Thoughts on the mini 14?

[tark]

My Mini experience was less than happy. I bought the standard blued mini two years ago. Paid $700 for it. It was fine, at first, and accurate enough to hit an orange at 100 yards every time if I did my part. But the more I shot it, the more stoppages I got. By the thousand round mark it was jamming two or three times every twenty round mag. Usually failures to feed. I used only Ruger mags. A careful cleaning did nothing to solve the problem, so I sold it and got a Bushmaster AR, which has digested almost 2000 rounds without a single malfunction of any kind.

 

[Charliefrank]

Actually my little Ruger came with all that stuff, except a bayonet mount

 

[zaitcev]

I say stay away, unless you are somewhere that the AR is illegal but the mini is ok.

Not even that, anymore. I would rather have a SU-16 (well, I actually have both). SU is lighter, may be more accurate (accounting for variations in model years), takes AR magazines. On the high end, you can get FightLite SCR, which is even better. There's also a bunch of workaround platforms, such as RDB Survival, various AR stock denial plates and so on.

 

[someguy2800]

Honestly you can get lots of AR's for $400 but none of them do anything for me. I'm sure they are good rifles but I don't like the stocks, grips, or forends on them and they don't come with sights or mounts. The only factory AR's I'm really interested in are ones with proper fixed stocks and free float forends and decent barrels and they are all $700+ anyway without sights so when you put it that way a mini doesn't sound that rediculous. The big advantage I see in an AR is you can build it the way you actually want for cheaper by just buying the parts and of course they are inherently much more accurate.

 

[MachIVshooter]

The only factory AR's I'm really interested in are ones with proper fixed stocks and free float forends and decent barrels and they are all $700+ anyway without sights so when you put it that way a mini doesn't sound that rediculous.

Except that at the $700 mark, the mini is absent the ergonomic stock and quality free floated barrel. You'll spend another $700 to get that with the mini.

Jackal nailed it:

The Mini is the best $300 semi auto rifle made, it just happens to cost $700....

Even the "target" model didn't outperform a basic AR carbine in the accuracy department.

I had a stainless 196 series, bought it new in 2000 for $425 at a time when the cheapest ARs were neutered basic Bushmaster or DPMS carbines for $800-ish. It made sense then, and it was a fun little rifle. Today? I'm honestly surprised the mini is still in production, don't personally know a single person who owns or wants to own one. People never ask about them at my partners shop, he won't even consider stocking them. In fact, the only place you see them for sale locally anywhere seems to be Walmart.

 

[FL-NC]

As for the "Cheap" ARs you can get now don't they come without any sights? So you have to add sights or a scope. Aren't they stripped down with no dust cover or forward assist? No bayonet lug? No flash hider?

Not necessarily true.

 

[mljdeckard]

They hold a place in my heart, because all the ranchers I grew up with kept one behind the seat.

But like the others have said, current AR options have kind of overwhelmed it. And yes, for the money, I very much prefer my Yugo SKS.

 

[grampajack]

Way overpriced, inaccurate, and good mags are pretty expensive. Unless you're just in love with the looks of the mini 14, a "modern sporting rifle" of some kind is going to be the better way to go.

 

[Kame B.]

Considering the purchase of a mini 14. I have heard the older ones had issues with the barrels. Are they any more accurate than say the entry level ruger 556? Any help on the subject would be greatly appreciated.

You wont go wrong with a Mini 14. Is a AR cheaper? Yes. Is a cheap non free floated barrel AR more accurate? No. I have both and the only thing a cheap AR does better is be cheap, and that's it. Someone here called the Mini 14 fragile, and that is one word I would have never associated with the little rifle. It's wood and steel, with half the parts than what is in a AR15, you do the math.

But don't take my word for it. I made a play list on my youtube channel of the manufacturing process of the Mini 14. It is 13 "How It's Made" videos from Ruger's youtube sight: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXryWPpnkC8jo64cr5a0MJ9abwmUXHAzk

 

[hq]

There's no joy in being a pseudo-benchrest MOA-lemming. The world is full of them and they're just as stubborn and boring as Jehova's Witnesses. Dare to be different and get one. You won't regret it.

 

[kwg020]

My Mini experience was less than happy. I bought the standard blued mini two years ago. Paid $700 for it. It was fine, at first, and accurate enough to hit an orange at 100 yards every time if I did my part. But the more I shot it, the more stoppages I got. By the thousand round mark it was jamming two or three times every twenty round mag. Usually failures to feed. I used only Ruger mags. A careful cleaning did nothing to solve the problem, so I sold it and got a Bushmaster AR, which has digested almost 2000 rounds without a single malfunction of any kind.

I shot over 1000 rounds out of my Mini this last summer without cleaning it and very little oil with no rifle related issues. I had one magazine that gave me some issues but that was it. With the right hand load you can get more accuracy but it will probably never be as accurate as a quality AR. But, I like the ergonomics and the light weight. I can live with 4 MOA as long as I can have it close by and dependable.
kwg

 

[Art Eatman]

I've bought or traded into four early version Minis. Two blued, two stainless. I always used a Weaver K-4. My preferred magazine was the factory ten-round version.

The most attractive feature (I'm mostly a hunter) was that the first shot from a cold barrel was commonly within an inch of the point of aim. Commonly, a three-shot group was around 1.5 MOA. Plenty good for coyotes and jackrabbits.

I'd likely have one today, but I'm too much of a cheapskate to pay today's price.

 

[kwg020]

You wont go wrong with a Mini 14. Is a AR cheaper? Yes. Is a cheap non free floated barrel AR more accurate? No. I have both and the only thing a cheap AR does better is be cheap, and that's it. Someone here called the Mini 14 fragile, and that is one word I would have never associated with the little rifle. It's wood and steel, with half the parts than what is in a AR15, you do the math.

But don't take my word for it. I made a play list on my youtube channel of the manufacturing process of the Mini 14. It is 13 "How It's Made" videos from Ruger's youtube sight: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXryWPpnkC8jo64cr5a0MJ9abwmUXHAzk

Kame
The only thing I did not see was how the front sight was fit and attached. I wonder if that is proprietary ?

kwg

 

[Charliefrank]

Thanks for all the input guys. Based on the accounts I've read I think I'll stick to my ar and sks. Unless I find an irresistible deal that is,lol

 

[ThomasT]

Based on the accounts I've read I think I'll stick to my ar and sks. Unless I find an irresistible deal that is,lol

Good luck finding a "deal" on one. You may find a deal but most folks who own minis, particularly the newer 580 series and above tend to hold on to them. I like my AR and would sell it if I needed to but the mini I have isn't going anywhere. Nothing wrong with an AR but I just like the Mini better. I like the way it feels in my hands much better than the AR.

One complaint twith the Mini-14 is that you can't get a decent firing pin. Well here is one that should solve that issue.

https://www.firingpins.com/ruger-mini-14-firing-pin-2470

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

I have both. I bought my mini used in the early 80s for $225, with a Weaver K4. My wife gave me a S&W M&P about eight years ago. I like shooting both, but the Mini is more satisfyilng, with its "clack-clack" sound like a Garand, as opposed to the "sproing" of the AR. Sure, the AR will outshoot the Mini, but the Mini is more fun.

After reading all the internet hype about the Mini, I took mine out to the range and sighted it in, then shot ten rapid fire shots at a 10"x10" triangle piece of iron hanging at 200 yards, twice. Hit it every time. For its intended use (coyotes), that's good enough for me. I have other rifles for prairie dogs.

 

[VVelox]

Saving up for one, but that is because being in Chicago and only the Tactical model is specifically banned(as the Chicago AWB overrides the Cook County AWB.

The big question I've been finding myself pondering is 7.62x39mm or .223 Rem. Would love to do .300 Blackout so I could have bullet over lap between it and my .30-30, but would need to double check the wording of the ban to see if it is a specific model or all for the Mini-14 Tactical.

 

[VVelox]

That all said, I really like the idea of a scout scope on a Mini Thirty.

 

[FL-NC]

Saving up for one, but that is because being in Chicago and only the Tactical model is specifically banned(as the Chicago AWB overrides the Cook County AWB.

The big question I've been finding myself pondering is 7.62x39mm or .223 Rem. Would love to do .300 Blackout so I could have bullet over lap between it and my .30-30, but would need to double check the wording of the ban to see if it is a specific model or all for the Mini-14 Tactical.

For you, a mini 14 makes sense due to the fact that the AR isn't an option for you, legally speaking. Otherwise, I can't see the sense in buying one today- I don't buy a gun that I'm going to use based on looks or the sound the action makes. I deal in performance, utility, and price, then balance the 3. For me, the mini fails in all 3. I would get the 5.56 model vs x 39 or B-O.

 

[carbine85]

We have several Mini 14s in the family. The oldest is a 183 series stainless with over 10K rounds down the pipe. This one shoots far pretty then the others. I paid $300 for it around 1984. Over the years I have installed better irons, install a smaller gas port bushing, bedded the stock and recently had to replace the op rod recoil spring.
With all that said there's no way I'm dropping $700 on the current models. They don't shoot any better than a $600 AK or a $500 AR.

 

[flashhole]

Here in New Yorkistan they have almost demonized the AR out of existence. I was glad and still am glad I bought a 583 series Mini 14. I have many precision rifles so it's not difficult for me to accept the Mini for what it is. Mine is stainless/synthetic and does well in the accuracy department with my handloads. Used it with open sights, then went to a scope, then went to a red dot, then went back to open sights and now it has the scope back on it. It comes up nicely and is quick to get on target. My 18 year old daughter put two consecutive 10-round clips in an 8" gong at 150 yards shooting off-hand. She had no complaints about accuracy. I don't own an AR but have shot them many times. ARs just don't appeal to me as much as the Mini.

 

[illinoisburt]

Saving up for one, but that is because being in Chicago and only the Tactical model is specifically banned(as the Chicago AWB overrides the Cook County AWB.

The big question I've been finding myself pondering is 7.62x39mm or .223 Rem. Would love to do .300 Blackout so I could have bullet over lap between it and my .30-30, but would need to double check the wording of the ban to see if it is a specific model or all for the Mini-14 Tactical.

I believe all models of the Mini 14 are specifically prohibited along with ARs in Chicago under the Blair Holt AWB. I would check with a local shop to confirm whether or not it will apply to your specific address (if you are outside the city limits in another burb, etc.) GATS, Rinks, and Mega generally are knowledgeable of what they can sell.

https://library.municode.com/il/coo...OR_CH54LIPEMIBURE_ARTIIIDEWEDE_DIV4BLHOASWEBA

 

[VVelox]

I believe all models of the Mini 14 are specifically prohibited along with ARs in Chicago under the Blair Holt AWB. I would check with a local shop to confirm whether or not it will apply to your specific address (if you are outside the city limits in another burb, etc.) GATS, Rinks, and Mega generally are knowledgeable of what they can sell.

https://library.municode.com/il/coo...OR_CH54LIPEMIBURE_ARTIIIDEWEDE_DIV4BLHOASWEBA

That is Cook County, which Chicago is part of, but has pre-emption, meaning the Chicago AWB overrides the Cook County AWB.

EDIT: Found this after a quick search... http://library.amlegal.com/nxt/gate...affectingpublicpeacemorals/chapter8-20weapons

(R) Sturm, Ruger Mini-14 Tactical Rife M-14/20CF.

That is the only one banned.

 

[VVelox]

Hmmm, looking at that a bit more, it looks like it specifically bans the Mini-14 model 5846. The bothersome bit, besides having to pull the flash hider and silver solder something over the threads, is it is a bit ambiguous as outside of the initial announcement for that model, Ruger never really used that name again, instead using numeric model numbers and calling them all the "Mini-14 Tactical Rifle".

 

[hq]

I deal in performance, utility, and price, then balance the 3.

So do I. After the better part of three decades of hunting mainly with AR:s the $300 impulse purchase Mini 30 has quickly become my go-to carbine for driven and stalking hunts. Near perfection for me, shot offhand or from sticks. Had someone told me five or ten years ago that this is going to happen I would've laughed my arse off, and even back then I already used a Deerfield .44 for thicket duties.

They also have a higher fudd acceptance factor whenever circumstances call for it. Hunting private land leases means you have to please landowners, whether you like it or not...

For range and varmint duties the choice still is a high-$ AR any day of the week. AR10 for treestands and blinds in open terrain.