Mini-14: your experience?

[theotherwaldo]

Picked up an early model for about the price of the Leupold scope that some optimist put on it, not counting the bi-pod, 30-round mag, cheek pad, and other inappropriate accessories.
Handy, sturdy, reliable with factory mags, with M-1 carbine-level accuracy. I'd probably not have bought it for its $350.00 asking price as I have other carbines that I like but the accessories were worth the money and the gun was essentially free.

The accessories now grace other, more appropriate rifles, of course.

 

[Steven Proshop]

if you look at the rifle for what it was intended to do, it does a fine job. its not a range gun. in the field you will find it great, the first shot you take hitting where you expect it to. at the range you will grow frustrated after the fifth round. its a good hunting rifle, bot i don't think its worth the $650 they ask for them new.

a friend of mine just sold his for $425 with two 20 round factory magazines. he didn't hunt, so he decided an AR would suit him better. go with whatever your intended purpose is.

 

[Water-Man]

Buy it! I've had mine for several years and it works great. All this talk about accuracy? It's accurate enough. You don't buy it for bench-rest competition! I've got an old Leupold 3x9 on mine and it works fine in the range of 100-150 yds.. Just don't mess with those cheap aftermarket mags!

 

[Shade00]

I would probably go with a Saiga in .223.

 

[FuzzyBunny]

I have a mini 14 and it is the about like my shotgun.

Let me say that there are a few good ones but mine is the worst made. I have tried 9 brands of ammo. Light bullets and heavy. The function is rock solid except with aftermarket mags. With Ruger mags it has never failed to feed fire and eject flawlessly.

Back to the accuracy. I think I hold the record for the worst of all the mini 14s. At 50 yards I get one hit on a paper plate out of 20 rounds. It shoots a pattern and not groups. I have friends that own and shoot minis and they can not believe it. This ranch rifle is really one of a kind. I think it was built by ruger gremlins in the dark of night. I have tried different stocks with no improvement. The different gunsmiths have checked it over from stem to stern and it checks out just perfect. I loaned it to 2 benchrest shooters that handload and promised they could work up a load for it. No dice! The best they got was 3 hits on a 9" paper plate at 50 yards. It is really amazing.

If Ruger factory mags get cheaper I'm thinking of putting a folding stock on it and making it a very close in (50 feet) home protection shooter.

I'm going to keep it just because I hate to sell it to someone and make an enemy. Plus after 1500 rounds of all types it has never failed for function! (not counting the Triple K mags I tried, all 8 mags were just junk right out of the package)

Please, do not think I am knocking all mini 14s because I am not. I just wanted to share the info on this one of a kind noise maker. I have shot many that are a real joy to shoot and will get 1 MOA. I like the way it looks, kinds like

When ever I go to the range I take it just to pick up beer money by betting folks they can not get 3 rounds out of 20 in a paper plate at 50 yards. I have only lost the bet one time and that was in a thunderstorm with 30mph wind gusts. Go figure!

ps. I should add this was bought new around 1990

 

[tinygnat219]

Fun enough. That's also a good price. Grab it.

 

[Neo-Luddite]

Condition is the question you'll have to answer. I bought mine new in 1990 for about $340. Today, they go new for 500-550 (on sale) in plain jane configuration.
Some used mini's have been treated a little rough--have a look at the thing for signs of abuse. The older type rear sights were prone to damage from being dropped--have a look there, too.

As said, MOST are reliable little guns.
If the seller has some good mags to throw in, maybe a good deal.

The BIGGEST down side is that ammo in 5.56 (or .223 Rem) is costly right now--30 cents a pull and up. you may want to consider that, too.

 

[KBintheSLC]

If I could find a Mini for that price, I would buy it today. They are great guns... very reliable and durable, accuracy is about as good as a decent AK, and they are just plain fun to shoot. If you can get a good specimen for that price, I say jump on it.

 

[sarduy]

you're going to have mixed opinions and here's another.

if you want it, Get it. it's a good deal!
if you want accuracy, save and get an AR for $200 more (a del-ton kit)
if you want reliabale, get an AK for about $100 more

 

[Walkalong]

For that price, I would get another.

Accurate? So, So. Good enough for most things.

Dependable? Absolutely. Work with any ammo. You bet.

A scaled down version of the best action ever. The M14.

If you want to shoot a gnat in the eye at 100 yards, get something else.

I don't know about after market mags these days, but I have some aftermarket 20's, 30's and 40's that work flawlessly.

 

[Bwana John]

I had four or five before learning there is a reason people want to sell them cheap.

I dont like them. 10 moa is not cool.

One had the problem of dropping the trigger group into the dirt while you fired it.

They have a gas system that just screams "rust me".:banghead:

Great idea based on a iconoclastic design, poorly executed.

 

[LJH]

I have had several, simply put it the gun I take when I want to have fun shooting. Yea it makes 5” groups at 100yds. But it will cycle any ammo I run in it. It feels very comfortable to shoot. Not only that did I mention how much fun it is

 

[BeJaRa]

I have shot many mini 14/30s that relatives and friends have and all have been extremely reliable and of more than adequate accuracy. the only issue with a mini is the price but you have one available for $375 then that is a hell of a deal. If it was for $600+ then I would say save for an AR. I think most people who complain about mini-14s reliability is they go out and buy one of the plethra of crap-ass hi cap magazines. now if hi-cap mags are your thing you might want to think again since ruger brand 20rd mags go for $40+. Persoanlly I think that more people would like the mini if it shipped with a picatinny rail

 

[Tarvis]

One had the problem of dropping the trigger group into the dirt while you fired it.

I dont like them. 10 moa is not cool.

Sounds like you're having a problem with your rifle in-particular, not the mini-14 in general.

They have a gas system that just screams "rust me".

Considering all it takes is a screw driver to pop the rifle apart (less than 20 seconds), a rag and an aerosol can of clp to keep it properly maintained, I think we can all agree it's a non-issue.

I don't know what problems others have had, but my 188 (iirc) series seems to run well, despite the cheap mags I use. Some individual guns may have problems, like J Star's bolt getting stuck shut, which kind-of sounds like he put the guide rod in upside down (operator error) or his rifle is out of spec in some way. I'm not an expert so don't quote me, but the mini is NOT known for being a jam-o-matic. This is like saying the AR runs dirty and can not be fired more than twice without needing to be cleaned; it's opinionated non-sense backed up by a single issue most likely (but not necessarily) caused by operator error and failure to properly maintain one's weapon. You don't bad-mouth chevy when you forget to put oil in your rig do you?

Some may have had issues with their mini that was a failure of the rifle, maybe even got a lemon. That doesn't mean that every AR shoots sub moa and there has never been an instance in which an AK has jammed; and if it did it was mags and ammo but the mini is just design flawed. Ingorance. From what I've heard, Ruger did not use very high quality barrels from the git-go which is where most of the mini's accuracy short-comings come from. Also, I've heard that it is very expensive to make a garand/m1a style rifle super accurate. The mini could be considered a budget rifle, which would put it on the other side of the fence as far as accuracy goes.

Buy it, it's probably the best price you'll find as long as the rifle isn't trashed and is in good working order.

 

[SwampWolf]

I like the reliable Mini-14 with the standard aperature sights for relatiely close range stuff- out to, say, 100 yards or so. I prefer the AR-15 (I have a RRA National Match with the detachable handle) mounted with a scope for varmint hunting when it's not employed in a Service Rifle match.

 

[Organdonor]

I have a 14 and a 30... as well as three AR's in three different calibers. I love all of them. For hunting deer, the Mini-30 is my gun.

I have noticed in the past couple of months the bolt on my 14 has become stuck closed like another poster mentioned. What causes this? I'm able to whack it hard enough with the edge of my palm to get it to release, but it's still troubling.

 

[wcwhitey]

I will give $100 bucks for anyone's unreliable, inaccurate Mini out there. I feel bad that all of you have to shoot such overrated pieces of junk. Really now, I am sure there is one or more in the group of posters that would be willing to try an convince me that their M1 Carbine is twice the gun, twice as accurate and twice as reliable as the Mini 14. This anti-mini bandwagon bash is getting bigger all the time. Bill

 

[jburnett]

I have a very soft spot for Mini's (thanks A-Team) and have owned numerous ones over the years including two AC556's one of which I still have.

I don't know who said Mini's weren't reliable. I own two M16's (one "real" one conversion) and my AC556 is a helluva lot more reliable than either. It will also eat ANYTHING you put in it including the old laquer-cased Wolf (before they changed to the new coating). I've had very few stoppages in Mini's and almost all can be traced to crappy mags.

Accuracy? As someone else has said: "minute of man." Well, it's a little better than that; most Mini's I've actually scoped would group around 4" at 100 yds. with M193 type ammo....About AK accurate. They get a little scattered if you let them get real hot though. Now, here's the funny thing: my 13" bbl'd AC is more accurate than ANY of the other Mini's I've owned; I attribute this fact to the shorter and slightly heavier bbl. I believe (and particularly with heat) there is a substantial amount of deflection in the bbl. past the gas block on Mini's. Every ACCURATE one I've ever seen has somehow altered the gas block arrangement (in addition to adding a true heavy bbl., not that crap Shilen has).

The simple answer is there are more accurate and certainly more modular rifles out there (the AR/M16 platform is nearly impossible to beat simply on modularity) but the Ruger Mini-14 is inexpensive, uses a PROVEN action, and is certainly a capable enough weapon in competent hands.
-J.Burnett

 

[dagger dog]

If 4" 100yd groups are acceptable.

If you don't mind paying out the wazoo for hi cap mags that work.

If you want dead reliability with any ammo fed through a factory mag.

If you like to be able to feild strip with just a round from the mag.

If you don't mind all the guff every one is ready to hand out about your Mini or Bill Ruger and his policies.

Buy It!, It's one hell of a fun rifle and you will enjoy shooting it.

I'ts not a long range surgical sniper rifle,but a light and handy carbine and it makes one hell of a home defense, truck gun and does just what it was designed to do. Be there when you need it and functions to bet your life on it.

 

[ThomasT]

I have a 580 series gun with the straight taper barrel and have no complaints about function or accuracy so far. The one time i took it out and shot it surprised with how well it grouped.

Also Organdoner and the other poster who are having trouble with your bolt sticking, are you sure there is no build up of fouling on the gas pipe or inside of the operating rod that would cause the bolt to stick? Thats the only thing I can see that might do that. I could be wrong, its happened before.

 

[jburnett]

That's just it... I don't EXPECT anything more than 4" accuracy from an OEM Mini and neither should anyone else. I don't expect for an AK to be a tack drive either and it isn't... If you buy a Mini-14 you need to expect its shortcomings and either accept or alter them. All firearms are largely like this (including the much vaunted "Black Rifle"). If I want to shoot an MOA (or sub-MOA) rifle then I grab either my benchrest rifle or my Win 70 Sharpshooter (which incidentally will put 5 handloads in a 3/8" group at 100 yds) not a Mini-14.

What I will do with one though is throw an inexpensive red dot on it and grab a handful of cheap mags (another misconception) and throw it under the back seat in the truck as a "just in case" rifle.

Regarding mags you don't HAVE to buy the factory Ruger high-caps to get reliable mags; you just have to pay attention to the feed lips and make sure they aren't damaged. I have probably 35-40 Mini mags including some OEM 20's/30's that I got with my AC; all except the cheap ass plastic ones work perfectly well provided the feed lips aren't damaged. Same can be said for AR mags though; they are aluminum and FRAGILE and let's not forget about the 28th round malfunction on mags without the new green followers.

As for Bill Ruger... Yeah, he was a dick...But he's a DEAD dick now. And Ruger does not hold the only responsibility for being occasionally anti-gun; Smith & Wesson anyone???

Regardless of how you feel about Ruger or the Mini's, the fact is they're inexpensive and do what they're designed to. There are definitely worse choices out there.
-J.Burnett

PS: Just for shemps and giggles here IS a vid of a BAD MAGAZINE in a Mini (well, AC556).

 

[TAB]

If 14" 100yd groups are acceptable.

fixed.

I've only sold 2 guns in my life, one was a mini 14. I don't miss it one bit.

 

[Txhillbilly]

I have always liked my 180 series (1976) Mini 14. No,it's not a match grade or anything close rifle,but it works for what I have always used it for. I have shot coyotes on the run at 75-100 yrds on my old ranch. Yes,it will shoot patterns for groups once that thin little barrel heats up,but if you rapid fire almost any gun it looses alot of accuracy. Jamming,is caused by not completely cleaning the gun. You must clean the bushing in the gas block just like you have to clean the gas tube on an AR15,it will carbon up and start jamming. Optics,I have had the same 3x9x32 scope on this gun since I bought it,and have fired several thousand rds out of it and the scope still works,yes I do have to re-zero it every once in a while,but it is on a rigid gun and takes a lot of punishment from the recoil. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[Tarvis]

I've had problems with a stick bolt, but it was attributed to handloads that didn't have the full length size die screwed down far enough. Other than that, as Ratshooter said, it probably has something to do with the operating rod.

 

[swiftak]

They are just ok. Fun to shoot. They are nothing special. Mine throws the brass too far. An ok gun. Probably wouldn't ever spend the money on another one. Like someone said "save the money to buy something better".