Growth Potential in a Mini-14?

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ilikeoldguns

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So a while back, I invested in my first new gun; a ruger 10/22 from canadian tire and I have been very happy with it.

I am now looking at a Mini-14.

I have chosen this for several reasons; I want something in 5.56 because the ammo is cheap and shoots well and I want something I can "Work with" over time to make my own. I like the operating system and my 10/22 left a good impression.

But I'd like to be able to mod it more than I chose to mod my 10/22. I prefer the longer 18" barrel, but I want to get a bayonet lug. Magazines aren't too hard to find, are they? What about retro folding stocks? Can the A-Team-style under-folders still be found? Anyone making M1A1-Carbine side-folders?

Dunno about optics and foregrips.

I'm not a big AR-guy, so I'm interested in options that don't make it look like I just couldn't afford an AR-15 or wanted something as similar as possible that was non-restricted.

I'd be interested in any advice and pointers on things to watch out for in picking one out and modifying them over time. The trigger mech looks similar to my 10/22; my one regret with the 10/22 is that the bolt catch doesn't work as well as I'd like; does the one on the mini-14 work better?


Thanks for your time.
 
If you have any interest in accuracy keep looking at other options. No mini-14 has ever hit the side of a barn at 500yards. (sarcasim)
If it's a blaster, i don't think there is too much out there to really deeply modify it.

If your into modifying I would suggest an M14. it is marginally more expensive to operate. but you'll spend years learning on the platform.
Next would be a rem 700. It keeps costs down being a bolt action, but you can still turn it into anything you like.
 
Magazines - expensive
Accuracy - mediocre at best
Opportunities for customizing - don't know, two points above make it pretty unappealing to me at least.
 
The Mini 14 is the best bang for the buck in a non-restricted semi-automatic, very under rated, and the accuracy is not as bad as the haters would suggest. The AR guy's hate it because of the non-restricted aspect, and the M14 guy's hate because it is more accurate and cheaper to operate. Get one you will not be disappointed. Lots of accessories out there to customize to your own.
 
Not too sure of the political life expectancy of the Mini 14 in the hands of Justin and the crew. But I supposed if it's lasted this long unscathed, who knows.
 
A mini is about the most fun you have in a non-restricted carbine. Its accurate enough, you can tune it up, some good aftermarket accessories, very easy to take down / clean. Lots of stocks and aftermarket goodies available for them, including magazines & stocks. Enjoy!
 
I shot a 2 inch 5 shot group with a friend's. Was with Tula and a 4x scope......good enough for me. I would stay away from the plastic aftermarket stocks. Anyhow I liked it so much I just bought one myself off EE.
 
Accuracy wise, the only option is the target model. Factory magazines are outrageously expensive in Canada. Aftermarket magazines are mostly complete crap. The A-Team style folding stocks, while cool looking, aren't that practical and are uncomfortable to shoot with for an extended period. They're also crazy expensive. There are a few plastic stock kits on the market of varying degrees of quality. To quote the title of your thread, there's rather limited "growth potential" for the Mini-14. Where it really excels is as a stock do-all truck gun or plinker. It's not a precision rifle. I have one in my safe as does my brother. We both like ours, but if the AR was reclassified as non-restricted once more I don’t think I'd ever take it out of the safe again.
 
Regardless of what some may say ; a Ruger Mini 14 is a very good rifle . I have two myself , and one is fitted with a tactical stock . You may also want to consider a Mini 30 . If doing it over again , I would get a stainless Mini 14 instead of the blued .
 
My experience with Mini 14's is that the heavier barreled models shoot more accurately than the light barreled models, but you are still talking around 2 MOA or greater. I tried the target model with the barrel harmonic adjustment and it still did not do better than 2 MOA or greater at 100 m. Not a precision rifle by any means if that is what you are looking for?
 
Looking at the scale of the rifle, how much if any commonality of accessories is there between the Mini-14 and the 10/22? The stocks look about the same size and if I stuck with the wood furniture I'd like to get a ribbed butt plate so it slides less.

What are the sights like?

If you get a bayonet lug, does it take AR-style M7-family bayonets or the M14-style M6?
 
Growth potential of the mini 14:
Step one- buy a mini 14
Step two- spend a whole bunch of money trying to make it something it's not.
Step three- sell it for a loss and spend the same amount you wasted on the mini 14 and buy a used XCR or Tavor for $1800-$2000 off the EE.

If you do buy one make sure it's a newer one, I had an older stainless version with the synthetic folding stock and pin on flash hider and a bunch of other junk, I picked it up in a trade and when I realized no matter what ammo I fed it the target always looked like I was using a shotgun I sold it for a huge loss. I don't miss that rifle at all.
Factory mags are fairly easy to find but are more expensive than AR magazines.
Aftermarket mags are usually not as reliable but I had a couple that worked well.
With good magazines it is a very reliable rifle even if it wasn't accurate (new ones are supposed to be better).
Aftermarket stocks are typically flimsy plastic stocks that make it look good but don't help it shoot any better and are expensive.

It's a decent rifle for shooting gongs and coyotes at under 200 yards and for crushing pop cans and whatever in the local gravel pit but if you go into it wanting to change it into something else you'd be better off saving up a little money and buying something else.
If I ever bought another one (I wouldn't but just for the sake of the conversation if I did) I would leave it completely stock and use the iron sights. Keep it simple and keep it light.
 
I don't understand all the hate on Mini's, I have one, a 583 series (Stainless) and it is fantastic NR, plinking rifle. Sure its not an MOA rifle, but I can take it in the bush and it works fine for yotes, out to 300 with stock sights. Actually if any issues it is the sights as they are a pain to adjust, but once dialed in I haven't had to touch so no biggy. Reliable, NEVER had any issue with FTF or FTE, accurate enough for hunting medium sized varmints. Whats not to like.
 
Want one? Get one! I really enjoy shooting my mini-14. It is the most hated pencil barrel yellow stock model from the early 1980’s. Love it. Have shot coyotes, gophers and targets at different ranges with a cheap Bushnell wide view scope or with iron sights.
 
I actually really like.mine, it's not a tacjdriver by any means, nuts it's fun range gun nonetheless. I still have an accu-strut that I haven't installed yet, but hopefully it will tighten up a bit.

Here's mine (yes the scope is ridiculous, it came with the gun, yes the rail is ridiculous, it also came with the gun)
J98YjO6_d.jpg
 
BioPace said:
Magazines - expensive
Accuracy - mediocre at best
Opportunities for customizing - don't know, two points above make it pretty unappealing to me at least.
Click to expand...

Magazines are not much more expensive than any others in this country. I get 5 round Ruger factory mags for $29.99 from dealers across the West. How much do you pay for a 10 round LAR15 mag? A Norc M14 Mag? Same or more so bogus on that common misconception. Try finding a factory Sig p226 10 rounder for under $45....

Accuracy - the new 582 series rifles are quite accurate. Mine has a tech sight rear sight I swapped out, shooting bulk 55gr Federal junk ammo I can print consistent 3" circles at 100 meters from the prone off a bag. I was skeptical when I bought it second hand and was actually more than satisfied. Remember, it's a semi auto generic rack grade rifle. No a bolt Rem 700 shooting custom hand loaded ammo. So again bogus on that common misconception. The older models were not as accurate but they beefed up the barrel at the ferrule and they are now as accurate as any generic rack grade AR15. I would say with quality ammo and scoped, it could do much better.

Customizing- This I can't speak to. I shoot mine stock aside from swapping out the terrible rear sight. Get a $75 Tech sight and you will be amazed.

As long as you know what you're buying and not expecting something which it isn't, I've settled on the Mini-14 as my only NR semi auto 5.56 rifle. Dead reliable to boot for me. Feeds any ammo. Hard cycling gas system runs in any weather/condition. It's awesome. My only regret is that the myths and misinformation on them on this site kept me away from them all these years while I wasted time dropped huge chunks of cash chasing other NR black rifles. Bang for buck best one in Canada but that's just my opinion.
 
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