Mini 14 vs. AK question

[DavidB2]

I have a Mini 14 .223 stainless with a wooden stock. I love the rifle. However, with all the frenzy over AKs; I have been wondering if I might need to get one before they are either go up in price more or go away all together. My wife has a rule that if I buy a gun; I need to sell a gun. The Mini 14 is probably the rifle which would be a better equal Is it worth either trading or selling my Mini 14 to get an AK? Should I wait until AKs possibly go down in price? Your opinions are appreciated.

 

[WardenWolf]

No. The Mini-14 basically is an AK for all intents and purposes, albeit one with the gas block flipped upside down.

Frankly, the only reason to get an AK over a Mini-14 is widespread parts availability. Both are going to be equally reliable on their own, but the world is littered with spare AK parts. So unless you're looking at a long-term SHTF scenario where you can't just have Ruger fix your rifle, it doesn't matter, and the Mini-14 would probably be better for most things.

 

[Domino]

Well first off, get a new wife and then buy all the damn guns you want!

I would say that there is a very good chance of some sort of ban coming into play. There were AK type weapons available during the previous ban but whose to say they won't be more thorough this time.

Personally, I wouldn't trade a Mini-14 for an AK-47 unless the AK was an Arsenal .223 and I had a stack of magazines for it. Keep the Mini-14 and concentrate on factory magazines and ammo.

 

[AK103K]

I'd sell the Mini and go with an AK in 7.62x39. Just for the mag and parts availability alone, but especially hi cap mags.

Who knows what Ruger will do at any given moment too. They have never been very "civilian" oriented or friendly when it came to the Minis and their accessories anyway. They could very well stop any support for civilian held guns at any pressure to do so from the government.

I doubt the AK's are going to go down in price. If you have one in mind, I'd do it now.

Personally, I'd look to one of the Saiga conversions by either Krebs or AK-USA. You get a true Russian made gun that was converted for import and then restored to its original condition. For as much as they seem to be getting these days for the "lesser" guns, the price gap is narrowing.

Regardless of price, they all shoot about the same. I personally prefer guns that were barreled in the country of origin compared to US assembled guns. The guns I've owned assembled here from "kits" were the least accurate and more problem prone.

 

[Zach S]

Personally, I'd look to one of the Saiga conversions by either Krebs or AK-USA.

Or a used Sagia and do the conversion yourself and save a few bucks.

I never cared much for Minis. Reliability and accuracy is about the same as an AK (the .223 Sagia I fired was more accurate than the mini14 I shot moments before), but the AK magazines are easier to find. And the AK used to have a lower price tag.

 

[ArmedBear]

There's no comparison between the Saiga and the Mini, when it comes to ergonomics, "pointability" and balance. The Mini feels great in the hands, and the Saiga sucks. It's simply the worst-feeling rifle I've ever shouldered. I think that, if you ditched the Mini for a Saiga, you'd be quite disappointed, and would spring for a conversion immediately.

Converted, the Saiga is (obviously) like an AK. I don't think all that much of AK ergonomics, but they balance a lot better than the stock Saiga does.

Magazines are much more readily available for the AK or AR. Ruger's 20-rounders are great; other makers, I wouldn't trust. Almost everything else I've bought has been a total waste of my money. The plastic Eagle mags have worked for me, and some no-name I got at a gun show; sadly, I could never find out who made it.

 

[JohnMc]

More is Better

 

[AK103K]

The ergonomics of the AK are just a matter of spending a little quality time with them and learning how to work them. Most of the complaints come from those who havent.

 

[61chalk]

You love your mini, right.....?
Keep it then....save your money on the side, an someday buy a AK, don't tell the wife, hide it...you can find a spot...I know you can....an remember...."Wives come an go, but ex's are forever."

 

[Ed Ames]

I enjoy badmouthing minis as much as the next guy, but if you can only have one i'd take it over an overpriced ak clone.

 

[cottonmouth]

I'd stick with the Mini and hunt up some factory mags.

J.B.

 

[1KPerDay]

My wife has a rule that if I buy a gun; I need to sell a gun.

What the heck? Ask her if she has the same rule about her shoes.

 

[ArmedBear]

The ergonomics of the AK are just a matter of spending a little quality time with them and learning how to work them.

Right. That's part of the definition of "poor ergonomics": having to adapt yourself to the machine.

But no matter how much time you spend with an AK, it won't point naturally like a Ranch Rifle. Entirely apart from some design flaws like the safety lever, it seems to be designed primarily for full-auto fire, not point-and-shoot.

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

American made Mini over Commie junk any day.

 

[AK103K]

Right. That's part of the definition of "poor ergonomics": having to adapt yourself to the machine.

But no matter how much time you spend with an AK, it won't point naturally like a Ranch Rifle. Entirely apart from some design flaws like the safety lever, it seems to be designed primarily for full-auto fire, not point-and-shoot.

If learning the rifle is "adapting yourself to the machine", then every gun has poor ergonomics.

As far as pointing naturally, I suppose thats a matter of opinion and situation. I dont find one points better than the other, and both are point and shoot, but thats me. I do find the AK carries, handles, and shoulders easier in more situations than the Mini's, and especially in tighter situations, like indoors. The AK can be carried in a SUL position and quickly and naturally shouldered from it, where the Mini doesnt do as well or naturally. Nor is the Mini as easily carried ready for use while slung.

If the AK was designed to be primarily FA, it would not have a selector. The fact that a real AK's selector tends to go to SA in a "panic" or hurried application, also points to its primary use not necessarily being FA only. You have to think about what your doing to put it into FA mode.

 

[lgbloader]

Quote:
My wife has a rule that if I buy a gun; I need to sell a gun.

What the heck? Ask her if she has the same rule about her shoes.

Thank you!!!

LGB

 

[ThomasT]

<..................>

To the OP. Keep your mini and buy more mags and ammo. I have 9 of the Pro-Mag 20 rounders and they seem to work perfectly. I bought the mags at Academy Sports and saved the receipts just in case I needed to take one back. I have never needed to return a single one.

 

[Travis Bickle]

Magazines are much more readily available for the AK or AR. Ruger's 20-rounders are great; other makers, I wouldn't trust. Almost everything else I've bought has been a total waste of my money. The plastic Eagle mags have worked for me, and some no-name I got at a gun show; sadly, I could never find out who made it.

These 90 rounders are supposed to work pretty good:

http://www.mwgco.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?store_code=MWG&screen=PROD&product_code=MWG-223-90B

I'm thinking of buying one.

 

[Spyvie]

I know I post this in almost every Mini related thread around here, but here I go again... the Promag steel 20s seem to be working fine in my Mini 14 and a number of others as far as I can tell. The 8 I bought appear almost identical in construction to factory mags and required no modifications to fit and function flawlessly in my rifle.

I am new to the platform, having purchased a sweet handling Houge stocked NRA Mini just about a year ago. As I understand there were some issues with the latching notch on the Promags in the past. Many posters over at PerfectUnion.com had to file on them a bit to get them to lock in securely, but this no longer appears to be the case.

As an aside, I love my NRA Mini, and mine is good for a confirmed 1.5 MOA in it's scoped but otherwise bone stock configuration. If push comes to shove I will sell my 16" RRA Mid-length before I will sell my Mini 14.

Mini 14/30/6.8 mag discussion: http://www.perfectunion.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=105

 

[Matrix187]

Both guns are rock solid and reliable. A decent AK (especially when the Tech Peep sights are released) will shoot about the same accurately. I like the 7.62x39 mm round though, and the AK design in general.

I would rather have an M1 carbine than a Mini 14

 

[RP88]

with the AK, you get (still possibly) a cheaper gun, cheaper mags, higher-cap mags, and equal accuracy to a mini-14

that's what I'd go for.

 

[benEzra]

If you like the mini, keeping it is not a bad thing. You will lose a fair amount of money selling a mini and buying an AK in the current market.

Having said that, I used to own both a mini-14 (188-series Ranch Rifle) and a Romanian AK (SAR-1). Eventually sold the mini, kept the AK. But I have a lot of respect for the Ruger, and it is a good little carbine, particularly if you are lucky enough to have an accurate one.

 

[ThomasT]

RP88 I have two of the new 580 series minis and I get between 2.5-4" groups at 100 yards with open sights. Will your AK group that good?

There was a reveiw of the CZ made model 58 AK style rifle in Guns magazine last month and the writer reported 8" groups at 100 yards. I am pretty sure that was his best groups also.

 

[AK103K]

Will your AK group that good?

All of mine pretty much will.

3-4" is pretty much the norm for an AK at 100 yards using its iron sights. My SAR will shoot that at 200 from a rest using its iron sights, and they have a slight cant to boot.

My AK's shoot as well or better than the couple of Mini 14's I've owned over the years, and they had the better aftermarket sights on them. The newer Minis do benifit from better sights, but unless you have a GB, the older guns stock sights flat out suck.

I just got to shoot my buddys new NRA 16" Mini. It did OK, but still about the same as my SAR1 we were shooting at the same time. I didnt like the over molded stock it had on it, and why they feel the need for that silly recoil pad is beyond me. The sights were better though.

 

[SimpleIsGood229]

I think you should train with what you already have. I love my converted Saiga; I think it points well and feels good in the hands. If you have a similar opinion about your Mini, I see no reason to get rid of it.

Buy a bunch of mags and ammo, and be happy. FWIW, steel ProMags for the Mini-14 actually have a good reputation. Do as the above guy did and keep the receipts just in case.