Ruger Mini 14

When ARs were $800+ and Minis could be had for $400-$500, it had a place.

Now, with ARs under $500 that'll shoot circles around the currently $1,000 Mini, the only good reason to buy one would be that ARs are prohibited where one lives.

My experience is so dated that it probably isn't relevant as I got an early one many years ago. The accuracy was abysmal and it flung brass into the next county, and tended to ding 'em up. Mine was before they even offered the Ranch version so mounting an optic required jumping through a lot of hoops. Personally I loathed the safety being on/in the trigger guard and mag changes are slow and clunky compared to an AR. Still, the ergos can be subjective and if you're looking to buy one you're probably aware of them. I believe newer ones are more accurate than mine was. But as @MachIVshooter says, in an age where ARs are half the price I don't see much point to the Mini.

I just got a mini 14 this past August. I love it. No problem hitting clay pigeons at 200 yards with a scope. The barrel does heat up pretty quick. I take my Savage axis out too when shooting. I shoot one while the other one cools. I just got an AR SW MP15. I plan on doing a head to head accuracy test. I'll post them on here then.

MachIVshooter said:

When ARs were $800+ and Minis could be had for $400-$500, it had a place.

Now, with ARs under $500 that'll shoot circles around the currently $1,000 Mini, the only good reason to buy one would be that ARs are prohibited where one lives.

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Best explanation I've ever seen. You can build or buy an AR for pretty cheap these days and it will be light years ahead of the Mini. A well earned reputation for poor accuracy and proprietary magazines (aftermarket mags for the mini are often abysmal) make the mini a niche market gun or a "second" choice in a prohibition environment.

I'd get a Fightlite before I got a Mini if I was in an area I couldn't get a proper AR.

Mini 14s trigger a bit of nostalgia for me and so I will always think of them fondly but honestly there is no really great reason to buy one anymore unless you just have to have a mini 14. They are expensive compared to an ar, the magazines are cost prohibitive when good magazines for an ar can be had for 12 dollars or less. You could literally buy an ar15, enough spare parts to rebuild it and a big stack of magazines for the price of a mini14. But ultimately, if a mini is what you want, then none of that matters. Newer productions Mini 14s are more accurate than the older ones, they use a heavier profile barrel. They are pretty reliable, keep em lubed and they run good. Stay away from cheap or knock off magazines, stick to the Ruger branded ones. Also, a reall positive point for them are they have Rugers customer service behind them. If something were to ever go wrong with it, they will fix it.

My mini the trigger settled in at 4.5 lb pull. My new AR is 5 lbs out of the box. I'll check it again after i get a few hundred rounds through it.

Minis are cool. Ergos and controls are great for lefties. Steel and wood are available. Accu-strut helps accuracy. Mags can be expensive compared to $9 AR mags.

My stainless, black stocked gun is just fine. It is a plain jane gun and exists as an option that seems to survive most AWBs in current states, as long as it has a 10 round mag.

Would I prefer an AR something? Yes, but waiting for Clarence the Savior to void all the AWBs and move us to the Golden Age of Gun Rights.

It is accurate enough for what I do.

PS - The Ruger 9 mm carbines also serve as fun plinkers, USPSA and Steel guns and with nonthreaded barrels and standard stocks as AWB avoidant guns. Lots of them in TX and NY at matches.

It gets old every time when there’s the rush to compare AR’s to Mini-14’s when the OP is obviously interested in Mini’s.

They’re not in competition just because they fire the same cartridge.

I like my Mini, to me the wood and steel construction is worth the money, and I’m okay with its accuracy.

OP, as has been mentioned, spend the extra money and buy factory mags. I’ve been down that road and bought several crappy aftermarket mags that don’t work right in a quest to save a few bucks, money wasted.

Had one in the mid 80s. A Team version with folding factory stock. Made about a 230 yard shot on a bedded down fox below the crest of a snow drift. Had gun laying across hood of my Jeepster Commando.

Not a day goes by I don’t regret having sold both of those.

Anyway. I like the Minii exposed bolt/action. Very M1A like. As others mentioned it tugs on some nostalgia strings.

It’s pricey for what you get compared to the ARs but if you got a deal on a used one, say $650 I’d jump on it if everything checked out

Yes, the aftermarket mags are terrible. Jammers! Stay with factory.

I have 2 10 round and 2 20 round Pro-mags for mine. Besides the 2 ruger 5rd that came with the rifle. They work fine.

They are fun to shoot, just like most guns. For what they are, they cost too much. Not as many options as the AR in accessories, and factory magazines are very expensive- most aftermarket magazines are not reliable.

D bear get your mini. Then when you have the funds grab an AR too.

My experience is with a Mini-30 and Ruger's customer service. I will never purchase another Ruger for any reason, I will not even accept one as a gift.

Speedo66 said:

It gets old every time when there’s the rush to compare AR’s to Mini-14’s when the OP is obviously interested in Mini’s.

They’re not in competition just because they fire the same cartridge.

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Any autoloading detachable magazine 5.56mm rifle will be compared to and is competing with the AR in the United States.

It is not a snipers rifle,mine is an easy to point carbine which has never had a stoppage. Perfect for ranch work and yes, I do have a scoped AR. I've said before when Minis come up in posts,I've never read so much vitriol over a firearm,even with ones that do deserve it......Each to their own

I have a mid 1990's edition, black synthetic and stainless. It's a 2moa gun on a good day with good ammo, 3 to 4moa with most bulk ammo. Probably would improve if I installed an Accustrut, but it's good enough for what I wanted for. It does throw brass into the next county, but an Allen/Caldwell Ar Brass catcher can be fitted to it with a little rigging.

MachIVshooter said:

Any autoloading detachable magazine 5.56mm rifle will be compared to and is competing with the AR in the United States.

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But that’s not what the OP asked for, he asked for Mini owners, repeat, owners to tell their opinion/ satisfaction level with THAT gun.

One line question, and it doesn’t ask for comparisons with AR’s or any other auto loading detachable magazine 5.56 rifle.

JohnB-40 said:

It is not a snipers rifle,mine is an easy to point carbine which has never had a stoppage. Perfect for ranch work and yes, I do have a scoped AR. I've said before when Minis come up in posts,I've never read so much vitriol over a firearm,even with ones that do deserve it......Each to their ownView attachment 1132332

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Agree, lots of hatred by some who’ve never even owned one.

Nice looking Mini, is that stock original, or has it been refinished?