Mini 14 vs m1 carbine for fun at the ranch and plinking

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Younggunner

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I have a choice between a really nice m1 carbine or a new mini 14. The mini cost about $180 more. What would you choose?
 
Mini 14 - Readily available ammo, new, more powerful cartridge

M1 Carbine - History, less penetration/range (bonus for low acreage or lack of trees), unique

What you are planning to do with it on the ranch will set the final decision.
 
For squirrels and coyotes... Or when a hog rushes on me when I trip on it, I put 5 rounds in him and run.
 
Squirrels - .22LR
Coyotes/Squirrels - .22 Mag
Hogs (depending on size and distance) - .22 Mag or .223

Given your two options listed, get the Mini 14.
 
Assuming a GI carbine. Get the M1. They still make the mini you can always find a deal on a used one later. The M1 will go up in value.
 
For a ranch rifle, I'd say mini-14, for all the above reason and that if it gets scratched, dinged, rusted, etc. you won't feel as bad about it as you would over an WW2-era M1 carbine.
 
does it seem like a good idea to get the new tactical model? The one with a folding buttstock and rails? Because if I got the m1 carbine which is an inland... I think, I would put it in an ultimak stock with a metal vented hand guard.
 
I have one of each. My vote would be the Mini. Ammo being the best reason. I love my M1 and it is my wife's SHTF rifle if ammo was as cheap and plentful for it as the Mini it would be a harder choice. My thinking is to find a used Mini and have fun as they are hard to kill. Russ
 
I had the same choice recently. For me I chose the mini and yes I chose the tactical with folding stock. Not really because I wanted the folder so much as the adjustable stock. I haven't yet shot it, but plan on taking it out tomorrow. My next choice is either put a red dot on it or a low power scope, such as 1.5-4. But these are good choices as far as I'm concerned. I like the ATI stock it seems to fit me good, while I don't have need of the rails right now (they are removable) I like having them available, the top rail seems to be perfect for mounting a scope in the scout position.

The mini has the advantage of cheaper and more readily available ammo and more stuff made for it. The mags are more expensive then AR mags, but they are available. LGS has 20 & 30 round promags for $25 I just got two off of amazon for 25 each, I had gift certificates for amazon, so they were bascially free to me.

Also no one is gonna try to tar and feather you for bubbaing or is it bubbing a mini.

Good luck with your choice.
John
 
I'd go for the Mini mostly because the .223 round is so much more versatile and effective than the .30 carbine. Plus you can get the Mini in stainless steel.
 
I own both an AK and an AR, so those bases are covered. However, my CMP M1 carbine is my favorite at the range, and my number one HD weapon.
 
Ohhhh--we do this basic conversation overandoverandoverandover.......

-If it *is* about fun, buy what you like better.

-If it is about fun + might need to use to defend life and property (over distance now, and NOT saying the M-1 Carbine won't serve in close, because it certainly will) + get ammo in most places---maybe the Mini. The Carbine is about on par with a .357 magnum in terms of close in defensive power with proper ammo; the mini will impart serveral times the energy of the venerable M-1 round-for-round. But still, 5.56 *IS NOT* what I would want to wump a hog with, so maybe also....

-If we're talking fun-on-a-budget + maybe needed to defend life and property----look into the AK in 7.62 x 39. The ammo cost is comming down and stocks returning. You can 'deck out' a stock AK in as many ways as a mini.

It ALL comes back to what for and how much money to spend on ammo up front;




the ammo cost is a BIG factor right now---plan on buying at least a couple 1000 rounds for a new weapon right away to be safe.

*NOTE to USSR---just wonderful to see. No dsirespect to the Carbine intended. But your 'relationship' is clearly NOT a casual one!
 
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Thanks guys, after seeing how much the mini magazines cost I like the idea of a hard hittng round of the ak... For the money I save on ak I'll just get a mojo peep site to smooth everything out.
 
If i want a 7.62x39 I'd rather have the ak look if I'm getting that caliber... If I had the cash I'd buy an AR without thinkng twice, but as it currently is it's between the 3 now.
 
I did everything out-of-order over 20+ years:

-got the mini-got the Garand-got the SKS (yugo)-FINALLY got the AK.

If it came down to ONE, the Garand would be it for me. But for what you are talking about, that AK would be pretty handy and pretty cheap to feed.
 
Ok so you like the m1 carbine but you also think that the ak is good for my condition and I agree. But should I be worried that ammunition for it could be banned? Because with a stroke of a pen all of the ak ammo could be gone for a while.... And with the m1 carbine, it's an American round and there is less demand which means I don't have to wait a month or two for ammo right?
 
Depends on your shooting .30 carbine has about the same range of a 22 magnum. 223 has 2.5 times the range. Accuracy is fair to good in either selection. I have both:).


Jim
 
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