Mini 14 vs. AK-47

[jimmyraythomason]

I can't even begin to think why one would take a mini-14 over an AR if they're both going for the same price

That is VERY easy! Don't like an AR,do like a Mini that makes the choice easy.

The Mini-14 does NOT have a picatinny rail
The Mini-14 is not nearly as modular as the AR-15

Don't need or want a rail. Don't need or want any add-ons. Butler Creek stock if you just HAVE to have a pistol grip. To me not having a pistol grip is a plus. migkillertwo; none of your +'s for the AR or -'s against the Mini hold any sway in my choice.

 

[Rexster]

Quoting migkiller:

"The Mini-14 by contrast does not have a chrome-lined barrel
The mini-14 requires one to rock a magazine into place
The Mini-14 does NOT have a picatinny rail
The Mini-14 is not nearly as modular as the AR-15"

1) Um, OK.

2) This is quite OK with me.

3) My AR15s did not have Picatinny rails until I added them. My second Mini did indeed come with quite a bit of real estate covered by Picatinny rails. It was one of a short run that left Ruger with Sage International SCAR stocks.

4) I like the Mini mostly as-is; modularity is largely irrelevant to me. Modularity is great for an entity that issues large numbers of weapons. I am not such an entity.

To be clear, I am not anti-AR15; I still own one of mine. It feels good to own a weapon similar to the military rifle of my nation, the ultimate exercise of the Second Amendment. But, the AR15 is not my favored .223/5.56 weapon.

I do wish I knew why every thread about Minis and AKs seemingly has to drift into a discussion of the AR15.

 

[ThePunisher'sArmory]

AR-15, M16, M4......Period. Rugers ok for prison guards and I cant bring myself to buy a commy gun.

 

[Zanad]

I thought this was an AK VS mini-14....




that said, theres something to be said for ruggedness and american simplicity.

 

[stinger 327]

That is VERY easy! Don't like an AR,do like a Mini that makes the choice easy. Don't need or want a rail. Don't need or want any add-ons. Butler Creek stock if you just HAVE to have a pistol grip. To me not having a pistol grip is a plus. migkillertwo; none of your +'s for the AR or -'s against the Mini hold any sway in my choice.

AR's known for their accuracy but also known for jamming and being unreliable compared to an AK-47.

 

[husker]

forget the guns I wana know if that Mopar has a 340 wedge in it or not.
I bet its faster in the 1/4 mile than any COMMIE round ever developed. LOL

 

[67rschev]

forget the guns I wana know if that Mopar has a 340 wedge in it or not.
I bet its faster in the 1/4 mile than any COMMIE round ever developed. LOL

Awwww hell ya got me , I don't know , I just pulled those pics off line to to make a better euphemism than that Ferrari vs Honda post . For all I know , its got that little slant 6 . If ya see my handle , I'm more of a General kind of guy . This is my 401k . 030 over stroked with a 400 crank making 389ci . Will just touch 12s at 5500 ft above sea level with DOT slicks .....

Gratuitous pic ...



Sorry all , now back On topic , to our regularly scheduled firearms discussion . I guess I'm not the only one who was topic challenged , this was an AK vs Mini discussion , and had nothing to do with ARs Correct ?

 

[stinger 327]

Awwww hell ya got me , I don't know , I just pulled those pics off line to to make a better euphemism than that Ferrari vs Honda post . For all I know , its got that little slant 6 . If ya see my handle , I'm more of a General kind of guy . This is my 401k . 030 over stroked with a 400 crank making 389ci . Will just touch 12s at 5500 ft above sea level with DOT slicks .....

Gratuitous pic ...

View attachment 497668

Sorry all , now back On topic , to our regularly scheduled firearms discussion . I guess I'm not the only one who was topic challenged , this was an AK vs Mini discussion , and had nothing to do with ARs Correct ?

Right AK-47 vs. Mini -14.

 

[kwelz]

I would pick just about anything before a POS Mini 14. So AK.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

I would pick just about anything before a POS Mini 14.

That's your choice AND your opinion which is what the question asked but I have never met a Mini 14 that lived down to your description.

 

[CZ223]

For what it is worth

I own 3 AR's, a Saiga, a Mini-14 and, a Mini-30. I am also intent on buying a Zastava PAP in the very near future. To go back to the original question, which was something like, which would you choose for a battle rifle, a mini 14 or an AK? That is simple. I would choose the AK. The AK is time tested and battle proven, as is the AR15. The Mini 14 isn't. Don't get me wrong, I like the mini's and am considering them for use as SHTF guns. They are rugged and compact, especially with a folding stock.

To answer an unasked question, which rifle for SHTF situations, there are other things to consider. In a short term confrontation, like Katrina, you can get by with just about any reliable rifle and pistol you choose as long as you have a few mags and a couple hundred rounds of ammo. In a long term TEOTWAWKI situation, hoarded ammunition and mags may not be enough to last you. For this reason, I want my rifle to use the same ammo and, preferably, the same mags as our Military nd Law Enforcement agencies. For these reasons, the Mini-14 gets the nod over the AK but the AR wins out over the Mini, at least in my mind. If we still had to worry about the Russians invading, ala Red Dawn, the AK would rank high on my list.

 

[CZ223]

For what it is worth

I own 3 AR's, a Saiga, a Mini-14 and, a Mini-30. I am also intent on buying a Zastava PAP in the very near future. To go back to the original question, which was something like, which would you choose for a battle rifle, a mini 14 or an AK? That is simple. I would choose the AK. The AK is time tested and battle proven, as is the AR15. The Mini 14 isn't. Don't get me wrong, I like the mini's and am considering them for use as SHTF guns. They are rugged and compact, especially with a folding stock.

To answer an unasked question, which rifle for SHTF situations, there are other things to consider. In a short term confrontation, like Katrina, you can get by with just about any reliable rifle and pistol you choose as long as you have a few mags and a couple hundred rounds of ammo. In a long term TEOTWAWKI situation, hoarded ammunition and mags may not be enough to last you. For this reason, I want my rifle to use the same ammo and, preferably, the same mags as our Military nd Law Enforcement agencies. For these reasons, the Mini-14 gets the nod over the AK but the AR wins out over the Mini, at least in my mind. If we still had to worry about the Russians invading, ala Red Dawn, the AK would rank high on my list.

 

[jeepguy]

1. does not have a chrome-lined barrel-no mine is stainless steel. 2. magazine loading is a non issue-both can be used effectively. 3. does not have a picatinny rail-their are all kind of stock options for the mini with picatinny rail options.(which i dont want anyway) 4. the mini is not as modular-with modern accessories & stock options i believ you can do even more with a mini then an ar. try putting a folding stock on a di ar15. i dont hate a15's i have one but she stays home while my mini 14,vz58, or m1a go to the range. i have not had one ftf or fte from my mini 14 & she will eat anything. so i believe its just a matter of personal preference between ak47,ar15, vz58, & mini14/30.

 

[Redneck with a 40]

I can get 1.75"-2" groups out of my Mini-14 at 100 yards with my handloads. That's more than sufficient accuracy for any practical purpose this rifle might serve. Its been 100% reliable and its very ergonomic for me. The fit and finish on the mini is far and away superior to an AK and I don't plan on being in a wartime environment where I can't clean my rifle for month's on end.

AR's just don't do anything for me, although I have nothing against them.

 

[MIL-DOT]

I own all three,right now.
I was a long-time AR guy, then during the past few years, became a bigger fan of the AK, and sold my AR's. Then, I decided to get something chambered in 223/5.56, mostly because I still had a bunch of ammo, so I got a stainless 580-series Mini-14.
THEN.....I saw the AIMsurplus deal on the Spikes middy, and ended up assembling another AR.
Full circle, and all that .
I'm confident and comfortable with all three, and they all have their better and lesser points.
( -AK irons DO suck, and so does their ergonomics with commie stocks, but the x39 round is way better at penetrating brush and barriers.
-AR's can be a little finicky,but their unreliability is way over-exagerated.
-The new 580 Mini's are noticably more accurate than the older models,their new iron sights are excellent,but they pretty much require factory magazines that are fairly expensive, and not as common as the others.)
If the SHTF, and I was out patroling my AO, I'd likely have one of my AK's with me,over the other two, but I'd be nearly as happy to have my AR or mini.

 

[Bohemus]

small offtopic:

" A Skoda , the Russians crown jewel .... "

While there are some Russian made Škodas recently, non of those pictured were made in CCCP...

 

[stinger 327]

What is the name of the Russian brand of AK-47? Which AK-47 is the best made from which country?

 

[Maverick223]

What is the name of the Russian brand of AK-47? Which AK-47 is the best made from which country?

Saiga (made in the Izhmash factory), which is about as good as an AKM can be made IMO; FWIW, I don't like any AK-47 (milled receiver AKs) due to the excessive weight.

 

[stinger 327]

Saiga (made in the Izhmash factory), which is about as good as an AKM can be made IMO; FWIW, I don't like any AK-47 (milled receiver AKs) due to the excessive weight.

What would one of these cost if you could find one?

 

[Maverick223]

What would one of these cost if you could find one?

DPH is a good retailer, and sells the 7.62x39mm variant for about $400.00USD. Plan to invest an additional $125-150.00 if you want to convert it to the original AK configuration (with pistol grip, "hi-cap" magazines, et cetera). Folding stocks, railed forearms, and other upgrades can easily add $100.00+ if you go that route. My most recent build included a wire folder, Tapco Intrafuse forearm, and Tapco G2 trigger group amongst other parts; the total for the conversion was about $175.00 IIRC. I built it for a friend and all parts seem to be performing quite well.

 

[stinger 327]

DPH is a good retailer, and sells the 7.62x39mm variant for about $400.00USD. Plan to invest an additional $125-150.00 if you want to convert it to the original AK configuration (with pistol grip, "hi-cap" magazines, et cetera). Folding stocks, railed forearms, and other upgrades can easily add $100.00+ if you go that route. My most recent build included a wire folder, Tapco Intrafuse forearm, and Tapco G2 trigger group amongst other parts; the total for the conversion was about $175.00 IIRC. I built it for a friend and all parts seem to be performing quite well.

Is this the Saiga brand? I would think that whatever Russian Company that originally made this AK-47's would be the best and most valuable?

 

[MIL-DOT]

The Saiga is a sporterized version of the AK. It has a traditional rifle stock and no pistol grip, and (until converted) can only use the plastic 10-round factory magazine.
They have no real collector value, but are one of the best AK variants easily found.
If you want "valuable" and arguably "the best" check out an old Chinese Polytech, these are widely considered about as high quality an AK that has been imported here. Depending on various factors, they'll usually run from $1100 -1800 or so.
For the money,though, a converted Saiga is generally acknowledged as the best option for a quality AK.
Classicarms has them fairly inexpensively, last I checked.

 

[Maverick223]

Is this the Saiga brand? I would think that whatever Russian Company that originally made this AK-47's would be the best and most valuable?

Yep, DPH carries the Saiga amongst other things. They are also a good retailer to purchase conversion parts from (if desired). I consider conversion mandatory as it helps ergonomics and greatly improves the trigger, but to each their own.

 

[stinger 327]

Yep, DPH carries the Saiga amongst other things. They are also a good retailer to purchase conversion parts from (if desired). I consider conversion mandatory as it helps ergonomics and greatly improves the trigger, but to each their own.

I would be curious as to what's the availability and cost for a genuine Russian AK.

 

[Justin]

AR's known for their accuracy but also known for jamming and being unreliable compared to an AK-47.

The claims that ARs are unreliable is mostly an overblown internet myth.