How about a mini-14

[chrissmallwood]

I posted a thread a little while back about getting an ar-15, that was what I was wanting till the other day. I was shooting with a friend and he let me shoot his Mini and I really enjoyed it. Now im torn between the Mini and AR. Id love to get them both but I cant afford that so im thinkin of getting a Mini first and an AR later. I saw them on budsgunshop for $594. Is that a good price? Anything I should be aware of with the Mini.

 

[gcrookston]

The mini is what it is. The price you've found is certainly fair. They are a very reliable gun and "moderately" accurate (though I saw a match version the other day). I've shot quite a number of them, including FA, and can't think of anything bad to say about them. Currently there are some LE trade ins floating around complete with flash hider and bayonet lug. I've been thinking about them, but can't bring myself to buy one (yet).

 

[gunman42782]

The Mini 14 vs the AR has been an ongoing topic for decades now. Let me just say that I am a loyal Ruger customer and have been for years, but I now own 2 ARs and zero Minis, but have owned 4 Minis in my life. I will never own another. If you are satisfied with mediocre accuracy, and in a gun that will not hold it's zero after shooting a magazine full, then the Mini is all right. If you would like to be able to shoot it more than 5 to 10 rounds and hit anything, you will be disappointed. And yes, the last Mini I tried was the 580 series that is supposed to be more accurate. I spent good money on a trigger job, glass bed job, and tried numerous other "cures" to get it to shoot, to no avail. 3 and 4 inch 100 yard groups (with scope at benchrest) are about average, and as I said, when it heats up, forget even getting that good accuracy. My M4gery will shoot better with open sights than the Mini did with a scope, and do it all day long.

 

[Rexster]

I enjoy the ergonomics of a Mini-14 far more than those of the AR15, and those factors result in better shooting while on my hind legs, regardless of how anything shoots from a bench. Time will tell if my new Mini will shoot irrelevant tiny groups from a bench. I have both, and am not trying to start a war, OK? OK. I just bought another upper for my AR15 to make it more practical as a patrol rifle. The "winner" will be my new patrol rifle sometime in 2008, hopefully.

 

[rodregier]

I used to own a Mini-14, but have since sold it and now own an AR15 pattern rifle.

AR15 pattern advantages over Mini-14 IMHO:

- Better/more easily tunable accuracy
- Easier to clean from breach
- Better spare parts availability
- More optics mounting options
- possible to free-float barrel
- More aftermarket upgrade/add-on options

 

[carlrodd]

a lot of people note that you can do a number of things to improve accuracy on the mini-14, but that these modifications turn a $600 new rifle into a rifle that is more expensive than most ARs. it's not true....some people like to inflate their math. if you love the way a mini feels in your hands, and how it feels when you shoot it, those are tremendously important things....far more important than splicing hairs about getting sub-moa groups. if you still feel strongly about tight groups, go to somebody like gundoc, who hangs out over at perfectunion.com. for $250 dollars or so, he can fix your trigger, your violent brass ejection, etc., and turn your mini into a 1 to 2 moa rifle....then you have the best of both worlds. the mini is a reasonably accurate rifle. what's frustrating is that accuracy is all that matters to so many people, and because of this they badmouth a beautiful little carbine.

 

[George S.]

I think its wrong to compare the Mini-14 with an AR-15 type of rifle. They are made for different purposes. Ruger calls it a "Ranch" rifle in that it's designed for taking cars of predators in that sort of environment, around a farmer's ranch getting rid of coyote's, wolves, varmints on either 4 or 2 legs.

The Mini operation is based on the M1 Garand, the AR is (was) all new in terms of operation and it's purpose (basic infantry rifle). The Ruger GB series of the Mini-14 was (and still is in some places) used by a number of police organizations, a large number of state prisons for their tower guards and there was even a European version that was tested as a infantry rifle.

The barrel of the Mini Ranch rifle is thinner than the AR barrel and accruacy does suffer with a high rate of fire. IMHO, that is one reason why the Mini is seen as inaccurate. A thin barrel and a high rate of fire is the big problem when it come to accuracy comparisons.

My Mini has a few mods like a muzzle brake, a small gas port bushing and a Hogue synthetic stock that holds it tighter. Those items alone enables me to shoot quarter-sized groups at 50yds on a rest with the factory peep sight. I use factory 55-gr ammo from either Winchester, Remington/UMC or S&B with similar results. Going out to 100 yards, it's 1.5" to 2" groups. For me that is perfectly fine for what the rifle is.

From what I have read, the new "Target Mini" is supposed to much more accurate out of the box compared to the Ranch Mini. A new bull barrel, new tooling, and most likely closer tolerances.

Having said all of that, I will be picking up an AR in the next month or so just to have one. Not that I think it's any "better" than my Mini, I just want another semi-auto .223 rifle.

 

[lee n. field]

I saw them on budsgunshop for $594

For that money you're getting pretty close to what you can get an AR for. Unless you're in some benighted jurisdiction that has outlawed them, and if you can at all afford it, get the AR.

For the Mini, accuracy is so-so, magazines are either expensive (factory) or a crapshoot function wise, and some parts are Ruger factory installed only. I traded mine straight up for a WASR-10 last year.

THR thread: cheapest possible AR build.

 

[Oohrah]

Bought my first Mini in 82 (Series 181), and still own it. It runs when
others quit. Have a new Bushy, jury is still out! A Remmy bolt run
rounds out serious varmit hunts to 2 to 300 yards. Stops them dead
in their tracks at least up to fifty pounds. Yep, you can extend
the range somewhat, but what for That's better All three have merit

 

[f4t9r]

I would go with the AR first. I have had 2 mini's and now have 2 AR"s.
Nothing wrong with the Ruger I just like the AR way better. If you have shot both guns and did not see a difference then it will not matter which you get first.

 

[W.E.G.]

If you only have a Mini-14, you will always wish it were an AR15.

If you only have an AR15 you will never wish it was a Mini-14.

Make a wise decision grasshopper.

 

[takurpic]

I'm a Ruger fan too. I've owned one Mini-14. I sold it and moved to the AR-15 platform. My experience with the mini was that it just wasn't very accurate. Nice looking rifle, but looks aren't everything.

 

[hoji]

If you chop and recrown a mini 's barrel to 16" it will take a lot of the "harmonic hum" out of it and turn it into a 1.5-2 inch gun even hot.

 

[chrissmallwood]

thanks for the replies. Im not looking for a sub moa rifle, I just want something thats fun at the range and capable of taking care of pests such as yotes around the house. If It can keep them in the black at 100 yds id be happy. Why are decisions like this so hard.

 

[Zach S]

if you still feel strongly about tight groups, go to somebody like gundoc, who hangs out over at perfectunion.com. for $250 dollars or so, he can fix your trigger, your violent brass ejection, etc., and turn your mini into a 1 to 2 moa rifle....then you have the best of both worlds.

$250, on top of a $500 or $600 purchase price that uses $50 mags.

You can get a CMMG upper for $525 or less, an assembled lower for around $250, and have a one or two minute rifle for $775 that uses magazines that cost between 10 and 15 bucks.

The Mini is a better looking gun though.

 

[carlrodd]

$250, on top of a $500 or $600 purchase price that uses $50 mags.

You can get a CMMG upper for $525 or less, an assembled lower for around $250, and have a one or two minute rifle for $775 that uses magazines that cost between 10 and 15 bucks.

The Mini is a better looking gun though.


like i pointed out...for that price, you can get some adjustments made that pretty much give out of the box AR accuracy, having spent considerably less than you would have for a reliably-named AR, all the while(and this is what is important), keeping a weapon that you may feel has far superior/more friendly ergonomics. as someone mentioned, a barrel chop and muzzlebrake WILL win you 1 to 2 moa accuracy on a mini, and this can be done for $120.

 

[George S.]

Gundoc over on the PerfectUnion forum does good work. But you can do some things yourself.

I bought a muzzle brake for about $30 and installed it myself. I had a differerent guy in Oregon (Mike Knifong) do a trigger job and I got the gas port bushing from him (which I installed myslef). That cost about $55. At that point, I got my Mini to shoot the groups I mentioned earlier. Adding the Hoge stock was done afterwards and it helped to make the groups more consistent.

As far as mags for the Mini, I have some ProMag 20 rounders that cost $17 each and Masen 10-rounders that cost about $12. Even my 30 round ProMag only cost $21. Don't think I have ever seen a $50 mag for a Mini-14.

 

[uneasy_rider]

Don't think I have ever seen a $50 mag for a Mini-14.

I think the $50 comment was in reference to Ruger factory magazines, and not cheaper and less reliable after market mags you mention. $50 is a pretty good price for Ruger Factory Magazines.

Here is a link to Ruger factory mags for $50:
http://www.44mag.com/products.asp?dept=1322

 

[carlrodd]

yeah....50 bucks is ridiculous for a 20rd mag, but it's about as good as you'll find right now. don't blame the the gun for that though...blame ruger for not cheaply manufacturing them, and the market for...well...being the market. they do function flawlessly though.

 

[MAKOwner]

There will be another assault weapons ban eventually. I say get the AR now while they are cheap and plentiful and not impacted by cosmetic bans or worse. You can always get a Mini later, they're even still legal in California so they'll likely be available after the next ban as well...

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

I've owned 2 minis and neither would group under 5" at 100 yds. scoped or open sighted and with different brands of ammo. Both weapons were relaible and easy to maintain. I wouldn't even consider buying another, even if Ruger guaranteed it would shoot moa. (ha ha). Granted my minis were bought new about 25 years ago. Maybe now they know how to make better bbls., but I'm not going to chance it.

 

[skinewmexico]

You can get a complete AR from CMMG now for $575, I'd do that in a heartbeat instead of working so hard to justify a mini.

 

[chrissmallwood]

My new MINI

I just got my new Mini-14 today. I wanted to take so time to try it out but it was raining and the range near me closes at 5 so I didnt get to shoot it much. I really like it, its comfortable to shoot. I was only shooting at 25 yds so I cant say much for accuracy untill I get plenty of time try it out but it was doing pretty good once I got it adjusted. My wife even likes it so thats a plus for me. Does anyone have any advice for a new Mini owner. No jokes about dumping it for an AR please, LOL. Im pretty pleased with it.

 

[TimboKhan]

My advice is to keep your eyes peeled for factory 20 round mags. DO NOT waste your money on non-factory 20 round mags. I am sure there are guys on here that have non-Ruger mags that will defend them to the death, but in general, if it isn't a Ruger mag, it's not going to work worth a hoot. The Ruger 20 round mags are marked as LEO only, but thats OK. If you see them, buy them.

Also, just remember that you didn't buy a target rifle. The Mini is a very fun gun to shoot, but it is not a rifle built for gilt-edge accuracy. If you keep your expectations in line with what the gun is designed to do, you will be happy. If you start wondering why you can't shoot 1/2 MOA groups, your are going to end up wishing that you had bought an AR.

 

[Grandpa Shooter]

I have owned a mini 14 for longer than I have owned my AR. The AR shoots well (hit a dime at 100 yds) but the mini 14 is FUN to shoot. I don't know what sights you have, mine came with good peep sights. I tried a scope on mine and my advice is, don't bother with one. You want the mini to be fun and good enough to discourage varmints (two or four legged) so shoot it a lot and enjoy it.

By the way, you don't have to kill coyotes to discourage them. They don't like loud noises and are smart enough to know they are being shot at. The two legged version is a different story altogether.