To Fudd or not to Fudd...That is the Question

[bersaguy]

Let me lay the groundwork on this quandary. I'm kinda old school in my tastes, perhaps a bit on the fuddy side. I prefer 1911's to Glocks, M1 Carbines to M4 Carbines, wood to polymer...for the most part. A couple of years ago I bought a S&W M&P 15 Sport II because, you know, 'Murica. It's good, don't get me wrong, hasn't missed a beat or given me a lick of trouble. Runs like sewing machine...like a soulless, nondescript sewing machine.
I see today someone nearby has a 1982 Mini14 in stainless with a walnut stock, the stock has seen better days. He'd like to sell or trade for an Ar15. I think I'd like a Mini 14 with a wood stock, but from what I've heard the older 14's are less than stellar. I'm not looking for a sub MOA tack driver, or something to do mag dumps with, but something that's fun at the range that I can also take on a hog hunt. I shoot my M1 Carbine better than the AR15, but would like something with a bit more punch than 30 carbine, and a bit more personality than the AR15.
So, what say you? Would you trade an entry level Ar15 for an early 80's mini14?

 

[<*(((><]

Not a chance.

 

[1MoreFord]

No way.

 

[Sappyg2.0]

Would I? No. Been there done that. I like everything about the mini 14 except the way they shoot.

But if you like them.... why not give it a try

 

[Elkins45]

Nope.

 

[Legionnaire]

Nope. I had an 80's vintage Mini-14 years ago and sold it to purchase my first AR15. An AR15 is not my rifle of choice; I much prefer an accurate bolt action. But I wanted a fairly accurate semi-auto and the Mini-14 wasn't it. I wanted to like it; I really did ... but I couldn't get it to consistently shoot under 4 inches at 100 despite a lot of tinkering. Perhaps that's accurate enough for you. Not me.

 

[bersaguy]

Wow, that was quick. That's what I needed to know. Like I said the S&W runs great...sounds like what I've heard about the older mini 14s is correct

 

[Sappyg2.0]

sounds like what I've heard about the older mini 14s is correct

It's true

 

[MosinT53Hunter]

I have had the AR-15, looked at Mini 14's, and settled on the SKS and Universal M1, 1st Gen. Good to go.

 

[ColoradoMinuteMan]

If it’s not in excellent condition I wouldn’t do it. Not that the M&P Sport 2 is extremely valuable but you have a known good, highly reliable rifle that you’re trading for a rifle that sounds like it may not have been well taken care of. With a throw away stock it’s really another $200 to get it into excellent condition, assuming the rest of the rifle is in excellent condition. I absolutely wouldn’t do it until I shoot 100 rounds through it and made sure it operated flawlessly and has accuracy within my standards.

 

[labnoti]

Fudds are who Diane Feinstein was referring to when she said, "acceptable gun ownership." <shudder>

Which one would Diane Feinstein rather you have?

 

[bersaguy]

Which one would Diane Feinstein rather you have?

If Diane is getting involved, I'll trade the Ar15 for a short barreled, suppressed M60

 

[LoonWulf]

Yeah, id do that....
But for perspective Ive owned a few of both, and Ive traded a fairly nice AR for an sks.
I have not owned an older Mini, but ive spent quite a bit of time with them. They go bang, generally hit what your aiming at as long as its not too far away or very small, but suck at shooting groups.

Id honestly suggest holding out for a newer mini tho, they tend to hold thier own better in all departments.

 

[Phaedrus/69]

God no! Maybe the newer Mini 14s are decent guns but the 80's models should be avoided like AIDs. Mine was minute-of-barn-door accurate and really not worth owning.

 

[troy fairweather]

i don't know i guess some guys just have trouble with rugers, all the mini 14/30 me and my dad had shot good and and ran reliably. i would prefer a sks tho.

 

[Random 8]

No. Now a Mini Thirty on the other hand...given your stated goal, that would be a good rifle for you. Maybe still not a fair value, but you'd get a rifle more in touch with your needs.

 

[md7]

Consider me in the camp that likes soulless, non descript sewing machine reliability. I would keep the AR.

 

[FL-NC]

Not in a million years. I prefer a rifle that has the ability to do its job if I do my job- not to mention, the endless options for mods to the AR, cheap magazines, and so on.

 

[jmorris]

Kind of weird but you can get an AR cheaper than a mini 14 these days, I’d also put money on the cheap AR for accuracy as well.

So my answer is maybe. If I could trade $400 AR’s for $500 mini’s I’d make the $100 all day long.

That said the last mini I bought was $365 new and AR’s were close to double that.

 

[someguy2800]

I would do it because you can replace what you have by building another cheap AR15 for like 300 bucks. The prices on AR15’s right now are insane.

 

[mustanger98]

If it’s not in excellent condition I wouldn’t do it. Not that the M&P Sport 2 is extremely valuable but you have a known good, highly reliable rifle that you’re trading for a rifle that sounds like it may not have been well taken care of. With a throw away stock it’s really another $200 to get it into excellent condition, assuming the rest of the rifle is in excellent condition. I absolutely wouldn’t do it until I shoot 100 rounds through it and made sure it operated flawlessly and has accuracy within my standards.

That was my thought too. Also, while I've always generally preferred Mini-14 over AR-anything, I have no experience with earlier production. If it were 1990's production with a 1:9 twist, I'd say do it in a New York minute. And those are not a benchrest match deal. These new ones they have out now... they advertise match grade accuracy and prices are through the roof.

 

[MosinT53Hunter]

As are prices on Mini 14's, both new and used.

 

[MistWolf]

bersaguy, if someone wanted to trade me an 80s Mini-14 for my S&W Sport, I'd do it. Why I'd do it is-
1) I have a Colt AR. I wouldn't miss the S&W Sport.
2) "Go Shoot The Gun". Is the precision of a Mini-14 as horrible as everyone says? The best way to answer that is to get one and shoot it. I had one back in the late 70s, early 80s and while it wasn't a tack driver, it was a fun high speed plinker.
3) Because I want to take it apart and study the action. People keep saying it's a scaled down M-14, but I don't think that accurate. I think the Mini-14 has it's roots in the M1 Carbine. I'd like to compare the Mini-14 to an M1 Carbine and find out.
4) Maybe I'll get lucky and it will shoot just fine. If not, maybe I can get it to shoot better. It would be a project to keep my mind and hands busy and I'll learn something along the way.
5) Because it's our civic duty to sometimes take in a stray and give it a good home.

 

[MachIVshooter]

I might, because for some reason people are willing to pay North of $600 for used minis. If I can turn a used AR worth less than $400 into $600 or $700 cash, of course I'll do it!

If I had to keep the mini? No way.

 

[Hokie_PhD]

Personally I wouldn’t.

But the question is silly to me as we’re all different. So what others would do shouldn’t matter.

My view is OP should do it if he thinks it’s the right thing to do and it would make him happy. If not he should pass.

In my case I have no interest in the Minis although if given one, I’d take it. As far as the M&P I’ll agree with OP that an off the shelf stock one isn’t very interesting, it’s an AR so they’re easy to personalize. And as far as an inexpensive ARs they’re very nice. They won’t get the wow factor or resale of a Daniel Defense or other high end AR, but they’re reliable and shoot extremely nice for what they are. I’d take one way before a mini given the choice.