medic15al
Member
Not doubting you but I have never heard that. Mine ran a long time without cleaning, but I only shot brass cased ammo. This was in the 80's.
Mini-14
- Thread starter Hammer059
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- 22,509
Mini-14s are great for folks who can't lawfully possess something else. They are lightweight, easy to tote around and reliable.
At Adventure Camp I accompanied some kids on a two mile simulated hunt. They had a bolt action Ruger M77 in .223. I carried a M-14 type rifle in case of big critters who weren't scared enough to flee at the approach of a small hunting party (six). The weight of the Mini would have been substantially less, but I wanted .308 goodness in case I had to protect the kiddies from a kitty kat or bear.
At Adventure Camp I accompanied some kids on a two mile simulated hunt. They had a bolt action Ruger M77 in .223. I carried a M-14 type rifle in case of big critters who weren't scared enough to flee at the approach of a small hunting party (six). The weight of the Mini would have been substantially less, but I wanted .308 goodness in case I had to protect the kiddies from a kitty kat or bear.
judgedelta
Member
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- Sep 12, 2013
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- 687
I read somewhere that the most-used rifle for hunting polar bears is the mini-14. The natives use FMJ ammo that they probably got from the national guard bases (imagine that?)
I don't imagine those guys are too good at cleaning and maintenance and they bet their lives on those rifles. I've had a ranch rifle since the early 80's; accuracy not too good, but like a Glock, shoots every time.
I don't imagine those guys are too good at cleaning and maintenance and they bet their lives on those rifles. I've had a ranch rifle since the early 80's; accuracy not too good, but like a Glock, shoots every time.
There are a lot of Mini-14's (and some AR-15's) running around in the Arctic, but I don't think they're being fed with ammo from NG bases. More likely, they're fed with ammo from the Anchorage Walmart. Some of them look like they were used for boat paddles, but they seem to keep running.
For that matter, scoped bolt-action hunting rifles of virtually every type also prove their durability on a daily basis there.
Some rifles there get great care by experienced gun owners and veterans. Others, not so much. People are individuals.
For that matter, scoped bolt-action hunting rifles of virtually every type also prove their durability on a daily basis there.
Some rifles there get great care by experienced gun owners and veterans. Others, not so much. People are individuals.
Ash
Member
"The simple fact that it has a semi exposed operating mechanism makes it less reliable than the enclosed AR design."
Blanket statements often have no use.
Blanket statements often have no use.
Gravedigger56
Member
I just bought a stainless Ranch Mini-14 yesterday. I have had a few AR's and still have one but a Mini 14 was still on my bucket list so I finally bit the bullet when I saw one at the LGS.
It was a config. that I have never seen before. I checked the website and Ruger doesn't even show one set up the way this one is or even offer the hand guard/rail that is mounted on it. It resembles the tactical set-up but different, more streamlined. Maybe a new style? It is new and the handguard is a OEM so all I can figure is the LGS special ordered it.
It was a config. that I have never seen before. I checked the website and Ruger doesn't even show one set up the way this one is or even offer the hand guard/rail that is mounted on it. It resembles the tactical set-up but different, more streamlined. Maybe a new style? It is new and the handguard is a OEM so all I can figure is the LGS special ordered it.
briansmithwins
Member
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- Aug 1, 2005
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- 4,631
How about: Mini-14s are more sensitive to debris from the environment than a enclosed design like the AR or AK.
BSW
Ash
Member
And enclosed designs can be more sensitive to fouling than open ones.
Or, as in Vietnam, not cleaning + less ideal ammo powder + humid, dirty, jungle conditions = bad early start for the AR.
Or, as in Vietnam, not cleaning + less ideal ammo powder + humid, dirty, jungle conditions = bad early start for the AR.
rbernie
Contributing Member
How about - 'open designs are more sensitive to ingesting debris from the environment than closed designs but easier to clean and put back into the fight when they get dirty'?
The open action that was easy to flush and bring back into service was certainly one of the factors that kept the SMLE well-loved for the better part of a century, and I have to believe that it still has value...
The open action that was easy to flush and bring back into service was certainly one of the factors that kept the SMLE well-loved for the better part of a century, and I have to believe that it still has value...
Meh... the debate on what will withstand more abuse is kind of academic.
A Mini in good working order will take enough abuse and it will handle dirt and grime well enough. I can't imagine it not being capable. They're used all over AK, some of them look like they've been used as boat paddles or maybe even anchors, and there are relatively few complaints. An AK is probably the most tolerant of abuse, an AR is good to go if you perform a little maintenance, and the Mini is also good enough.
A Mini in good working order will take enough abuse and it will handle dirt and grime well enough. I can't imagine it not being capable. They're used all over AK, some of them look like they've been used as boat paddles or maybe even anchors, and there are relatively few complaints. An AK is probably the most tolerant of abuse, an AR is good to go if you perform a little maintenance, and the Mini is also good enough.
Gravedigger56
Member
Sorry no pics yet but I did find out it is a tactical config. but with a MINI-14® SCOPE MOUNT III installed. Nice option.
Ironicaintit
Member
I havent shot mine in quite a while...I went out and ran off some rounds through a mini today, and it reminded me of something....they really mangle the brass!
I really need a smaller orifice in mine too (or better yet, adjustable) Getting tired of spending more time looking for brass than I do shooting
I really need a smaller orifice in mine too (or better yet, adjustable) Getting tired of spending more time looking for brass than I do shooting
benEzra
Moderator Emeritus
In my experience, the mini would be a bit harder to clean debris out of than the AR is. Getting the action out of the stock is easy (yank the trigger guard and there you go), but further disassembly and reassembly are a bit more of a pain than with the AR, and some of the vulnerable points (e.g. the op rod channel) are literally on the outside of the gun but pretty much un-cleanable without disassembly.
rbernie
Contributing Member
I've not tried it, but in looking at it the design seems easy enough to get back into service (remove dirt/sand adequately enough to allow the gun to cycle reliably) by literally flushing it out with water from a canteen.
Gravedigger56
Member
Can you use a brass catcher to prevent this? I have one of those Caldwell catchers that mounts to a picatinny rail that works really well on my AR and was wondering if it will work on a mini 14 as well. Has anyone tried one?
benEzra
Moderator Emeritus
You can probably find smaller gas bushings via the Mini-14 Forums. I'm not sure if anyone makes an adjustable gas block for the mini, but if anyone does then that's where you'd find the info.
kBob
Member
I once had a mini in stainless that gave me fits. At least once every outing the trigger group came lose! I looked it over "47 times" and could find no reason.
I bought it used from yea olde friend of a friend "by appointment only" out f the house FFL dealer.....and there in was the problem.
Seems when said "ex-spurt" tried to break down the rifle he decided it was too difficult to pull back the trigger guard to unlatch the trigger group and so took a pipe wrench to it and bent it until it was the way he liked it. Not content to merely deform the rear of the trigger guard he tried to make everything look OK by deforming the front. Somehow he managed (I found when I locked the trigger group into the Barrel and receiver group out of the stock) to have the front lugs of the trigger guard only about half engage the receiver's legs. This combined with the easy removal feature of the back of the TG added up to the darn thing unlatching in use.
I am not sure it could have been done if someone intended, but he managed.
You are darned straight he bought it back , too!
Only problem was not with the rifle, but the former owner.
My first Mini I bought to put in my duffle bag for when we went up to Sclitz or Fulda. I had no firearm assigned and while I loved my seires 70 Mark IV .45 ACP I wanted a shoulder rifle. I looked at an FNC because of supposed magazine inter change ablity with our M-16A1s and found that was mostly theoretical. Found some 20 round Ruger Mini 14 mags at a rod and gun and bought the Mini instead. Thus two wish IDAs for the price of one......having the FNC would have been neat and when I was forced to sell to pay the rent I could have made a lot more stateside with the FNC!
I also almost traded the Mini in Europe for a little Finnish AK variant in .223 as its owner was having a devil of a time with it. My Blued Mini just kept firing and his Finn just kept stopping. We talked about the trade until I found out he knew of no source for spare mags and only had the one. With the trade pressure off I watched him a bit and it was operator error......he did not know to rock the mag in, having only been trained with the M-16A1 as rifle experience. Naturally with the Mini and my grounding in M-14s it was obvious to me once I watched him load twice. Anyhow that is just the sort of experience that can lead folks to assuming in this case a Mini is more reliable than a Finn M76 and swear to it in heated online discussions.
-kBob
I bought it used from yea olde friend of a friend "by appointment only" out f the house FFL dealer.....and there in was the problem.
Seems when said "ex-spurt" tried to break down the rifle he decided it was too difficult to pull back the trigger guard to unlatch the trigger group and so took a pipe wrench to it and bent it until it was the way he liked it. Not content to merely deform the rear of the trigger guard he tried to make everything look OK by deforming the front. Somehow he managed (I found when I locked the trigger group into the Barrel and receiver group out of the stock) to have the front lugs of the trigger guard only about half engage the receiver's legs. This combined with the easy removal feature of the back of the TG added up to the darn thing unlatching in use.
I am not sure it could have been done if someone intended, but he managed.
You are darned straight he bought it back , too!
Only problem was not with the rifle, but the former owner.
My first Mini I bought to put in my duffle bag for when we went up to Sclitz or Fulda. I had no firearm assigned and while I loved my seires 70 Mark IV .45 ACP I wanted a shoulder rifle. I looked at an FNC because of supposed magazine inter change ablity with our M-16A1s and found that was mostly theoretical. Found some 20 round Ruger Mini 14 mags at a rod and gun and bought the Mini instead. Thus two wish IDAs for the price of one......having the FNC would have been neat and when I was forced to sell to pay the rent I could have made a lot more stateside with the FNC!
I also almost traded the Mini in Europe for a little Finnish AK variant in .223 as its owner was having a devil of a time with it. My Blued Mini just kept firing and his Finn just kept stopping. We talked about the trade until I found out he knew of no source for spare mags and only had the one. With the trade pressure off I watched him a bit and it was operator error......he did not know to rock the mag in, having only been trained with the M-16A1 as rifle experience. Naturally with the Mini and my grounding in M-14s it was obvious to me once I watched him load twice. Anyhow that is just the sort of experience that can lead folks to assuming in this case a Mini is more reliable than a Finn M76 and swear to it in heated online discussions.
-kBob
sandy4570
Member
E&L mfg in Oregon (brasscatcher.com) make all variants of Mini 14 brass catcher with life time warranty. I have the brass catcher on each of my Mini 14 . The back piece of my MAK 90 brass catcher broke off after 15 years and the E&L owner told me to ship it back to him and he will replace brand new and free of charge. I managed the duct tape it together and let him know. He informed me that if the duct tape will not hold just sent it back for replacement .Talk about some no B.S. good Ole American lifetime warranty here.
To answer your original question, the Mini 14 is perfectly reliable and durable and will fit your needs perfectly. It is not the most accurate rifle (although I have heard newer Mini's are better), but being baed on the Garand design and the looser tolerances allow it to keep going and going even after thousands of rounds and gunk buildup. The open design of the action allows for easy clearing of any jams (which are almost non-existent with factory mags).
That being said, my Mini usually sits under the bed and my AR usually goes to the range, as I prefer the AR's accuracy and ease-of-upgrade compared to the Mini. (love my CMC trigger!)
plodder
Member
2 happy days in my life:
1. Trading a beat up Garand for a stainless mini 14.
2. Selling the mini 14 about a year later and coming out whole.
Couldn't get a 100 yd. group inside 4".
YMMV
1. Trading a beat up Garand for a stainless mini 14.
2. Selling the mini 14 about a year later and coming out whole.
Couldn't get a 100 yd. group inside 4".
YMMV
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