Target Mini or AR?

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The only reasons I can see wanting a Mini over an AR are the following:

1. You live in an area where you cannot own an AR but can own a Mini.

2. You seriously prefer the traditional stock style to the "modern" pistol grip/straight stock style.

3. You want to maintain a similar manual of arms with an M14/M1A.

4. You're just looking for a plinker or trunk gun.

5. You just really want one.

If you look at it in a rational, logical fashion, unless you fall into one of those categories, the AR wins in any reasonable analysis. It is much better at what it does right out of the box, and can be tweaked and turned into almost anything.

Mike
 
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.
Click to expand...

if that's the case, the shooters you have been watching, know nothing about marksmanship or shooting an AR.

pretty much all of the AR's and M16's I have ever shot - maybe in the twenties - shoot better at 100 yards than the two Mini's I've dumped, did at 50 yards.

I'm no particular AR fan, but for all of it's vices it's a very accurate rifle, and certainly more inherently accurate than a standard Mini, especially on rounds three, four and five after that thin little Mini-14 barrel gets hot.

hot barrels will droop. I don't care what anyone says, I've watched it happen on M-240G's, as the barrel glows red, and the rounds walk toward you.
 
I will jump on the bandwagon. If you were offered a Mini for less than $400 bucks with a few mags and some ammo, I would say go for it. But if you are gonna spend the money just get the AR. Cheap magazines, more accurate and you can alter it the way you want it.

I liked my Mini but sold it due to lack of use once I purchased an AR. Never looked back. I like my quote "Mini 14 is a great gun for $300 dollars". That about says it all.
 
Get the AR. It's more accurate and easier to modify or customize in case your tastes change. Furthermore, there is a far broader market for parts and aftermarket support for the AR.

If you want a tack-driving AR, you'll probly want to look at the heavy-barreled national-match configuration guns like the Colt Match Target HBAR or one of the varmint/sniper setups like the Bushmaster Varminter.
 
you tube video

You wanted to know what the video had on it. It shows a guy shooting another guys new mini 14 target and it does really well. It is a very nice looking rifle and he shows the 100 yard targets tighten up groups down to about a quarter (25 centpiece) size from 1&1/2". Then he takes it out to 200 yards hitting a rock (fist sized) then 300 yards hitting a 12" metal gong. He goes out after and shows the 3 gong hits are centered about 3-4" on the gong. The gun is very impressive and not anything like the older barely can hit a pie plate at 100 yards. Id get the mini. I have a keltec su16, weighs 4 & 1/2 lbs, folds up to 22", has a built in bipod (fore grip folds down), uses m16 mags and can store a 30 rounder in the butt stock (about $550 new-shoots 2moa). I also think the (cheap bsa holo sight-I have) is the way to go for quickly aquiring targets and seeing shot placement but if you want high accuracy a 3X9 scope will do much better. The ruger would be heavier than a ar and a high end $1200 target ar is a better all around rifle but for the price the ruger looks good. You cant compare the old rugers to the target just look at the bull barrel and stock on the video. It all depends on what you will end up doing with it. Hike around? Hunt varmints? shoot paper?
 
Got what I needed I think

The AR people have spoken and persuaded me that it just makes more sense. I will let ya'all know what the end decision is and hopefully post some pics.
Thanks to all,
Pete
 
All it takes to strip a Mini is 1 round unfired ammo, and about 2 minutes. Trigger group pops out,after you pop the trigger gaurd loose with the loaded round, remove stock and hanguard with your fingers, lift out the op rod, hold onto the spring pop off the ejector cover and ejector ,remove bolt.

Pedro try Accuracy International web site for some custom Mini's and their adjustable gas block, plus they have all different Mini stuff. The new target is based on some of their custom gun
 
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Get an M-4 type AR rifle and mount a Millett DMS-1 tactical scope on it. The DMS-1 scope is a variable one with a red donut in its center. The EOTech is a one power scope, not a variable and it costs twice as much as the Millett. Both scopes have red dots and donuts in the center of them but only the Millett lets you zoom in or out from 1 to 4 power. The Millett beats the EOTech hands down. The mini-14 is just an expensive piece of junk in .223 or 7.62 X 39 or in 6.8 SPC calibers. I've owned 3 mini-14s and will NEVER own another one. The mini-14s are why I now have several AR-15s and M-4 carbines.
 
I'd get the AR.

Here is what I would do with $850:
CMMG Bargin Bin M4" $570, maybe between $600 and $615 including shipping and transfer fee. (if I had the money, I'd already own one).

Folding BUIS - $90.

Five 30 round mags - $50 ($10 each)

Total: $755, maybe add a few bucks for shipping the additional stuff on top of the BB M4.
 
I'd sure believe a youtube video as fact. It's not like they couldn't pick and choose what they put up. Get a CMMG bargain bin special, and a 1911.
 
No experience with the target Mini. A lot with the old standard Minis. For hunting, the standard Mini is as good as anything. The first shot from a cold barrel very reliably goes the same place today as yesterday.

It's not the deal for tight groups on paper from the bench.

I had a match target Bushmaster for a while. I sighted it in after I bought it (good used). Three shot groups. I guess I adjusted the 6x24 Tasco scope four or five times to get just where I wanted. When I got done, all the groups were within one-half MOA. Probably could have used one aiming point and had a dozen or more within that half-inch. Seriously half-MOA all day long. Weighed 9.5 pounds, though. The stock trigger was yucky.

IMO, then, the decision has to do with the intended use. For me, were it paper-punching, I'd get a target-type AR. For field use in hunting, the Mini is as good as anything.

Art
 
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