AR-15 style in .223 vs. Mini-14 (.223)

[dukefan70]

Been looking to get first rifle in .223. First thought AR, but Mini-14 is a lot cheaper. Read a thread where dept. of corrections guys and cops tossed this issue around. Some issues were:

1. Thin barrel on Mini-14 makes it heat up quickly (after a couple hundred rounds they said.)

2. Mini-14 easier to use, but bolt may slam shut if gun dropped or slammed.

3. AR tougher.

4. Mini-14 is an "over-priced plinker".

Leaning toward just saving up for a decent meat and potatoes AR. Thoughts please.

 

[nathan]

THe Saiga in .223 is a good alternative at a good price.

 

[FlyinBryan]

mini barrel heats up about 195 rounds faster than those cops suggested.

owned both, and ar all the way. no comparison in terms of accuracy and available rate of effective fire.

no comparison.

(it must be noted that my experience was with a thin barreled stainless mini from the late 80's.
the new ones have a much heavier bbl and from what ive heard are much better)

 

[wally]

If you want to shoot off sand bags and brag about group sizes its AR all the way. But if you want a handy knock-about rifle that handles like an M1 Carbine with better ammo availability the Mini-14 is the way to go. I'd say the Mini-30 was better still if you could get good >10 round mags for it.

Unless you convert the Saiga the trigger will hold you back.

The Mini may heat up faster, but you can go a lot more rounds without cleaning it than you can with the AR -- its almost as good as the AK in this regards.

Unfortunately the Mini has gone up in price that its not much more for a low end AR (especially if you factor in half dozen or so full capacity magazines). Think about it, and get what will make you happiest first, you can (will) buy the other when funds permit

--wally.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Could you really not have found this thread hashed out enough in the hundreds of other threads we've had on this topic


HERE ILL SUM UP THIS THREADS END

AR15 jams every third shot, so picky ammo must be loaded in a lab.

Mini 14 25" groups at 50yds can't buy anything for em besides 5 rd mags

 

[Candiru]

A Mini-14 makes a lousy AR. Then again, an AR is an unacceptable substitute for a Mini-14. If you really want an AR, I'd go with that instead.

A couple points of correction, if I may: Mini-14s are no longer are made with such a thin barrel, so the effects of heat have been reduced. The newer ones are apparently more accurate than the old. Can't speak to that personally, but the 580-series I've shot have grouped 2 MOA or below with Prvi Partisan 55-grain XM-193 style ammo. These are real groups of ten rounds or more, shot off a front support.

Pretty sure the AR is more prone to releasing its bolt in response to impact than the Mini. At least, ARs tend to let the bolt forward in response to such light jarring that it's hard to imagine anything else being more prone to doing so. This doesn't seem like a really serious issue, though.

Here's a writeup I did on the Mini-14 I bought: link

And here's what it looks like now:



Just by way of disclaimer, I like Mini-14s more than ARs, but you should get what you want and what fulfills your needs, even if that means saving up for a while.

 

[ThomasT]

Good luck finding a skinny barreled mini. The new rifles (and not the target model) are .620 at their very smallest. they are nearly 3/4lb heavier than the old minis. You want a thin barrel you will have to buy used. That extra weight is all in the bigger barrel.

A service grade AR might outgroup my new mini but it won't be by very much. And one other thing I haven't seen any group walking from a hot barrel either. I have shot my gun until there ain't no way in hell you can touch it and it still hits small targets at 100 yards.

I wish that people who make comments about what mini-14s will do would quantify their comments to include they have zero experience with the new model minis.

 

[FlyinBryan]

you last two posters are absolutely right.

im basing it from my own experience with the mini 14 i owned which was a stainless, late 80's model.

i have no direct experience with the new ones, and i will edit my previous post to include that so not to mislead.

bryan.

 

[GunAdmirer]

No real comparison between the two. Completely different.

I'd like to have a Mini 14 someday for grins but I prefer the AR for all the usual reasons.

The Mini isn't much cheaper than an AR anymore.

 

[Leper Khan]

Mini 14 25" groups at 50yds can't buy anything for em besides 5 rd mags

I don't own either, but I didn't see the above quote addressed. Ruger is selling 20 and 30 rd mags for them now. I've had my eye on a mini-14 for awhile. Now I just need to save up the $$$.

30rd.
20rd.