Was hoping Ruger might have had a change of heart...

[TexasRifleman]

because of all the Ruger & Mini-14 haters that piled on.

I have had a Mini14 since I was in Jr High. It's got untold thousands of rounds through it and it's never failed to fire.

That said, it's simply not a very good rifle. It's inaccurate and at the new retail price it's extremely overpriced.

When I got mine they were half the price of a Colt AR. Now they are the same price as the "clone" ARs out there.

I don't hate Ruger or the Mini I just don't see why anyone would buy one unless you live in one of the states that still has some kind of "assault weapon" ban that the Mini can circumvent.

 

[MinnMooney]

There are a lot more reasons why the AR-15 is way more popular than the Mini-14.
One is accuracy. The Mini has suffered for years as being known as a 2-3 MOA rifle. This is evidently good enough for those who catty one in their PU trucks out west for a quick shot at a 'yote but it's not much fun to punch that big of a circle on paper - it's frustrating.
I know the newest Mini is more accurate but look at what they had to do to their completely redesigned Mini to get better accuracy - they installed an ugly stabilizer weight on the barrel so it's up to you to find the sweet spot for each load. Not the best answer to getting MOA(almost MOA, anyway).

Another is mag. cap. AR mags are everywhere and sell for $10 - $25. They sell 5,10,20,30 50 & 100 round mags (and I'm sure a lot more capacities so don't jump on me for leaving some out).

 

[zulu6]

I could singlehandedly and practically overnight double Ruger's profitability by doing three things.

1. Sell the Mini-14 at a price point that it should be sold at, say the middle $400's.

2. Include a factory hi-cap with every rifle.

3. Make hi-caps plentiful and available for sale at $29.99 each.

I would sell every Mini-14 made and make it one of the most popular rifles ever sold.

If I then went on to make an actual mini M-14/M1A in 5.56 complete with a heavier barrel, flash suppressor, and underlug and sell it for something less than an AR from any of the big guys...forget it. You couldn't keep them on the shelves.

 

[PTK]

I could singlehandedly and practically overnight double Ruger's profitability by doing three things.

1. Sell the Mini-14 at a price point that it should be sold at, say the middle $400's.

Err.... what if it costs them more to manufacture? That wouldn't help their bottom line at all.

But seriously, sales of the Mini-14 seem to be doing just fine. I own two.

 

[Gunnerpalace]

Is 650.00 a good price for a Mini?

 

[Tony50ae]

I don't think they have any intention of ever creating a heavier barrel for the ranch model, even though the demand has been there for over 20 years.

Actually starting last year Ruger has finally started making a heavier barrel for the mini-14. And from some of the reviews I have read, the heating of the barrel no longer kills accuracy to the extent of the older models. Still not as accurate as a AR but finally better after all these years.

Funny though they did not change the model number so its kinda confusing. Last year if you bought a new mini you still could of ended up with the thin barrel. If after all these years they finally put a heavier barrel on the Mini-14 then there is hope high cap mags could follow. After all The NRA edition rifle has them. Could be a start.

 

[outerlimit]

Hmmm . . . an 18" heavy barrelled Mini 30 with factory 20+ round mags . . . How many of those would you all think they could sell.

Yup, the demand would be greater than they could keep up with.

It wouldn't have to be a heavy barrel, a medium barrel would be a better compromise and meet 90% of varmint and target shooters needs.

It would be EXTREMELY popular.

 

[zulu6]

I don't believe for a moment that Ruger shells out $400 per rifle in manufacture. Even so, sell it at $500. As long as you keep it under $600 and follow through with the hi-caps, my plan to conquer the universe would still work.

 

[Professor Gun]

This policy of Ruger is one reason why I will not buy a Ruger product and have not for some time. They certainly make some decent products but I have a huge problem supporting a company who makes their living selling firearms and will not support my Second Amendment rights; in fact over the years I think they have been one of the destructive forces that have assisted in the attacks that weaken my Second Amendment rights.

As gun owners we need to draw a hard line on companies like Ruger.