1KPerDay
Member
Stop making sense.
Will a Ruger Mini-14 meet my WTSHTF needs?
- Thread starter heavyshooter
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Seems to be a lot of love for the mini here.
I owned one for many years before giveing up on it because of horrible patterns. I have shot several that actually shot a group but my rifle went back to Ruger twice and I spent half what I paid for it to try and fix it. Never ever shot less than 6-8" at 50yards.
I would recomend a a used AR over any Ruger. At this moment ARs are dificult to find but I believe the whole system to be vastly better than the mini.Guns, parts,accesories,and magazines are available from a wide selection of sorces and the gun lends itself to many different setups that can be tailored to fit a wide range of individuals
I owned one for many years before giveing up on it because of horrible patterns. I have shot several that actually shot a group but my rifle went back to Ruger twice and I spent half what I paid for it to try and fix it. Never ever shot less than 6-8" at 50yards.
I would recomend a a used AR over any Ruger. At this moment ARs are dificult to find but I believe the whole system to be vastly better than the mini.Guns, parts,accesories,and magazines are available from a wide selection of sorces and the gun lends itself to many different setups that can be tailored to fit a wide range of individuals
mordechaianiliewicz
Member
I don't own a Mini-14, because it's just too much money for me to shell out for a plinker. I did have one as a SHTF rifle when I was about 19 and 20. I didn't shoot it for 3 months because it was winter, but I looked over that beautiful rifle, and then, come March, I took it out, and shot it.
Can't say I was all that good back then anyway, but I was shooting about 4 moa @ 50 yards. I kept it though, along with an SKSfor SHTF. It would jam with non-Ruger mags and it and the SKS were about equally accurate in my hands.
I ended up selling it for something nicer, but, I don't regret that choice. It was a good idea.
Ultimately, if I had the money, I might purchase another (if I could also get several other rifles ahead of it). But, it would be my "better than nothing" category of SHTF weapons.
Can't say I was all that good back then anyway, but I was shooting about 4 moa @ 50 yards. I kept it though, along with an SKSfor SHTF. It would jam with non-Ruger mags and it and the SKS were about equally accurate in my hands.
I ended up selling it for something nicer, but, I don't regret that choice. It was a good idea.
Ultimately, if I had the money, I might purchase another (if I could also get several other rifles ahead of it). But, it would be my "better than nothing" category of SHTF weapons.
B.D. Turner
Member
I have one in 6.8 SPC which I like very much. The only drawback is there are no 20 round mags around for it. The mini is a good rifle and will work for most folks who do not envision marching off to war.
WardenWolf
member
Mini-14 vs. AR-15 vs. AK:
The Mini-14 is unique between these three in that parts are only available from a single company, and not interchangeable with any other type of gun. Most AR parts are interchangeable, most AK parts are interchangeable with some work. But a Mini-14 does not have widely available spare parts. So regardless of how good this individual gun is, it's not fixable should something go wrong after the fecal matter's already hit the oscillating unit.
The Mini-14 is unique between these three in that parts are only available from a single company, and not interchangeable with any other type of gun. Most AR parts are interchangeable, most AK parts are interchangeable with some work. But a Mini-14 does not have widely available spare parts. So regardless of how good this individual gun is, it's not fixable should something go wrong after the fecal matter's already hit the oscillating unit.
Lone_Gunman
Member
This might or might not be important. If you break your weapon in the middle of a fight, you are probably going to be killed whether or not you have the appropriate spare part in your pocket. It is unlikely your adversary will let you call a time out while you fix your weapon.
Also, if you don't get killed, its probably because you managed to kill your adversary, and if that is the case, you can always just pick up his gun and go.
WardenWolf
member
That's assuming that all you'll be doing with your gun is shooting people. I'm thinking more long-term and in other scenarios as well.
Long-term: if you're counting on it for hunting and it breaks, who can fix it? Don't just look at the little picture. You also have to look at, "I survived and got out. Now what?" Your gun is far more likely to fail in the long term than the short term. Sustainability is also a factor.
Long-term: if you're counting on it for hunting and it breaks, who can fix it? Don't just look at the little picture. You also have to look at, "I survived and got out. Now what?" Your gun is far more likely to fail in the long term than the short term. Sustainability is also a factor.
easyrider604
Member
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2008
- Messages
- 735
I asked the same question 12 yrs ago and bought a slightly used SKS.
I have had AR's (actually M-16s) and a Mini 14 in another life and just was not impressed by the 5.56/.223 round.
So this SKS was reliable but not pretty, so my desire for a nice looking SHTF rifle was satisfied by a Mini 30 Ranch.
Problem with the Mini 30 was that it would fail to go into battery about one in 50 rounds with Chinese ammo. Could be a tight chamber or inconsistent ammo size, or something else. So I manually cycled my ammo (for safety, do not do this at home, try it only at the range) to weed out the bad rounds.
With both rifles, I get about 2 MOA accuracy at 100 meters with chinese ammo.
I'm hoping SHTF never happens but having these rifles is like auto insurance, you still hope you never get into an accident...but it's reassuring you're covered anyway.
Lone_Gunman
Member
If the shet hits the fan bad enough that we all have to start hunting for what we are going to eat, the last living deer in the US will be shot within about 2 weeks, long before you break your mini 14.
I just don't see parts breakage as a major issue.
I just don't see parts breakage as a major issue.
heavyshooter
Member
Good Point!
Touché!!!
You are in rare form today Lone_Gunman.
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Deadmanwalking_05
Member
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2008
- Messages
- 101
I'm going to try an AR build Myself.
A mid-length A-2 upper matched with a standard A-2 Lower.
But I did think about the NRA Mini-14.
A mid-length A-2 upper matched with a standard A-2 Lower.
But I did think about the NRA Mini-14.
My mini 14 is one of the weapons I will not sell,the accuracy is crappy,but under 100yrds its a great gun,and with a good magazine I've never had it FTF,or jam,cleaning the thing is optional.
More reliable than a bolt action IMO.
2 30rd mags I figure to be plenty for a WTSHTF situation.
As to all the fellas that are cutting them down for a lack of parts,there's a reason for that,you don't have to tinker with the Mini14 like you do a AR.
AR is a fine rifle too,and if we were ever invaded by killer squirrels I'd much rather have the far more accurate AR15,but make sure you buy the version of the AR that can handle 5.56 Nato,like all mini 14s can.
More reliable than a bolt action IMO.
2 30rd mags I figure to be plenty for a WTSHTF situation.
As to all the fellas that are cutting them down for a lack of parts,there's a reason for that,you don't have to tinker with the Mini14 like you do a AR.
AR is a fine rifle too,and if we were ever invaded by killer squirrels I'd much rather have the far more accurate AR15,but make sure you buy the version of the AR that can handle 5.56 Nato,like all mini 14s can.
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