Mini 14

[semper_fidelis]

Hey I'm thinking about getting a mini 14. Already have a AR-15 in .223. .223 is fun for plinking but i would prefer a .308. I'll be using it for plinking coyote hunting and deer if I can find someplace to hunt. How accurate are they, are they picky about ammo, do they need cleaning and lubrication like Ar-15, whats a good price, good survival gun? Please tell me anything you think I should know. Thanks

 

[gunman42782]

I have had 4 Mini 14s over the years (I'm a slow learner). If you can live with minute of pie plate at 100 yards, it is a OK gun. My main problem has been the POI shift. After the gun heats up, the shots start to drop until they are about 6 to 8 inches below point of aim. And they don't make a Mini in .308. They do have one in 6.8 SPC now.

 

[Fburgtx]

Oh no, here we go again.......

 

[Girodin]

A quick search ought to provide you with multiple threads where the case against the mini is laid out.

The long and short is that they are inaccurate and way overpirced for what you actually get. My typical comment is that one would be well served to spend a little more and get some thing else or buy a saiga which is a better preformer than the mini and hundreds of dollars less. The saiga unlike the mini 14 does come in .308.

The more part of .308 saigas I've seen targets from were shooting 1-2" groups at 100 yards. If you need more accuracy than that then a sub $500 semi auto is not what you should be looking for.

 

[Snapping Twig]

Go here:

www.perfectunion.com

Best Mini site on the net.

Mini's work and they work well.

 

[Ignition Override]

My Mini 14 and 30 are really fun. so is the SKS and M44.
The 30-rd. polymer Promag for the Mini 14 has only had 4-10 rounds in it each time, but never had any misfeeds or any hang-ups at all. Used the Promag about 6-8 times, if that helps any.

The Saiga is supposed to be quite a rifle, and have handled the .223 (smoothest trigger pull of any gun-was it modified?), but comes in 7.62x39 along with the .308. This x39 ammo's prices (i.e. Wolf) appears to be more stable than Wolf .223.
Saigas attract me, much more than the AKs. Well-kept secrets?
Were I to do it over again, I might buy the Saiga instead of my 2nd Mini (30). When I decide to buy a 10-rd mag and it works fine, will then have no regrets.

The grass is always greener on the other side of the gunrack, or a different page at GunBroker.
Last night GunBroker had four full pages of Mini 14s. What has happened to create this much larger selection? The economy/fuel/mortgage mess?
Optimistic gunstores and maybe ammo prices?

 

[Organdonor]

Skip the 14 and get a Mini-30. I just picked up a used 30 for $455 shipped.

They aren't as accurate as AR's, but they can be more reliable due to their open breech design. They are a great survival gun, and eat up any ammo I feed into mine.

I already have a Mini-14, AR-15, and an AR-10. The AR-10 is .308, and is great to shoot, more accurate than I am, but pricey for ammo and for the gun. The Mini-30 will cost you about 50%-66% less to purchase (even used), and the ammo costs 50% less.

 

[Art Eatman]

From the sstandpoint of hunting and self-defense, the Mini is just fine. The first shot from a cold barrel reliably goes to the same point of aim as yesterday or last week. The first two or three shots group reasonably well; my experience is of about 1.5 MOA with a scope.

The thin barrel means that they quickly heat up, and the design of the stock and barrel band makes for dispersion of the shots. However, they will hold "minute of torso" all day long.

IMO, they've become over-priced, NIB.

 

[Neo-Luddite]

If in fact you want .308--
a mini you do NOT want.

You want an M1a/M14

Or, if you want something in the mini price range that you will never regret buying for the rest of your days that can be had for < 500 bucks RIGHT NOW and fed 165 gr .30/06 for 1/2 the cost of any 'poodle shooter' ammo--

just get an M-1 Garand from the CMP.

The mini doesn't exist (excepting the failed 'XGI' model) in .308 Win. If you want 7.62 x 39 (like the AK) sure--the Mini30 is a good little gun.
From your post it sounds like you want 7.62 x 51 NATO--the Garand in .30/06 would give the same (or a wee more) punch on the cheap.
Look into it.

 

[benEzra]

If you are thinking about deer hunting with it, you might want to consider the new mini-14 in 6.8mm Remington instead of the .223/5.56mm version. The ballistics will be a lot closer to .308, and .223 is OK for coyotes but generally considered underpowered for deer. Ammunition would be considerably more expensive, though, and finding full-capacity magazines might be a problem.

 

[JNewell]

I've owned two, still have one. Accuracy - neither would do more than 5-6" at 100 yards with any ammo. I can shoot 1/2" groups with other rifles, so it ain't the shooter. Having said that, they're rugged and fill out a rack that already has Garands and M1 Carbines. If you can get one for a reasonable price, it might be in the "everyone should own one" category as a fun plinker.

The latest version is supposed to be more accurate...dunno about that myself.

 

[Titan6]

With so many good choices out there in that price range why settle for mediocre?

I am curious as to why you would use .308 for coyote hunting and plinking? .223 is great for both those tasks. You must have some serious dough or you are heavy into reloading.

 

[Famaldehide Face]

Im not talking about the M14 Rifle, But the prototype Mini 14 in 7.62 Calibre that was nearly going to be manufactured. I find it pointless except for weight reduction.

 

[Jason_G]

Hey I'm thinking about getting a mini 14. Already have a AR-15 in .223. .223 is fun for plinking but i would prefer a .308. I'll be using it for plinking coyote hunting and deer if I can find someplace to hunt.

If in fact you want .308--
a mini you do NOT want.

You want an M1a/M14

I also get the feeling that the Mini is getting confused with an M1A/M14.
Closest to .308 Win in a mini is the mini-30, which fires 7.62 x 39 Russian. It is an acceptable cartridge for deer with near .30-30 ballistics (not quite, but close enough for argument's sake). For deer, I'd pass on a .223.

Jason

 

[NC-Mike]

The mini is a good rifle if its sighted in with a cold barrel and you don't expect to take more than a couple shots.

With a hot barrel, your shots will string. I had one and did a bunch of work to it, including shortening the barrel to get it to shoot straight while hot. In the end, it was shooting pretty good but I traded it in on a Sig 556 and I never missed it. Mini's can be a big headache and you almost have to run 50.00 factory mags if you want a reliable 20 rounder.

I'm pretty much done with the mini.

 

[pbrktrt]

if you feed them quality ammo & do a few inexpensive mods they will shoot quite accurately. with good optics mine will shoot reliably 1-1/2 moa. i have target pics on Accu-strut.com to prove it. mini-30 at 100 yds. it is a hardy, well made, reliable semi-auto. the biggest problem with accuracy complaints is the ammo being used.

 

[semper_fidelis]

thanks for the help I have a SKS in 7.62 X 39 I don't get a lot a chances to go shooting but when i do it's nothing for me to put 100-200 rounds through the gun so i think ill look for something a little more accurate and that comes more readily available in .308 thanks again for the help.