I'm thinking of trading in my Beretta Cx4 9mm carbine for a proper rifle-caliber carbine.
The dealer has one tricked-out Mini-14 with ATI stock. It comes with:
-collapsable folding stock
-picatini rails
-20-rd. factory magazine
-rings
-Sig red-dot
-lamp/laser sight
-aperture rear sight.
-rubber pistol grip
-heavy 16" barrel http://www.ruger-firearms.com/produc...ock/index.html
Just to be clear, this is the NEW Mini-14 with a heavy barrel and NOT the traditional model with a barrel made out of an old AM car radio antenna. Accuracy should not be a problem. Loaded, the gun is $1100.
On the other hand I could get the carbine-length AR15. With the removeable top sight, medium barrel and collapsable stock and otherwise free of accessories, it is about a $1000.
Just to be clear, I am talking about the regular AR15 gas-operated system and NOT the new piston-driven models.
So, here's my analysis:
AR15 pros:
1. great commonality of parts, already have a bunch of mags..
2. can convert to .22LR (already have a converter) for winter, pistol range use.
3. accurate
4. light in weight
5. light recoil
cons:
1. requires frequent and intensive cleaning
2. doesn't take much for a malfunction
3. receiver is aluminum-not so durable
4. mags. are aluminum
5. will need to spend more for other up-grades
MINI14 pros:
1. reliable and indestructable
2. action, receiver are steel
3. loaded out of the box
4. accurate
5. no soot in the receiver as action is piston-driven
6. steel, durable magazines
cons:
1. high-cap mags don't exactly grow on trees. (Midway shows factory 20 and 30 mags in stock)
2. cannot be converted to .22LR
3. heavier than carbine AR15.
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Last edited by Deep13; 11-12-2009 at 05:51 PM.
Reason: spelling
The AR has a lot of inter-changeable parts and upgrades available, as well as better accuracy, I don't know how accurate that Mini 14 is even with a heavy barrel.
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Last edited by Tack Driver; 11-13-2009 at 10:13 PM.
Reason: grammar
The AR has a lot of inter-changeable parts and upgrades available, as well better accuracy, I don't know how accurate that Mini 14 is even with a heavy barrel.
I couldn't agree more!!
And, just to add to the AR side of things, you could build a great AR15 for $300 less, and save that money for ammo or more upgrades..
Just my opinion, and I love giving that. The AR 15 would be better. You can get parts about anywhere. You can modify it to almost anything else. You can make it different calibers, uppers, tactical to sniping to whatever. You have a great deal of options with just one lower receiver. Aluminum? Does the military have issues with that? No. Gas piston over gas tube? Just keep it clean. Unless the zombie hoards start showing up, you are not going to go into combat with it. The only limit is your wallet. You can get simple tools and books and do major modifications yourself.
The Mini 14 is a simple, robust little gun. Cienier does make a .22 conversion for it. Limited options as far as stocks, caliber goes. If you break the firing pin, it HAS to go back to Ruger. They won't even send you one. Ruger backs up it's product, but I like being able to do it myself. I would go with an AR. Even if the accuracy is the same, you do can so much more with an AR.
Had both issued to me at some point, and went through training with both. AR. It's super easy to break down (though the mini ain't hard), and I haven't found that it needs the frequent robust cleaning that a lot of folks claim it does. And I'd way rather have the AR's telescoping stock than the mini's folder.
We issued the stainless mini w folding stock and eventually a lot of our guys purchased their own full length stock. They're not doing that with the AR telescoping.
The AR, my Bushy Carbine has never jammed. I clean it after every use, and I keep the dust cover closed. You just pop the top and work on it like a Chevy. Lots of add ons.
With a 3x9x42 Scope on it, and with SS 109 or hand loads it is the most accurate rifle I have.
Whoa! I have to be honest, but that really changes the equation for me. The ability to shoot it indoors in the winter was what was making me lean toward the AR. I've always liked the basic concept of the Mini14, but its inaccuracy with sustained use is legendary. The new heavy barrel from the receiver and tapering to the muzzle fixes its most significant drawback.
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Have you given any thought to trading the CX4 for a Hi-Point Model 995 and just dropping it into the aftermarket ATI stock that makes it look like a Beretta Storm but still perform reliably because it's a Model 995?
Have you given any thought to trading the CX4 for a Hi-Point Model 995 and just dropping it into the aftermarket ATI stock that makes it look like a Beretta Storm but still perform reliably because it's a Model 995?
But I already have a Beretta Storm.
I've never found it to be unreliable or inaccurate. The only shortcoming it really has is its 9mm chambering. Well that and the blow-back operation which makes the receiver dirty.
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As of now, almost half of you think I should not be screwing around with 5.56mm at all. Understanding that I am looking at carbines and not full size rifles, what would the .30 caliber fans recommend?
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That which can be asserted without evidence may be dismissed without evidence.
I'm thinking of trading in my Beretta Cx4 9mm carbine for a proper rifle-caliber carbine.
First of all, this is blashphemy!!!
But that is beside the point. I feel the Mini should be left in it's natural stock form, too many mods and you are just throwing money at it. If you really want accuracy, I think the AR platform is far more developed.
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I'm thinking of trading in my Beretta Cx4 9mm carbine for a proper rifle-caliber carbine.
The dealer has one tricked-out Mini-14 with ATI stock. It comes with:
-collapsable folding stock
-picatini rails
-20-rd. factory magazine
-rings
-Sig red-dot
-lamp/laser sight
-aperture rear sight.
-rubber pistol grip
-heavy 16" barrel Ruger® Mini-14® Rifle with ATI Stock Autoloading Rifle
Just to be clear, this is the NEW Mini-14 with a heavy barrel and NOT the traditional model with a barrel made out of an old AM car radio antenna. Accuracy should not be a problem. Loaded, the gun is $1100.
On the other hand I could get the carbine-length AR15. With the removeable top sight, medium barrel and collapsable stock and otherwise free of accessories, it is about a $1000.
Just to be clear, I am talking about the regular AR15 gas-operated system and NOT the new piston-driven models.
So, here's my analysis:
AR15 pros:
1. great commonality of parts, already have a bunch of mags..
2. can convert to .22LR (already have a converter) for winter, pistol range use.
3. accurate
4. light in weight
5. light recoil
cons:
1. requires frequent and intensive cleaning
2. doesn't take much for a malfunction
3. receiver is aluminum-not so durable
4. mags. are aluminum
5. will need to spend more for other up-grades
MINI14 pros:
1. reliable and indestructable
2. action, receiver are steel
3. loaded out of the box
4. accurate
5. no soot in the receiver as action is piston-driven
6. steel, durable magazines
cons:
1. high-cap mags don't exactly grow on trees. (Midway shows factory 20 and 30 mags in stock)
2. cannot be converted to .22LR
3. heavier than carbine AR15.
Doesn't the mini 14 take AR magazines??? I think I saw that some where
__________________ If guns cause crime, all of mine are defective. -Ted Nugent
Doesn't the mini 14 take AR magazines??? I think I saw that some where
No, it takes proprietary Ruger magazines. The downside, of course, is that they are not anywhere near as available as AR15/M16 magazines. On the positive side, Ruger mags. are steel, durable and absolutely reliable. The aluminum AR units are not intended to be especially durable and constitute a weak link in the AR system. They damage easily. In fact, I read somewhere that M16 mags were originally intended to be disposable. Soldiers would get crates of loaded magazines, shoot them and chuck them.
In a crisis situtation, there would be a lot more AR mags around than Ruger mags. and it would be easier to replace them. That is unless high-capacity magazines even became illegal in which case we would have to make due with what he had on hand. In that situtation, durability becomes more important than availability.
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That which can be asserted without evidence may be dismissed without evidence.
But that is beside the point. I feel the Mini should be left in it's natural stock form, too many mods and you are just throwing money at it. If you really want accuracy, I think the AR platform is far more developed.
As noted in my OP, the Mini 14 comes from the factory with the ATI stock. The price noted is for a LOADED model with ATI folding/telescoping stock, factory heavy barrel, 20-rd. mag., Sig red dot and lamp/laser. The AR comes with a telescoping stock but is otherwise stripped.
__________________
That which can be asserted without evidence may be dismissed without evidence.
The AR is a more versatile gun and easily worked on. The Mini 14 is not. You know the AR is that, but the Mini 14 is drawing you....get the one you really want, its your money. Just be happy with it.
