Gun Question: Ruger mini 14

[Tballetta]

I am considering a mini 14 for purchase. I like the size with a folding stock for back pack carry. Is there a better choice in this size range.

 

[InsuranceGuy]

That all depends on what exactly you want to do with the rifle.

There are lots of questions to be answered.
What distances do you expect to shoot? What kind of terminal ballistics are you interested in getting? Would a pistol caliber carbine work better for you?
Stuff like that.
There are some excellent bullpup style rifles that are compact and pack a punch such as the Bushmaster M17S and the new FN FS2000.
A collapsible stock AR is always a good choice.
The Ruger mini-14 has raving fans and detractors.

 

[kozak6]

The Mini-14's aren't terribly accurate when compared to the AR-15.

Most people feel that they are more reliable, though.

 

[mete]

Ruger has changed design making the newer ones more accurate. The AR system can be had in a real cartridge - 458 SOCOM !!

 

[JCaswell]

I had a Mini 14 for a short while. It's a fine carbine as long as it's not used up or badly fiddled with.

I've had folding stocks on rifles and shotguns, and don't anymore. Folding stocks are usually too short or otherwise not best for accurate/comfortable shooting. To me that little extra material is worth any relative inconvenience.

I had a real Colt AR15 carbine (not a CAR) as well, before it got banned in CA and I had to get rid of it. It was a surprisingly accurate carbine.

I don't buy guns so much anymore. It's too heartbreaking when you have to get rid of them/turn them in. I know there hasn't been much of that the last few years, but people unfriendly to guns will have sway again some time, and when that happens I think we'll hear a lot about how we need to get rid of guns to keep terrorists from shooting us with them. Seems inevitable to me, so I'd probably choose a bolt action. At least you might get to keep it a little longer.

 

[SIFU1A]

mini 14s are ok, kinda hard to find good mags for them, and expensive when ya do find them, one with a ruger factory folding stock would be in the $700+ range which imho is a lotta $$ for a mini14, ya could put one of the replacement stocks on but they are bulkier than the ruger and also heavier, and just dont work as well imho.

if i wanted a folding stock rifle like that i would get a std AK47 or AK74 and put a romanian side folder stock on it, if ya get a romanian AK most have a side rail for optics built in, the rifle would be ~$400, stock ~$70, imho in either 5.45X39 or 7.62X39 a lot better than any mini14, more reliable and cheaper too, and at LEAST as accurate, get a B-square and a aimpoint or a combloc surplus kobra sight (~$150) and it just gets better.

a M4 version of a AR15 would also work but its a lot longer even with the stock collapsed vs a side folding AKM or mini.

i have a romanian AK74 w/a east german side folder, B-square mount w/a old aimpoint & if i was gonna be on horseback/etc thats the rifle i would take over my M4, mini, etc.

i am just not crazy about mini's though i do have one, i like AKMs and AR15s a lot, lot, lot better FWIW, also imho ruger minis are priced too high back in the early 80's i got mine for ~$200 which imho is about what they are worth.

 

[James Green Dragon]

I like .30cal bullets - I'd go with an M1A1 personally. If you want a carbine get a real one, an M1 carbine. They are making them again :thumbup:

As for the 'don't get one because the nanny state will take it away from you' attitude - all I have to say about that attitude can be summed up as follows: :jerkit: :barf:

 

[JCaswell]

As for the 'don't get one because the nanny state will take it away from you' attitude - all I have to say about that attitude can be summed up as follows: :jerkit: :barf:

When you've had some guns you really liked wrenched from your hands you do two things:
You take note of who's doing it (and vote accordingly--NEVER FORGET) and you don't take for granted that it won't happen again or can't happen here.
Selecting a gun that isn't so conspicuous becomes a real consideration if you hope to keep it around for a while. Sorry, it's just a fact around here.

A nice M1 Carbine is a great little gun, dont know why I didn't think of it earlier.

 

[moonwilson]

I would get a Kel-Tec Su-16 before I got a Mini 14. A big problem with the Mini-14 is that they are so damned heavy. My dad has one with a folding stock like you describe and I really don't like it. It's not very accurate at all, and weighs a ton. If you carried one in a backpack, you would certainly know it was there. The Kel-Tec folding rifles are very light and handy, and chamber the .223 as well. A Beretta Storm is another nice, handy gun, if you don't mind the pistol caliber.

 

[Sid Post]

I am considering a mini 14 for purchase. I like the size with a folding stock for back pack carry. Is there a better choice in this size range.

The one big issue I have with the Mini-14 is the action noise. The one I fired was hard on my ears with hearing protection on. That high pitched whistle from the gas action noise was OBNOXIOUS.

Personally, in this category I will take a stamped receiver folding stock Ak-47 clone. I really like the side folding Krinkov stock. For most people and most uses I think the 7.62x39 cartridge is better then the .223. Keep in mind I'm talking about civilian shooting, not military or specialized civilian shooting.

 

[James Green Dragon]

JC your attitude is actually pretty pragmatic about it. But I would rather move than submit to that.

But tell me, what exactly do you mean by "wrenched from your hands"?

...And the M1 carbine is superior to just about anything chambered for a pistol cartridge. There are some exceptions to that but not many.

 

[JCaswell]

For most people and most uses I think the 7.62x39 cartridge is better then the .223.

The 7.62x39 is a very versitile round. Big enough to deer if need be, but not so big as a .308 or 30-06 which usually makes for a pretty heavy rifle.

I had a stamped Norinco MAK90 (AK clone) given to me by my wife as a wedding present back in '93. She gave it to me in her wedding dress in front of our guests. (some shocked and horrified, but most thoroughly delighted). It was a great moment.
Anyway, it was a very good-shooting gun. Very accurate. I actually prefer the sighting arrangement (further from the eye) to that of a standard AR grip rail which is kind of in your face and introduces parallax issues.

Still, it's a lot of gun to be lugging around if you want it for backpacking.
A paratrooper-version M1 Carbine is very handy, if you can find/afford one. Collapses down small and light. Cool historical quality too.

 

[JCaswell]

JC your attitude is actually pretty pragmatic about it. But I would rather move than submit to that.

But tell me, what exactly do you mean by "wrenched from your hands"?

I have friends that moved, or have houses in other states that they moved their guns to. In the '90s, you'll remember, there was a flood of federal gun control sailing through, so moving seemed like a lot of trouble to buy a little time.

"Wrenched from my hand" is what I call it when they get you to register you gun(s) by threatening you with a felony, then decide months later that you need to turn 'em in after all. This happened, for instance to owners of SKSs with detachable magazines.
It's a felony to have the unregistered gun, then it's a felony to have the registered gun. This happened. They know you have it, so you're screwed. (To me, having to hide it and never take it out is roughly the same as loosing it altogether).
Some so-called assault rifle models were registered and they haven't yet required them to be turned in or removed from the state yet, though there's precident for that happening. Still registrations were one-time-only and are non-transferrable, so they know where the guns are and will get 'em in the end, unless sold out of state before you die.

Incidentally, you can't shoot your registered "assault weapon" except in specified, approved locations, you have to keep your papers with the gun at all times and they will be checked ... believe me. Also, I believe it's a felony to hand it off to somone else to shoot. It has to be transorted in a locked container outside the passenger compartment of your vehicle (trunk) , separtated from the ammunition, I could go on.

 

[ahgar]

mini 14s are ok, kinda hard to find good mags for them, and expensive when ya do find them, one with a ruger factory folding stock would be in the $700+ range which imho is a lotta $$ for a mini14, ya could put one of the replacement stocks on but they are bulkier than the ruger and also heavier, and just dont work as well imho.

if i wanted a folding stock rifle like that i would get a std AK47 or AK74 and put a romanian side folder stock on it, if ya get a romanian AK most have a side rail for optics built in, the rifle would be ~$400, stock ~$70, imho in either 5.45X39 or 7.62X39 a lot better than any mini14, more reliable and cheaper too, and at LEAST as accurate, get a B-square and a aimpoint or a combloc surplus kobra sight (~$150) and it just gets better.

a M4 version of a AR15 would also work but its a lot longer even with the stock collapsed vs a side folding AKM or mini.

i have a romanian AK74 w/a east german side folder, B-square mount w/a old aimpoint & if i was gonna be on horseback/etc thats the rifle i would take over my M4, mini, etc.

i am just not crazy about mini's though i do have one, i like AKMs and AR15s a lot, lot, lot better FWIW, also imho ruger minis are priced too high back in the early 80's i got mine for ~$200 which imho is about what they are worth.

can't say it any better than that, ahgar

 

[JCaswell]

Don't mean to hijack the thread, but since I was asked ...

I was at a gunshop this week when some poor schlub came in to get an estimate on a gun had had for a while. It was one of those semi-auto Mauser-like pistols in .22. "That's a felony!" They said. They confiscated the gun and called the police. "Don't worry," they said, "You probably won't be charged." How sweet.

That's another reason I tend to avoid the high-profile stuff. Laws change, interpretations of the laws change and guns are added to lists. If you aren't paying attention, you could get in trouble.

 

[James Green Dragon]

That is truly sad.

All I can say is 'screw that'. That is in fact trading your Liberty for some sheep's percieved security. That is not something I can abide.

Luckily I'm not a minority in that here in the South :thumbup:

 

[moonwilson]

I was at a gunshop this week when some poor schlub came in to get an estimate on a gun had had for a while. It was one of those semi-auto Mauser-like pistols in .22. "That's a felony!" They said. They confiscated the gun and called the police. "Don't worry," they said, "You probably won't be charged." How sweet.
QUOTE]

Having a .22 semi auto is a felony in California? How is that? That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Why was it a felony? Did he have the barrel skewered through the head of a bald eagle at the time?

 

[JCaswell]

Having a .22 semi auto is a felony in California? How is that? That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Why was it a felony? Did he have the barrel skewered through the head of a bald eagle at the time?

You can have a .22 semi-auto such as a 10/22, or an semi-auto pistol, but this was a pistol that had the clip in front of/outside the grip, which is specifically prohibited.
I'm not sure, but I think it's supposed to apply to center-fire versions only, but they took his gun anyway.
It's wierd to see a bunch of grown men peeking down at probably the least lethal weapon in the shop as though it was some sort of giant black widow.

It's nice to know there are bastions of relative sanity out there. Don't take it for granted and watch who you vote for. It really does matter. The NRA is good at keeping track of the "bad guys" with pretty comprehensive rating system. It's really easy to just say, "I wouldn't stand for it," but when it happens there isn't much you can do but comply (or not comply and face jail--still you don't get to use your gun) and support gun-friendly candidates.

 

[Sid Post]

You wouldn't want civilians to own Olympic style 22 pistols would you? We already have too many gold medals from the Olympics in the USA anyway?

I guess its a good thing I don't shoot competition in California.

 

[uncle Alan]

I am considering a mini 14 for purchase. I like the size with a folding stock for back pack carry. Is there a better choice in this size range.

Mine weighs about as much as the GI m1 carbine but fits a long-armed gorilla very well. At 50 yards I can group about 2X3 rapid fire because of the balance.

My only complaint was a few misfires. I found a small burr on the firing pin,it was filed off & it loads and fires as well as any of my many weapons. I saw it in a rack at the Great wall-mart og china & it was heavily discounted.



Uncle [NRA] Alan