Why are these priced so low?

[jimmyraythomason]

Why is the Mini so darn expensive? When they were $350 and an AR was $1000, they made sense. Now, the Mini has near doubled in price over the years and the AR has dropped near half. What gives?

How many companies made the Mini and the AR when they were that price. Now how many companies make them? Only ONE company, Ruger, has ever made the Mini-14 and still is the only company making them. As for ARs EVERYBODY, including Ruger builds one. There is a glut of ARs on todays market making them less expensive than by comparison.

 

[Unlicensed Dremel]

Yeah, they were overpriced at $400 - why would anyone want such inaccuracy?

 

[jaytex1969]

Yes, the older ones did have an accuracy problem when the barrel heats up.

Maybe the consumer's intended use has something to do with it.

Many AR users like to dump crates of ammo downrange at a time and the heat related accuracy loss would be intolerable to them.

Many Mini 14 owners in ranch and other rural environments pull it from the back of the truck, take the one shot they need to take and then put it back. Not much of a chance for heating up and stringing shots if you're just taking a coyote out of the cow pasture.

 

[kwg020]

I paid $325 for my last skinny barrel Mini about 8 years ago. That was a fair price then. The folks in the AR banned States may give $450 or more for a skinny barrel Mini but I won't. A DPMS Sportical goes for $600 new. That's a much better value in my opinion. kwg

 

[itsa pain]

Any partitular reason? The mini-14 on the top link in brand new!
THe mini-14 in the bottom link, would that scope mount and muzzle brake have something to do with it's low price? Thanks.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=420764244


http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=421376342

Why ask why? would you rather it be priced at 4000? would you feel better then?

 

[shotsfired]

THe Price difference is because the one on top is an older Non Ranch version, that's why it has a side mount scope.
The bottom is a newer model, most likely a 580 series and it is a Ranch model
Ranch models take scope rings attached directly to the machined receiver.

Gotta say also that I'd put my mini 581 up against anyone with a "basic ar15' in an accuracy test, any day.

I have a blue mini 14 582 in a Hogue stock, trueshot barrel stabilizer and trueshot modular front sight.

I bought a smith & wesson sport ar15 and took both to the range and the mini did better by far with open sights, and the ar has expensive Troy battlesights on it.

Then I have to consider the other advantages of a mini like, far more reliable, far easier to clean, folding stock option, etc. and now the ar is the 'truck gun', but i like them both.

 

[shotsfired]

THe Price difference is because the one on top is an older Non Ranch version, that's why it has a side mount scope.
The bottom is a newer model, most likely a 580 series and it is a Ranch model
Ranch models take scope rings attached directly to the machined receiver.

Gotta say also that I'd put my mini 581 up against anyone with a "basic ar15' in an accuracy test, any day.

I have a blue mini 14 582 in a Hogue stock, trueshot barrel stabilizer and trueshot modular front sight.

I bought a smith & wesson sport ar15 and took both to the range and the mini did better by far with open sights, and the ar has expensive Troy battlesights on it.

Then I have to consider the other advantages of a mini like, far more reliable, far easier to clean, folding stock option, etc. and now the ar is the 'truck gun', but i like them both.

 

[natman]

Ruger has made some Mini-14 packages with Walnut stocks. The 1st rifle appears as though it very well could be one of them.

Walnut stained stock, maybe. That stock is birch.

 

[johnnydollar]

Many folks bemoan the accuracy of the Mini-14, but I've never met one person that would be willing to stand downrange 100 yards or so and find out firsthand that a couple of inches of paper punching accuracy don't mean much in the real world. Mini-14s are accurate enough to do what they're designed to do, and if you don't believe that, you can always take the real world test.

 

[Ar180shooter]

I paid $325 for my last skinny barrel Mini about 8 years ago. That was a fair price then. The folks in the AR banned States may give $450 or more for a skinny barrel Mini but I won't. A DPMS Sportical goes for $600 new. That's a much better value in my opinion. kwg

I'd trust in the reliability of the Mini over a bottom of the barrel AR any day. The new ones are reasonably accurate, on par with a rack grade service rifle. The design leads to high reliability, and it's biggest redeeming quality is it's not an AR. It can have a folding stock, and AFAIK it's legal in every state and Canada.

Don't get me wrong, I like AR's, they're good rifles. When Colt Canada starts selling rifles to the public, I'll probably look at picking up a C7. Some people want something other than an AR/AK.

 

[itsa pain]

I paid $325 for my last skinny barrel Mini about 8 years ago. That was a fair price then. The folks in the AR banned States may give $450 or more for a skinny barrel Mini but I won't. A DPMS Sportical goes for $600 new. That's a much better value in my opinion. kwg

It is amazing that this fable about the skinny barrel on a mini 14 is still around. In ten seconds with a caliper you will see the diameter of a M1 garand and M1A are almost exactly the same as the old mini and the mini has a 22 hole drilled in it not a 30 so it is a little thicker. an AK has same result. the minis had badly rifled barrels and it would not have not have mattered if they were an inch thick

 

[Captcurt]

I'll buy all the 2 cent Minis and Hi Powers you've got!

But I see a comparison, the Mini and Hi Power are pricy and having a tough time holding their own as their user base ages. Younger shooters tend to look at other designs, forcing some earlier firearms into niche categories.

Q,

I will take the ones that you don't want.

I have a Hi-Power Practical in 40S&W that is my favorite handgun, and I have owned a lot of handguns. The Mini's have never impressed me. If you have one that will shot 2 MOA you have an anomaly. Most AR's will shoot rings around a Mini.

 

[clone]

Meh, at the price they go for now I'll take a SKS. Much more rugged, more accurate, and cheaper. Its a no brainer.

 

[AKMtnRunner]

Like black licorice, AR's won't appeal to everyone. AR's are just ugly to many. On top of that, a non-pistol grip style is less "upsetting".