Mini-14 Vs. AR-15

[Art Eatman]

I've never understood why folks don't examine the design details on after-market magazines just as should be done with any other accessory.

I've found the Mini to be as good as any other rifle when the reliability of the first shot's point of aim/impact is important. I'm mostly a hunter, so the Mini is therefore as good as any AR or bolt-action within the limits of the cartridge. I've had four Minis since they first began production, and I'm on my fifth AR at the moment. What the heck, I can't help being a trader.

Relaibility? A few thousand rounds through Minis and ARs and I can't tell the difference. Keep 'em reasonably clean, lightly lubed and it's "Point it and pull; Hell ain't half-full."

Self-defense accuracy? Either one will shoot minute-of-torso until you get bored and quit. Or run out of torsos.

Beyond that? Hey, Justin has it 100%.

FWIW, I note that this is about the gazillionth iteration of a troll question...

 

[RatDrall]

If you are a poor shooter, and your gun is 4 inches off target, how are you to know if it was YOUR mistake or your guns?

Or, if you are 4 inches low, and then your gun put it 4 inches LOWER you are now 8 inches off target. Or right on the bull if it threw it 4 inches up.

If you are 4" low, and your gun put it 4 inches lower, you'll end up with an 8" group below the target. The group will be centered below the target.

Very few guns are as inaccurate as people say that they are. I had an old, 1980s, mini-14 that would shoot into 1-2 MOA for the first 3 rounds. I had a Romanian SAR-1 that was a solid 2 MOA rifle with crappy Russian ammo. These are guns that most people swear are worthlessly inaccurate, just because they are incapable of shooting them well.

I dont... understand why poor shooters need poor guns.

The point is that they will never know the difference, so buying an AR because it will shoot a 1" group from a vice instead of a Mini-14 that will only shoot a 3" group from a vice is silly, when most people can't even see a 1" bullseye 100 yards away, much less line up sights and hit it at that distance.

 

[greyeyezz]

The only problem with a Mini is you break a firing pin your rifle is out of commission. I doubt Ruger will be accepting rifles in a post apocalyptic world.

 

[benEzra]

The AR. Reliability (assuming a quality AR) is the same, and the AR wins on parts availability (including magazines) hands-down. If the bolt or firing pin breaks on a mini and Ruger is out of business, where are you going to get a new one? Over 30 companies make AR's (and even more make parts and accessories), and they will gladly sell you spare parts.

Very few guns are as inaccurate as people say that they are. I had an old, 1980s, mini-14 that would shoot into 1-2 MOA for the first 3 rounds. I had a Romanian SAR-1 that was a solid 2 MOA rifle with crappy Russian ammo. These are guns that most people swear are worthlessly inaccurate, just because they are incapable of shooting them well.

The '80s mini's were highly variable with regard to accuracy; sounds like you were one of the lucky ones. I owned a 188-series Ranch Rifle (circa 1989) that shot a best ever group of 5.5" at 100 yards, from a rest and rear bag. I tried multiple scopes, irons, and a variety of loads from 40 to 69 grains, including premium 69gr OTM's, over the course of 15 years or so. Mine was just a lemon.

The newer 580-series mini's are consistently fairly accurate, which is the big change. Not as accurate as an AR, but much more consistent than the old mini's.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

The only problem with a Mini is you break a firing pin your rifle is out of commission.

Same with an AR if you don't already have the spare in hand. In this scenario,if you don't already have it you ain't gonna get it.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Same with an AR if you don't already have the spare in hand. In this scenario,if you don't already have it you ain't gonna get it.

That's the point


You can't get certian critical parts for a mini NOW

so you'll be extra boned post apocalypse because you couldn't stock up beforehand.

The mini is a neat sporting rifle, but that's all it is a sporting rifle. IMO these mini vs ar threads are as silly as a m1a/garand vs rem 7400 thread would be.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

IMO these mini vs ar threads are as silly as a m1a/garand vs rem 7400 thread would be.

I could not agree more!

http://www.gunpartscorp.com/catalog/Detail.aspx?pid=291460&catid=8373

they are available now.

 

[greyeyezz]

I don't believe its a drop in part, not like an AR is.

 

[R.W.Dale]

I don't believe its a drop in part, not like an AR is.

Well that and the fact it costs $30 for ONE

 

[jimmyraythomason]

I don't believe its a drop in part, not like an AR is.

Not the point. My response was to this-

You can't get certian critical parts for a mini NOW

While this is true in general,it isn't when speaking of firing pins specifically.

 

[briansmithwins]

The only problem with a Mini is you break a firing pin your rifle is out of commission.

Same with an AR if you don't already have the spare in hand. In this scenario,if you don't already have it you ain't gonna get it.

Which is why the pistol grips of each of my ARs has a spare bolt (headspace checked), firing pin, 2 firing pin retaining pins (easily lost part), and a spare cam pin.

The AKs have a spare firing pin, extractor, and extractor axle in the grab-and-go bags that I stash mags and other essentials for them in. BSW

 

[R.W.Dale]

Not the point. My response was to this- While this is true in general,it isn't when speaking of firing pins specifically.

That's just one part.

Notice how many of the other mini parts that are unavalible as per numerich.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Notice how many of the other mini parts that are unavalible as per numerich.

true but how many of those other parts will you actually every need?

 

[briansmithwins]

true but how many of those other parts will you actually every need?

Ever seen a broken extractor? How about fire control parts (hammer, trigger, disconnecter) that worn out or broken?

I have. I like to have spares for rifles, not to mention spare rifles. That lifetime warranty ain't worth much if USPS ain't running.

BSW

 

[jimmyraythomason]

not to mention spare rifles

Now you're talking.

Ever seen a broken extractor? How about fire control parts (hammer, trigger, disconnecter) that worn out or broken?

yes I have but not anymore so on Rugers than most any other brand. All this is getting nowhere. For every excuse not to use one rifle or the other there is a reasonable counter. It will all come down to personal preference OR WHATEVER YOU HAVE ON HAND if the unlikely scenario described should happen.

 

[Zerodefect]

LoLz.

The AR beats up the mini in defensive weapon manipulation as well.

Something like: Safety on, drop to urban prone, safety off, engage moving target, safety on, get up, safety off, engage moving target, safety on, tac reload, move to next barricade, switch to lefty, safety off, pop out, shoot moving target, pop in safety on.

Thats alot harder for me to do with a Mini, M1a, M1carbine, than an AR15 or AR10.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Safety on, drop to urban prone, safety off, engage moving target, safety on, get up, safety off, engage moving target, safety on, tac reload, move to next barricade, switch to lefty, safety off, pop out, shoot moving target, pop in safety on.

Since I don't do nor anticipate ever doing that,it doesn't figure into my choice of weapon.

 

[dom1104]

Hey Zero, JimmyRay is from Alabama, AND his name is Jimmy Ray....

He pretty much HAS to buy a Mini-14.

Its part of fitting into the neighborhood.

So dont knock it.

I live in Indiana, you buy a pickup and a levergun.

JimmyRay lives in Alabama, a mini-14 is what you get down souf.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

a mini-14 is what you get down souf.

Well,actually no. THE gun of choice here is a Browning Sweet Sixteen. Barring that, an L.C.Smith 20ga or 28ga field grade double will do.

 

[Zerodefect]

Oh, so its area specific? That makes sense.

Here in Ohio we just stab people with our work trucks.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Here in Ohio we just stab people with our work trucks.

How do you sharpen one of those?

 

[Zerodefect]

We're not allowed to have sharp pointy things in Soviet Ohio.

But we can have Mini14's because they don't have "the shoulder thing that goes up".

 

[jimmyraythomason]

We're not allowed to have sharp pointy things in Soviet Ohio.

All for the best I suppose. Not like the state could trust you to be responsible or anything.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

To me it seems like the AR 15 would be better suited, there are more guns some you can pull more spare parts from them, you can stock up on spares beforehand, and accessories are cheaper and more plentiful.

 

[Hangingrock]

The AR15/M16/M4 has come a long way since Curtis LeMay tested it on watermelons.