Author Topic: Mini 14?? (Read 3702 times)

Stuart C. · « **on:** July 19, 2010, 08:55:07 AM »

So, with the continued popularity of ARs (for most people anyway, but not all), I was wondering what folks thought of the Mini 14 and just where do they fit in, or what's their best intended use? And don't get nasty if you don't like them because I'm sure others do. I'm kinda considering one.
Are they home defense? Hunting? Just fun shooting? In the service, is it true that the AK was preferred for it's reliability over the AR?

From what I've been able to learn...
Pros:
More rugged that the AR (ex. the AR's tiny springs and tiny blue plastic plugs)
Avail in 7.62 just like an AR
Terrific service
Made in USA
Cons:
Poor accuracy

What's your take?

simplicity · « **Reply #1 on:** July 19, 2010, 09:45:02 AM »

My cousin and I have started doing 3 gun competitions together he uses a stainless mini 14 ( older version with the light barrel) and I use a m4 style. as far as comparison yes the mini 14 is more reliable. no it is not near as accurate but my cousin did buy and put a accustrut on and that brought it from a 4" group at 100 yards down to a good honest 1.5" grouper. So is it good for home defense, pig hunting and such yeah I'd say yes as far as a varmint gun under 100 no-prob beyond that I'd say no. I have heard that the newer versons have a heavier barrel on them and shoot better but still not as good as a AR. Hope this helps

Silvertp · « **Reply #2 on:** July 19, 2010, 11:02:45 AM »

I shoot both and AR and a Mini 14. My AR has a heavy bbl and is an absolute tack-driver. My mini delivers 3 1/2 inch groups at 100yds.

I have assigned the AR a couple of jobs including varmit and predator control, and long range plinking. It is a blast to shoot, and if I miss, I know it is because of my error.

The mini is relegated to home defense and short range plinking. I intend to put a holo-sight or red dot on it for a close range, quick handling and maneuverable machine. To me, the mini is much quicker to bring into action, lighter/easier to carry and at close range the inherent inaccuracy is not a problem. I don't much care if I never shoot the mini beyond 100 yards.

That said I still intend to work over the trigger, bedding and try to wring a little more accuracy out of the mini. Mostly just because I enjoy tinkering with my weapons to make them as good as I am able.

Don't see much tinkering in order for the AR except for some load development...the gun itself is already there!

Silvertp

His lordship. · « **Reply #3 on:** July 23, 2010, 09:36:57 AM »

I have one of the new heavy barreled Mini-14 tactical rifles, it is very accurate, and I mostly use it for 50-100 yard open sited shooting, I might add a scope, but it gets good groups. It has very few moving parts, reminds me of my old AK-47 in simplicity. I had planned to buy an A-4/AR-15, hated the way it felt and bought the Mini as it is shaped like a normal rifle.

hunt-m-up · « **Reply #4 on:** July 23, 2010, 03:48:17 PM »

I have a newer one in 6.8 SPC, it has a tapered barrel, the older ones were not. It shoots 2" at 100 yds. I like the light weight and way it handles. Having said that, Ruger has gotten a little carried away on their prices. I wouldn't buy one if I couldn't get a good deal or find a good used/newer model. 6.8 ammo runs $18-25 a box if you don't reload and I intend to use mine for deer and coyote.

S.S. · « **Reply #5 on:** July 23, 2010, 06:51:32 PM »

I have had one for 15+ years.
True it is not quite as accurate as an AR
but it goes BANG every time the trigger is
depressed. can't say that for the AR. If you get
one, don' t fall for all the "You gotta' change this part"
hype. It is reliable as is.

mechanic · « **Reply #6 on:** July 24, 2010, 04:29:00 AM »

I just set one up and boresighted it for a friend of mine. I loaded a 30 round mag and fired two rounds to see if I was on the paper. At 50 yds. I fast fired the remainder of the clip, then checked the target. I had a ten inch group firing as fast as I could off hand. Thats a dang good self defense rifle. Is it a tack driver...nope....can't have it all or we would only buy one gun in a lifetime and what fun would that be?

Swampman · « **Reply #7 on:** July 24, 2010, 04:41:14 AM »

Not accurate enough to be interesting.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #8 on:** July 29, 2010, 04:22:22 PM »

I agree, when they took the M1 Garands out of our Barracks gun lockers on my old job (a sad day) they were replaced with SS mini 14's in .223. They were light but inaccurate. No one was sad when they left our gun lockers. Not accurate enough for me to spend any money on. I was lucky enough to later be issued a Garand to carry and use PRN but turned it in upon retirement. For now I'll hang onto my A1's and A2's thank you....<><....

S.S. · « **Reply #9 on:** July 30, 2010, 05:52:18 PM »

Quote from: Swampman on July 24, 2010, 04:41:14 AM

Not accurate enough to be interesting.

Some of the most interesting guns to me are Smoothbore...
Not quite as accurate but pack a heck of a whollop..
I will take reliability over tack driving accuracy any day.
Mini-14 is reliable and I trust it. I would take one into
a fight a whole lot faster than any AR that has ever been produced.
Too many bad experiences with the AR. Its fine for hunting but
most things we hunt are not shooting back. My weapon of choice though
is the .30 cal. M1 Carbine. Super fast handling and is far more lethal
than it is given credit for.

DC · « **Reply #10 on:** September 18, 2010, 09:37:37 AM »

I bought a Mini 14 Target with the laminated, thumb hole stock. I mounted a Weaver Grand Slam Varmit 6-18 on it and after I fiddled with the barrel dampener that it comes with I was easily 1" or less. My eyes are not real good and I wear glasses so of course I didn't shoot that all the time. With good ammo, (not Russian crap), it is a very accurate rifle and all the review echo that as well. While I haven't spoken to many Target model shooters the few that I have spoken with are shooting groups as good as any AR shooter that has a standard barrel.
I have owned a couple of AR's both of which were not nearly as reliable as the Mini. Not to mention that they were a lot of work. The Mini can be fed almost anything and it will still work. If you are not interested in hanging lights, sirens, wierd grips, lazers, fog horns etc. on a rifle, I would buy the Mini 14 Target over an AR every day of the week.

DC · « **Reply #11 on:** October 04, 2010, 06:36:49 AM »

This is an update on my last post.
I bought a Mini Target and the laminated stock which I changed out for a Hogue overrmolded stock. I put a Weaver 6-20x40 Grand Slam on it and took it out yesterday. Mind you I took 20 rounds of Wolf steel case 55 Gr JHP's just to get the feel of the rifle and how the different stock felt.. The barrel dampener was set about 1/2 behind the muzzel. I put up a plastic cat litter container at 60 yards.

I shot a couple of fouling rounds and another 4 very quickly to see how well it performed rapid fire. It funtioned flawlessly. I ramped the scope up to 14 just to see if I had hit the litter container. I had the scope bore sighted so I really wasn't expecting to be near the container. Low and behold, I saw a couple of holes toward the top. I fiddled with the scope and fired 5, moved the point of impact to the right again. The first five were in a very tight string, all holes touching, as were the rounds in the second string. I am a very happy camper!

Yes, I know it is only 60 yards but it was with wolf ammo and I was shooting at an imaginary bulls eye on the side of the plastic. I guess I will have to eat my words about Russian crap ammo.

Oh yea the whole point...I like the Hogue stock MUCH better.

Stuart C. · « **Reply #12 on:** October 04, 2010, 03:52:34 PM »

Encouraging. Think I might start saving for one.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #13 on:** October 04, 2010, 04:49:19 PM »

I bought a mini 14 in the early seventies. It shoots minute of man. No i prolly wouldn't buy one now , mostly because they are too expensive for what they do. but back then it was my "AR" and still holds a spot in my pickup truck behind the seat. The NEW AR is in the safe waitn for the The s to htf.

Mikey · « **Reply #14 on:** October 05, 2010, 03:39:04 AM »

I have a older stainless Mini from the late 70s/early 80s and while handy and fun to shoot it is not as accurate as the AR however, that being said, the mini can be made to shoot more accurately and for not much $. Mine went from 4" (consistent) at 100 yds to 2-2.5" at 100 yds with just a flash hider (pinned behind the front sight) and good ammo (Black Hills) but then I added a UTG barrel Tri Mount and it brought the groups down to about 1-1.5" at 100 yds and I was happy - that gets me to Coyote range, and larger, at 300m. I be happy.

scotsman · « **Reply #15 on:** October 14, 2010, 06:42:22 AM »

I had an entry level DPMS it was a fine rifle and very accurate but really I never used it. So back when the "craze" was full swing I sold it. My son has a newer mini 14 and I borrowed it for a while and really liked it. It's quick handling and accurate enough for a truck gun on the farm. I finally bought one new after looking for a used one for quite a while. I am very pleased with mine. It has only been to the range once when aligning the sights but I was able to get it to shoot about two and a half inches at 100 yards. That is perfectly good enough for the way I use it.

flaflash · « **Reply #16 on:** October 14, 2010, 11:42:41 AM »

i love my mini's (14 and 30)because fla says you can't have a semi auto with a clip more than 5 rnds for hunting i use them for deer and varmints.i reccommend the accuracy system adjustable gas block for mini's --it let me dial back the recoil to the point where i feel like i can rapid fire ( if needed) and have a better group.heck i dialed back to sigle shot. any way i get good value out of mine

JWP58 · « **Reply #17 on:** October 15, 2010, 06:34:34 AM »

They dont fit in anywhere for me. The AR platform does everything better, for not much more (if any). Mags are cheaper and actually function properly (for AR's).

If you go with a quality AR, the mini-14 really has nothing to offer. Mini 30 maybe, but only in 7.62 (6.8 has the old chamber). AR's are so modular, you can change and modify it to be what you want. If you buy a mini14, you basically get what you get.

More rugged than an AR...lol...ya ok. Do some more research, i'd suggest m4carbine.net

flaflash · « **Reply #18 on:** October 15, 2010, 01:09:21 PM »

ar folks--- you're probably right--but consider the following
1.I bought my mini 30 for about $400---look on gun broker ar10's $1000+
2.i won't EVER say you shouldn't be allowed to purchase the gun of your choice--BUT-having an AR type gun just sends the anti gun nuts into ORBIT--it gives them fuel for their fire--because why? lots of gun people don't see the AR family in the same light as AR owners.they wonder what place the AR type weapon has in hunting--lets be honest --hunting is still the one of the top 2 legal uses for firearms in america--the other use -home defense--in home defense do you really need a 40 round clip weapon with a range of 300 yards? i can't see this as being a valid reason,BUT thats just my opinion --even here in FL where we have the "do not retreat law"does an Ar seem to better suited to home defense than say a glock ?now please don't rant and rave at me--if you want a AR i won't EVER try to stop you or support any law/regulation on restricting you--but YOU can't keep me from asking the question
3.does the fact that you can add all kind of doodads to your AR really make it that attractive?yeah i guess it could be cool but again it seems to really get the gun nuts more fired up-- and then they send out their slanted messages that non-aligned folks hear and believe because it makes sense to these folks who don't have that a strong feeling one way or another
ok i've stuck my neck out enough--lets see how fast it gets cut off

Oldshooter · « **Reply #19 on:** October 15, 2010, 06:01:43 PM »

aint gonna cut off your head! I love my lil mini. I also like my AR's in 223 and 308. Now if I could get a mini in 308 with accuracy I'd ~~toss~~ sell my AR's. got room for all of em though........... to each his own!

equinoxbuilders · « **Reply #20 on:** October 16, 2010, 12:51:57 PM »

Quote from: Oldshooter on October 15, 2010, 06:01:43 PM

aint gonna cut off your head! I love my lil mini. I also like my AR's in 223 and 308. Now if I could get a mini in 308 with accuracy I ~~toss~~ sell my AR's. got rrom for all of em though to each his own!

accurate Mini in 308? Yah, it's called a SOCOM II .

454Puma · « **Reply #21 on:** October 29, 2010, 08:38:50 AM »

I love to hear from SS and the other as to what made there AR's not fuction? I've never own a Mini just shot a few! Nice guns (I like Rugers own many) They make a great plinker/Short range SD weapon thats it!
I 'll stay with my AR's thank you!

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #22 on:** October 29, 2010, 09:01:01 AM »

I have owned several. Along with mini-30's. I like the platform . In the end i ended up with an AR. The Ruger is not a tack driver . It works best with Ruger mags. The gun is heavy for the round it shoots , but alot of guns are. There are few ways to improve the Mini-14 as far as accy. 4 inches is norm at 100 yards . I had one that with the ammo it liked 1.5-2 inches but not with most ammo. There are struts etc. to help with this aval. What is it good for - well they seldom jam with Ruger mags and American ammo. They are ok for hunting if range is not so long. Fun to shoot at range if group size is not main concern. Easy to maintain . Parts come from Ruger. The mini 30 is good on deer but only reliable with Ruger mags.
Now this is not being mean or intended to be. Like I said I have had several along with mini 30's and in the end have an AR-15 that I built from parts. The AR as much as I hate saying it will out shoot the Ruger every time. Partd come from many producers in the USA and are easy to get. You can have several cal. or configerations to fit one lower . Never broke a spring but would bet it would be easier to get for the AR. Mine has no blue plastic plug

so not sure what that is but if there is one you can be sure there will be a hundred at the next gun show or aval. in any gun magazine. As you might can tell I went to the AR kicking and screaming after spending alot of money on Rugers. I would suggest if you get a Ruger and are pleased then enjoy if not don't waste anymore cash one it.

DC · « **Reply #23 on:** November 19, 2010, 12:54:07 PM »

Some how, I fail to see why the rifle is blamed for not functioning with cheap after market magazines which are likely not made to
Ruger specs. I looked at a couple in a local gun store and you could see that they were different.
Interestingly enough I bought a used 20 round mag and one made by Bushmaster for the Ruger Mini 14 and it has worked perfectly.

In a fight, I will still go with the Mini anyday. Having said that, the new piston AR's are very tempting as they don't have the fouling,
failure to feed and fire problems that I experienced with owning both Bushmaster and Olympic Ar's. On the other hand, getting out of the store for under $1,500 is not happening.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #24 on:** November 23, 2010, 08:18:48 AM »

With the mini 30 there are no good after market hi-cap mags. With the mini 14 Ruger mags are expensive.
I see many AR's for under 1000 some as low as 7-800 . When you compare even the fixed stock AR to the mini 14 its a bargin. I have had both and like the mini action best also but in reality an AR can be made to shoot small groups a Mini reall can't do as well. I have tried !
If you want to hunt ground hogs at over 100 yards go with an AR .

Singleshotsam · « **Reply #25 on:** January 15, 2011, 10:18:48 AM »

Funny observation. I've owned a mini 14 and 2 ar15's.

The Mini 14 jammed about every 4th shot from the factory.

Both AR's never had any problem with feeding any ammo. AR's get my vote every time. Not a ruger fan at all.

S.S. · « **Reply #26 on:** January 15, 2011, 02:14:45 PM »

Quote from: 454Puma on October 29, 2010, 08:38:50 AM

I love to hear from SS and the other as to what made there AR's not fuction? I've never own a Mini just shot a few! Nice guns (I like Rugers own many) They make a great plinker/Short range SD weapon thats it!
I 'll stay with my AR's thank you!

What Made it not fire? Hell, what didn't make it not fire.
We called them "Goldilocks Guns" cause everything had to
be "Just Right" for them to work!
I'm talking in a fight in its military guise, not on a shooting bench or in a treestand.
Fine desert sand is a killer on them. Extreme heat (don't know about the
cold, I never got that lucky) too much Lube,
too little lube. It also has a tendency to jam severely with less
than pristine ammo. (rips off the casehead) A completely full magazine
causes feed failures. Never use the butt as a weapon either.
As a sporting arm, most of these complaints would be mute as most
of the things being shot cannot shoot back. They are good paper punchers
and normally are plenty accurate. I just would never trust my life to one.
The AC-556 was a far more reliable weapon but we just couldn't get enough of them
without too many questions being asked. I settled on just carrying my Ingram.

mechanic · « **Reply #27 on:** January 15, 2011, 04:05:25 PM »

Funny thing, I've never seen a Mini with a bullet seater on the side.........wonder why?

Swampman · « **Reply #28 on:** January 16, 2011, 02:15:06 AM »

Because it isn't a military rifle.

Singleshotsam · « **Reply #29 on:** January 16, 2011, 05:37:50 AM »

Quote

Funny thing, I've never seen a Mini with a bullet seater on the side.........wonder why?

It's called a "forward assist". It works in the same theory that if a grarand style action gets caught you can slap the charge handle forward and make it chamber the round. That's a very uneducated observation.

The AR got it's stigma when it was issued during Vietnam. The Government (because they are smarter than the designer) decided that they would try to get 500 yards out of the round so they changed the type of powder from the type that Stoner designed the round for, to a corrosive milsurp powder. The other problem that occured was that the military "claimed" that the AR15(M16) never needed cleaning. Well a lot of soldiers died, not because the M16 was a bad gun, but because the DoD were idiots and told them never to maintain their rifles. The DoD tried to save money, so they didn't acknowledge that the bbls and chambers needed to be chrome lined to keep the shells from sticking to the chamber and to prevent corrosion. (you can write Mr. MacNamara a letter thanking him for being a douchebag and not listening to those who knew what they were talking about.)

Once the AR15 got a chrome lined chamber and bore, got cleaning kits issued w/ a comic book like manual on how to clean your battle rifle, and started using proper powder for which it was designed it begain to excell as a battle rifle. There's a reason it's been in issue so long.

As far as the Mini 14 vs. AR15 goes...

Wieght... AR15 wins The Carbine style varients wieght about 5 lbs. The full size versions wiegh about the same as a Mini 14.

Reliabiltiy... The Mini 14 gets the nod here if you are the type of person that neglects his or her rifle. All mini 14 owners that I personally know leave theirs pretty neglected. "Oh, I can leave this in my truck and put 1000's of rounds through it and never have a jam." to which I say... "Yeah and you hit the target once every 20 rounds or so..." From a real life properly maintained aspect the AR15 will have the same reliablitiy as the mini 14... unless you get a mini 14 like I owned which was a POS out of the box. People who build AR's suggest lubricating the AR15 very liberally. To the point that it's slinging it everywhere when your shooting it. As far as I've heard my frineds who come back from the sandbox say, the Army suggests using very lube on the M16. I call BS. You don't run the engine of your car dry to make it more reliable in sandy conditions. Lube the hell out of it and let it rip.

Accuracy - AR15 all the way... hands down. The cheap AR's that I've built all have held under 1". Others I've shot have consistantly shot 3\4" MOA consistatly. You cant get a mini to shoot that accurately point blank. What about the Target Mini? you ask... If you want to spend 900.00 on a rifle that barely gets 1moa go for it. I'll buy a $600.00 AR that will out shoot it.

Magazines- Unless you going to pay 50.00 for a factory 20 round mini 14 mag your SOL. AR 15's have extremely reliable magazines for 15.00 and milspec mags for less than 10.00

Aftermarket parts - Well AR15 wins here as well. They are the LEGO's of firearms.

So if you want to be a tool and throw away your hard earned money to Ruger have at it... But you gotta remember also that Ruger threw the gun community under the bus at one time saying that "No honest man needs more than 10 rounds at a time."

If you want the best deal for your money get an AR15.

If you want reliablity get an AK.