Target Mini or AR?

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Pistola Pedro

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Alright, first of all, hi everyone. This is my first post, but I've been gleaning wisdom here for a while.
My tax return was a pretty decent one this year and I will have around $1,200 to spend on a new firearm. While I am still kicking around the idea of getting a 1911, I think I want a .223 plinker. I don't care to look like I'm on a SpecOps team, so all of the collapsible stock, foregrip, etc. stuff for the AR is no selling point at all. What I really want is a dependable rifle that I can take out of the box, throw a scope on, sight in for a one or two range trips, and then be able to depend on to make pretty decent shots whenever I decide to go shooting. I am not one who is going to spend hundreds of dollars trying to upgrade my rifle.
So the question I'm posing is this: How does the new Mini-14 Target model stack up to AR's in the same price range ($850.00)? I don't want to spend more than this since I will need to use the rest on optics, and I have a dealer who has the Mini on the rack right now. It is a really nice looking gun, but I was wondering if anyone knows if it is getting the elusive 1MOA groupings with it.
Also, if you are suggesting I go with the AR, which one do you suggest that is in the price range (850)? What optics under $350?
All suggestions and advice are appreciated!
Pete
 
AR with a Eotech site.

I honestly dont like Mini-14s....

With the AR, you can pretty much make any rifle you want, from a carbine to a long barreled prairie poodle popper. Look for a good used AR if you like or several come in at under $850. Toss in an Eotech 512 fir about $350 and you are done.

Look for Bushmaster, DPMS, Rock River and some others like S&W. Some ARs come with all kinds of junk tossed on to drive up the cost. If you don't care, look for a basic carbine or M4gery and you should be headed in the right direction. Get a Flattop and a back up Iron Sight.

Also, welcome to THR, My name is Dravur, Dravur gets presents.... remember Dravur when Christmas comes around.
 
I don't care to look like I'm on a SpecOps team, so all of the collapsible stock, foregrip, etc. stuff for the AR is no selling point at all.
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i don't look like a mall ninja either, but i have all those things on my AR because they're FUNCTIONAL. If you use them for a while, you'll appreciate their value, even on civilian plinker guns.
 
Keep em coming

Taliv, I am not trying to negate the fact that those accessories can be useful. I just don't know how useful they will be for my intended purposes. I don't do 3 gun comp., I don't plan on packing it for miles, and if it ever comes down to a that whole end of the world type situation....well I've got a Bible for that:p!
If there is a practical side to having the adjustable stock and foregrip for simple benchrest type shooting at ranges anywhere from 100-300yds. please let me know, because I am in the dark on that. Also, is there any certain barrel length that is better for a plinker?
 
Note: the above is meant to be read as an ignorant person asking for information, not as a jerk trying to be sarcastic. I read it after posting and noticed it could sound like I was trying to be a punk and that's not my intention
 
I'm gonna throw down a bit here, although I'll admit I'm more than biased for AR's and their clones. I've never owned a Mini, although I have lusted after one for a while, but from the looks of it, the Mini breaks down like an M14. In other words, damn hard to take apart and put back together. That's one big reason why I've never plunked down my hard-earned money.

As far as optics are concerned, you can prolly find an aimpoint for less than 350, and I know for sure that you can hit things out to 500m with those.

I do know that AR's can be damned accurate, and fun as heck to shoot. There are all sorts of fun toys for them, and mags are plentiful. If you can though, you can see if one of yer friends has one of each, and give 'em a shot before you commit.
 
well I've got a Bible for that!
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i'm with you there

If there is a practical side to having the adjustable stock and foregrip for simple benchrest type shooting at ranges anywhere from 100-300yds. please let me know, because I am in the dark on that.
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stock: your body should be more squared up when you shoot the AR, as opposed to canted or oblique somewhat when shooting most larger caliber rifles. In my experience (even though I'm 6'5" with very long arms) I find the most comfortable position is almost fully collapsed. It's probably been six months or more since the stock on my AR has been extended fully. Also, ease of storage is obvious.

edit: i will say that even though you can shoot sub-MOA with the cheap plastic collapsible stocks, they don't exactly exude quality and in fact, I find them fairly annoying. There are dozens of super aftermarket stocks for AR pattern guns. (e.g. magpul, vltor, etc) I also realize you said you weren't planning to spend hundreds of dollars upgrading. I just wanted to clarify that I'm not saying fixed stocks are bad; I'm just saying there is value in adjustable stocks.

foregrip: when you want to move the gun quickly, it's hard to beat a foregrip. (I know you said you're not into 3gun...yet :) ) if you shoot a lot, the forearm can get uncomfortably warm. having a foregrip solves that problem handily. (no pun intended) On the rare occasion when I shoot an AR from a bench, I find it convenient to lay the forearm on the bench or rest and then slide it forward until the foregrip stops against the bench or rest. at this point, I hold the bench or rest with my hand around the foregrip and apply some pressure with my shoulder in the stock. makes for a fairly easy to repeat position.

Also, is there any certain barrel length that is better for a plinker?
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18"
don't go longer w/o a good reason.


also, no hint of sarcasm, being a punk or otherwise bad attitude in your posts. (and none intended in mine either)
 
I am biased due to the fact that I have had bad mini's. With the new mini I know this isn't the same rifle but here goes my way of thinking.

The AR is the way to go! The first thing that is allways asked in these "what gun should I get" deals is how exactly do you intend to use it? At this point you may think you know but this could change several years down the line. The flexibility and choice of the AR system will allow three things . 1) You can fit the rifle to just the way you want it now
2) If things change in the future you can re-configure it.
3) When all else fails the flexability of the AR gives it the most value to others (good resale value!)

No matter what else I would buy the AR over the mini simply because the mini mags suck big time compared to the wonderfull cheep and plentifull AR mags.
 
I must agree with Nhsport and his reasoning, go with the AR. However I love my mini dearly, even if it cant hit a barn.
 
The funny thing about "TARGET" mini's. Is they've been out for a couple years now and I have yet to see any of those great groups posted.

Of course the same applies to the new whatever series minis that are "supposed" to be great shooters. Lots of ballyhoo about improved accuracy yet no pictures of any groups
 
Most AR's in the sub-$900 range are gonna be 1-2 MOA. The match grade stuff comes at more of a premium. It's not impossible to find an M4gery that'll shoot MOA or better, but I wouldn't count on it.

The standard mini is about 3 MOA. Reports suggest the Target mini is also about 2-3 MOA until you tune the muzzle balancer and find the ammo it likes, aftyer which it seems these critters hover in the 1-2 MOA range of a plain jane AR.

If you want a <$850 rifle that'll drive tacks all day, start looking at Remington, Savage, Howa, etc. I had a black on black Howa M1500 Varminter in .223 that I paid a whopping $370 for brand new. I can count on one hand the number of groups that were over MOA. Come to think of it, I have less than your $1,200 figure invested in my Ruger M77 varmint .220 swift, including the 6.5-20x Nikon monarch scope. That rifle averaes 1.56" for 5 shots at 200 yards.
 
I really like the Mini 14. If I had an accurate one I would just love it, but I don't. They are serious reliable and tough, but accurate they are not. They can not touch an AR in the accuracy dept.
 
Pedro,
You gota like them black rifles but, I'm with you on the spec ops look you could do a lot worse than an AR.
But the new target Mini is sharp looking, and is every bit as accurate as the average AR.

All ya see at the range is those AR's and if you really watch, most of them are no more accurate than your BASIC Mini 14.
The owner of the AR platform goes out to the latest show ,picks up a upper from PTO and slaps it on a lower from Bushcutter , gets a collapsable stock from Harbor Freight, adds a Velcro forearm to accept a can opener from Sears. then gets 40-50 used 150 page mags from Outdoor Life and loads them up with Grey Fox .223 95gr hollow points. Then finds out his batterys are dead for the platinum laser ACOG with foot pedal volume control, and has to go to Wallgreens to pick up a set .

It ain't that I got any problem with the AR system or shooter, just please guys paint the things some other color every once in a while how 'bout it!
 
I'd go with the mini-14 target. Its the more interesting gun and it seems like its more what your looking for if you don't wanna play the mall ninja.
 
I was wondering....

Ahhh... there the mini supporters are. Do any of you happen to have experience with the target model? I have a nasty filter on my internet and basically this is the only firearms forum that I can get to and I also can't watch that wonderful youtube clip that was posted. So if someone can describe it to me, that would be great. I really just want to know if any REAL people out there are putting out some MOA type groups. I'm not an anti when it comes to the black rifles, but the ones that I would want seem to be a little too expensive.
 
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If only these guys had them new fangled Mini-14's they would have been able to hit something.
I'd spend my money on an AR-15 if I was you.
Just my 0.02 worth.:cool:
 
I have both (mini 30) I like them both but i say get the AR while you can it is the better gun.
Ok i dont have the new target model, but the AR is still better.
 
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