Mini-14

F1609 · 04-16-2005, 10:10 AM

Is this the right forum for this? If not tell me but if it is, is this gun any good? or what other gun is a great gun for the same price?

PAPA G · 04-16-2005, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F1609

Is this the right forum for this? If not tell me but if it is, is this gun any good? or what other gun is a great gun for the same price?

should go under the Ruger forum.

but any way i have read mixed reviews on the Mini-14, some love them some hate them.

gunssb · 04-16-2005, 11:02 AM

I do not own a Mini but from what I've heard, to make it accurate you need to spend a lot of $ on accurizing it. If you want out of the box accuracy, I'd avoid the Mini. That Keltec plastic toy (su16) outshoots the mini out of the box. If you can in your state get something else. A lot of mini owners are CA (or other ban state) residents who don't have the choice and feel compelled to defend their purchase. Also depends on what you plan to do with it, but from what I've heard, it's certainly not going to shoot 1" groups out of the box if that is your thing.

Plus, many will tell you that since the mini was not selling as good, Ruger tried to make sure that by whispering into the politicians ears he would get everything else banned - well, it worked.

Big Dog · 04-16-2005, 02:20 PM

Some Mini14's can be okay shooters, and the reliability factor is good too. They are good serviceable guns. But it's a bit unfair to compare it to an AR-15 that may cost three times as much.
The Kel-Tec SU-16 seems to have a problem with barrel movement when hot.
I've shot both - my money would go to the Mini14.

Also, a lot of guys use the cheapest third-world surplus ammo they can find. Use the good stuff, and you may be surprised at the improvement in accuracy!
My only real gripe with the Ruger is they didn't make it to use the AR-15 magazines.

Rugged · 04-19-2005, 05:05 PM

I have 3 rugers and love them. As for accuracy, they're all more accurate than me. I use a mini-30 with a 4-9x44 and a harris bipod for just about everything from plinking (with 3rd world ammo) to deer and coyotes (with 15.00 per box remington soft points).

it's for sure better than a 2MOA rifle. reliability depends on the magazines you use.

with the 5 rd that ruger gives you it should never FTF.

As for being a Kalifornian, I am that, but I do have a colt CAR-15, 2 AKMs, and an m1 carbine. My accurized (to the tune of 1000.00) mini-30 is the most accurate, then the mini-14 stock (non ranch) then the CAR-15.

are you gonna shoot at 50 cent pieces at 100 yards or something bigger?

DANA · 04-19-2005, 06:46 PM

Got a mini 14 and a mini 30 and like them both

DANA

TULAver · 04-22-2005, 06:43 PM

Mini-14 used to be the family gun here, and I have no complaints about them, excpet that the newer ones seem less accurate on average than the odler ones, same problem I hear about with the Springfield M1a's.

For the money, think about an SKS, or an AK. The AK's are available in a wide variety of calibers and price ranges, oddly enough with some of the highest quality models(the Russian made Saiga sporter rifles) being some of the cheapest to buy.

I'd say that if you like the aesthetics of the Minis, then the Saiga rifles would be a good choice for you. And if you decide on a 7.62x39 rifle, think about the SKS. My Norinco shoots on par with Mini30s that I see at the range, and the Yugoslavian SKS's that are around for like 100 dollars and up are supposed to be the most accurate of the bunch.

Just some ideas. The Mini's are good rifles that are made in the USA, but saddly, it seems they've done little to refine the design over the years. If you DO go with the Ruger, I'd suggest looking for an older model, if you can find one in good shape.

FutureMarine · 04-27-2005, 12:08 PM

That thing shoots shells so far out of the gun it isnt even funny. I was at one end of the range and the guy was in the middle of it, and his shells were just smacking me in the face. They eject farther than any gun i have ever seen in my life. If you dont want to piss off people at the range, put something on your stall and it will keep the shells in

BattleRifleG3 · 04-27-2005, 04:37 PM

There was a shirt out there that had a picture of a 223 shell as though it was stuck inside the wearer and left a bleeding wound. The writing on it said "Gun owners against Mini-14 Brass".

Troy · 04-27-2005, 10:01 PM

i owned one, not very accurate, but and absolute blast to shoot. he,he.

04-16-2005, 10:10 AM	#1
F1609 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Medina, Ohio Posts: 201 Images: 7	Mini-14 Is this the right forum for this? If not tell me but if it is, is this gun any good? or what other gun is a great gun for the same price?

04-16-2005, 11:02 AM	#3
gunssb Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: socal Posts: 1,833	Accuracy I do not own a Mini but from what I've heard, to make it accurate you need to spend a lot of $ on accurizing it. If you want out of the box accuracy, I'd avoid the Mini. That Keltec plastic toy (su16) outshoots the mini out of the box. If you can in your state get something else. A lot of mini owners are CA (or other ban state) residents who don't have the choice and feel compelled to defend their purchase. Also depends on what you plan to do with it, but from what I've heard, it's certainly not going to shoot 1" groups out of the box if that is your thing. Plus, many will tell you that since the mini was not selling as good, Ruger tried to make sure that by whispering into the politicians ears he would get everything else banned - well, it worked. Last edited by gunssb; 04-16-2005 at 11:05 AM.

04-16-2005, 02:20 PM	#4
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 10,228	Some Mini14's can be okay shooters, and the reliability factor is good too. They are good serviceable guns. But it's a bit unfair to compare it to an AR-15 that may cost three times as much. The Kel-Tec SU-16 seems to have a problem with barrel movement when hot. I've shot both - my money would go to the Mini14. Also, a lot of guys use the cheapest third-world surplus ammo they can find. Use the good stuff, and you may be surprised at the improvement in accuracy! My only real gripe with the Ruger is they didn't make it to use the AR-15 magazines. __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.

04-19-2005, 05:05 PM	#5
Rugged Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: People's Republik of Kalifornia Posts: 392	I have 3 rugers and love them. As for accuracy, they're all more accurate than me. I use a mini-30 with a 4-9x44 and a harris bipod for just about everything from plinking (with 3rd world ammo) to deer and coyotes (with 15.00 per box remington soft points). it's for sure better than a 2MOA rifle. reliability depends on the magazines you use. with the 5 rd that ruger gives you it should never FTF. As for being a Kalifornian, I am that, but I do have a colt CAR-15, 2 AKMs, and an m1 carbine. My accurized (to the tune of 1000.00) mini-30 is the most accurate, then the mini-14 stock (non ranch) then the CAR-15. are you gonna shoot at 50 cent pieces at 100 yards or something bigger? __________________ http://www.thedrunken.net/images/mis...rderpatrol.jpg

04-22-2005, 06:43 PM	#7
TULAver Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Southeast Texas Posts: 372	Mini-14 used to be the family gun here, and I have no complaints about them, excpet that the newer ones seem less accurate on average than the odler ones, same problem I hear about with the Springfield M1a's. For the money, think about an SKS, or an AK. The AK's are available in a wide variety of calibers and price ranges, oddly enough with some of the highest quality models(the Russian made Saiga sporter rifles) being some of the cheapest to buy. I'd say that if you like the aesthetics of the Minis, then the Saiga rifles would be a good choice for you. And if you decide on a 7.62x39 rifle, think about the SKS. My Norinco shoots on par with Mini30s that I see at the range, and the Yugoslavian SKS's that are around for like 100 dollars and up are supposed to be the most accurate of the bunch. Just some ideas. The Mini's are good rifles that are made in the USA, but saddly, it seems they've done little to refine the design over the years. If you DO go with the Ruger, I'd suggest looking for an older model, if you can find one in good shape. __________________ It is known that there are an infinite number of worlds, simply because there is an infinite amount of space for them to be in. However, not every one of them is inhabited. Therefore, there must be a finite number of inhabited worlds. Any finite number divided by infinity is as near to nothing as makes no odds, so the average population of the Universe can be said to be zero. From this it follows that any people you meet from time to time are merely the product of a deranged imagination.

04-19-2005, 06:46 PM	#6
DANA Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: WAITSFIELD VERMONT Posts: 1,598	Got a mini 14 and a mini 30 and like them both DANA

04-27-2005, 12:08 PM	#8
FutureMarine Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: PRK Posts: 1,946	That thing shoots shells so far out of the gun it isnt even funny. I was at one end of the range and the guy was in the middle of it, and his shells were just smacking me in the face. They eject farther than any gun i have ever seen in my life. If you dont want to piss off people at the range, put something on your stall and it will keep the shells in

04-27-2005, 04:37 PM	#9
BattleRifleG3 Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Western PA Posts: 11,402 Images: 13	There was a shirt out there that had a picture of a 223 shell as though it was stuck inside the wearer and left a bleeding wound. The writing on it said "Gun owners against Mini-14 Brass". __________________ Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf

04-27-2005, 10:01 PM	#10
Troy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Manitoba Canada Posts: 2,505 Images: 3	i owned one, not very accurate, but and absolute blast to shoot. he,he.