How about a mini-14

[FMJMIKE]

Yep........New Ruger Mini 14 will have heavier barrels........ Bye AR-15s............. Just kidding............. I like Minis better though. To each his own !!!

 

[chrissmallwood]

Im just curious to know what the diff is. Mine tapers from .777" at the gas block to .625". Anyone with measurements of an older barrel please chime in.

 

[Pecos21]

Chris,
The older mini's barrels didnt taper at all.
If your barrel is noticeably thicker at the gas block and tapers down towards the sights, then it appears you got one of the 2008 runs.

Take it to the range and see what kind of groups you get. There will be a lot of people eager to see what improvements Ruger has made.

 

[bhk]

I have a 2005 or 2006 580 series model and it measures .559 just forward of the gas block, steps up a little about half way between the gas block and the front sight, and measures .563 just behind the front sight. It actually increases in diameter at that step as you move toward the front sight. This appears to be quite different than yours.

My 580 series is more accurate than an older mini I had. Maybe this heavier barrel will help even more.

 

[chrissmallwood]

Thanks I was wondering what the difference was. The only thing I noticed was the barrel is only .625" befor the gas block. why would it be .777" after the gas block and not before it, I cant see where that would help more than the whole barrel being .777" up to the point where it tapers down.

 

[bbreese]

Mini-14

Got my mini in 1977. (180 series). It is accurate enough. I don't like the magazines, even factory ones are not know for being reliable. Broke the extractor a few years ago and had to have some custom made.
Looked for a folding stock, none to be had for the 180 model.
Am getting ready to strip and re-finish the metal, cause it is old and blued.
Have an AR, with two different uppers...Like the utility better, but the lines on the mini are classic.
BTW, my wife likes the mini better because of lower weight.

 

[DiN_BLiX]

Thanks I was wondering what the difference was. The only thing I noticed was the barrel is only .625" befor the gas block. why would it be .777" after the gas block and not before it, I cant see where that would help more than the whole barrel being .777" up to the point where it tapers down.

Its the lenth of barrel forward of the gas block that is known for "whipping" causing the so called "legendary inaccuracy" retorqing the gas block on older minis help with this, as did shorting the barrel to 16.5-17". Im interested to see how this new new and improved model fans out, i wish they would offer sometype of forarm cover like the ultimak rail from factory. Perhaps now that Bill R. is dead and gone (bless his soul) the execs at ruger will realize that people want more tactical type rifles and reintroduce an updated folder model (fingers crossed).

 

[Pecos21]

I could very well be wrong, but I believe the barrel needs to be skinnier behind the gas block to leave enough room for the operating rod to function properly.

 

[usmcgunny0369]

And lets not forget that the civilian AR-15 is not as well-suited for that purpose as the M16 fully-auto variant

The M-16 hasn't been full auto since the M-16A2 was adopted in 1984. It's 3 round burst.

 

[g5m]

chrissmallwood, just enjoy your mini. It's a fine rifle.

 

[Dollar An Hour]

Chris - how's life with your Mini-14?

I like the new 16" barreled NRA model, it includes (2) 20-round mags. Pretty cool!

 

[paintballdude902]

come september 2nd im buying a brand new one its got a heavier barrel which is supposed to help with the accuracy alot

its going to be my truck gun for around the farm i work at

lots of deer and critters like yotes

dont need anything longrange but something i can take with me to get tresspassers to leave and to take out the yotes that mess with our horses

 

[garyhan]

With all the talk and promises of improved accuracy, I have noted that tests in even the most wide eyed optimistic gun mags have shown the new mini 14's failing to deliver the accuracy of a run of the mill AR. For a semi auto delivering the level of accuracy minis generally deliver, I much prfer an M-1 carbine. Save for an AR.

Gary

 

[Gunsby_Blazen]

I own the Mini-target, accurate and super fun gun. I get a hair over one inch groups even after about 15 rounds of fire through it. But I will be getting an AR in the future. Most likely an RRA Match rifle. I am not saying I regret the Mini, but I want an AR too.
If you want consistent accuracy and tons of after market parts, get the AR.
I am a Ruger fan, and i wouldn't get a regular mini-14. The target model is great but its not cheap and you could get a AR with a few bells and whistles on it for the same price as the Mini-target after scope purchase.

Another thing you could look into is that NRA edition Mini, It costs as much as an AR though. I heard the NRA models are much more accurate than the standard Mini. That being said, the AR is still more accurate after repeated fire.

If you get the mini now, you will most likely get the AR later. If you get a AR now, you might not get a Mini later.

 

[Art Eatman]

Even the "inaccurate" Minis put the first shot or two from a cold barrel right where they're intended to go. As a truck gun for the occasional varmint and suchlike need, they're excellent.

The older Minis just aren't benchrest guns. They're great hunting guns.

 

[blacksmithsc]

so, the mini 14's with the heavier stock barrels will be available September 2nd, 2008?

 

[s2brutus]

Well, I'm another fan of the Mini-14 who also owns AR-15s and an AR-180B.

I owned the Mini first and since it's so much like my M-1 Garand, it'll always be a favorite. Yeah, ARs are more accurate on extended strings of rapid fire, but DAMN IT, the Mini just FEELS so much better when I put it to my shoulder.

Like an old man I once knew who's now dead and gone used to say: "Some folks say certain things aren't any good at all. I say 'everything is good for what it's good for'....." The Mini is good for normal hunting type shooting and plinking. Yeah, like everyone else, I wish that Ruger in it's infinite stupidity throughout the life of the Mini would build an honest-to-God "mil-spec" version of the Mini with a heavier barrel with better harmonics, but they haven't yet.

Maybe someday......

 

[LJH]

I am another who owns both. Each has its use. I take the AR to the range, and the Mini goes into the woods.

 

[freakshow10mm]

 

[Ignition Override]

Although I have limited gun experience (am just a plinker) for an older guy, my Mini 14 is a lot of fun.
Purchased the rifle used while my Kahr M-1 Carbine was in the factory for a broken bolt...only 2 months after it was bought brand-new!

My only mis-fire out of about 300-400 rounds was last week with my first small box of Silver Bear ammo. Wolf has been my only other ammo.
But so what? The price is good and I'll never be fighting either Al Qaida or the Taliban, so it does not matter if a round mis-fires.
If only over-priced American ammo (ridiculous prices for plinking) were available I would only have bought the Mosin Nagant.

All my other guns, the 30, the SKS and M44 are just as fun, and use only Wolf along with the surplus Bulgarian x54R for the M44.
Why not have a gun(s) which uses lower-priced (for now), very common, versatile rounds?

 

[greyeyezz]

For an urban SHTF rifle where a long range shot isn't needed i'll take the Mini. I have a lot more faith in the reliability of a Mini than an AR.

 

[ThomasT]

If you watch this video on you tube they do an accuracy test at 200 yards. The AK does not put on a very good show. On the other hand neither does the AR-15. I beleive i could shoot as good of a group with my Mini-14 at the same range. Maybe better.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6BpI3xD6h0&feature=related

Now i admit this not prove anything. Maybe the guy shooting the AR isn't a very good shot. Its an indoor range and i personally don't like the lighting in indoor ranges. Maybe that had something to do with the poor shooting in the video. I have seen guys shooting ARs at 100 yards and some of them shot groups that would be good out of a bolt action.

I have a new mini with the new sights but not the heavier barrel on the 2008 models. So far it has been an excelent shooter. I have the scope mounted in the rings but haven't had a chance to shoot it with optics yet. When i do i'll post the results.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

"Cool, now if we can figure out how to make AR magazines fit into a Mini we have it made."
__________________
Anyone ever put Ar15/M16 mag srings and followers in aftermarket Mini 14 hi-cap mags? I have improved the function of Promag,etc. by heating and bending the rear follower guide slightly rearward(keeps the front of the follower from dropping down).

 

[W.E.G.]

 

[ThomasT]

W.E.G. thanks for posting the test results from the NRA Mini. I have heard about it but haven't seen it.

It looks like the worst grouping was around a 4" average. The best aroud 2.5" average. What surprises me the most from the report is the low velocities they got from the 16" barrel.

Like Dave Scovill of Rifle magazine pointed out "If you are getting a 4" group then your bullet is landing only 2 inches away from your intended point of impact". I am guessing the tester didn't retorque the gas block. Mine was installed with a gap on one side and the other side touching. I changed that before i ever shot my gun. Also a trigger job may have helped the posted groups.

Anyway i like my new Mini. If i want some super tight groups i can shoot my Savage 11FG or my Remington 7615.