics. Apparently getting the barrel chopped to 16" and recrowned will give it much better harmonics (less whip) and accuracy and, depending on what the gunsmiths are like in your area, can be a pretty cheap fix.
Aftermarket magazines are the biggest issue. Either get the factory ones from Ruger (at least $50 a pop) or go with John Masen. All my mags are John Masen and, like I said, I've never had a single problem. As I recall, they were around 20 bucks each, and he ships fast. I've also heard PMI makes reliable aftermarket mags. Apparently most reliability issues anyone's ever had with the Mini have been because of aftermarket mags.
In short: great little rifle, dead reliable, lots of fun to plink with, don't mind if it gets a little banged up as it's a workhorse not a showpiece. They're so over-engineered (like most Rugers) that I wouldn't hesitate to buy one used, and at that point you're definitely saving money over an AR.
Lots of folks will still tell you "just get an AR," though. Can't go wrong with either, I guess.
Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow
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- Nov 14, 2007
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What's the designation of the "mini-14" in 6.8 spc? Is it the Mini-6.8?
Omaha-BeenGlockin
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