Zorro
Member
The SKS is what the Mini-14 should have been.
Why pay $300 More for a Touchy gun that does so much less?
Why pay $300 More for a Touchy gun that does so much less?
SKS VS Mini-14
- Thread starter Zorro
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glocksman
Member
Because Bill Ruger (if he was still alive) would get pissy if you didn't buy his gun. 
the mini 14 just wasn't enough...not light enough, not accurate enough, not comfortable enough
whereas the single six, blackhawk, security six, 10/22, mk II and #1 will be remembered as timeless designs... the mini 14 will never be the gun that the sks is, but it does come closer than the mini 30
whereas the single six, blackhawk, security six, 10/22, mk II and #1 will be remembered as timeless designs... the mini 14 will never be the gun that the sks is, but it does come closer than the mini 30
LynnMassGuy
Member
I love my SKS.
nordaim
Member
The SKS was the first semi-auto rifle that I ever shot, and though not as accurate as I would like to improve my own shooting, I think everyone should have one in their collection.
I am just waiting for the AW Ban to expire so hopefully they will drop in price. I remember when they were $89 at the local Navy Arms. I picked mine up, used for $225, the cheapest that I could find one that I could pick up and inspect.
Saw one with a custom wooden pistol grip stock, that accepted AK mags, for $375. Beautiful, but outside what I would pay for one.
I am just waiting for the AW Ban to expire so hopefully they will drop in price. I remember when they were $89 at the local Navy Arms. I picked mine up, used for $225, the cheapest that I could find one that I could pick up and inspect.
Saw one with a custom wooden pistol grip stock, that accepted AK mags, for $375. Beautiful, but outside what I would pay for one.
I've actually owned two mini-14's. I apparently developed amnesia 5 minutes prior to buying the second one. They are reliable, however. If you want a too-expensive gun sporting a too-expensive magazine that will reliably launch a projectile in the sort-of general direction of where you're pointing, a mini-14's the gun for you. I suspect the people who buy them think they're getting a gun that will do what an AR-15 will do for less. That's a mistake that I learned the hard way. Twice. And yes I know some folks can turn them into MOA shooters. Now an SKS...no pretense there. Inexpensive, reliable, pleasantly ugly, and mine are minute of moose accurate.
TABING
Member
J&G in Prescot AZ has Yugo SKS's for $99.99. I just ordered one today.
learnedmonkey
Member
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I think you meant to entitle the thread "SKS 0wNz Mini-14!!!"
Andrew Wyatt
Member
The mini-14 is lighter, has better sights and trigger and can be made more accurate for a pittance.
The sks, not so much.
The sks, not so much.
Sunray
Member
"...can be made more accurate..." Yes, but the point is that for the money Ruger wants for one(nearly $600) it should be accurate. It isn't. And the Mini-30 has the wrong diameter barrel.
Andrew Wyatt
Member
*shrug* 30 dollars worth of muzzle break tightens up groups by half.
Yes, the SKS costs less, but it's a lesser gun, no two ways about it.
Yes, the SKS costs less, but it's a lesser gun, no two ways about it.
chevrofreak
Member
http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Yugoslavian_M59_66_7_62x39_SKS_Rifle.html
I think I'll pick one up after Christmas.
I think I'll pick one up after Christmas.
I wouldn't say because it cost less it is of less design. The SKS is extremely reliable, battlefield accurate and will take any kind of punishment you dish out.
The Mini-14 (which cost 4 times more) is reliable (with the right mags, and some tuning), can be made more accurate (with a ton of money dumped into it) and I'm not so sure about punishment.
I have had both the Mini-14 and the SKS. Got rid of both, as I like the AR/AK type weapons more. But if given $600 bucks and told to buy one of the two, I'd buy the SKS (actually I'd buy 4 SKS, and a crap load of ammo/assesories) over the Mini-14 anytime.
The Mini-14 (which cost 4 times more) is reliable (with the right mags, and some tuning), can be made more accurate (with a ton of money dumped into it) and I'm not so sure about punishment.
I have had both the Mini-14 and the SKS. Got rid of both, as I like the AR/AK type weapons more. But if given $600 bucks and told to buy one of the two, I'd buy the SKS (actually I'd buy 4 SKS, and a crap load of ammo/assesories) over the Mini-14 anytime.
All this talk about accuracy between the two, and "accurizing" the Mini, keep in mind the ammo differences. WIth wayyyy better quality ammo than anyone is shooting out of their SKS, the Mini underperforms. That is ridiculous... The SKS is a "Lesser gun" my butt... Simpler, more rugged, and cheaper to boot does not equal inferior in my book. Especially when accuracy is comparable with cheaper, "crappy" ammo like all the milsurp and Wolf 7.62x39...
However, the Mini takes detachable mags (SKS addon "duckbill" mags are complete crap and don't count...), so that's a big point in it's favor IMO, even if you do have to spend to get a decent mag for the Mini. And there is not a particularly easy/good way to mount a scope on the SKS. I think a better comparision would be Mini vs AK. Especially a AK priced comparably to the Mini like one of the nice Vepr or Arsenal AKs....
Every time my buddy has dug his Mini out and brought it to the range I can sit there with my "lesser" lowly Romanian AK and match or better his shooting all day long with less problems with cheaper lower quality ammo... Especially my 5.45 AK (don't have a 5.56 AK yet alas).
However, the Mini takes detachable mags (SKS addon "duckbill" mags are complete crap and don't count...), so that's a big point in it's favor IMO, even if you do have to spend to get a decent mag for the Mini. And there is not a particularly easy/good way to mount a scope on the SKS. I think a better comparision would be Mini vs AK. Especially a AK priced comparably to the Mini like one of the nice Vepr or Arsenal AKs....
Every time my buddy has dug his Mini out and brought it to the range I can sit there with my "lesser" lowly Romanian AK and match or better his shooting all day long with less problems with cheaper lower quality ammo... Especially my 5.45 AK (don't have a 5.56 AK yet alas).
DougCxx
Member
I had a stainless ranch rifle bought new in the early 90's, sold during the late 90's as I needed some cash--but I didn't miss it much. At the time a mini-14 stainless cost about $250 less than a Colt Sporter--and a match barrel for the mini (that would cure 90% of its accuracy problems) cost about...... $250. Mine functioned well but just wasn't very accurate. I did put on an M16-style brake (and even a scope! --hey, I was young and full of optimism. I ditched the scope pretty quickly) but didn't bother with all the other tuning tidbits.
...........
I dare say much of the mini-14's attraction was that it allowed using cheap 223 milsurp ammo, but was cheaper than buying a $700 Colt. -But now of course we see the EAA Saiga AK rifles in 223, for only about $250. I don't know where that leaves the mini-14 rifles-- or maybe I do: "More expensive than a Saiga, but less accurate than a Colt"...
~
...........
I dare say much of the mini-14's attraction was that it allowed using cheap 223 milsurp ammo, but was cheaper than buying a $700 Colt. -But now of course we see the EAA Saiga AK rifles in 223, for only about $250. I don't know where that leaves the mini-14 rifles-- or maybe I do: "More expensive than a Saiga, but less accurate than a Colt"...
~
Langenator
Member
Can anyone here compare the SKS and Mini-14 to what to me is their nearest European contemporary, the FN 49?
From what I've read, the FN 49 is what the SKS would have been if you had built it without regard for the cost of materials or manufacturing, and of course it fires much more powerful ammo (.30-06, 7.62, 8mm)
From what I've read, the FN 49 is what the SKS would have been if you had built it without regard for the cost of materials or manufacturing, and of course it fires much more powerful ammo (.30-06, 7.62, 8mm)
I had a SS Mini-14 and I liked it a lot. I now have 5 SKSs and I like them also. If given the choice and someone else was footing the bill, I would take a Mini-14 or Mini-30 over any SKS.
The Rugers can be had in SS which is a big plus. The have 20, 30, or 40 round mags which is not that big of a deal to me, 10 rounds is fine for what I plan to use it for.
The Rugers can be had in SS which is a big plus. The have 20, 30, or 40 round mags which is not that big of a deal to me, 10 rounds is fine for what I plan to use it for.
DMK
Member
No comparison. The FN 49 is a battle rifle shooting a full power cartridge. It's in the league of the M14 and FAL.
The Mini-14 and SKS are somewhat comparable with each other. They are both carbines, shooting lightweight, medium powered cartridges.
Sure the Mini-14 has detachable mags, but then again the Mini-14 has detachable mags. You don't have to buy a bunch of expensive mags for the SKS. All you need to go shooting is the rifle and some ammo. If you want fast reloads, you can optionally buy some stripper clips for a few bucks.
I also recall that the SKS has been fighting in battle from WWII until as recently as Somalia, maybe even Iraq. It has been manufactured and fielded by a number of countries. I just don't see the Mini-14 as reliable enough under really harsh conditions to earn that kind of record.
The fact that the SKS shoots cheaper ammo is just gravy.
Dave Markowitz
Member
I have a Norinco SKS which I bought in 1988, and a series-182 Mini-14 which I bought last year. My thoughts:
--The trigger on the SKS is inferior to the Mini-14's.
--The Mini-14 has much better sights.
--Most 5.56mm ammo is capable of better accuracy than most 7.62x39.
--The Mini-14 can be turned into a more accurate weapon with a modicum of tuning and not much financial outlay.
--The SKS is much cheaper to buy and feed.
--The Mini-14 is extremely reliable with quality mags. Quality standard cap (>10 rounds) aren't common and are expensive.
--For best reliability, stick with the standard 10 round mag in the SKS. In this form it is as reliable as any semiauto, and far more reliable than most.
--SKS is suitable for game up to deer, while the Mini-14 is limited to smaller game.
--The trigger on the SKS is inferior to the Mini-14's.
--The Mini-14 has much better sights.
--Most 5.56mm ammo is capable of better accuracy than most 7.62x39.
--The Mini-14 can be turned into a more accurate weapon with a modicum of tuning and not much financial outlay.
--The SKS is much cheaper to buy and feed.
--The Mini-14 is extremely reliable with quality mags. Quality standard cap (>10 rounds) aren't common and are expensive.
--For best reliability, stick with the standard 10 round mag in the SKS. In this form it is as reliable as any semiauto, and far more reliable than most.
--SKS is suitable for game up to deer, while the Mini-14 is limited to smaller game.
The Mini-14's sights are not really better. They do have the advantages over the SKS of being peep aperture sights, and being receiver mounted, but there it ends. The Ranch Rifle sights are fragile. Drop it and it might break. The std Mini-14 sights are an abomination, somebody's idea of making a cheap sight that superficially resembles the Garand's sight. Every one I've ever handled had ridiculous slop. Grab the aperture and wiggle -- it flops all over the place. While they may resemble the Garand sights to the uneducated observer -- if you actually have to use them you realize that the sight picture obscures much, and that actually adjusting them is a royal pain in the arse.
The SKS sights are what they are, short radius and all, but at least they're durable. And the sight picture is IMO better and faster with the hooded front sight, even paired with the notch rear. If I still had one I'd be tempted to throw on a $25 Williams aperture.
I speak as a former owner of the RR, the Mini-14, and a Chinese SKS.
If I was going to pick up any of them again it would be the SKS.
The SKS sights are what they are, short radius and all, but at least they're durable. And the sight picture is IMO better and faster with the hooded front sight, even paired with the notch rear. If I still had one I'd be tempted to throw on a $25 Williams aperture.
I speak as a former owner of the RR, the Mini-14, and a Chinese SKS.
If I was going to pick up any of them again it would be the SKS.
WonderNine
member
Lesser in what respect? Accuracy? The SKS is just as accurate as the Mini.
Quality? The Yugo SKS's have exceptional quality control and milled steel parts. Definately higher quality control than any recent Ruger. Did I tell you the time the charging handle of the mini dissasembled itself when I pulled back on it one time. Took me awhile to get it back in there. It slops up and down alot. It's a new gun btw. Mini's are neat, but overpriced IMO.
One can get a Williams peep sight for SKS for $25 or less. Install.
Voilla! Single biggest ComBlock problem- awful sights- gone. Buy an SKS, 1000 rounds of blasting ammo, 100 rounds of Georgia Arms hunting ammo, and a Williams rear (and fiber optic front, if desired)...and you'll still have spent less than you would have paid for a new Mini. And you'll have a better rifle.
If you want a too-expensive gun sporting a too-expensive magazine that will reliably launch a projectile in the sort-of general direction of where you're pointing, a mini-14's the gun for you.
Voilla! Single biggest ComBlock problem- awful sights- gone. Buy an SKS, 1000 rounds of blasting ammo, 100 rounds of Georgia Arms hunting ammo, and a Williams rear (and fiber optic front, if desired)...and you'll still have spent less than you would have paid for a new Mini. And you'll have a better rifle.
If you want a too-expensive gun sporting a too-expensive magazine that will reliably launch a projectile in the sort-of general direction of where you're pointing, a mini-14's the gun for you.
SodaPop
member
They are both good guns.
yeah, but if it came down to it, (money aside). If you were running out of the house because aliens just invaded and you knew the rifle (either the SKS or the Mini-14) you were taking with you would be it for a while (ammo issue aside). Which one would you rest your life on.
For me it's the SKS, minimal cleaning, minimal breakage of parts. Super reliability. Decent accuracy.
For me it's the SKS, minimal cleaning, minimal breakage of parts. Super reliability. Decent accuracy.
Balog
Member
I believe one can also modify the SKS to take AK mags. Only seen one in person, and I didn't try it so I dunno how well it worked.
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