$ build new AR for hunting or mini 14 and go to work onit ?

[pigguy]

there seems to be a wide range of opinions of the mini 14,so I would like to know money wise if I wouldnt be better off building an AR style bull barrel for chaseing yotes?

[Lone Star]

IMO - go with the AR.  I owned a Mini-14 for several years, worked on it until I got frustrated, then bought an AR.  I haven't looked back.


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[sidekick]

Save yourself grief and go AR.

[Dee]

I have owned either 7 or 8 mini 14s, and am on my 4th ar. On the 14s I glass bedded the action, floated the barrel, and the trigger on them, when done right are sweet. A couple of other little tricks and they shot very well. My reasons for settling on the ar finally was parts such as mags, being as high or higher in most cases for the mini 14, and not as available. Repair parts are the same in my opinion. Out of the box, even an "M4" Bushmaster, has a chrome lined match barrel and chamber, with the real problem being the trigger, which one can either replace or in my case, custom tune to fit my taste.
The point-ability of the mini-14 is very appealing to me, as is the asthetics, but one must go for the most bang for the buck, in this case. Go AR.

[SD Handgunner]

While I do not own a Mini 14, I have shot quite a few over the years in trying to work loads up for friends that had them. I would have to say if you like hitting what you are shooting at GO AR.

More recently I picked up my first Semi Auto .223, a DPMS Panther Bull 20 Fluted. This AR has a Stainless-Steel Bull Barrel (that is fluted) and is attached to a flat top upper receiver. There is no front sight, but rather a gas block that has a picantinny rail on it. The forend is an aluminum free float tube. The person I bought this rifle from smoothed up the trigger for me before I picked up the rifle. While the trigger pull is heavier than I would prefer the pull is smooth and the break quite clean and crisp.

So far I have put about 300 rounds through this DPMS including breaking in the barrel. The largest 5 shot 100 yard group I have fired to date has been 1 1/4" center to center with ammo it didn't really like all that much. I have shot 40gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips & 50gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips both loaded with Hodgdon Benchmark Powder. It really likes the 40's but not the 50's. I have also shot 55gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips and 55gr. Sierra Hollow Point Boat Tails both loaded with Hodgdon H-4895. This rifle actually shoots both of these loads quite well.

I picked my DPMS Panther Bull 20 Fluted up for $760.00 plus tax and couldn't be happier. Yes it is a little heavier than I would have liked, but the fluting does help some in this regard. All I know is that this Rifle seems to shoot better the more rounds I get through it.

The largest group I have fired to date with this DPMS is smaller than the best group I have ever fired through a Mini 14.

Larry

[DES]

Go with an AR. You'll pay more up front but should give you decent accuracy without spending a lot more on it. The Mini's are reliable but I've yet to get one to shoot under 3-4" groups @ 100 yds. 

[prairiedog555]

my accuracy with my Mini 14 improved quite a bit when I restocked with kevlar.  But it is inconsistent and once the barrel heats up, forget it.