New Rifle advice. MPAR556 Gen 2 or Mini 14 5801

[Tigerclaw_x]

Hello, folks. I been bitten by a new rifle bug. Got bunch of rifles, including such obscure things as NORINCO Hunter, M17S and AR180B. In any case, looking at those TWO rifles:
1. MPAR 556. PROS: Nitrided barrel. Folding stock. AR 15 mags. POSSIBLE 7.62x39 upper (they been promising it for last 2 years). Bastard of FAL. CONS: No iron sights and UGLY, UGLY uber bulky handguard.
2. RUGER Mini 14 5801: PROS: about 100 bucks cheaper. A bit longer barrel (better ballistics better sight radius). Chance to improve the rifle with Accu Strut (which will bring the price up for the very same $100)/ I am very familiar with this system as I have M1 Carbine and M14S. Cons: Non melonited barrel. Not even a chance of 7.62x39 upper, you need to get mini 30 and there are no good 30 round mags for it.

BOTH rifles have pencil thin (.625) barrel (Which is a HUGE drawback). Same as my Kel Tec SU-16A.

Ultimately I would like to get a 20" AUG A3 but that would be 2100 bucks.

Anyone had ANY experience with MPAR 556 Gen 2?

 

[otrman]

Well, I don't particularly care for the SCAR and that thing looks like a poor mans SCAR. Just don't understand why you would go to all the trouble of building something like that with a 1/9 twist. If not 1/7, at least 1/8 would give it a better chance to like heavier bullets. But who knows, it may be a great rifle, just not for me.

Ultimately I would like to get a 20" AUG A3 but that would be 2100 bucks.

Sounds like you already know what you want. Buying some other rifle that you can afford right now usually won't fill that want.

 

[briansmithwins]

A AUG will handle completely differently from a conventional pattern rifle. They are much more butt heavy, which makes for easier carry and offhand shooting.

An AUG w/o an optic will be cheaper and more versatile than the fixed optic designs.

I wasn't that impressed by the hero video on the MPAR556. Spot welded sheet steel, lots of hand assembly w/o a torque wrench, and exciting music don't do much for me. Is the short stroke gas system adjustable? Is there a bolt hold open? Free floated barrel?

Another conventional pattern rifle you might be interested in is the Beretta ARX.

BSW

 

[Robert]

Between the two, the Mini. That other thing looks horrible. For my money I'd get an AR and ammo for the price of the 556 thing..

 

[Fishbed77]

Is "neither" an option?

The money they are asking for that MPAR will buy a nice BCM AR or Arsenal AK.

 

[Tigerclaw_x]

1. Yes, it is 1:9
2. I already have 2 ARs and 4 upppers.
3. It does have BHO. The system is more like AR-180 (Got it). and FAL (also got it).
4. AUG, along with MG42 are my wet dreams. I ended up going with M17S Gen 2 for $600, installed rails on it myself. But still, it is NOT AUG.:-(.

 

[Tigerclaw_x]

Is "neither" an option?

The money they are asking for that MPAR will buy a nice BCM AR or Arsenal AK.

1. I already got 2 AR-15s with 4 uppers (5.56, 5,45, 7.62x39 and 6.5 Grendel)
2. I already got AKs, bunch of them. Not Arsenal. Real VEPRs. Converted. 5.56, 7.62x39, 5,45, 7,62x51, 7.62x54R. Got Saiga Ms (heavy barrel, like veprs) 5.56, 5.45. 7.62, 308.
3. Got HK clones too. 308, 7.62x39 and 5,56

 

[yamahawarrior89]

I have both a mini-30 and a MPAR 556 GEN I. I haven't shot the mini yet so I don't have much of an opinion.

The MPAR has been trouble free. I did have an issueusing a PMAG, when trying to release the bolt it would hang up. I only had 1 PMAG with me so I don't know if it was the mag or what. I've used aluminum GI mags since without issue.

I was getting around 2" groups with blaster ammo at 50 yards using an eotech, I never tested for accuracy so I don't know its full potential (yet). The barrel is not free floated, the handguard is screwed to the recevier and the gasblock.

I have around 500 rounds through it so far, with no issues. It has shot wolf gold, ppu xm193, AE xm193, and my reloads. I was shooting at a slow fire range so the barrel didn't get very warm, so I am not sure about stringing either.

I did see the video put up by Ian, and I didn't have any of the problems he had. But he was working his much harder than I have mine.

I did fine this video showing some fixes:

https://youtu.be/0QpYIVmJ3MA

Overall I like it, I bought it for the same reason as you, just for something different.

 

[yamahawarrior89]

Also, the muzzlebrake that comes with it works awesome! But there is some blast if you are under a roof (shooting range) or someone next to you. My younger brother (14) likes shooting it more than the AR's since there is no recoil. The gun weighs around 8 lbs, so it feels solid, and has a different feel weightwise than a AR.

The trigger feels like any other milspec AR trigger.