M1 Carbine/Mini 14 Silly question

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W L Johnson

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Ok, this may be a silly question but can the mini 14 be thought of as a more modern M1 carbine? They have a passing similarly to each other, sort of, and have similar weight and dimensions.They seem to, at least in my hands, handle about the same.
Am I nuts or maybe the coffee haven't kicked in yet this morning?

thanks
 
Both good little carbines with an effective range that extends to about 200 yards.
Click to expand...
Is this just the limitations of the sights on the Mini-14 since the .223 round is effective further out in the AR?
 
Is this just the limitations of the sights on the Mini-14 since the .223 round is effective further out in the AR?
Click to expand...

Mini 14s have never been thought of as accurate, tho the new ones seem to have fix that to some degree. The barrel usually get the blame, too thin from what I read, it whips around too much. Search the forum, there's been a million threads on this very subject.
 
W L Johnson,

I own a mini (580 series) great little gun . The M1 is the bench mark for carbines that others try to imitate even the little Ruger.
I don't own an M1 (not yet) but fired one many times as a young boy, my dad owned one. ( he still talks about it)
I found it to be more accurate then my mini, although i have done several mods to my mini to improve its performance (thats another thread).
I think, as im sure many will agree. The M1 is in a class of its own.
 
Yes, it handles a little heavier--has a different gas system altogether--but was introduced to be a familiar weapon to those used to the Garand/M-14/Carbine family.
Remember of course, it was first marketed to government uses---often in places that had been using the similar surplus military weapons (this is early 1970's). It could be had for 1/2 the cost of the swanky-new AR-15s--but ate the same ammo then available from fed gov for a song as the conflict in Vietnam was 'winding down'.

We still use them as a duty carbine and many departments still do.

Even the older ones (skinny barrels/ not-ideal harmonics) will easily hit minute-of-torso @ 200 yards even when pretty hot. I've have mine since 1990.

Of course, for me, nothing beats the Garand. Once in a while, I've wanted a M-1 Carbine, too---but the mini fills that niche (for me). And more recently I've finally got into the AK and SKS thing (although I still deride those damned useful things as 'commie hardware'! and feel dirty when I enjoy their absolute rugged simplicity).
 
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Maybe I should give a little background on why this question popped up in my head, I used to have an M1 carbine, but it was never really mine, my brother has it now. I used to love shooting that little thing. I now owned a newer model mini 14 but the idea of buying a m1 carbine keeps popping up in my head (I really need to stop listening to those voices in there :rolleyes:) I keep trying to talk myself out of buying one because I already have the mini 14.
 
I prefer my mini 14 over my friends m1 carbine any day. I don't like either caliber/cartridge,but I don't like the AR either. Now my M1A1, she is a shooter.
 
My own Mini14 experience was with a 1980's stainless...I sold a Plainfield M1 carbine to buy it. It wasn't nearly as accurate at 100yds as the carbine, and suffered from a few jams. I sold it to buy my first AK.
I now own a CMP Inland M1 carbine, which I love. The Mini 14 never came to eye as well as the carbine, for me. The carbine weight may be similar, but it just feels more lively in the hands, and handles quicker. It makes a great HD weapon. I own both an AK and an AR, and I prefer my M1 carbine in the HD role.
 
For me they feel nothing similar. The m1 carbine is by far better ballanced, unless you have ammo pouches on the stock. It is easier for me to shoot as well. Last week I was shooting headshots standing freehand at 50 yards with it. I have yet to bench it to see what it could do at 100 but I have no doubts it will be good enough for me.
 
JWJACOBVT wrote; "I prefer my mini 14 over my friends m1 carbine any day. I don't like either caliber/cartridge,but I don't like the AR either. Now my M1A1, she is a shooter."

I don't understand because the M1A1 IS an M1 carbine.

longddayjake wrote: "Last week I was shooting headshots standing freehand at 50 yards with it."

Headshots at what jake? I think it makes a difference if it was squirrels or Indian elephants! Don't you?
 
Probably refering to the "commercial" version of the M14?

Have two Ruger Minis, one Inland M1 30 Carbine. Love 'em all.
 
Oops that too, although many people think of the M14 as a mag fed M1 and they are not that far off the mark.
 
It can get confusing, but no one is ever gonna confuse an MIAI Abrams, with the M1AI Carbine, or the M1A1 made by Springfield Armory.

;)
 
I would love a Mini 14 in .30 carbine. Now you have me excited about something that will never happen, but would be sweet!
 
Probably a better chance of that happening, than Ruger ever perfecting the 7.62 NATO version they tried years ago, the Ruger XGI.

The latest batch of CMP 30 Carbine returns will soon be exhausted, hard to say when or if they'll ever get more in these numbers? If there's continued interest, might eventually be enough of a demand that Ruger could chamber a Mini version in 30 Carbine? Odder things have happened.
 
Ok, this may be a silly question but can the mini 14 be thought of as a more modern M1 carbine?
Click to expand...

I'd agree. Both are light handy weapons that would have been great if they had been completely developed. Both are generally effective out to 200 yards. BSW
 
Mini 14s have never been thought of as accurate, tho the new ones seem to have fix that to some degree. The barrel usually get the blame, too thin from what I read, it whips around too much. Search the forum, there's been a million threads on this very subject.
Click to expand...

The new mini-14s are 2 MOA guns, from what I've experienced. That means they are much more than "200 yard guns" if the user knows how to shoot.
 
Lets not forget the mini 30. Too bad noone can build a magazine over 10 that feeds well (read, 'feeds at all'). Mine will put handloads into 1.5 inch at 100 yards using Hornady 150gr SP or SPBT.
 
I prefer my mini 14 over my friends m1 carbine any day. I don't like either caliber/cartridge,but I don't like the AR either. Now my M1A1, she is a shooter.
Click to expand...
My M1A1's a shooter too. :D

I've always had a thing for lightweight and handy carbines.

carbines.jpg
 
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