I want to install a longer M14 style barrel on a Mini-14. Who can help me?
- Thread starter daredwit
- Start date
- Status
loadedround
Member
Any competent gunsmith call install a new custom barrel on your Mini-14 but be prepared to spend big bucks in doing so. Remember you have a semi-auto and your smith will have to adapt this new barrel to your rifle's gas system and drill a proper sized gas vent in your new barrel. There will be a lot of trial and error fitting involved at $$$ per hour. I would reccomend you buy a factory rifle with your barrel choice originally installed. It will be a lot cheaper in the long run and possibly function better.
mljdeckard
Member
It would be so much expense and trouble, we will likely be asking you why you don't just trade up to an AR.
This
benEzra
Moderator Emeritus
These people can probably do what you want:
http://www.ruger-mini-14-firearms.com/ruger_mini_prices.php
You may also want to ask over at the Mini-14 Forums:
http://www.perfectunion.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=86
http://www.ruger-mini-14-firearms.com/ruger_mini_prices.php
You may also want to ask over at the Mini-14 Forums:
http://www.perfectunion.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=86
unwise11
Member
buy an m1a, for the money you'd be spending.
and .308>.223 by a long shot.
and .308>.223 by a long shot.
mljdeckard
Member
^^ No. Not even close. An M1A isn't CLOSE to the price range of ARs and Minis.
And really, it's an entirely different rifle with an entirely different purpose.
When (if) you are a CURRENT army ranger, you might realize that the 5.56 does exactly what it is supposed to do.
And really, it's an entirely different rifle with an entirely different purpose.
When (if) you are a CURRENT army ranger, you might realize that the 5.56 does exactly what it is supposed to do.
rbernie
Contributing Member
You may not want a longer barrel, but just to have a pinned flash hider installed on the stock barrel. If that's the case, the project is far more feasible than getting a custom barrel machined.
Keep in mind that the Mini14 is more sensitive to barrel harmonics than other kinds of rifles, and most Mini14 folk move to SHORTER barrels as a means of increasing its accuracy. Making a longer barrel is not going to help accuracy at all, at least not without making other design changes (e.g. altering the barrel contour).
Keep in mind that the Mini14 is more sensitive to barrel harmonics than other kinds of rifles, and most Mini14 folk move to SHORTER barrels as a means of increasing its accuracy. Making a longer barrel is not going to help accuracy at all, at least not without making other design changes (e.g. altering the barrel contour).
longdayjake
Member
there aren't many marines that I know that have much confidence in the 5.56. Oh and one Army SF that I know seems to think they are pretty poor killers. I guess you have to be a ranger to really understand how awesome the 5.56 is. My personal opinion is that it makes sense to carry small rounds that you can fit lots of ammo into a mag but there is a trade off in lethality. Just like if you want lethality you trade capacity for it. That isn't to say that the m4 sucks cause all of these guys love the platform but not the round.
mljdeckard
Member
The Marine infantrymen I terped for like it just fine. Same with the 19th Group guys I train with every year. If you are experiencing a lack in lethality, you probably don't know how to use it very well.
Broken11b
Member
Normally it takes longer for a thread to get off topic and onto 5.56 vs 7.62...
And I know many Marines, paratroopers, Rangers, snipers and other active duty types that dont have a problem with either.
Dont feed the flame.
And I know many Marines, paratroopers, Rangers, snipers and other active duty types that dont have a problem with either.
Dont feed the flame.
and .308>.223 by a long shot.
True, but .223 is nasty at under 100 yards. And you could use expanding bullets.
If you are limited to a five-round magazine (Canada) I see no advantage in .223 however. Most capacity allowed is 8, and only with a Garand.
Why buy a 5-shot .223 when you could buy an 8-shot 30-'06?
You can't hunt moose with a .223 anyways.
True, but .223 is nasty at under 100 yards. And you could use expanding bullets.
If you are limited to a five-round magazine (Canada) I see no advantage in .223 however. Most capacity allowed is 8, and only with a Garand.
Why buy a 5-shot .223 when you could buy an 8-shot 30-'06?
You can't hunt moose with a .223 anyways.
benEzra
Moderator Emeritus
The Marines I know, and the ones I've shot with, seem to like 5.56x45mm fine. A lot of its bad rep comes from the relatively poor performance of M855 out of shorter-than-intended barrels, but even M855 works, M193 works better at realistic ranges, and the newer Mk 262 and SOST loads give very good performance by any measure.
The thing is, U.S. soldiers are already completely and totally maxed out as far as the weight they can carry. If you issue a heavier rifle that uses heavier magazines and fires twice-as-heavy ammo, then all you can do is have them carry considerably less ammo; there is no other way. That works if you are envisioning short, relatively static, long-distance precision engagements where numbers are on our side, but that's not really how things have always played out. And since the U.S. military generally uses crew-served weapons and ordnance for long-range engagement and small arms for closer ranges, optimizing small arms for 600-yard shooting to the detriment of 0-200 yard shooting is ultimately counterproductive.
Contrary to a lot of media reports, U.S. units with 5.56x45mm already outrange the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents with small arms, and the only reason the Taliban are playing around from long range is that moving in any closer would cut them off from any chance of escape.
- Status
