Mini 14......Or not?

[chetrogers]

I already have a sar-1 and was thinking about getting a mini-14 but as i think about it I'm not sure if there is that much of a difference between the too..Besides the ammo..

Should i get one or should i buy something different..thanks for any suggestions or thoughts

 

[Soap]

Not. Buy more mags and ammo for your SAR or take a training course.

 

[BallisticTip]

I like the Mini-14, reliable and rugged, but not a long range shooter. lots of info about them on the net, check out this site (one of many) and decide for your self. http://perfectunion.com/forums/. If you want an accurate and parts galore .223, I would the recommend the AR15 family of rifles, some good info @ http://www.ar15.com/

 

[Mannlicher]

Go ahead. I have owned several, and my current Ranch Rifle is a jewel. Mags are a problem, but if you are buying the rifle for plinking, fun, or bagging the occassional Coyote, I would not hesitate.

A little know fact around gun board folks, is that not everyone thinks the UN is going to invade next week. If you just HAVE to have a croaker sack full of 30 round mags though, you might choose an AR or AR180B rifle.

 

[BallisticTip]

Mannlicher, nice to see some one else likes the Mini.

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

I love the mini, as the sights and safety are 65 and a half times better than the worthless ones on an ak.

I'd buy one.

 

[BDM]

Go with a quality AR for a few hundred more,magazines,spare parts are plentiful just make sure you get a chrome barrel and chamber for ruggedness unless its not going to be a field rifle then it dosent matter and you can use the sar1 as the beater or training rifle and they both take the same ammo also ,just more reliable than the mini,when those barrels get hot they throw rouds a little funny but I stll like my mini,got one when I saw them on the A TEAM,same type stainless folding stock,many moons ago."I love it when a plan comes together"

 

[TNT]

I bought a mini before the AK, I sold the mini 14 and mini 30 because of the AK. The mini is fun if you can find mags that work.

 

[CTI1USNRET]

I love my mini. I bought it in San Diego in 1977 and after many thousands of rounds it has never failed to go 'bang' or hung up on me. And, with the original sights I can still shoot 2-inch groups at 100 yards.

I also have ten Ruger 20-round mags that I accumulated before 1980. They're probably worth more than the rifle.

If the SHTF, reliability is the most important quality. I've got one that works.

 

[bad_dad_brad]

The Mini is a good rifle, but it should be a lot cheaper - my biggest complaint about them. I have one that I nabbed before the big price increases, and so I like it a lot, but I also have an AR which I like a whole heck of a lot more, and I have my eye on an AK just for fun

The Mini is rugged, accurate within 100 yards, and reliable, and there are some pretty good new ten round mags around these days. As they say - a good truck gun if you can find a cheap used one. The new ones are just way too much money.

I think I paid $430 for a stainless ranch model with plastic furniture in 1999, and I thought at the time that was expensive (especially after shooting it and realizing that 5" 100 groups with a 4X scope was about as good as I could expect - still combat accurate). They are now going for about $100 bucks more. In my opinion a base model Mini should not cost more than $400. I remember not that long ago when you could find a new standard Mini for about $320.

 

[benEzra]

I like my mini. Fit and finish are better than on most AK-type rifles, the safety is more convenient, and stainless doesn't rust under most conditions. It's also one of the lightest .223 rifles in existence, and you can put a Choate pistol-grip stock on it if you want a more ergonomic stock. Reliability is excellent and it is VERY tolerant of not being cleaned because of the very simple and open gas system.

The downsides are that it heats up much faster than an AK and its accuracy suffers much more (thin, floppy, cantilevered barrel); magazines are pricey; and it's probably less rugged than an AK.

 

[HeavyHaul]

Hey, go for it. After all, it's Another gun Every body needs another gun. can't have too many.

 

[4v50 Gary]

I've got one, but I slow fire it. That's about the only way you can get it to group. Mini barrels are notoriously thin and when they heat up, they spray. Ruger isn't the mfg of those barrels either. It's subcontracted out.

BTW, if you want mags, go with PMI. Ruger never made 20 or 30 rounders and these were subcontracted out (just like their 5 rounders which were assembled at the factory). As far as I can tell, PMI is about the same critter (but the Ruger folks would never tell me who their supplier was).

 

[SodaPop]

Get a Mini 14 for under $400.

Get PMI mags for your Mini and don't look back.

I can hit a 12inch piece of paper at 500yds with my 62gr reloads at 500yds EVERY TIME!!

Get a 1-9 Mini 14 and shoot the 62gr or heavier bullets.

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

when did the mini go to the 1-9 twist?

 

[SodaPop]

Not sure.... I have two Mini 14s and both of them are 1-9. I believe the Standard Model I have was made in 1991 and the Ranch was made in 1996.

Just about every Mini 14 I see these days are 1-9.

 

[Malone LaVeigh]

I always hear mags are a problem. I don't get it. This is a very common rifle, being made currently. Why wouldn't the stock mags work?

 

[Snaps]

I just saw this thead. My younger brother is planning on picking up a Mini 14, but if he's not going to be able to find any good mags I want to make sure to warn him. I see them everywhere, cabelas, cheaper than dirt, cdnn investments. I didn't figure there'd be much difference. Of course my dad is having an impossible time finding mags for his mini 30

Anybody know a good place to pick up mags for a 14?

 

[firestar]

Mini barrels are notoriously thin and when they heat up, they spray. Ruger isn't the mfg of those barrels either. It's subcontracted out.

That explains why it is not 3 inches thick like every thing else that Ruger makes.

I had a SS Mini-14 and I loved it. It never jammed and was very accurate with a scope mounted. It feels better when fired offhand also. If you want another assult rifle, the mags thing may be the biggest problem. I really liked my Mini and if I ever had to defend myself with a rifle, this would be the one because of the total reliability. MY SKS, AK and AR-15s have all jammed on me several time but my Mini was 100% all the time.

 

[Duke of Lawnchair]

Chetrogers, purchase a mini14? Sure, why not?

Like another member mentioned, another gun is always good!

The mini14 wasn't meant to be a tackdriver. IF you can accept that, then you'll be that much closer to enjoying the beauty of Ruger's little carbine.

Jim

 

[308win]

My Mini14 Ranch will shoot less than 11/2MOA with reloads and I haven't gotten the bedding quite right yet. I use Masen 10rd mags and have never had a failure to feed, stovepipe, etc. One did fail to lock open after last round but only the one time.

Frankly, not sure what the advantage of 20 and 30 round mags are in a semi auto. They get in the way of everything except the gunstores' opportunity to sell you more ammo - just my .02.

 

[Snaps]

Frankly, not sure what the advantage of 20 and 30 round mags are in a semi auto.

#1 Fun

#2 the same reason they switched the M-16 to 30 rounds after the AKs came out with them. MOre lead downrange at the enemy

 

[4v50 Gary]

Malone Laveigh - regarding factory magazines, as well all know all we can get from the factory today (unless you're LEO) are 5 round capacity. The fuss is for reliable magazines with a higher storage capacity (say 20, 30 or 40 rounders).

BTW, anybody, how much is the MGW 90 rounder for the Mini14 worth?

 

[Dave Markowitz]

I say go for it. The Mini-14 is a fun gun with good ergonomics and extremely reliable ~with good mags.~

Ruger, PMI and Thermolds are the best of the >10 round capacity magazines, but be prepared to pay for them. If using 10 round mags isn't a problem for you, the Pro-Mags have a good reputation.

I own a 182-series Mini-14 and love it. It was a police trade-in that I picked up for a decent price, and it came with a PMI 30-rounder. The only thing I've changed on it so far is the front sight. The factory ramp sight sucks, IMO, so I replaced it with an Eagle HK-style sight/flash hider combo (but haven't shot it yet). I may replace the plastic buttplate with a steel one from Brownell's but that isn't a priority right now.

 

[Malone LaVeigh]

4v50 Gary:

I see. I guess that's something else I don't have to worry about living in California.