mini14 or sport AR (most likely S&W) $635

Status
Not open for further replies.
W

wingslevel

Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2008
Messages
25
hello, i'm looking for a new carbine primarily for home defense and occasional plinking/fun. it will be taken care of/not neglected but i dont wanna fuss over it or have to deal withfinicky parts, feeding or extracting. it'll spend 95% of it's time in the safe and 5% at the range (hopefully no % in actual defense of my family).

i am pleased with my 870express (so for my amount of shooting and care ive been happy with it even though i have several wingmasters so looking for something as a tool not a bragging right) and myS&W .357s that round out my defensive choices.

as an armchair researcher my basis is in the sub$700 the ars coukd be a bit more maintnance/deliberation whike returning better accuracy and more options to customize whike the mini was more robust/forgiving action but with less accuracy and pretty much stuck with how it is outta the box.

for my stated uses for a similar orice would you opt for a sporter style ar (no forward assist/dustcover) like the S&W or a mini14?

thanks
 
To me, an inaccurate rifle is about as handy as a hammer without any weight behind it. Although I have no personal experience with the 14, I too have heard that they are inaccurate. I'd spend a bit more time saving up and look into Spike's Tactical or PSA, etc. Well worth the slightly added cost. Best of luck to you.
 
You have more options with the sport model AR's (as far as add on and doo-dads) but for just a few bucks more (really a few) you can get a full featured M&P 15.

Accuracy depends a lot on ammo. Don't just shoot the cheapest stuff you can find. Try a few brands of premium m193 and m855 ammo. M193 (55gr FMJ) tends to be cheaper and doesn't have a steel penetrator so is usually allowed on most ranges.
 
In my opinion the Mini-14 is the AK-47 of the .223s in that you are giving up accuracy to gain a measure of reilability and a less expensive gun. That being said I like my Mini-14 it is a fun gun but the one I use in competition is my AR. They are similar guns BUT each has their own place - AR is for where accuracy is needed and the Mini is a workable comparativly inexpensive trunk gun for up close and personal. In my experience Minis are great for human sillouette to 100 yards.
 
i had a mini14 back in the early/mid 80's, and it was pitifully inaccurate (minute of manhole cover,,,,, literally),,,,,,,, but they say the newer ones are better.

however, if i could only own one of them, it would definitely be the ar15
 
pick the one you like best.
mini vs ar threads are all over the place here. read a few of them.
have fun with your purchase. does what others think really matter?

keep the 870 for HD
 
You realy can't go wrong with either. I like the AR-15 plateform for its light weight and easy access for cleaning.

The difference in accuracy is not a big issue for a HD type carbine, and the new heavier barrel Mini is improved over the older versions. For reliability under adverse conditions I would take the Mini . I don't forsee adverse conditions in my future but you may in yours .
 
mini/ar

the mini14 as you have probably herd is not a tack driver and is usualy around 650bucks . i have owned one didns care for it.
the ar platform is highly available in diff configurations and mags/accesories are EVERYWHERE . i just got a sporter ar a panther sportical and i am very happy with it, between the 2 choices i would get the mp15 sport
imo
 
S&W M&P 15 Sport. While I haven't had the opportunity yet to put thousands of rounds through mine, I have put a few hundred through it without any malfunctions with factory ammo ranging from the Fiocchi 40 and 50 gr V-Max bullets to the Federal AE 223 55 gr FMJ. The accuracy really surprised me with the worst groups with the Federal 55 gr FMJ, you know the stuff you get on sale for $5.99 a box, around 2 inches at 100 yards and the better quality stuff including some handloads with the 55 gr Hornady SP right around an inch at 100 yards. My eyes aren't good enough for iron sights anymore, so I have a Nikon Prostaff 2-7x32 shotgun scope mounted on mine. I don't think you can beat the M&P 15 Sport for your uses. I paid $599 for mine at the local hardware store, which included 1 MagPul 30 round P-Mag.
My buddy's Mini 14 is an older model, but seriously, the M&P 15 Sport's worst groups are better then the Mini's best. The newer Mini 14's may be better, but I know my S&W is.
 
For me it’s all about ergonomics. When I am lying down on the gun looking through the sights (I’m an iron sights guy) everything just fits.
I can’t explain it but it is very comfortable and it works for me. I can’t see me ever buying anything but an AR style rifle.

Steve
 
I purchased a Mini-14 over and AR for SHTF and range plinking purposes and I love it. I chose the Mini because of its reputation for toughness, reliability, ease of care, ergonomics and price, in all these areas it beats the AR.
I do concede the accuracy to the AR. Yes built right they are capable of impressive performance. For me and the OP "precision" shooting isn't the intended purpose. If I shoot my set up on paper with the cheapest crap ammo (TulAmmo 55g HP {which the Mini eats up without a hitch, btw}) 100yard groups are ~2.5"-3", in other words "combat" accurate...My range has a 7" gong at 100yrads, standing off hand I can nail it every time....clays placed on the berm don't have a chance ;) neither do the various pins we have setup on the range. When the fun is over, I patch the barrel, spray out the action, wipe it all down it is ready to go again.

DSC04337.jpg
DSC04339.jpg
 
I've had several Mini's. When they sold for 1/3 the cost of an AR they made a lot of sense, but today you can buy an AR for less than a Mini-14. Just doesn't make sense. Not only can you buy the rifle for less money, any accessories and magazines are also much less expensive.

Don't buy into the line that the Rugers are more reliable and rugged. At one time several countries and many law enforcement agencies tried to save a little money by going with Mini's over AR's. They quickly found that they just wouldn't hold up to that kind of use. The Mini was designed as an inexpensive plinker to be kept in a farm truck or tractor for an occasional shot at coyotes and other varmits.

They work well in that role. For shooting at the range you'll quickly get frustrated at the lack of accuracy with the Mini. If you ever have to use it as a HD weapon, the AR platform is much better suited for this as well.
 
jmr40 said:
I've had several Mini's. When they sold for 1/3 the cost of an AR they made a lot of sense, but today you can buy an AR for less than a Mini-14. Just doesn't make sense. Not only can you buy the rifle for less money, any accessories and magazines are also much less expensive.

Don't buy into the line that the Rugers are more reliable and rugged. At one time several countries and many law enforcement agencies tried to save a little money by going with Mini's over AR's. They quickly found that they just wouldn't hold up to that kind of use. The Mini was designed as an inexpensive plinker to be kept in a farm truck or tractor for an occasional shot at coyotes and other varmits.

They work well in that role. For shooting at the range you'll quickly get frustrated at the lack of accuracy with the Mini. If you ever have to use it as a HD weapon, the AR platform is much better suited for this as well.
Click to expand...
What I was going to type sounded a lot like this, so I'll just save myself the trouble and quote it. If they are anywhere near the same cost the AR trumps the Mini because what's the point of a rifle you can't hit anything with?
 
View attachment 161147

View attachment 161148 The Mini gets a bad rap because of the older models. If you're going to ge one of the new 581 series mini's, they are great shooters, and IMO handle much better than an AR. I have no problem dusting coyotes out at 300 yards with it. I can ripid fire a full 20 round mag and keep them inside a 4 inch circle at 100 yards and I can do no better with either of the M4 carbines that I own. A lot of people here talk about how good thier AR's shoot, but in my experience the 16 inch barrel of the shelf AR will shoot no better than the new 16 inch mini does.
 
Last edited:
In my opinion the Mini-14 is the AK-47 of the .223s in that you are giving up accuracy to gain a measure of reilability and a less expensive gun.
Click to expand...

Except the mini doesn't offer better reliability than an AR, and are no less expensive these days.

I have one and like it, but I paid $475 for my stainless/synthetic at a time when AR's were $1,000+ for anything decent. Today, you can buy or build a pretty good AR for ~$750, which is the current price of a no-frills mini.

In today's market, it's a no-brainer. AR all the way.
 
thanks for the info! after looking around some seems that if an ar is a quality build (ratger production line or owner built) it is reliable and a lot of the "troubles" are either junk ammo or poor build...not the design.

and sounds like the S&W build quality is similar level as mini so should expect similar reliabilty with same ammo. so factoring cost options (+ar though dont plan on doing much "enhancement" do want to be able to get replecement parts readily) and accuracy (+ar but both suffice for my needs and abilities right now. if from bench agree but offhand i think my minute of ability is more concern then moa).

so gonna weight those and then let overall feel of the mini and ar guide my decision. appreciate the info!
 
Except the mini doesn't offer better reliability than an AR, and are no less expensive these days.
Click to expand...

^^^
+1

Sorry for the money, I find the AR a better platform, MORE parts, MORE assessors
and get this
MORE CALIBERS
so I buy a lower to two, and get a couple of uppers, now I have 6.8, 50 cal, .454 socom pistol calibers even .22

sorry but the mini is a nice SKS like gun, and I put in the same category, wonder if I could convert a SKS to .223?
 
LubeckTech said:
In my opinion the Mini-14 is the AK-47 of the .223s in that you are giving up accuracy to gain a measure of reilability and a less expensive gun. That being said I like my Mini-14 it is a fun gun but the one I use in competition is my AR. They are similar guns BUT each has their own place - AR is for where accuracy is needed and the Mini is a workable comparativly inexpensive trunk gun for up close and personal. In my experience Minis are great for human sillouette to 100 yards.
Click to expand...
What about .223 AK's? ;)
 
The Mini gets a bad rap because of the older models.
Click to expand...

i do believe this to be true. my older mini was terrible, but ive seen the newer ones do much better like your group in the pic you posted.

makes me believe they are muuuuch better than they used to be.
 
What about .223 AK's? ;)
Click to expand...

Saiga! The "other" .223! Put a skeleton stock on it, buy a bunch of 10-round magazines, and you're good to go.

post-11604-1247507283_thumb.jpg

Or go all out for a full conversion to AK configuration.
 
Don't judge the new mini-14 by the old...

The new mini-14 (580) series has dealt well with the accuracy issues. The old one was a spaghetti-thin barrel and the gas block was crappy. They now make the barrel heavier and it's tapered. The shot groups went from 4" which is terrible to 2 to 2.5 inches which is all you need to hit a deer at 300 yards. If you need more than that, you can add a strut at home that costs 75 bucks. The second thing is magazines. Ruger now makes 20 and 30 round mags that can be bought for 30 bucks. Thirdly, you can buy it with and ATI folding stock and a 16 inch barrel. The operating system is garand style and it is simpler and runs less dirty than an m-4. That's why 20% of forces in iraq and afgan had jams so bad that they couldn't engage the enemy "for significant part of the firefight", according to the army. If I had to choose between a low range ar and a mini I would DEFINITELY go with the mini.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

T
  • Locked
Mini-14 vs. S&W AR
2
Replies
39
Views
2K
jimmyraythomason
jimmyraythomason
P
  • Locked
My Opinion- Charter Arms Pitbull .40 S&W Revolver
2
Replies
41
Views
3K
Kaeto
Kaeto
Back
Top