Looking at Mini 14's

[Unk]

Might consider a Savage bolt rifle w/AccuTrigger in .223 w/ a 3-9X scope to work on marksmanship skills...putting high dollar in a marginal Mini-14 or even a good AR won't get hitting what you shoot at..first time, every time any faster, IMHO.

I don't know what tactical means anymore but a centerfire rifle for home defense wouldn't be my first choice, YMMV.

 

[razorburn]

The word, from the folk at Ruger is that the new mini-14s are more accurate now because they have completely retooled their factory.I also just read that they now do not use several different factory fixtures in production and instead use only one throughout the manufacturing process to lessen tolerances.

[youtube]oKcgNCVxYo4[/youtube]

 

[rmc85]

The first thing I look for in a gun is reliability, when I pull the trigger will it go bang? The Mini-14, with factory mags is an extremely reliable rifle. In over a couple thousand rounds mine has misfed... one time, and that was due to a broken spring in my magazine. I have shot several AR's which included one DPMS, one Colt and one Bushmaster. All jammed at least once, but in their defense we were shooting a lot of rounds through them on each occasion, and they had gotten quite dirty. From my experiences AR's don't have the reliability I desire, and I prefer reliability over accuracy and aesthetics.

The accuracy of my stainless (3 years old now) model out of the box was around 3-4 moa at 100 yards, not very impressive. After several outings with it, and some disappointment, I decided to look into accurizing it. I settled on a company called Accuracy Systems, I contacted them and sent it in.

I settled on these options:
24" by 1" bull barrel machined down to .900" past the gas block
New, heavier gas block
2 lb. two stage trigger with no creep
Steel bedding
Flush mounted brake
Heavier spring for bolt

It was pricey and the gun is quite a bit heavier, but I got exactly what I wanted. A reliable semi-auto, that puts up 1/4" groups at 100 yards. And as an added bonus, I have noticed that it's a real head turner at the range. Carl at Accuracy Systems has cheaper alternatives that will get you down to around 1 1/2 MOA at 100 yards, and still keep you within or around your 1000.00 dollar budget. That's assuming that Mini 14's can still be had for less than 800.00.

I would love to see some pics of your Mini. I thought about sending mine to Accuracy Systems a while back but never did.

 

[GregS]

I would love to see some pics of your Mini. I thought about sending mine to Accuracy Systems a while back but never did.

I will take some tonight and email you the pictures. I may post them here, but I'm afraid my Mini14 may not be tacticool enough.

 

[rmc85]

Cool! thanks.

 

[Uncle Timbo]

My mini shoots so far that I've got to put some salt in the load to keep the meat from spoiling before I can get to it!!!

 

[rmc85]

I'd say Mini's are accurate enough...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4SVwSGPLOc

 

[GregS]

I would love to see some pics of your Mini. I thought about sending mine to Accuracy Systems a while back but never did.

Here you go...

Removable brake, flush mounted...

Picture illustrating the barrels transition from 1"-.900" as well as the heavier gas block.

1 of 3 steel bedding screws (located behind bolt)...

Hardware in front of trigger to take up creep...

This one is obvious... but I will add that this was at 100 yds., strapped into a vice to take out the human factor.

 

[otis williams]

Here you go...

that's the most beautiful mini i've ever seen.

 

[Alanp]

I've got a mini "tactical" it has the shorter (16.5) i think barrel with a flash hider, and a synthetic stock. I love the gun. In fact i haven't shot my ar hardly at all since i bought it. I think I payed $660 for it before tax.

I love my AR, but i also love my mini. They are different guns. While an AR can be had for around $800 nowadays they are probably the better choice with what your looking for. But i've got to be honest.....I'de let go of my AR before i would my Mini.

They now have "tapered" barrels which helped accuracy tremendously. 6MOA is now down between 1-2MOA. while they are more expensive, you can now purchase factory Mini 14 mags from ruger in 20 and 30rnd. I've found that promag's work pretty well in mine as well.



The only thing with mini's.....don't ever stand on the ejection side of someone shooting one....They throw brass two counties over.....Learned this whenever i shot mine for the first time.....It was mid winter and super cold so we stayed in the truck...I thought it was going to bust every window in my jeep.

This can be fixed though.

check out perfectunion.com they are all about the mini's over there.

 

[GregS]

that's the most beautiful mini i've ever seen.

Thank you sir.

 

[Wolf_1989]

I keep reading about people who say their AR's jam...don't you folks believe in lube and the occasional cleaning?...lol...I shoot 4 different AR platform guns and for the life of me I can't remember last time I had a malfunction. I am not a clean nut but I do try to clean every 500 rounds or so, and I do believe in keeping the gun lubed...and of course I use goos quality magazines. Even the AR I just built hasn't jammed once, unusual in a just put together semi-auto but it was an upper I had shot before. I would also add that I couldn't tell you which bolt was with each AR originally...they have all been in and out of all of the ARs so many times I know they have all been in all the rifles at some point and they still work flawlessly.

+1

My AR has performed flawlessly for thousands of rounds.

 

[Wildewinds]

I passed on the Mini 14 and got a Kel-Tec SU-16. They were more accurate out of the box than the Rugers when I bought it, but maybe that's different now. The SU-16 had a few interesting aspects to it. It has a built-in rail, a built-in bipod, a folding stock, and space in the stock for two magazines. They also use AR-15 compatible magazines. The built-in bipod looks gimmiky, but it works pretty well and it does come in handy at times. The folding stock makes it easy to take with me when I don't want to lug around a full sized rifle case. I've had it for a few years now, and I'm pleased with it. It's relatively accurate, around 1.5 MOA and it doesn't jam. I wish it looked a bit less plasticy, but it is what it is.

 

[fludunlimited]

I keep reading about people who say their AR's jam...don't you folks believe in lube and the occasional cleaning?...lol...QUOTE]

your supposed to clean them?
next you are going to say we should change the oil in our cars. lol

 

[SIFU1A]

i have a mini14 and while its ok i way prefer an AR or AK, the AR or AK is a better rifle imho, both my AK's will outshoot my mini FWIW, not to mention an AR, mags are hard to find/expensive when ya do(ruger finally decided to sell the 20's but they still arent cheap like an AR or AK mag), & its hard to install optics on a lot of 'em, i also think mini's are overpriced now for what ya get, i still have my reciept from '79 when i got mine ($199) and then they were 1/2 the price of AR's, now, at $700 or $800 i just dont think they are worth it, i know if i had to pick just one rifle it would not be my mini14 thats for damned sure.

 

[rmc85]

Here you go...

Removable brake, flush mounted...

Picture illustrating the barrels transition from 1"-.900" as well as the heavier gas block.

1 of 3 steel bedding screws (located behind bolt)...

Hardware in front of trigger to take up creep...

This one is obvious... but I will add that this was at 100 yds., strapped into a vice to take out the human factor.

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

I would love to shoot that! Your pics are better than the ones they have on their website.

Does it still fling the brass into the next state with the new gas block? are you going to put optics on it?

 

[GregS]

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

I would love to shoot that! Your pics are better than the ones they have on their website.

Does it still fling the brass into the next state with the new gas block? are you going to put optics on it?

I have a 6x24 Bushnell Elite 4200 for it, it's not currently mounted, but it was at one time. I need to get it put back on... And yes, it can still fling some brass, but that was never a concern for me, as its my gun... I won't be standing next to it very often. Accuracy Systems has bushings that address that problem (brass flinging), personally I like the bolt cycling hard, I know my shells will be properly ejected.

 

[steelscout30]

The word, from the folk at Ruger is that the new mini-14s are more accurate now because they have completely retooled their factory.I also just read that they now do not use several different factory fixtures in production and instead use only one throughout the manufacturing process to lessen tolerances.

Ruger has been doing a lot lately on the technological side that is extremely innovative.

The new SR-556 sport rifle, as featured in this month's Guns & Ammo magazine is an example of them taking their business to a new level in the firearms market.

The LCP is a very innovative, very small compact semiautomatic pistol. Loaded with .380 ACP Hornady Critical Defense, I found that it's very effective through clothing and on human like targets (old meat from the freezer and ballistic gelatin) and am confident carrying it on its own or as a backup.

Also, the LCR is an excellent piece. I purchased one, but didn't realize all the technical specialties about it. Ruger is using some very innovative processes to build it, and is using some unique polymers, titanium, and other aerospace grade materials in the production. It's not just a plastic POS revolver.

Ruger has gone from a traditional sporting arms manufacturer (think Single Six, 10/22, and the MKI/II/III) to being an innovator at the forefront of today's new technologies. The fact that they've retooled their Mini series assembly lines and are putting more effort into the quality of that line does not surprise me in the least.

 

[CWL]

I noticed that San Francisco is one of your "locations". If you plan on owning, or traveling with a magazine-fed long gun in CA, then the mini-14 will be one of the few options for you because of our gun ban.

You won't be able to buy or ship magazines with more than 10-rd capacity in CA either.

Forget about AR-15 style rifles, unless you are willing to build your own "off list" black rifle. The most common brands have all been banned from CA.

 

[quattrokid73]

For now, it would be remaining at home in PA.

It looks like my bro is going to get a synthetic Mini 14. I'll probably just use that when I'm home in the summers with him, then buy a pistol when I graduate college in 2 years.

This has been a useful thread. Thanks everyone.