Why no love for the Mini-14 ?

[ThomasT]

Hello Tood1700. Basing your opinion on an early mini compared to a new mini doesn't give you a fair look at the picture.

It's like saying Ford autos are unsuitable for Nascar racing because the wood spoked wheels can't take the high speed turns. Guess what? Ford has upgraded and they make superb autos for using as a bases for a race car.

Its the same with the mini. It took awhile (too long) but Ruger made some real changes and improved their product. Yes the early guns weren't very good at all in the accuracy department. My buddy had one of the early guns and that was his only complaint. He sold the gun and regrets it to this day.

When it comes to price I don't worry about it too much. If I want it, I buy it. As far as fit goes thats up to each person.

 

[NC-Mike]

He sold the gun and regrets it to this day.

I kinda feel the same way about the mini I sold.

To this day, I regret I ever bought that thing!

 

[Ignition Override]

Mine was as reliable as the "cherry" SKS, but already having a Mini-30, sold the -14 to justify buying my first Lee-Enfield, the #5 "Jungle Carbine".

Azizza and HorseSoldier.: Can't blame your skepticism.
Those words on page 2 came from the SF veteran of Desert Storm, and were his words-not mine.
Send me a pm ('thr' e-mail) and at your request I'll leave a note in the former SF guy's company mailbox, when I'm going through our Detroit crewbase in about a week or more, in order to ask Rick P. for his cell phone number. He can tell you what unit he was with and where they operated back then. Maybe you can ask another SF veteran to cross-check his name somewhere.

You veterans all earn our respect and my instinct is not to second-guess what veterans state 'in person' about skirmishes and larger battles, including their choice of reliable rifles etc. Sometimes the chat on a hotel shuttle van only lasts a very few minutes and we never hear the context or situation.
Excuse me...need to go clean my Lee-Enfield #4.

 

[ThomasT]

NC I don't beleive the mini has ever been a 22lr shooter. Thats no matter to me I have proper 22s out the wahzoo and wouldn't buy the conversion if they did.

Deerhunter when did you build you $550 dollar gun? I have looked at lowers and uppers and the price to build a gun seems to be way above that amount now. I would rather just buy a gun ready to go anyway.

 

[ThomasT]

To this day, I regret I ever bought that thing!

HaHa thats funny. I feel the same way about the Charter Arms AR-7 I bought. That was a great survival rifle. Everything I shot it at survived unharmed.

 

[NC-Mike]

haha thats funny. I feel the same way about the charter arms ar-7 i bought. That was a great survival rifle. Everything i shot it at survived unharmed.

:d

That's a good one!

 

[Darth AkSarBen]

I have had both the mini-14 and mini-30. I shot LOTS of prairie dogs with a mini-14. If you are not that accurate, you don't shoot a lot of prairie dogs. Handload help, as well as paying attention to the front piece that the gas block attaches to the rifle. Keep the gaps even and at same torque. The newer heavier barreled seem to help. most were hoping for 1-2" groups at 100 yards out of the box. Some are exceptional and will do this. Most need a bit of tweaking or handload or both.

 

[Hammerhead6814]

I paid $680 for my mini in wood and stainless steel. Where can I get an AR for less? And no I don't want a parts gun I have to put together myself. Is this one of the "out of spec" guns that so many people start threads about?

I mean new AR's to new Mini-14's. Ruger and several dealers in my area market them for around $800-900. You can get a DPMS Sportical+ (the one with the forward assist), for around $725. Cheapest Mini's I've found, NEW, for sale at shows have been $800+. Finding a complete lower and upper and putting two and two together comes to around $600-700, and a new Sportical around $700 again.

Hence, AR-15's are now cheaper than Mini's. Oh sure, in the past Ruger actually new how much their rifles were worth, but with the panic came the kind of greed that makes me scratch my head. DPMS is backed up on orders for their Sportical's and Sportical's with the assist, yet they're shoving them out the door for around $700-$725.

 

[black_powder_Rob]

Wow so your saying that a AR 15 new sportcal is close to the same price as the Kel Tec SU16 and the SU-16c cost more than a AR. hmm interesting.

Buying guns is like buying cars, the manufacturer may suggest a price and the dealers set their own. It has been my experience that at gunshows there are a lot of people who are just trying to make as much as they can and don't care who they rip off.

also I believe the price of AR's will be falling even lower as the multiple manufactures raced to put out more AR's and the market for them has fallen off some.

 

[yokel]

Well, scoffers can scoff and be damned, as far as i'm concerned, because my two trusty 'ol Minis were procured for plinking/home defense rather than National Match competition or tactical super sniper use.

Perhaps not everyone has the time or propensity for competitive shooting activities?

For a yokel like myself, the Mini is more than adequate for delivering a high velocity flat trajectory round at extreme close range.

 

[NC-Mike]

For a yokel like myself, the Mini is more than adequate for delivering a high velocity flat trajectory round at extreme close range.

That really goes to the heart of many people's discontent with the mini. It destroys the capability and usefulness of the .223 :banghead:

While the newer mini's may be better, there are still a ton of them out there that will never be able to hit a damn thing past 200 yards once they get their barrel hot.

And the mini-lovers will always say, its a ranch rifle, its meant for one shot, then a follow up shot or two... Than there are the people who muddy that argument with their announcement that the mini is their HD gun... :banghead:

Guess what, there is a fine HD-type gun chambered for the .223. It's called the AR and its designed just for that purpose.

 

[ThomasT]

Hammerhead I had a look at the dpms sportical. That one don't do it for me. No carry handle, no bayonet lug and no foward assist. I don't like the flattops.

I do like the lightweight 20. The only thing I would change on it was to add a chrome lined barrel. And naturally its out of stock. The 7.5 lbs weight is in the correct range. It was $725 or $757 with the chome barrel. Thats a fair price for me.

I read all the threads here about ARs. Particularly the one about whats the best AR to get. I thought DPMS was rated about second from the bottom over Olympic Arms. Every rifle that is recommended starts at a thousand bucks and goes up from there.

I still see minis around here for $625 to $700. My local GS has the blued, plastic stock with a flash hider on it for $679 + tax and he is normally a little high. The Academy finally got a blued/wood in but I didn't look at the price. Wasn't any point. I have mine and don't plan on buying another. I am always on the hunt for something new though.

There is a gunshow next weekend in dallas. I will be there with a pocket full of cash.

 

[yokel]

That really goes to the heart of many people's discontent with the mini. It destroys the capability and usefulness of the .223

While the newer mini's may be better, there are still a ton of them out there that will never be able to hit a damn thing past 200 yards once they get their barrel hot.

And the mini-lovers will always say, its a ranch rifle, its meant for one shot, then a follow up shot or two... Than there are the people who muddy that argument with their announcement that the mini is their HD gun...

Guess what, there is a fine HD-type gun chambered for the .223. It's called the AR and its designed just for that purpose.

Reliability and lethality are more important to me than any other consideration or factor, and it ought to be apparent that with proper shot placement 5.56×45mm/.223 Remington ammo will defeat the target without issue at extreme close ranges.

On the other hand, lethality is not always necessary; an assailant who is no longer willing or able to perform a meaningful task may be as good as dead under most circumstances.

Apparently I harbor no illusions about being a warfighter who might find himself engaging a 5-man team of Taliban spotted at 200 yards away standing by a village mud building.

 

[Shung]

I watched A-team a lot when I was a kid.. I don't want a gun unable to wound or kill something or someone

 

[James Piper]

New member

is mini 14 good for deer hunting

 

[Darth AkSarBen]

.223 is a bit loud for Home Defense. I would consider it "Home Deafness" as I would not hear anything again after firing one inside my house. A couple of .45 ACP I have handy will suffice to discourage the intruder(s). My 2 small dogs take off when I pull it out for shooting. They don't like the noise either, and THEY'RE INSIDE!....LOL.. btw, it's not a Mini. AK make great home defense rifles as well, but as mentioned, would not be the first pick to shoot inside a closed in space.


I've got another picture of it shooting a grop with Benchmark powder that has 3 shots in one hole.



And me holding the target. You can see the Streamlight Scorpion 1" light attached with a removable light holder setup. 86 lumens really lights up a tree at night. Mr. Raccoon gets a good illuminations before he comes down out of the tree in a hurry. Good rifle.




Reliable as the day is long and for $400 for a basic rifle. Chrome lined 16" barrel.

 

[NC-Mike]

Apparently I harbor no illusions about being a warfighter who might find himself engaging a 5-man team of Taliban spotted at 200 yards away standing by a village mud building.

200 yards is a wussy shot!

We're talkin 600 meter shots from a moving vehicle, while taking enemy fire! You need the right equipment for those circumstances and the lowly mini just does not measure up!

Git yerself the proper tool: America's Rifle, the AR!

 

[NC-Mike]

Reliable as the day is long and for $400 for a basic rifle. Chrome lined 16" barrel.

Did you convert it yourself?

I know folks love their Saiga's. I don't believe I ever heard anyone gripe about one. Ever...

Mini-14 owners should sit down and ponder why their firestick of choice inspires such vitriolic outbursts.

 

[TomADC]

I've have one I bought 26 years ago, don't shoot it as much as I used to but I love it.

 

[RDCL]

I did'nt purchase my mini 14 because I inherited it. I have yet to shoot it, so I cannot speak for it's accuracy or lack of. I'm not sure of it's exact age but I do know it is approx. 15 years old.....and the saying goes that the older they are the worse they are....but I won't know until I can get out and shoot the thing.

As for the OPs question, I think the supposed "hate" of the little mini is only magnified by its popularity. Their are LOTS of them out there and you'll find just as many people lovin' the mini as you will hatin' it. It's like anyhing else....the more popular something is the bigger the "hate" group will be wether you're talking about cars, guns or whatever. In the "car world" lots of people looked down on the Chevy Cavalier.....yet Chevy sold god-zillions of them.

.....maybe the mini 14 is the "Cavalier" of the gun world!


Russ

 

[NC-Mike]

.....maybe the mini 14 is the "Cavalier" of the gun world!

Thank You!!!

That's what I keep trying to explain to them!

 

[Darth AkSarBen]

".....maybe the mini 14 is the "Cavalier" of the gun world!"

I was thinking more like "Yugo" myself. I have the Mini-14 on my list of interesting rifles to own, and I actually converted my new Saiga to sell for enough cash to buy the Mini-14 Tactical, but have now thought differently since my recent encounters with the handloads and the .223 Saiga. Gunsmith at local gun store in Kalamazoo told me that last group I shot that was in one hole just jumped the price of the resale of the rifle to $1000.00 I don't know about that, but when you have one that performs like that you really hate to get rid of it.

Yes, I did all the conversion (fire control group, pistol grip, fore grip, etc.) myself. I have a Tapco G2 that I modified myself, cutting the one side down a bit to allow for the bolt hold open. Took off the knob that might interfere with the frame. POLISHED the hammer and sear let-off so that now it is butter smooth. Do drag, no creep, just squeeze back and it lets go without any second stage. Needs a better scope. POS Telstar I have had around for years, and put it on. This also has rubber rail covers that are easy enough to remove if I need the extra rails. They come from http://www.tufforce.com/ which also supplied the side mount for the scope. Comes with 4 covers in one package, so I still have one cover in the drawer. Side flashlight works great. Rail covers also add a bit of extra grip without being too abrasive.

 

[.45FMJoe]

Because I don't have a use for a shotgun in .223.

 

[rudyak]

Why no one has any respect for the mini? Where to start?

Does not meet NATO requirement for the use of the M16 magazine. Proprietary hi-cap magazines not available to 'civilians' until recently. Aftermarket magazines are a hit and miss proposition, usually a miss.

Extremely poor sights. The front tapered post does not allow one to estimate range.

As for those that are constantly telling everyone that they are scaled down M14/M1 Garands, I say, "Show me their gas piston." It has none. It uses the gas impingment system, just as the AR does. The mini's system is inverted and only 1/2 as long as the AR's. Tapping gas that close to the chamber is asking for trouble. The gas is EXTREMELY hot, over 1200 degrees. It contains burning and unburnt powder (contaminates}. Why do you think the rifles with the wooden stocks contained an aluminum liner? To stop the stocks from catching on fire!

The rifle failed military testing in Norway, Honderaus, and Guatamala because it is not built to military standards of dependability.

If your rifle breaks, you are required to send it into Ruger for repairs. It will sit there for 30-90 days, in which time you must rely on another rifle.

If you have made any modifications to the rifle such as replaced the sights, it is returned with a note that it is no longer covered under warranty. Try buying/stocking any parts for it. Good luck.

I see several minis that have M4 collapable stocks now. Makes them look like an AR-wanna-be. If you put lipstick on a pig, you still have a pig.

They are average plinkers, and suited for being a trunk gun. They are a sorry excuse for a combat/defensive rifle.

I've never missed the 1 that I owned.

 

[MCMXI]

Because I don't have a use for a shotgun in .223.

I was experimenting with some 77gr SMKs last year with good results at 50 yards. This is with a bone stock barrel and action in a Hogue stock. I bought mine 12 years ago so it's not one of the new "accurized" versions.

It uses the gas impingment system, just as the AR does .... Tapping gas that close to the chamber is asking for trouble. The gas is EXTREMELY hot, over 1200 degrees.

Huh? There's no gas going back into the action. In fact, the Mini gas system is much closer to the AK than an AR with the piston being directly connected to the bolt "carrier". The center of the gas block on my Mini is 9-1/2" from the receiver ... the center of the gas block on my POF 16" carbine is 8" from the receiver.