I am trying to get a general idea of how most people really feel about the mini 14 .... I am a military man and with that I have extensive training in small arms. I have a lot of experience with M16,M4,MP5,M14,M9,SAW, and M60. Heres what I think .... I love mini 14's but it seems that many people do not. I find them to be reliable,comfortable, accurate, easy to carry, quick and you really cant beat the prices. I prefer them to the M16 but most times I have this discussion I am the only one who does .... so just to see IF I REALLY AM THE ONLY ONE OUT THERE .... does anyone want to share there opinions?
mini 14 fans?
- Thread starter peteyru
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jobu07
Contributing Member
You are not alone. However, you will find that discussing Mini's on this board is almost as bad as discussing religion, politics, or automobile brands with some crowds. We are very split on the issue. So you'll find plenty who like the Mini-14 here, for what it is. ANd many who chastise it for it's "skinny" barrel and lacking quantity of quality magazines.
I'm with you, though. I love my mini. I just love my AR-15 too
I'm with you, though. I love my mini. I just love my AR-15 too
Tom C.
Member.
I like my mini-14, but it did take a little work to get it right. It has a heavy barrel, glass bedding and a trigger job. Now it is the rifle it should have been from the factory.
As a former Marine from the late 60's, I like the M-1 Garand, M-14 and M-1 Carbine, but don't really care for the separate pistol grip of the AR-15 stuff, and really don't like the aluminum receiver and direct gas action.
Just personal preference.
As a former Marine from the late 60's, I like the M-1 Garand, M-14 and M-1 Carbine, but don't really care for the separate pistol grip of the AR-15 stuff, and really don't like the aluminum receiver and direct gas action.
Just personal preference.
black bear
Member
I have a Mini 14 for 20 years now, and one Ranch rifle .30 Russian for 5 years, I have put a total of 3000 rounds thru them without a jam.
At 100 yards thru my Leupold 1 1/2 to 5 set at 5x I am getting about 4" groups, with 60 years old eyes.
I have several of the plastic 30 rounds magazines by Ram Line (MAC1530) they still work for me, and they haven't cracked or fail in any way.
So, I don't know why people don't like them, or maybe I have been lucky with my two purchases.
I will like to hear what the negatives comments are!
black bear
At 100 yards thru my Leupold 1 1/2 to 5 set at 5x I am getting about 4" groups, with 60 years old eyes.
I have several of the plastic 30 rounds magazines by Ram Line (MAC1530) they still work for me, and they haven't cracked or fail in any way.
So, I don't know why people don't like them, or maybe I have been lucky with my two purchases.
I will like to hear what the negatives comments are!
black bear
I've had a mini-14 for many years, with the magazines I know work, it's never failed me.
More info for the mini:
http://www.perfectunion.com/forums/index.php?showforum=8
More info for the mini:
http://www.perfectunion.com/forums/index.php?showforum=8
KarbineKrazy
Member
I love my mini 14!
KarbineKrazy
Member
Pro Mag 20 rounders. About $15 a piece. Quit yer whinin!!!
Ranch rifle solves the scope problem.
Groups? Add a flashhider/muzzle break, bed it with glass and do a trigger job... It will shoot easily under 3 inches then.
My mini 14 has been bedded, 3.5 lb trigger, BlackWarrior break/FS combo, UltiMak rail w/ Tasco PP3+ it will shoot 2.5 inches at 100 yards w/ Winchester 45 gain HPs. That is a 5 shot group w/ a RED DOT. With a real scope, I'm sure it would tighten atleast 3/4 of an inch.
A new barrel strut system is coming out that will retail around $50 and will tighten my groups even more.
Visit the Accurizing section at www.PerfectUnion.com to fing out more.
Ranch rifle solves the scope problem.
Groups? Add a flashhider/muzzle break, bed it with glass and do a trigger job... It will shoot easily under 3 inches then.
My mini 14 has been bedded, 3.5 lb trigger, BlackWarrior break/FS combo, UltiMak rail w/ Tasco PP3+ it will shoot 2.5 inches at 100 yards w/ Winchester 45 gain HPs. That is a 5 shot group w/ a RED DOT. With a real scope, I'm sure it would tighten atleast 3/4 of an inch.
A new barrel strut system is coming out that will retail around $50 and will tighten my groups even more.
Visit the Accurizing section at www.PerfectUnion.com to fing out more.
Hkmp5sd
Member
Absolutely love it! One of my favorites on trips to the range.
mustanger98
Member
I got mine in late 2000 and still like it. Okay, it could use a FH/FS, trigger job and recoil buffer, but that's about all it needs. Ammo, as with any other weapon, can be an issue. I've found my rifle likes handloaded 68gr BTHPs running 2400fps better than it does S&B 55gr FMJs.
Those RamLine clear plastic mags- I haven't tried one yet, but I was looking at one NIW at the gun shop yesterday. Looking at that, I observed that you wouldn't have to unlock your mag to see how much ammo you have left. Noticed the price was $27 and have been debating whether it'd be worth it. I might just have to try one, but if ProMag's $15 20rounders are so great, that'd be more economical. I'll have to check and see what my dealer can do about a few of those.
I wouldn't have an AR15. Even if some people do think it's the greatest rifle ever, I've heard too many M16 horror stories from Vietnam vets.
Those RamLine clear plastic mags- I haven't tried one yet, but I was looking at one NIW at the gun shop yesterday. Looking at that, I observed that you wouldn't have to unlock your mag to see how much ammo you have left.
Noticed the price was $27 and have been debating whether it'd be worth it. I might just have to try one, but if ProMag's $15 20rounders are so great, that'd be more economical. I'll have to check and see what my dealer can do about a few of those.I wouldn't have an AR15. Even if some people do think it's the greatest rifle ever, I've heard too many M16 horror stories from Vietnam vets.
George S.
Member
I bought a Mini-14 Ranch because 1) I couldn't afford an AR clone, 2) had one in the military and didn't like it then, 3) it's not comfortable for me to shoot. Maybe just the ergonomics of it but I just don't find it a comfortable rifle in my hands.
I have spent about $75 on my Ranch so far to improve accuracy. A muzzle brake, smaller gas port bushing, recoil buffer and a trigger job to improve both stages of trigger pull and bring it down to about 2.5lbs. With these mods so far, I can get 3" groups at 100yds with the factory iron sights using most of the off-the-shelf ammo like Winchester, UMC, S&B and Federal (and I am really not that great a shooter).
I have some John Masen 10-round mags and some 20-round PMI mags and all of them are just as dependable as the factory Ruger 5-round mag that came with it. Never had any sort of feeding issues with any mag/round combination. I believe that PMI makes the mags for Ruger so that's one reason I bought them
I bought mine new so that means that if there is ever a problem, I need only call Ruger and tell them they are getting it back for repair. I pay for shipping to them and they do the rest. And the same woudl be true if I had bought one used and was the 12th owner. Pretty hard to do that with an AK or SKS
One thing that some people don't seem to understand with the Mini is that is never really was designed to be an MOA shooter. It is something you can use to rid yourself of varmints (in 2 or 4-legged versions ) and some fun plinking. It's still used by the LEO community and is very popular with correctional facilities across the country. And it looks like a rifle; it doesn't really have the image of an EBR.
I have spent about $75 on my Ranch so far to improve accuracy. A muzzle brake, smaller gas port bushing, recoil buffer and a trigger job to improve both stages of trigger pull and bring it down to about 2.5lbs. With these mods so far, I can get 3" groups at 100yds with the factory iron sights using most of the off-the-shelf ammo like Winchester, UMC, S&B and Federal (and I am really not that great a shooter).
I have some John Masen 10-round mags and some 20-round PMI mags and all of them are just as dependable as the factory Ruger 5-round mag that came with it. Never had any sort of feeding issues with any mag/round combination. I believe that PMI makes the mags for Ruger so that's one reason I bought them
I bought mine new so that means that if there is ever a problem, I need only call Ruger and tell them they are getting it back for repair. I pay for shipping to them and they do the rest. And the same woudl be true if I had bought one used and was the 12th owner. Pretty hard to do that with an AK or SKS
One thing that some people don't seem to understand with the Mini is that is never really was designed to be an MOA shooter. It is something you can use to rid yourself of varmints (in 2 or 4-legged versions
) and some fun plinking. It's still used by the LEO community and is very popular with correctional facilities across the country. And it looks like a rifle; it doesn't really have the image of an EBR.AZ Jeff
Member
Whenever anyone starts rating the Mini-14, the first thing they seem to do is to compare it to the SKS carbine. While the SKS is generally cheaper, it's NO MORE accurate (on average) than your average Mini, and it suffers from the following:
1. inferior sights (poorer sight picture, harder to adjust)
2. inferior trigger (creepy, long, and harder to adjust)
Everyone who says an SKS is a "better bargain" than a Mini-14 has obviously made the decision that the better sights and trigger present on the Mini are meaningless.
Not all of us would agree with that tradeoff
1. inferior sights (poorer sight picture, harder to adjust)
2. inferior trigger (creepy, long, and harder to adjust)
Everyone who says an SKS is a "better bargain" than a Mini-14 has obviously made the decision that the better sights and trigger present on the Mini are meaningless.
Not all of us would agree with that tradeoff
rbernie
Contributing Member
No.
We've made that statement based on the fact that a $45 TechSight and a $9 Wolff spring kit takes my $200 Norinco SKS and makes it a 2MOA-3MOA rifle. I can build two such equipped SKS's for the cost of one over-the-counter Mini14, and get more accurate rifles in the bargain.
Having said that - I *like* the Mini. I'm probably going to buy a Mini-14 real soon now. But lets not act like the Mini14 is some poor maligned stepchild that's being unfairly beaten. It has managed to earn a great deal of the scorn placed upon it fair-and-square, certainly on a cost-per-accuracy basis if nothing else.
I owned two of 'em.
A Mini-14, and a Mini-30. As much as I dislike the AR-15/M16 for pooping where it eats, it will at least place the bullets where it's aimed. Couldn't say the same for the Mini-14, so I got rid of it like a bad habit.
Thinking the Mini-30 was going to be a better gun because of the dimensional differences, I tried to give the design a second chance. It wouldn't do anything better than my Bulgarian milled AK, in fact the AK grouped better, so that Ruger was also sold posthaste. I still love my Ruger 10/22 and Ruger #1S, but boy, have they got a stinker on their hands with the Mini-14/Mini-30.
A Mini-14, and a Mini-30. As much as I dislike the AR-15/M16 for pooping where it eats, it will at least place the bullets where it's aimed. Couldn't say the same for the Mini-14, so I got rid of it like a bad habit.
Thinking the Mini-30 was going to be a better gun because of the dimensional differences, I tried to give the design a second chance. It wouldn't do anything better than my Bulgarian milled AK, in fact the AK grouped better, so that Ruger was also sold posthaste. I still love my Ruger 10/22 and Ruger #1S, but boy, have they got a stinker on their hands with the Mini-14/Mini-30.
berettashotgun
Member
- Joined
- May 8, 2005
- Messages
- 1,149
Who doesn't like the mini??
I have a few mini's in .223 and a model 30- all are ranch models except the first one, a 180 series that shoots 1-2MOA in my 15 year olds hands. He loves the mini over a few top-o-the-line AR's and a sweet A2 m16. The boy has only missed the neck on a deer once- and that was a quartering away shot that hit the ribcage before the neck with a #1 in 270. He can shoot but despises fishing
.The oldest boy is of the spray and pray crowd and although is a wingshooter deluxe, cannot get a 25 meter group with a stationary laser. I love the mini 14 and 30 but know what they are and the factory imposed limitations thru design. The only fault is they don't come in a 243 or 7mm/08 chambering. The front sight blade should be called a front sight machete or something, but the total reliable design and fun factor make this one excellent firearm for anyone to own. Who cares about the highly overrated "group size" in an auto?? Get a target rifle if you only want to shoot targets, get a mini if you go "plinkin'". Factory mags in high cap are getting available thru CDNN, I own a factory 20 rounder and never use it.
I have a few mini's in .223 and a model 30- all are ranch models except the first one, a 180 series that shoots 1-2MOA in my 15 year olds hands. He loves the mini over a few top-o-the-line AR's and a sweet A2 m16. The boy has only missed the neck on a deer once- and that was a quartering away shot that hit the ribcage before the neck with a #1 in 270. He can shoot but despises fishing
.The oldest boy is of the spray and pray crowd and although is a wingshooter deluxe, cannot get a 25 meter group with a stationary laser. I love the mini 14 and 30 but know what they are and the factory imposed limitations thru design. The only fault is they don't come in a 243 or 7mm/08 chambering. The front sight blade should be called a front sight machete or something, but the total reliable design and fun factor make this one excellent firearm for anyone to own. Who cares about the highly overrated "group size" in an auto?? Get a target rifle if you only want to shoot targets, get a mini if you go "plinkin'". Factory mags in high cap are getting available thru CDNN, I own a factory 20 rounder and never use it.mummac
Member
I like mine. After installing the obligatory $15 muzzle brake and a $40 Tasco scope, I get 3" groups. That's fine with me. If I want to do better, I'll grab the Savage .22-250. I've shot three (including mine) and never seen pie plate sized groups. Mini-14s are just fun to shoot.
24kshooter
Member
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2005
- Messages
- 141
Nice rifles - both 30 and 14's. Prefer my ranch configuration. Never had a problem with any of them.
benEzra
Moderator Emeritus
My 188-series mini-14 Ranch is perfectly reliable, but not very accurate and never has been (5.5" at 100 yards from a bench, from a cold barrel). But it's handy, and with an aftermarket pistol grip stock to spruce up the ergonomics (sorry Tom C., I hate straight stocks ) I really like mine. Though if I were going into harm's way I'd probably rather have my SAR-1.
) I really like mine. Though if I were going into harm's way I'd probably rather have my SAR-1.
Dave Markowitz
Member
I like mine quite a bit. It's utterly reliable and accurate enough for a 200 yard defensive carbine.
I like my SKSes, AR-15, AR-180B, and AK, too.
I like my SKSes, AR-15, AR-180B, and AK, too.
black bear
Member
HKmp5sd,
Mine is like the one in your picture, with the original folding paratropper stock, I understant they comand a premium price as collector's rifles, any idea how much?
I bought a aftermaket stock from Butler Creeck for it, and keep the folding stock original.
black bear
Mine is like the one in your picture, with the original folding paratropper stock, I understant they comand a premium price as collector's rifles, any idea how much?
I bought a aftermaket stock from Butler Creeck for it, and keep the folding stock original.
black bear
jeff-10
Member
The Mini 14 is a great rifle, they just have a bad rep on internet gun forums. Like all guns it may not be for everyone but the majority who own them seem to like them.
flyerI
Member
Carl N. Brown
Member
Mini14
I had a friend who was in 82nd airborne who told me that members of
small special units who could choose what they wanted to carry often picked
the select-fire version of the Ruger Mini14 over the M16. Most folks I know
who own the civilian version like them. I guess the only people who post
are those who have had problem with theirs.
Give a blind choice (no chance to test myself) I would choose a Mini14 over
a VietNam era M16 with ball powder ammo. Quite frankly, I would choose my
tried-and-tested Carcano 91/38 over a pig-in-a-poke. TEST the individual
gun you plan to bet your life on, DO NOT rely on reviews by arm-chair
commandos. Check out the movie Ghost and Darkness, where the lion hunter
swaps guns in the middle of a man-eating lion hunt and discovers the
"better gun" is a lemon.
plan to bet your life on
I had a friend who was in 82nd airborne who told me that members of
small special units who could choose what they wanted to carry often picked
the select-fire version of the Ruger Mini14 over the M16. Most folks I know
who own the civilian version like them. I guess the only people who post
are those who have had problem with theirs.
Give a blind choice (no chance to test myself) I would choose a Mini14 over
a VietNam era M16 with ball powder ammo. Quite frankly, I would choose my
tried-and-tested Carcano 91/38 over a pig-in-a-poke. TEST the individual
gun you plan to bet your life on, DO NOT rely on reviews by arm-chair
commandos. Check out the movie Ghost and Darkness, where the lion hunter
swaps guns in the middle of a man-eating lion hunt and discovers the
"better gun" is a lemon.
plan to bet your life on
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