Ruger mini14
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WardenWolf
member
My personal take? You'd be better off with a Saiga rifle at half the price. It's a much better gun overall.
The newer Mini-14s and Mini-30s have a much better rep than the original models, and are supposed to be more accurate and reliable. One drawback I hear is that Ruger won't sell its 20 and 30 round magazines except to "Law Enforcement", meaning if you want to load more than 5 or 10, you've got to find aftermarket mags to fit. For that, I'd rather have an AR of some type instead.
WardenWolf
member
I'd recommend going for a DPMS Sportical AR-15, at $700, if you want something different. The Mini-14, while liked by a lot of people for its retro look and feel, is not competitive in terms of price and performance. It shoots like a half-decent AK (or worse than a Saiga) and usually costs similar to an AR. At $475, that one is very cheap, but I'd still pass. Unless you just want it for what it is, you're not going to be very happy with it. If you start trying to make it better you'll wind up spending more than an AR in short order, and it still won't perform as well. I like Ruger, but I don't like the Mini-14.
Double Vision
Member
My newer model Mini-14 shoots great, and is a lot of fun. Easy to maintain too. Go for it!
Well, everybody has an opinion. Mine is, if the Mini is in good condition, at a good price, you should buy it. The Mini is a good handling rifle and has been reliable for many years. The Saiga is also reliable but is heavy and handles like a 2x4 IMO. Neither one is very accurate but accurate enough for what they were designed for. I've had my Mini for quite a few years and have always been satisfied with it.
Mini-14s are fine rifles for general plinking, occasional shots at varmints, home defense, SHTF. Ruger now makes 20-30 round mags that work great. Add an Accustrut to stabilize and stiffen the end of barrel and they WILL shoot, with folks getting sub-2MOA fairly easily.
Minis are definitely a worthy addition to one's collection. Just added a new Mini-30 Tactical...Sweeeet.
All this from a guy who owns/owned ARs, AKs, FALs, HKs, M1s, M1As, etc. ad nauseum.
It's all good.
M
Minis are definitely a worthy addition to one's collection. Just added a new Mini-30 Tactical...Sweeeet.
All this from a guy who owns/owned ARs, AKs, FALs, HKs, M1s, M1As, etc. ad nauseum.
It's all good.
M
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rcmodel
Member in memoriam
+1
If you are expecting a 500 yard target rifle, don't get it.
If you are expecting a short, light, fast handling all-weather carbine that will run like a swiss watch from now on, get it.
I have owned a blue Mini-14 since about 1979 and can find nothing to prevent me from buying another one if I wanted or needed two of them.
rc
If you are expecting a 500 yard target rifle, don't get it.
If you are expecting a short, light, fast handling all-weather carbine that will run like a swiss watch from now on, get it.
I have owned a blue Mini-14 since about 1979 and can find nothing to prevent me from buying another one if I wanted or needed two of them.
rc
CSA 357
Member
i wonder if the folks that hate the mini 14 have ever owned one? i love my stainless gb!
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Go for it, new minis are great shooters and even better with an accu-strut. Don't beleive all the bad B.S. you read here. My mini will do anything a run of the mill AR will do. I own both the mini and AR. I mean what more can you say. This topic has been pounded over and over again. These guys that badmouth the minis have not shot a new version. Don't matter what you say there's a bunch of AR fan boys that's gonna call em junk.
The newer mini's are supposed to be more accurate than the older models. On the plus side you can get a folder stock which makes it very compact and can be easily carried inside your backpack if you like to go hiking.
I never had any issues with this particular rifle. As a kid I enjoyed shooting rabbits and jackrabbits. It is a great plinking rifle.
I never had any issues with this particular rifle. As a kid I enjoyed shooting rabbits and jackrabbits. It is a great plinking rifle.
I got a Mini-14 Ranch Rifle two years ago and have been very pleased with its accuracy. No stoppages of any kind, and I've run some really cheap ammo through it. Never a problem.
Just be careful in rapid firing. That barrel gets HOT. But that also applies to most others in its class.
Just be careful in rapid firing. That barrel gets HOT. But that also applies to most others in its class.
I've had several mini 14s. They all suffered from poor accuracy, especially if you allowed the barrel to get warm (less than 30 sec between shots). At 100M, the groups were 4 incheswide and 8 inches tall (stringing). That was compared to my Plain Jane ARs that I'de shoot a 2" group with at the same rate of fire (faster even because there were no jams to clear with the AR)
The minis were also were very unreliable with the aftermarket mags that I bought for it. It did fine with the 5 rd factory mag though. It's difficult and expensive to add any accessories to the mini so if you want a flash hider, rail system, collapsible stock, etc, the parts are more expensive than the equivilent item for an AR.
I think the mini was a viable alternative to an AR when they were 1/2 the price of an AR. Nowadays though, a entry level Ar can be bought NEW for $600 and a NEW mini is more than that. Magazines will always be a downside to the mini too. If they redesigned the mini to take M16 mags I'd start looking for one tomorrow, but knowing how fickle the mini is with magazines is enough to make me avoid them like the plague.
I think that a Keltec SU 16 has all the (limited) pluses of a mini with none of the negatives at a lower price and it uses M16 mags to boot.
If someone gave me a mini I'd sell it or trade it off ASAP and would never pay more than a few hundred dollars for one.
The minis were also were very unreliable with the aftermarket mags that I bought for it. It did fine with the 5 rd factory mag though. It's difficult and expensive to add any accessories to the mini so if you want a flash hider, rail system, collapsible stock, etc, the parts are more expensive than the equivilent item for an AR.
I think the mini was a viable alternative to an AR when they were 1/2 the price of an AR. Nowadays though, a entry level Ar can be bought NEW for $600 and a NEW mini is more than that. Magazines will always be a downside to the mini too. If they redesigned the mini to take M16 mags I'd start looking for one tomorrow, but knowing how fickle the mini is with magazines is enough to make me avoid them like the plague.
I think that a Keltec SU 16 has all the (limited) pluses of a mini with none of the negatives at a lower price and it uses M16 mags to boot.
If someone gave me a mini I'd sell it or trade it off ASAP and would never pay more than a few hundred dollars for one.
I had mine for 20 years and It will shoot any kind of ammo reliably, steel case or whatever.
I just added a new scout scope ( 2.5 power ) and it will hold 1.5 inch groups at 100 yards all day long.
Get it it is a fun rifle Ruger mags are available and tapco makes a 30 round plastic mag
I just added a new scout scope ( 2.5 power ) and it will hold 1.5 inch groups at 100 yards all day long.
Get it it is a fun rifle Ruger mags are available and tapco makes a 30 round plastic mag
W.E.G.
Member
I have a Mini 14 I bought back in 1989 and have never had any issues, its always been dependable and I've been able to hit jackrabbits on the run up to 100 yards plus. I'm sure it depends on the individual rifle no matter which one you buy.
X-Rap
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My choice if accuracy were equal to an AR (which it isn't) would be magazine cost and availability. 30 rd factory Ruger mags for $35 are almost 3x the price of Pmags and contract mags can be bought for less yet.
10 mags on top of the cost of the gun will equalize the cost of even the cheapest Mini 14.
10 mags on top of the cost of the gun will equalize the cost of even the cheapest Mini 14.
1KPerDay
Member
Ha haaa! That's great.
My older stainless ranch rifle was pretty much like that. An Accu-strut helped quite a bit, but it's still not an MOA rifle. But then I'm not an MOA rifle shooter either. Never any malfunctions with factory mags, which are readily available but double or triple the price of aluminum AR mags, but are also more durable, being made out of steel.
The newer minis with the thicker, tapered barrels are supposed to be much more accurate out of the box. I have no experience with them. I'll never sell mine, though. I've wanted one ever since I was a kid watching the A-Team.
If you really want that particular Mini 14, check the serial number. The older models were hated for hits inherent inaccuracy - 4" at 100 yards. The new ones are as accurate as AR's. The new models should be of the 580 series, meaning that the serial number first 3 numbers should be "580". Good luck.
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