Mini-14

[Art Eatman]

I've had four Minis. Two blued, two stainless. All were the early "skinny Minis".

Very reliable. No problems whatsoever, for some 4,000+ rounds over a fifteen-year period.

Always reliable for first-shot POI = POA. Right into Mr. Coyote or Mr. Jackrabbit.

Commonly, with a Weaver K-4 on top, the first three shots were 1.5 MOA. For hunting, I never saw any reason to care about group size when playing bangitty-bang. Not my deal.

My preference in magazines is the factory 10-round, which allows carrying at the balance point.

 

[Water-Man]

I've got an 186 Series Mini from 1999. It has several thousand rounds through it, many of which were real cheap junk, and has never failed me.

It's not a target rifle but it wasn't designed as such either. It has taken several types of small game as well as deer.

It's a rifle that won't be sold by me.

 

[Swing]

If you have a Mini-14, has it been reliable?

Yes. I've owned and shot various Minis for decades and have found them to be absolutely, positively, rock-solid reliable with quality magazines. By quality magazines, I mean original Rugers and some, though certainly not all, after-markets. Both are widely available circa mid-2015.

 

[Mosin Bubba]

Now I've never fired off more than a few shots from a Mini, so I'm not qualified to speak about their long-term reliability. But I think the rifle you're looking for is an SKS. Milsurp SKSs are about as tough as rifles get, and they will run without cleaning for a very long time. The one I bought used was bone-dry, had a bit of cosmoline hanging around (seems like you can never get all that stuff out) and was just filthy. It still shot just fine when I took it out for the first time. The rifle has the traditional-style wood stock you're looking for, and I'd feel much better about having a $350 Norinco getting knocked around in a truck than a nice $800 AR or Mini.

 

[tark]

Whacked, the FA was put on the rifle for one reason, to give the operator a means to force the bolt forward if necessary, a feature every OTHER Autoloading rifle on the planet has. (OK , HK-91 and G-3s don't, you got me there) Any auto can have an occasional failure to chamber all the way, requiring a nudge on the bolt. The original AR had no way of doing this. The FA gave it one. It was simply one of the modifications in the perfection process. It isn't used much, if at all, these days, but it is there when you need it.

 

[Nature Boy]

I've always wanted one. Seeing JDGray's underfolder (or maybe its a side folder) makes me want it more. Very nice

 

[HoosierQ]

The mini-14 is a very reliable rifle. It will reliably send a bullet downrange AND launch your brass into low earth orbit with every pull of the trigger.

 

[bannockburn]

Nature Boy

I agree, that side folder set-up just the way it is looks great to me too. The full wood or synthetic stock versions, not as much so.

 

[Whacked]

Guess my sarcasm didn't come across

 

[carbine85]

I own a few AR15's and Mini 14's. The Mini is now over-priced for today's market, however if a Mini became available at the right price I would jump on it.
Mini14's are very good rifles, extremely reliable and durable. Most of us don't dump them in sand boxes or mud holes so the extreme dirt shouldn't be an issue. I haven't had the accuracy issues that some speak about. They aren't as accurate as the AR15 typically is but it wasn't intended to be either. I have an old SS 183 series with a scope that will shoot 2" without any real effort.
For the right price I would pick up another.

 

[Fishbed77]

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

Because the bolt handle is non-reciprocating.

 

[shafter]

I've never been one to clean my rifles every time I shoot them, but boy you must hate cleaning if you let em go for 2000 rounds or more!

 

[JDGray]

Thanks guys!

 

[benEzra]

I owned a 188-series Mini-14 Ranch Rifle for many years; I now shoot a Rock River AR, owned a Romanian AK for a few years, and also had a good bit of trigger time on my then-wife's Russian SKS. Here is my experience:

(1) The mini-14 is a supremely reliable rifle when cared for, but it does not like to be run dry; you'll get galling on the bolt nub (my experience) and a high likelihood of failure to cycle when hot (John Farnam's experience, via his class AAR's). I also found that it can seize up if stored dry in a humid environment; this happened to me once, due to rust and hardened carbon on the op-rod/gas piston interface (yes, stainless can rust, I found out), and I had to whack the charging handle with a 2x4 to unstick the action. If you choose a mini, keep it generously oiled (or even greased, on the bolt nub and op rod channel), and keep it clean.

(2) A properly assembled, well lubricated AR is as reliable as a mini-14 or an AK, even when shot for hundreds or thousands of rounds without cleaning. To keep it from going dry over time, you can squirt oil in the gas vent holes in the bolt carrier, if you don't have time to pop out the BCG and wipe it out. I personally use Mobil 1 5W30, but any good synthetic oil will do (e.g. Militec, etc.).

(3) An AR with the dust cover closed and a PMAG in the well is more protected from random crap getting into the action than a mini (mini has openings that can't be closed). An AR without a dust cover is a little more susceptible to dirt in the action, but no more so than a mini, I'd expect.

(4) The accuracy of older mini's can suck (mine did). If you get a mini, get one with a serial number 580-xxxxx or higher; those have a reputation for more consistent accuracy.

(5) A high quality SKS that is shot dry for a thousand rounds can become a single-shot until the bolt and carrier is re-oiled (this happened to my then-wife's, and it was a fine Russian SKS that otherwise ran flawlessly).

 

[Whacked]

Naw, dont hate them. For years just never cared for the looks. That has changed somewhat recently and I can see myself owning one, just not a priority.

I regret selling my mini because it was fun and very reliable and very accurate. it loved that old yellow box Norinco ammo (the stuff clinton had banned) while my Dad's and neighbors guns would have issues with that ammo.
I dont remember if it was a 186 series, might have been since I bought it at La Jolla gun show in '88

 

[Sheepdog1968]

Mine is a newer 580 model. Runs 2-3 MOA. I like it. I can go around 500 rounds before it needs to be cleaned otherwise I get an occasional failure to feed. Other than that, no issues to report. I likely have a couple,of thousand rounds through it. Took it to urban rifle at Thunder Ranch and it worked just fine.

 

[Hammer059]

Thanks a bunch for sharing your experiences.

Shafter, I don't mind cleaning at all. But it's going to be left at the "farm" sometimes, where my cousins will bring ammo and shoot a lot, and not clean it. That's fine with me, since I'd rather be the one to take apart my guns anyway. Normally I clean after every time I shoot it. But I don't mind my family using my rifle for some target practice if I'm not at the farm with them.

 

[aegagner]

Carried an M-4 on three deployments; there's nothing theoretical in my ability to run an AR platform in the dark, clear malfunctions while under stress, etc... that's why there is an AR next to our bed.

Stuff a Mini-14 in the folded up back seat in my extra cab truck every morning. It's a newer tactical model with a Hogue stock. Accuracy difference between the two is negligible at best or worst. The only "malfunction" I have suffered with either was a FTF in the Mini after riding the bolt when chambering a round in an attempt to be quiet. 100% operator/my error.

Grew up with a 10/22, bought a M&P 15/22 when they first came out. The 10/22 was out in the woods a heck of a lot more than the 15 was, and the 15/22 was eventually sold. Nothing against the S&W, but what falls into hand falls into hand. If I didn't have the muscle memory with the AR platform already, I don't feel I would be doing my family a disservice if all I all I had was the Mini.

Good luck.

 

[Malamute]

Its been pretty well covered, and reflects my experience with older ones. The reliability is OK, I never ran one real hard and hot. Accuracy with many of the older ones was so-so. Some were OK, many were pretty poor. Newer guns are better.

About all I have to add is that the people that have used them truly hard report that they dont hold up well long term.

Many parts are very hard to get from Ruger. They dont sell them to the public, and I think even gunsmiths cant get every single part.

If Minis were about $350-$400 they would be more attractive. Priced anywhere near the cost of an AR, they just arent a good value for the money in my opinion.

 

[Ash]

Having owned good quality AR's, I still have the Mini-14GB surplussed from the Mississippi State Troopers. It has been utterly reliable (never, ever, has given me problems) and is accurate. I wouldn't take it squirrel or groundhog hunting, but it does the job just fine. I only use Ruger magazines, but it don't need 15 or 20 magazines for the rifle.

 

[C.R.]

I have the Mini 14 Ranch Rifle in stainless,I like it . I bought mine during the Clinton era and it was way more reasonably priced than a AR15 at the time.I prefer the look of the Ruger over the plastic fantastic .Now that the prices of the AR's have come down I may have to concider owning one of them too.

 

[orionengnr]

No law against owning one of each (yet).

And I do. The two are very different shooting experiences, and I enjoy both.

My Mini-14 is a stainless with wood stock (series 188 IIRC). A friend borrowed it several years ago (probably more like 7, now that I think about it) for his son's first centerfire experience. He also took it to a shoot with his son's Boy Scout troop.

I haven't seen it since, but he and the Scouts have put a fair number of rounds through it. But I see him at work every day, so I'll get it back one day.

I also have a blued Mini-30, so that checks the x39 box. Another fun rifle, although I had the same experience with the bolt "nub" sticking once. I think that was when I first bought it (92 or so) and was using some Com-bloc ammo, and didn't realize I had too clean/lube that nub...

I agree that the Minis are over-priced these days, but that's only because the ARs prices have dropped like a rock. AR parts are cheap and plentiful, and vary in quality.

If you can afford it, own one of each for a while and see which one appeals to you. I'm keeping both.

 

[bluzman]

The mini-14 is a very reliable rifle. It will reliably send a bullet downrange AND launch your brass into low earth orbit with every pull of the trigger.

That pretty much describes my 581 series Ranch Rifle

 

[chicharrones]

I agree that the Minis are over-priced these days, but that's only because the ARs prices have dropped like a rock.

Yep, and even Ruger makes ARs now.

 

[Wildbillz]

I have had several of the older Mini's. I only ever had one that could hold a group the size of a paper plate at 100 yards. Foolishly I let it get away. I tried and tried to make one work out for me. No avail. With the cost of them now, spare parts head ache and mags? Go with a cheap AR and be done with it. Or better yet for what your talking about a cheap surplus bolt gun would be even better.

Just my .02 on it.

WB