What to do with a Mini-14?

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fireman 9731

fireman 9731

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After doing some work for a buddy I ended up getting paid with a Ruger Mini-14. Its the older style ranch rifle, walnut stock and blued metal. The Neutered version they sold in the 90s pretty much...

Its in good shape, and comes with a Simmons 3-9x32 scope in a B-Square quick detach mount. That whole mounting system boggles my mind with how silly it is...

Anyway, I have no desire for it. So I would like to trade it for something that I am interested in.

First off, what do you think its worth?

Secondly, What should I trade it for? I have a decent collection already, 3 Mosins, a few 22 rifles, a 22 pistol, a few shotguns, an H&R Buffalo Classic, a Colt Defender, a Remington 700 VTR in 22-250, an AK-47 Draco pistol, a Winchester 1873, and a few others.

I am interested in a Romanian PSL, a Romanian AK, Tokarev pistol, GI 1911, an SKS for a truck gun, a Hi-Point carbine, a kel-tec P3AT, Maybe another nice Mosin, or anything out of the ordinary... Im open to ideas and like a lot of different things... I reload and cast bullets so a new caliber isn't very high on my list.

There are about 6 gun stores in my area that I can work with and I'm open for buying online if I need to.

So, what would you all do? Trade, sell for cash, buy ammo, ect???
 
Clean condition?
I would say several hundred at least, depending on whether the scope is a $29 scope or a $229 scope.

I once owned one, stainless, I had open sites and shot that thing so much, I could just about hit anything with it! I bet I put between 15,000 to 20,000 rounds through that gun, and when I sold it, it still looked good as new, and functioned good as new. I never had one jam with that gun, not one. :)

If you don't have a semi-auto .223, you might want to consider keeping it (I'm assuming you have the .223).
I used to have 40-round magazines for mine (that was around 1986).
 
Yep, its clean, no rust, a few minor dings on the stock from handling. If I had to guess I would say it has had less than 300 rounds through it. I don't know anything about Simmons scopes, but its very bright and clear.

I don't want a semi-223, thats why I'm selling it. They just don't do anything for me. I guess I've been bit by the Russian bug....
 
I would say instead of an SKS for a truck gun, keep the mini. Good gun for that application, IMO.
Click to expand...

I agree with this, mainly because that's what I use as my truck gun :). Carry a couple of spare mags and you have a formidable setup if ever needed.

I realize some folks aren't crazy about the mini, but I love them. Mine have always been reliable, cycles just about anything, and is a lot of fun to shoot.

Yep, I say keep it.
 
Buy a folding stock & a 30 round mag & use for your truck gun--
Here in MI if it becomes under 30" it has to be registered as a handgun.....
Have fun..............
 
I want another Mini 14 badly(or a Mini 30) but I'm look in Alabama for a FTF only! In your case I would keep it. You never know when your tastes in firearms will change!
 
I would sell it and buy a new Mini-14 Tactical with the black Sporter stock for under $700, they shoot as good as an AR-15 and don't jam.
If you want to keep the old Mini-14 have the barrel cut at 16.25" and recrown, buy a SOCOM Barrel Strut for $80 and it will shot a 2.5" group with junk ammo.
 
it would be a fair trade = STRAIGHT ACROSS
for a nice Russian sks . since your into Russian weapons.
How things have changed in 20 years. An SKS worth the same $$$$$$$$$ of a mini-14
 
i put the accu-strut & a M-14 flash hider from Midway + an M-1 peep sight on my Ranch. all was under $150.00 & it shoots much much better.
 
See if you can trade straight across for a Romanian AK (gun show or otherwise). You might get lucky and run across someone who likes mini's and would be willing to make the trade.
 
you could do what i did.

after owning a mid '80s stainless mini14 with the same scope mount (agreed, i too thought it was rediculous) i traded it and about 300 bux of my own money for my first ar15, a colt match target rifle. ive been so much happier with the ar platform i personally wouldnt own another mini. way more accurate, much more reliable, and much more versatile.

but really, i think the best option would be just sell it, throw in a few bux of your own, and get a true usgi m1 garand from the cmp.

same basic action as the mini (i feel like i just dis-honored the m1)
superb power (READ POWER!!)
far better accuracy.
 
It is worth about $400.00 if it is in very good shape without the scope. At least that is what Cabela's and Cheaper Than Dirt offered me for about the same exact gun. You won't get much if anything for the scope.
 
I really don't think I'm going to keep it... It just doesn't do much for me.

I guess I'll make my rounds to the shops tomorrow and see if anything catches my eye.
 
Hope you do better than an even up swap for an SKS. I would think the Ruger a much more valuable rifle. JMHO.
 
fireman 9731...take some pics and post it up "for trade" in our classified forum, with a list of your interests and see what turns up.
 
I don't particularly like minis...but it is way better than an SKS. I would trade it for a decent AK though.
 
I like Mini's more than AR's...and an AR is much better than anything on your list. I own both and am an Army vet. I'd buy some ammo and take it for a spin before you decide to dump it. You may live to regret selling/trading it.
 
Good point lightfoot. A brother-in-law inherited a NIB Ruger Mini 14 and was going to sell it -- until he took it to the range. Love at first shot! Now he's got it scoped, picked up some extra mags and he's loving it.
 
Well I checked out a few shops today and nothing caught my eye.

I have shot it before, I found it to be painfully loud and the sights horrendous. I don't want to start a mini bashing thread here but I'm really not interested in keeping it.

A PSL is at the top of my list but I doubt I will be able to pull off a straight trade for it. I would be happy with a decent AK but I haven't seen any decent ones at all lately.

I saw a Romanian Tokarev today, it was pretty rough and I wouldn't buy one unless it included a case of ammo.

Why is it that when you have a gun to trade you cant find anything good and when you are flat broke you find all the goodies but can't buy afford anything?
 
As Ruger finally allowed sales of their 20-rd. factory mags to the lowly US civilians...only After the presidential election, and recently produced 20-rd. Ruger factory mags for Mini 30s, even the older rifles might be more popular.

The Ruger 'magazine issues' ;) cost them a large number of former customers in past years. They never again bought any Ruger gun.

My Mini 14 was more reliable than a buddy's WASR AK clone. A Yugo SKS minus the grenade launcher+ammo, IF not an Enfield "Jungle Carbine":)+ 200 rds. Prvi ammo would be nice.
 
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It does not sound as if you have a ranch rifle model but have the orginal Mini 14 model. Ranch Rifle models have a built base to mount the scope not the side mount al la M1A. I had a similar model - shoots 3-4 moa with typical commercial ammo. If you need a truck gun take the scope off and use it for those close quick shots. If you don't need one I would sell it in the $400 ish range.
 
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