Mini-14 or AR-15

[benzy2]

I want a Mini-14 but I don't have faith it will shoot well enough. I'd like 1 MOA with match hand loads and 2-3 MOA with cheap factory stuff. I really like the mini-Garand action and the idea of a wood stock. But for the money I've always had more faith in building an AR to meet those accuracy expectations. I want a mini14 but just can't feel confident enough to spend the money on one.

 

[ttarp]

They're more accurate, more reliable, and have better ecosystems than the competing products.

I had no idea AR's had ecosystems, but I'll take your word on it.

I have both and will say that the magazine cost on the Ruger is rediculous. I can buy 3 P-Mag's for the cost of one Ruger magazine.

I feel obliged to point out this is wildly misleading. Pmags are cheap, but using this same logic their price is ridiculous compared to a G3 mag. Perspective is important when comparing the prices of these rifles and accessories, $20 isn't unreasonable for a good magazine, ever price FNAR mags?

My dad and I split the cost of a Mini a while back, $650, and it came with a set of scope rings and a spare mag, can you buy an AR cheaper? You bet you can, but my point is the mini is not outlandishly expensive. I've seen an $800 price quoted a few times here, keep in mind lots of folks buy AR's that cost significantly more than that, sure they're more valuable, but sometimes folks like to ignore the fact that a lot of AR's cost significantly more than Mini's.

 

[jim in Anchorage]

Yeah my Mini defies all the AR fanboy logic. It is modified, it has optics, it has been accessorized, the total cost of the rifle is a little under 800 bucks, it shoots sub MOA groups with steel case ammo, it eats anything you feed it, it was not a pain in the butt to modify it. In fact this was one of my favorite projects. And yes the mags are expensive, but I was never one to buy cheap stuff.

I need to add I love the music you put in your videos. Good stuff!

 

[Kame B.]

I need to add I love the music you put in your videos. Good stuff!

Thanks buddy, it was threads like these that inspired me to make videos about my little 14.

 

[yokel]

The following Rugers from the San Bernardino incident appear to be customized LE specimens:

 

[ColoradoShooter77]

Both the Ruger AR-556 and the S&W M&P sport can be had for under $650 out the door.

The AR's are far easier to field strip, maintain and modify. Accuracy between the M&P and the my Mini is about equal.

I haven't field stripped my Mini in 3000 rounds because its a royal PIA.

 

[Kame B.]

I haven't field stripped my Mini in 3000 rounds because its a royal PIA.

Really? I'm not sure if I would have told other people that.

 

[ColoradoShooter77]

Its still running like a clock, lol.

I know the AR won't do that, 3000 rounds without field stripping.

Unlike the AR, the Mini has a self cleaning gas piston.

 

[Walkalong]

I know the AR won't do that

Are you sure about that?

 

[Skyshot]

I can't say a bad word about either rifle. I do like my AR's and I do like this Mini-14. It's just like ice cream or beer. I like to have a different flavor every so often.

 

[benEzra]

I know the AR won't do that, 3000 rounds without field stripping.

Here's an AR after 15,000 rounds of dirty steel-case without field stripping; it was still running, but had exceeded the "replace by" round count on the bolt:

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2010/06/09/a-clean-wouldnt-hurt/





As with any firearm, squirt some good oil in there from time to time to keep the powder fouling soft (ideally keep it fluid), and it will generally keep going and going. And yes, mini's like to be kept very well lubricated also; I actually got galling on the bolt nub on my stainless Ranch Rifle from underlubrication, which I remedied with grease.

 

[ColoradoShooter77]

Well I stand corrected, that's pretty impressive!

 

[Kame B.]

Its still running like a clock, lol.

I know the AR won't do that, 3000 rounds without field stripping.

Unlike the AR, the Mini has a self cleaning gas piston.

I meant as far as the mini being a PIA to field strip. That's the first I have ever heard that

 

[Quincy12]

I think you guys scared the OP away....

Really surprised this is still open.

I'm still reading! I'm also quite surprised this thread is still running. It's strayed a bit from my initial intent, but glad it's informed/entertained folks. I made my decision a while back, I'm going to purchase the Mini-14. The AR from a purely technical standpoint is most likely a more efficient choice, and that's fine (the Timex vs Rolex example). But for me, firearms... of any sort are not just tools. If they were purely tools, I could limit my arsenal to maybe 3, a solid 12 gauge pump, an AR and a .357 Ruger. Since I'm not a LEO and don't "need" HC magazines, those three could do nearly anything I "need" to do. For me, however, there is much more to a firearm than "tool". For example, my favorite (dream) rifle... a Holland & Holland SxS in .375. I've never handled, seen or even heard of a finer, better balanced rifle. Practical... not hardly. But if I had that kind of disposable capital, I'd buy one, in a heartbeat. And I'd get a second one in a more reasonable caliber, .30-30 would be kind of interesting.

Anyway, thanks again for all the replies.

Q

 

[jmorris]

If they were purely tools, I could limit my arsenal to maybe 3

If the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.

 

[ColoradoShooter77]

Look at the owners manual on a Mini-14, field stripping is an involved process. It takes all of 2 minutes on the AR, really simple.

 

[Kame B.]

Look at the owners manual on a Mini-14, field stripping is an involved process. It takes all of 2 minutes on the AR, really simple.

I dont have to look at the owners manual, I own a Mini 14 and takes me less than 2 minutes to take one down. Are you having problems with the bolt or something? I am having a really hard time trying to understand how the Mini is a PIA to field strip.

I found a pretty good video that shows how to take the bolt out with ease:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FpoULNO0DI

I hope this is helpful.

 

[hq]

I dont have to look at the owners manual, I own a Mini 14 and takes me less than 2 minutes to take one down.

I'd say that 2 minutes is an overestimate. The first time maybe, but after unlatching the trigger guard it basically splits in half and field strips in seconds. The only major issue is that getting the bolt out necessitates removing the scope.

 

[HoosierQ]

The mini-14 shoots quite well for most purposes. The problem is ejection which is rocket like. You pretty much cannot shoot at a range unless a) you are on the right-most lane, b) are by yourself, or c) the range has barriers between lanes. Mine easily flung round 10 yards to the right or more. Perfectly fine for shooting outdoors. I do not shoot for match accuracy.

 

[Kame B.]

I'd say that 2 minutes is an overestimate. The first time maybe, but after unlatching the trigger guard it basically splits in half and field strips in seconds. The only major issue is that getting the bolt out necessitates removing the scope.

Well with the Mini the bolt doesnt have to come out every time you clean it, a tooth brush and some oil will suffice. But about every 500 to 600 rounds fired, I will take the bolt out, and when I do take off my scope, and put it back on, I only lose zero by a few inches.

 

[hq]

when I do take off my scope, and put it back on, I only lose zero by a few inches.

My 99/44 Deerfield, which has an identical scope mount, doesn't in any measurable level. Rings are lapped true for the Zeiss scope, which makes quite a bit of difference. Too many people just bolt a scope on without paying any attention to proper ring/tube contact.

 

[jmorris]

I have found that mounts on AR's are quite repeatable some are very close even going to different uppers in different calibers.

I did build this clamp that will adjust a laser beam, elevation and windage, at any distance. So if I have an optic zeroed I can set the beam to match. At this point you can zero a different optic to the exact same spot with out firing as well as seeing, if it changes with removal, how much.



It's just a simple clamp I machined and two 1/4-20 bolts welded together with a cheap laser level. Don't know how much time it has saved over the years but it was well worth it.

 

[allivak]

nifty, smart idea if you have a bunch of different guns/uppers along with different optic systems.

 

[jmorris]

Or if you wanted to know how much your zero changes when you take the optic off and put it back on without you or ammo/shooting conditions being in play.

 

[HammsBeer]

I was really surprised at how many Mini 14's the CA cops are using in those pics. Is it because they don't have the budget to replace them with AR's, don't want to portray a "militarized" image to the public, or some sort of politician publicity like "If our cops don't need AR's then Joe Public doesn't either!"?

Owning both, I'll take the AR hand down.