Why no love for the Mini-14 ?

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Again, the Mini delivers the first shot to the same place, today, as it did last week or last month or last year. Not everybody needs a whole bunch of shots to kill a coyote.
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But what if you miss the first shot? :what:


Seriously, that tactical mini is talkin to me... I almost wish I didn't sell my PMI and Ruger hi-cap mags. :p
 
NC-Mike, my 580 series will put 10 shots in a group that's half the size of the one you posted. Most of my 5 shot groups are under 2.5" at 100 yards. My dad's 180 series, which we shot last weekend, could only muster 4.5" as the best group. They've improved quite a bit. Like I said before, I didn't go looking for a mini with match grade accuracy in mind, I just wanted a fun, reliable, .223 semi-auto that would be cyote accurate at 200 yards, mine is.
 
NC-Mike, that rifle is probably $1500+, my mini was $750. I don't want to spend that kind of money, plus I don't like the AR's period, they don't do anything for me. I could care less if they can shoot a 1/4" group.

I've got my match accurate rifle, a Remington 700 SPS Tactical in .308. It will do 1/2" groups all day long with my handload's. Plus, beyond 200 yards, the .308 destroy's the .223, both in energy and long range ballistics.:neener:
 
apples and oranges

To me, the AR and Mini overlap in some areas, but not all.

Its like stock car vs a F1 car. Both do a lot of the same things, but you can't put one down because it stinks in one area over the other. For example, you cant have a passion for 1" groupings at 200yrds and say the mini stinks.
Just as you cant say you love cleaning your guns with pond scum, and say the AR-15 sucks.

There are some things one rifle is going to do better over the other.

I love the how you can customize the snot out of an AR. Target, sprayer, different cals...you name it, you can make it work, and work well with an AR-15.

The mini does most things well, but its history, and "old style", etc.... make it an easy target for criticism.

I love my mini (560 series) as I found it to be OVERALL: 1.) easy to shoot, 2.) is not finicky about what I feed it, 3.) easy to clean, 4) "low profile" appearance,5) good general purpose weapon.6.) you can buy one without having to decide on 50 different options...but it does not perform well in all areas, and neither does the AR-15.

That's my $0.02...not that it's worth a lot.
 
Mike, I understand that you like AR's and can't understand how anyone could possibly prefer the more traditional look. Either that or you just like stirring it up just for kicks.:D

I have shot AR's, from shorty, collapsible stock models to accurized heavy barrel target models. They're fine, if that's what you like. Personally they just don't do anything for me, either. I'm totally with you on our right to own them, but no amount of arguing will change my mind when it comes to aesthetics.
 
I agree with you mostly on aesthetics.

When I want aesthetics, I'll take my Marlin lever or a SuperRedhawk.

What attracts me to AR's is their pure functionality - and much more - the fact that a bunch parts from a bunch of different manufacturers can fit together to spec to build a single rifle called an AR.

One doesn't have to buy a rifle as is from (choose one or more) Smith Wesson, RRA, Stag, DPMS and others, but can buy parts from each to make your own.

Now that's an interesting concept. Try that with Smith and Ruger, or Kahr and Colt.
 
I have no love for the Mini-14 simply because it doesn't do what I need a rifle to do. Whether for 3Gun, High Power, or as a defensive carbine, the AR platform can be adopted to fit, and with solid reliability and repeatable accuracy.

Is there a price difference? Yes. But you get what you pay for.

That said, if the Mini does what you need it to do, then by all means, get one, shoot it and be happy.
 
NC-Mike, that rifle is probably $1500+, my mini was $750.
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Nah, "The Baby" was only 990.00 NIB. Bushmaster 14.5"

Its such a nice, sweet, compact little package. A very fast-handling carbine. Feels pretty much like an extension of yourself.

I need to sell a couple rifles soon. That one isn't one of them.
 
I agree with Dougiefreshhh: "I love my mini (560 series) as I found it to be OVERALL: 1.) easy to shoot, 2.) is not finicky about what I feed it, 3.) easy to clean, 4) "low profile" appearance,5) good general purpose weapon.6.) you can buy one without having to decide on 50 different options...but it does not perform well in all areas, and neither does the AR-15."

I have one of the newer 580 series and its great. If you're totally into the AR style, the Mini 14 is not the thing to buy. I think I got a good deal on the mini and would never try to make it look AR. The KR model is a great looking weapon, and needs very little added to it. I've put a couple of tac stocks in the "shopping cart", but looked at the mini again and decided that it looked better as it was. That doesn't mean that I dislike the AR style. I recently bought a M&P15-22 when I could have got a reliable 10/22 for much, much less. Or a butt ugly tac 10/22 for half the price. Sometimes, you're just lucky enough to get what YOU really want, and not what the "experts" tell you to buy.
 
that rifle is probably $1500+, my mini was $750.
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You got screwed. AR prices on fullsized 20" A2 model were back down around $785 last gun show I went to and I built my 1X7 twist M4gery for less than that.

I'll still put any OOB AR from any maker up against Ruger's best Mini 14 at 200 yards using Federal GM match ammo any day of the week.
 
jaholder, you won't find those prices out here in Colorado. My local dealer only had 3 mini's on the shelf, 2 of which were the hi-cap models, that came with the 20 round magazine. He didn't know when he would get more, so I bought it on the spot. Like I said, 2.5" accuracy at 100 yards is satisfactory for me, I didn't go into it looking for match grade accuracy.

I'll put my Remington 700 SPS Tactical in .308 up against you're AR at 200 yards, with federal GMM ammo, any day of the week!:neener::D
 
i had a 580 series Ruger Ranch Rifle, was a piece of crap - after 10 rounds the spaghetti thin barrel heated up so fast the bullets started to spread like 8 or 9 inch groups at 50 yards, i sold it and bought my Bushmaster now i have some satisfaction. also the magazine was so loose on the mini . i bough that mini at wally world for 620.00. i had a 9x40 scope on it .
 
hey redneck u think you can beat my Bushmaster i use iron sights and get Sub MOA at 100 yards i dont think your .308 can beat that maybe a 22-250 yeah. i got a 11.5" HBAR on my bushy
 
Bushguy, with my 3-9x40 scope, I can get sub-moa at 200 yards, 1.5" 5 shot groups.:D I'd have to spend money to mount iron sights on my remmy, why would I do that, when I can scope it? So yeah, bring it!:neener:
 
1858 said:
I look forward to seeing some of your targets when you enter this match ...

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=466672

The best krochus could do was 1.4" with a considerably longer barrel (sight radius). You still have three weeks.

:)
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the best I've done so far, I've only sat down to try to make a submission ONCE.

But my uper has several strikes against in in the accuracy dpt being a genuine surplus upper with a chrome bore, a1 sights and a pencil thin barrel. In other words as close to a MINI as an ar15 upper can get


BTW. the mini qualifies for my match
 
krochus, for the record, my post was in no way intended to belittle your efforts. I'm well aware of your shooting prowess with a number of different rifles. I'm fairly sure you can read between the lines and understand what I'm getting at with my previous post.

I'm looking forward to entering your match once I complete three rifle projects.

1. Fit new CDI bottom metal to B&C stock for my Remington 700 in .300 WSM
2. Intall new recoil pad on AccuStock and lap Talley rings on 7mm-08 Savage
3. Work up load for .308 just back from gun smith with new match chamber, larger recoil lug and new bolt (I need this rifle for a 2-day class in October)

:)
 
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Good old. AR VS MINI pissing match. Its like putting RAY BOOM BOOM Mansenie in the ring against GORGE FOREMAN. Its just not a fair fight. IMO. They both shoot 8 once boxing gloves but thats the only thing they have in common .=5.56
 
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