marine 97-03
Member
The budget I have is 650$ and I really like the action of the ruger ...how dose the ruger compare in reliability. Thanks
which to get - a Ruger Mini 14 or AR
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General Tso
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I also struggled with that. I went with an AR due to parts availability. I don't think you can go wrong either way. Some say that the Ruger isn't accurate and that you will get light primer strikes if you use Russian steel case ammo. If I went with a Ruger, I would get the 223 tactical or Mini 30 in 762x39. I guess the tactical has a heavier barrel with increased accuracy.
Accuracy will be the biggest difference. AR being more accurate. With recent price drop of ARs it would be well worth looking at them. The S&W sport will be in your budget and a build your own as well.
I don't dislike the Ruger mini-14, but in the current market i can't justify the price.
I don't dislike the Ruger mini-14, but in the current market i can't justify the price.
35 Whelen
Member
I struggled with that same decision. I finally got a Mini Ranch Rifle. My decision was based on two facts: The Mini is a much more simple design and it's more streamlined than the AR. I just don't like the fact that the AR, especially with a scope is so tall from the bottom of the grip to the top of the handle or scope whichever the case may be.
My Mini at first was horribly inaccurate with commercial ammo. But I bedded it and threw together some handloads and it shoots reasonably well now. I will be installing an Accu-strut which should really bring group sizes on down. Some of the guys over at www.perfectunion.com are getting 100 yd. 2" groups with ther Mini's.
I got my Mini off Gunbroker, with an extra folding stock, for $475. I've fired a few hundred rounds all from aftermarket magazines without a single failure.
To me the only advantage to the AR is it's inherently more accurate. But the Mini is a better utility type rifle which is what I really need.
35W
My Mini at first was horribly inaccurate with commercial ammo. But I bedded it and threw together some handloads and it shoots reasonably well now. I will be installing an Accu-strut which should really bring group sizes on down. Some of the guys over at www.perfectunion.com are getting 100 yd. 2" groups with ther Mini's.
I got my Mini off Gunbroker, with an extra folding stock, for $475. I've fired a few hundred rounds all from aftermarket magazines without a single failure.
To me the only advantage to the AR is it's inherently more accurate. But the Mini is a better utility type rifle which is what I really need.
35W
I was struggling for a while with the same problem. I decided on the ruger mini14 tactical model because of the reliability and durability. I always go for the gun that is the most reliable because when it comes down to it, you need it to shoot 100% of the time(also why my carry pistol is a glock). My mini is incredibly reliable and accurate. The mini's for some time were known to have accuracy issues but with the recent models (like the tactical) this has been fixed. The tactical model has the option of using a forward mounted scope or you can use the ruger scope rings to place it over the receiver. Ruger has incredible customer service as well, great company to work with. GO WITH THE MINI! You won't be disappointed I promise.
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Everyone that I know that currently owns an AR used to own a Mini-14. I've owned several Mini's and they are a decent, but overpriced for what you get, gun. When Rugers were selling for half what the AR's were selling for they made sense. Today you can get an AR equal in quality to the Mini for roughly the same price.
I paid $650 out the door for my last AR. That included tax, a cleaning kit, hard case, telescoping stock, and two 30 round magazines. It has yet to malfunction and shoots under 1" with quality target ammo and a scope on it. Roughly 1.5-2" with cheap bulk ammo.
A Mini-14, tax paid and with all the above accessories would be over $800, and it would be the rare Ruger that shot as well.
I paid $650 out the door for my last AR. That included tax, a cleaning kit, hard case, telescoping stock, and two 30 round magazines. It has yet to malfunction and shoots under 1" with quality target ammo and a scope on it. Roughly 1.5-2" with cheap bulk ammo.
A Mini-14, tax paid and with all the above accessories would be over $800, and it would be the rare Ruger that shot as well.
Ranger30-06
Member
Reliability wise, I think the mini-14 might have the edge there being a derivative of the M1 action family. Between my dad and I, we have had both. The mini is fine as long as you don't use anything with a berden primer (American ammo only). As for my ar-15, it was a money hole. Complete with a credit card holder! 
I sold it, bought a Saiga, converted it, got 300 rounds of ammunition and 2 mags, and still had money left over.
For your budget, you can easily get an Mini, mags, and ammo. You would barely get an AR with $650.
I sold it, bought a Saiga, converted it, got 300 rounds of ammunition and 2 mags, and still had money left over. For your budget, you can easily get an Mini, mags, and ammo. You would barely get an AR with $650.
I prefer the Mini to the AR (GASP!), nothing against AR's, I just don't care for the ergos. That being said, it is a lot easier to make an AR shoot really well, and if you get sick of it, you can change just about every part on the gun to make it suit your needs. Mini 14's are super reliable and easy to maitain, any quality AR should be equally reliable. In my experience the accuracy issues on the Mini are exagerated, with the right load most will shoot 2moa or so. The older skinny barrel models do tend to show vertical stringing once the barrel heats up, the newer tapered barrel models are better in this regard.
FlyinBryan
Member
you can add me to your list of friends that now has an ar15 but used to own a mini.
my mini was an 80's era stainless, before they machined scope mounts into the receiver.
it just wasnt accurate enough so i sold it 20 odd years ago and started buying ar's.
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The AR advantage is that is the LEGO of guns. You can change configurations easily with it. Don't like the barrel length? Swap it for another one at home. Don't like the caliber? You can change the bolt and barrel. Want a pistol caliber carbine? Change the bolt, buffer and barrel. Alternatively, you can have several different uppers.
The mini is fun but you need specialized tools to work on it. There's not as many tools when it comes to the AR and AR tools are easy to acquire.
One final advantage of the AR is that magazines are more readily available. While Ruger's magazine situation has improved with Bill Ruger's passing, Mini-14 magazines aren't as cheap as ARs.
BTW, I have both Mini-14 and the AR.
The mini is fun but you need specialized tools to work on it. There's not as many tools when it comes to the AR and AR tools are easy to acquire.
One final advantage of the AR is that magazines are more readily available. While Ruger's magazine situation has improved with Bill Ruger's passing, Mini-14 magazines aren't as cheap as ARs.
BTW, I have both Mini-14 and the AR.
I have huge regret for selling my mini-14
was a fine shooting rifle straight out of the box
gettin another mini-14 is definitely on my list.
bottom line, check them both out in person, get the one that feels right and suits your needs.
Oh, and I second rule303's post altho I never experienced the issue he mentioned with a heated barrel, and I had the older skinny barrel mini.
was a fine shooting rifle straight out of the box
gettin another mini-14 is definitely on my list.
bottom line, check them both out in person, get the one that feels right and suits your needs.
Oh, and I second rule303's post
altho I never experienced the issue he mentioned with a heated barrel, and I had the older skinny barrel mini.marine 97-03
Member
I like the mini.......but
I am not a real AR fan but I certainly like the AR better than the Mini. I ended up with five different variations of AR's and chose the Mini 30 instead of the 14 since the AR platform just is not as reliable as the 30 is in the 39 caliber. The Mini line in "general" is a little picky with mags while the AR seems to run off anything that looks like an AR mag. Also availability of variants is much higher with the AR.
ssyoumans
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I've had both. No complaints about reliability with either, both have/were 100%.
That said, there is no comparison when it comes to accuracy. My mini couldn't hold a 8" group at 100 yards while my AR easily does 1.5".
Mini looks nice but just does perform in the accuracy dept. AR is a more versatile platform with an endless list of calibers and options.
Get the AR, even the Sport is better.
That said, there is no comparison when it comes to accuracy. My mini couldn't hold a 8" group at 100 yards while my AR easily does 1.5".
Mini looks nice but just does perform in the accuracy dept. AR is a more versatile platform with an endless list of calibers and options.
Get the AR, even the Sport is better.
451 Detonics
Member
I would only buy the Mini-14 if I lived in a State that castrates the ARs. The AR is a simpler design, much more user friendly for field maintenance, magazines are much cheaper, they are more accurate, and when maintained they are very reliable. The Mini-14 was designed as a low cost alternative for LE, security, and prisons. They will shoot minute of felon but the price today just isn't justified.
1stmarine
Member
Define your role.
If you like worry free, ocasional plinking or live in a ranch and can get a ruger with a foldable stock and trough it there with the tools and will always work. REliability you can drag them though the mud if you want and then piss them clean and keep shooting.
They are less accurate than AR but more today than earlier models but anyway plenty accuracy for that moderate range-size huting and varmint control.
The ARs are stanard issue baseline, some super accurate. No foldable stock but lots of options and super fun. You can change uppers, and go from 223/6/8 to many cases/calibers even WSSM if you are up to it.
AR's are also very reliable with a good bolt group and some care....
that should be any gun anyway.
You might go crazy whit replies so do some quick searches otherwise this might end up in on of those AR vs ruger or mine vs. yours nonsense threads.
Cheers,
E.
If you like worry free, ocasional plinking or live in a ranch and can get a ruger with a foldable stock and trough it there with the tools and will always work. REliability you can drag them though the mud if you want and then piss them clean and keep shooting.
They are less accurate than AR but more today than earlier models but anyway plenty accuracy for that moderate range-size huting and varmint control.
The ARs are stanard issue baseline, some super accurate. No foldable stock but lots of options and super fun. You can change uppers, and go from 223/6/8 to many cases/calibers even WSSM if you are up to it.
AR's are also very reliable with a good bolt group and some care....
that should be any gun anyway.
You might go crazy whit replies so do some quick searches otherwise this might end up in on of those AR vs ruger or mine vs. yours nonsense threads.
Cheers,
E.
RNB65
Member
I used to own 2 Mini 14's. Then I bought an AR. Now I own 2 AR's and the Mini's are long gone.
midtennpawnstar
Member
I agree with 4v50 Gary.The ar is just so versatile and mags are plentiful and not very expensive.I had my mini 14 for maybe 6 months shot it alot it was okay fairly accurate around and below 100 yards....but when i got my hands on an AR ...it was no questions bye bye mini 14......I wanted the mini 30 but for the less than the cost of one (at dealer cost mind you) I bought a new 7.62x39 upper for my ar and it will be more accurate than the mini config.
here are the two mini (i had got rid of)
and ar
here are the two mini (i had got rid of)
and ar
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I have 2 minis a 11year old that had the thinner barrel and with the adding of a accustrut it will group 5 shots into a 1" group all day long. The real test was a 20 shot clip fired as fast as I accurately could with no stopping. Group size 1.438". The other is about 5 years old and has shot into 1.5 " since I bought it with nothing done to it. I'm sure I could tighten the groups up but why bother it does just fine the way it is and is 100% reliable. As for the mags the only ones that I know of that perform flawlessly are the genuine Rugers. Got a whole stack of aftermarkets I bought before Ruger started selling the 20 and 30 rounders and none of them worked reliably. They are my go to rifles for coyote and hopefully one of these days a cougar will come in to a call. With the sierra 65gr Gameking they are devistating on the dogs and I'm sure a cougar wouldn't cause them any trouble either. Frank
Double Vision
Member
I'm a big Mini fan. Mine is fun, accurate and reliable.
My AR is good but the Mini will always get to come out and play before the AR.
My AR is good but the Mini will always get to come out and play before the AR.
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