mini-14 equivalent

[30mag]

Can anyone tell me of a rifle that could fill a role similar to that of a mini-14?
i.e. semi-auto with plenty of aftermarket at a reasonable price, maybe chambered in something bigger than .223?

 

[30mag]

ability to accept high capacity mags is a must, and reasonable accuracy would be nice.

 

[camoman33935]

umm....AR-15??? lol

 

[ArmedBear]

Personally, I really like the way the Mini-14 handles.

But a Saiga fills a similar niche (modification required for more than 10-round magazines). It handles about as badly as any gun I've ever felt, since it's an AK with a trigger extension and a regular buttstock/pistol grip instead of an AK-style separate pistol grip. It comes in 7.62x39 and .308, though. Personally, I'd only get one if I planned to convert it back to AK configuration. It's just SO awful in terms of handling, balance, trigger and ergos as it comes, that I didn't want one AT ALL after I'd tried one at the range.

SKS is an option. It's a tad heavy, but 7.62x39 and can be fitted with modern-made stocks to make it more like a Mini.

Kel-Tec SU-16 is a really neat gun. It's .223, but takes AR mags right out of the box. That's a big plus IMO.

Then there's the AR. Prices are getting saner again. Check CDNN's catalog for some that aren't too bad.

The AK still seems harder to find, but it works, too.

If you can get by with 10 rounds, the Remington 750 might be of interest.

 

[nalioth]

Saiga rifle. Available in .223 or 7.62x39

A small change to the rifle to make it 922r compliant with "non sporting" magazines, and sticking to US made "non sporting" mags should be just the ticket.

 

[Maverick223]

maybe chambered in something bigger than .223?

We'll the first things that come to mind is a M1 Carbine (bigger but slightly less energy, still arguably more versatile), and the M14/M1A which is bigger in every respect.

 

[ArmedBear]

Yeah, the M1 Carbine is a neat little gun. Very different round from a .223, in every respect. .30 caliber, lower velocity. Makes more sense in the size of gun, IMO.

M1A is heavy and big, but it's a .308. The Mini-14 is essentially a scaled-down M14, which is the military version of the M1A. I like the M1A, despite its heft.

 

[tju1973]

Yeah, I didn't want to be a smart *ss, but I would say an AR15--- or price wise, an AK....
Both meet your criteria, and can be had sometime cheaper than a mini---

 

[dirt_j00]

Mini-30?

 

[greyling22]

sounds liek your best bet is ar in 6.8 or something. but, if you don't like those

some oddball foreign combat rifle? hk, daewoo, galil, south african r4?

http://world.guns.ru/assault/as00-e.htm doubt you can get parts or accessories for any of them though. even if they import them.

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Mini-30------Mini-14 in 6.8

 

[OrangePwrx9]

Saigas are great. Heart of gold, will shoot forever, happy with steel cased ammo. You can easily convert them to AK configuration, set them up to use cheap & sturdy milsurp magazines (7.62x39 anyway), and get them in .223, 7.62x39 and .308; not to mention a few shotgun gauges.

Worst thing about them is they're like potato chips....you can't stop at one. I've got three, all unconverted and love them. I don't think the ergos are bad at all, but the triggers are a bit heavy.

So you can't lose, really. If you like it as issued, fine. If not, you can easily convert it to something totally different. Either way, it'll be a shooter...and cost about half what a new 580 series Mini-14 does.
Bob

 

[Txhillbilly]

I'd have to say the Saiga in 223,they are more accurate than a Mini 14. I had a 180 Series Mini 14,and it was a fun gun to shoot,but the Saiga out shoots it all day long. Now the Saiga will not come remotely close in accuracy of any of the three AR15's I have,but you can buy 2-3 Saiga's for the price of 1 AR15.
You can also get it in 7.62x39,and 308.

 

[Badger Arms]

Kel-Tec SU-16

 

[Pony Express]

AR-15 or if that is for some reason unsuitable, the remington 7615 (i know its a pump action but it takes AR mags)

 

[30mag]

AR-15s are expensive (typically) and usually chambered in .223. But if you could find a cheaper one that's reliable, and not chambered in .223, that'd be good.
I like the M1A/M14 and would love to get my hands on one, but they are mostly expensive.
I like the Saiga.. will the modded Saiga mag well still accept Saiga mags?

 

[nalioth]

will the modded Saiga mag well still accept Saiga mags?

If you change out the gas piston, it will still look like this:

. . and you'll be able to use US made "non sporting" magazines, as well as factory 10 rounders.

 

[TheGrimReaper]

Better than Mini-14......Anything really.

 

[RatDrall]

I'd have to say the Saiga in 223,they are more accurate than a Mini 14. I had a 180 Series Mini 14,and it was a fun gun to shoot,but the Saiga out shoots it all day long.

I would try the Saiga, but not because it is more accurate. Saigas are cheap and reliable. I'd worry about availability of magazines for the .223 AK though.

Don't judge all Mini-14s by the old guns, the new Mini's are much more accurate. I've fired both and the new Rugers are fantastic, accuracywise.

 

[dscottw88]

I'd worry about availability of magazines for the .223 AK though.

Something I wish I had known before jumping on the 223 AK train. I have a handful of Bulgarian Circle 10 magazines that have worked great in my Saiga, but I've seen them go for $60 a pop, and that was before the Great Obama Shortage of 2008.

 

[ThomasT]

Pony Express beat me to it. Have a look at the 7615. The was my answer to a mini-14 for a long time.

If you reload you can run anything from full power loads to 22 hornet loads in it. Since it is a shotgun frame it points like a shotgun. Very, very well. It is accurate as all get out. Doesn't throw your brass all over the place and is compact.

You can get a collaspable buttstock if you like them. There isn't much more in the way of accesories except peep sights and scopes.

Also whats wrong with a mini? I have a new 580 series that will shoot 2-3" groups with open sights at a 100 yards. With a scope and good loads I bet it would cut that in half.

 

[Sunray]

"...which is the military version of the M1A..." Nope. The M1A is a commercial look-a-like of the M14. Early M1A's were built out of milsurp M14 parts. A Mini-14 has nothing in common with an M14 or M1A except rough looks.
"...that will shoot 2-3" groups with open sights at a 100 yards..." Poor accuracy for the money demanded. My Plainfield carbine will shoot circles around any Standard Mini-14.
A scope will not improve the accuracy of a rifle that won't shoot well without one. A scope just lets you see the target better. The only good thing about a Standard Mini-14 is the reliablity.

 

[jojo200517]

MY gosh did anyone bother to read the original post.

maybe chambered in something bigger than .223?

I would say it depends on your budget, and what you would like the rifle to look like after mods. If you want power and cheapo ammo, i'd say go with an AK. If you want even more power go for a galil in .308/7.62 nato. If you want a shotgun that thinks it a rifle, go for a saiga in 12 gauge. If you can live with 10 rounds capacity with a tradeoff of cheap ammo while still having the power to reach out and touch something, and less mods then take a look at the PSL (7.62 x 54r).

If you pockets are 10 miles deep and full of cash the buy an ar-15 and a .50 beowolf upper.

 

[ThomasT]

Sunray I think a 2-3" group at a 100 yards with open sights is pretty good. Especially with my 52 year old eyes. I bought a Remington model 7 in 7-08 a few years ago. The best I could do at 100 meters was between 2-3" with open sights. I added a 3x9 scope to try out my handloads and the first group was less than an inch across.

It shoots like that all day if you don't get it hot. And I shoot 5 shot groups also. I normally put 10 rounds in the minis mag and shoot those all at once.

If you can hold and shoot less than a 2" group at 100 yards with open factory sights and do it every time I will say I am jealous.

A funny thing was this. The day I was shooting that model 7 for the first time the guy shooting next to me had a new Weatherby in 30-06. He was shooting a 6" group at a 100 meters and really wanted me to brag on his group. That was a 20 round group by the way. I didn't have the heart to tell him I would of cried if that was the best I could get out of my new scoped rifle. But he was fine with it. He was ready to hunt.

 

[ThomasT]

Yes JoJo I think we got the bigger than a 223. The 6.8 a 7x39 was mentioned. The OP also wanted excessories and a low price. That sorta put the the brakes on.

The Siaga and maybe an SKS is about all I can think of. Without the money clause the sky's the limit.