Mini-14

[Hammer059]

For those that own one, please share your experience, especially regarding their reliability/durability.

I'm thinking about getting one to bring with to the farm. It might rattle around in a vehicle, might get a little dirt on it, and might go without being cleaned for awhile. Will be mostly for shooting soda cans, coyotes, and the occasional skunk that gets too close.

Will this be a more reliable rifle than my M&P-15 under these circumstances? I'm thinking the Mini-14 will be a better utility gun, as I've heard they're more reliable guns that can take a little more abuse and require less cleaning in order to function reliably.

It will be easier to maintain, and I definitely like the look of wood and stainless better than black plastic...

If you have a Mini-14, has it been reliable? I'm most concerned with reliability and durability.

Please share your experience!

 

[briansmithwins]

If anything it would be the other way around. The open action of the Mini just doesn't keep garbage out as good as an AR with the mag in and the ejection port cover closed.

Plus when you factor in the extremely low price of great AR mags, the better accuracy, and the low price of ARs right now, the Mini makes less sense than ever.

BSW

 

[MIL-DOT]

I had a stainless 581-series for a few years, and I liked it pretty well, but i sold it several months ago to get back into an AR.
I never once had a jam, and it was reasonably accurate (I only used Ruger factory mags,though).
Assembly and disassembly is kind of a PITA (particularly the getting the bolt in and out).
They are solid rifles for their intended use, but they are often unfairly critisized because they aren't a high-volume military weapon (which,again, they weren't meant to be).
If you're looking for something for post-SHTF 1000-round firefights, you're gonna want an AR or an AK (or whatever), but for recreational plinking, varmint control and realistic home defense, they're great rifles.
But, given how low AR's have been getting, it's almost stupid to spend the money on a mini over an AR.

 

[Hammer059]

Accuracy isn't really a concern for me, but I see what you're saying.

So if I just shot 2,000 rounds without cleaning, but otherwise kept the rifle free from other foreign dirt/dust, which would you expect to run more reliably?

Honestly, we don't really get the rifles that dirty at the farm. It's just that sometimes they go many, many rounds without cleaning.

 

[Hammer059]

I have two M&P-15 Sports… so instead of selling one and getting a Mini-14, I'm thinking about selling one and putting the money towards a Colt M4 or something like that. That way I have something a little more "heavy duty" (I guess?)

 

[ZGunner]

I like my mini but really just for plinking. I've only had 100 or so rounds through it and 5 stove pipes. All were my reloads and may have been light, they were loaded for a bolt action. The 20 rounds of Federal 5.56 have been perfect. I don't think this a trend with the platform just my personal experience. 20 rnd Ruger factory mags.
My Bushmaster, BCM and M&P AR-15s have all ejected the same ammo the Mini didn't like.

 

[JDGray]

Love my mini! 100% reliable, accurate, not everybody has one....
Not to mention the bolt runs cooler, and cleaner without gas blowing all over it.

 

[sirgilligan]

My wife has one. It only has around 100 rounds through it. No problems shooting PMC .223 55 grain.

In a rack or behind the truck seat and it should be fine. I would personally but a 5 round mag in it if behind the seat, and keep a couple of loaded mags in the glove box. Why the smaller round mag, because it sticks out less and the rifle won't be resting on it with as much leverage, etc.

I can't imagine any type of rifle not working just fine being stored in a truck. My brother has done it for years. They get a coating of dust on them, but that ain't going to hurt anything.

 

[1KPerDay]

I've had good luck with my ARs as well as my old Ranch Rifle, but I don't shoot a billion rounds from either, nor do I go many thousands of rounds between cleanings. If I had to pick one to subject to abuse/minimal lube and expect it to work, I'd pick the mini. Overgassed, very simple action, all steel, mags are steel. Steel charging handle. Solid buttstock.

 

[ttarp]

Logic and experience dictate the AR is the better choice for what you get, a more accurate and more reliable firearm. But I find the mini to be a much more enjoyable rifle to shoot, I'm not too crazy about pistol grips, and for some reason I just like rifles with open top receivers.
I realize that is all very subjective but sometimes you just like a rifle for what it is even when something else does the same job better.
For your purpose I don't see why one of your sports wouldn't fill the role.

 

[Neo-Luddite]

I've had a plain jane blue Mini since 1990. We still use them at my work (IL Dept. of Corrections). For starters, they are handy little <200 yrd rifles. They suffer abuse well. One consideration--I would opt for stainless as I've had the experience of having the bolt 'freeze' in place from rust in a mildly damp basement. When this occurred I had to pop it free with a dowel and the ejector plunger popped out of correct position/ detent. Easily fixed, and I've been careful with the bolt face ever since and the problem has never re-occurred. But this did shatter my illusions about how rugged the Mini is. Also, Mag quality is hit or miss unless you buy Ruger factory. If you can find one in stainless for a decent price I doubt you'd ever be dissatisfied with it.

That being said, if I were buying a rifle for the purposes you describe I'd go for an AK. I've had a Cugir WASR 10 for a decade and would bet on its reliability under adverse conditions over a Mini any day. Once more, cheap and durable AK's like the WASR cost much less than a Mini these days. Clunkier than the Mini, but just about as compact--it would never ask you for any love whatsoever. Just something to consider. But a stainless Mini is what we use at work and they get the crap beat out of them and keep running with normal cleaning, too.

 

[Hammer059]

Ttarp, similar to you, I like the look of the Mini better (I would get the stainless model and put a wood stock on it. I don't like pistol grips. Something tells me that if my cousins and I were to go a long time without cleaning the rifle between rounds, the Mini would function more reliably. Idk. I'm not sure what to do here. Why do you say the AR is more reliable? Not saying an AR isn't reliable, but I've never heard anything knocking the reliability of Mini's

 

[W.E.G.]

The gas system of my 1988-vintage blue steel model was a rust magnet.

You have to take the receiver assembly out of the stock to clean the gas system sufficiently to keep rust off it.

An all-stainless model is probably much less susceptible.

An OK 5.56 rifle if you're not planning on putting optics on it, and if you're not planning on making precision shots at much distance.

Unless there is some "assault weapon" law forcing you to NOT get an AR15-type rifle, I can see no reason to choose a Mini over an AR15 in the current market. The "costs less" reason is certainly passed.

If you just prefer the way the Mini looks, or some aspect of how it operates, that's fine.
But at least be honest with yourself that you chose a lesser rifle for subjective reasons.

 

[Fishbed77]

Will this be a more reliable rifle than my M&P-15 under these circumstances? I'm thinking the Mini-14 will be a better utility gun, as I've heard they're more reliable guns that can take a little more abuse and require less cleaning in order to function reliably

That's pretty much the exact opposite of reality.

The Mini-14 is a handy rifle, but will never be as durable or reliable as a quality AR-15. It's designed to be a handy commercial sporting rifle, and fulfills that job well. It will NOT take the abuse of a quality mil-spec AR-15, and it's not designed to. The open action of the Mini-14 is sensitive to the ingress of debris, compared to the more closed system of the AR.

The AR will run well even when dirty, so long as it is properly lubricated (Google Filty-14).

 

[tark]

I've hated ARs since I saw my first one in the Army, in 1968. And of course, it was an M-16. I took Basic at Ft. Bliss and we had M-14s because the M-16s of that era couldn't take the sand in the desert. They had a lot of problems in those days.

In the 45 years since, the AR has evolved into one of the most thoroughly sorted out and perfected mechanical devices in history. It's reliability and accuracy are as good as it gets. The only problem I have with it now is its caliber.

But you're not buying a rifle to take to war, you are buying a tool and a source of recreation. Minis are OK, I have one, it does everything I ask of it. (mostly setting off Tannerite)!!! But if I were in your position, I would go for the AR without hesitation.

 

[Whacked]

Something I've always wondered.

If the AR is so dang good and perfect in every way, why does it have a forward assist?

Biggest regret ever was selling my mini.

If you really want serious neglect reliability, get a AK.

 

[jim in Anchorage]

An OK 5.56 rifle if you're not planning on putting optics on it[/QUOTE

And why would you say that?

 

[jeepguy]

I have a SS mini 14 & It has been great. I would get the SS version with the plastic traditional stock if your going to keep it in the truck. They are ultra reliable with the factory mags. Plus if you ever want to scope it they come with rings from the factory. As far as an AR 15 or AK, I believe they would also work well in this scenario. IMO they are all good, fun, reliable rifles & you really can't go wrong with any of them.

 

[joem1945]

I love mine. Accuracy was poor as it had a 1/7 twist barrel. Sent it in for them to install a 1/9 and it's much better. I'm cheap and didn't want to buy more expensive bullets for it and I use the same reloads in my AR's.

 

[BSA1]

Whacked,

The general concenus on THR is the forward assist is not needed and should not be used to force a round to completely chamber. S&W shares this opinion also with their Sport model. Trying to force the round to fully chamber may cause the mother of all jams whereas simply manually ejecting the round by pulling the bolt back will clear the round while chambering a fresh one.

My son who is active U.S. Army says he has used the forward assist when qualifying. However he is in a support unit and says the AR's they use for qualification are in generally poor condition and their ammunition is old and of questionable quality.

I have qualified with the Mini 14 for many years in addition to owning one. IMHO the AR is superior in all aspects.

 

[Hammer059]

Thanks for all the responses so far.

I'm definitely gonna go the route of just getting another AR. Since I have two "Sports" I'll sell one of them for money towards either an M&P-15 (model with carry handle and dust cover) or a Colt.

I would REALLY like a Colt AR15A4, which is the more "traditional" style; 20" barrel, fixed buttstock, carry handle. But they seem to be very hard to find..

So now the question is, S&W or Colt?

 

[loose noose]

Definitely Colt!

 

[Panzerschwein]

In my area, I've only been seeing new Mini-14s in the mid to high $800 range.

These days, you can get a lot of AR for that amount of money, with better accuracy and cheap magazines galore. I love the classic looks of the Mini, but can't see myself getting one over an AR... right now, I own neither.

 

[Ironicaintit]

Meh...regardless of popular opinion, I live my minis! I have a ranch rifle and a stainless and they're great fun. Ive never had any reliability issues. Dirty, clean, oiled or dry, they dont seem to mind. I enjoy the nice hike to go fetch my brass for reloading, too!
But yeah, in todays market itd be kinda silly to not get a quality AR first.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

I've owned 2. One was reliable the other was not. Neither were accurate enough and got sold off.