mini 14's

C

camnorth

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Brampton Ontario
Been wanting a mini forever, not seeing too many on options on the EE and when they are up why & how are they the same price if not MORE expensive than brand new mini's????
Without turning into an argument why are they so expensive in Canada?
Any other options out there for a mag fed semi .223/5.56 besides the SU16's??
 
Buddy I bought a Mini 14 a million years ago for $425 . traded it off for something else . I wish I had both of those items . now the prices have goon stupid on them . get an old one if you can . mine was reliable and as accurate as I needed it to be . killed lots of groundhogs with it . not one complained . and I used the iron sights . I don't like most new stuff now . too much plastic .
 
That's a pretty good list, thanks. I am looking for something a bit less expensive and also a bit more traditional too. I guess Mini's are probably the only thing that fits that bill. I will check out the Macccabee Defense though.
 
cement head said:
Buddy I bought a Mini 14 a million years ago for $425 . traded it off for something else . I wish I had both of those items . now the prices have goon stupid on them . get an old one if you can . mine was reliable and as accurate as I needed it to be . killed lots of groundhogs with it . not one complained . and I used the iron sights . I don't like most new stuff now . too much plastic .
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ya it seems like they are being hoarded a bit and when they come up for sale they are around $1000, most new models are around that same price too. Seems to me if you are buying a used rifle with a bit of wear and tear they should be in the $600-700 mark. I'll have to keep my eyes peeled, it's exactly what I want though...proven action, accurate enough, detachable mags, affordable .223 ammo, got a bit of nice history behind it (read character).
Thanks
 
Just keep looking. I’ve seen some as low as $800 on the EE in the last year, current models.

I’ve been wanting a Mini 30 for a while but they don’t come up nearly as often.
 
$800ish for the new models is good, I wouldn't pay near that for an older one unless it has a factory folder lol
I would be asking over $1k for mine(if I was to sell it... think of it) but I have $300 worth of magazines alone. Damn pricey ruger mags.
 
I bought the top of the line stainless in about 1981 or 82 (close to $500.00 I think). Paid a lot in that old money; least accurate POS rifle I ever owned; sold it at a loss, and will never ever have another one. Ever. First cold shot was OK; by the time you put 10 through it, it opened up to 10" at 100 yards. Soured me so much, I will never own another ruger as long as I live. My SKS shoots way better than the mini-14 ever did and I paid under 200 for it in today's money.
 
^
Everything you said is true, but only applies to the pre 580 series rifles. Ruger literally took all the complaints about the older model and fixed them. New mini rifles are well made and as accurate as most options in the same price range. With plain factory 62 grn FMJ my groups are 2" ish at 100m typically. If I were to load for it or even just try out some different ammo I am sure it would do even better. One thing that still kind of sucks is the trigger. It's not horrible but getting it smoothed out is certainly worth it.
 
I have had more than a dozen mini 14's and mini 30's over the years. Handy little gun. The price is way out of touch though for new ones. My last used one I bought for $500 or so about 25 years ago. It was a great little gun and much more accurate than any of the others I owned. Bought a 580 series in stainless and had it for about a year as it wasn't as accurate as they claimed they should be. There is no way in heck that a mini should cost more than $1000. They just don't bring enough to the table to warrant the prices.
 
B said:
^
Everything you said is true, but only applies to the pre 580 series rifles. Ruger literally took all the complaints about the older model and fixed them. New mini rifles are well made and as accurate as most options in the same price range. With plain factory 62 grn FMJ my groups are 2" ish at 100m typically. If I were to load for it or even just try out some different ammo I am sure it would do even better. One thing that still kind of sucks is the trigger. It's not horrible but getting it smoothed out is certainly worth it.
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Second this strongly.
I sold my 582 Series one (800 for a used one even in excellent condition is a fair price and I would not pay more) to chase "better options" in a NR semi 223.
I'm wishing I had just kept it now after the last gong show Canadian product I purchased.....
They are great rifles. They aren't tactical or whatever nonsense but they are rugged and 120% reliable with all ammo in any conditions.
I also agree that they are crazy overpriced for what they are but that can be said about all Ruger products including the most over rated 22 of all time but I digress lol
 
If u want a higher quality rifle then the Mini 14, that's way more reliable, most likely more accurate, has a far superior trigger and takes ar mags. Keep ur eye out on EE for a used Benelli MR1. They come up used occasionally at some very affordable prices. I bought mine used for $1200 cad WITH a 3-9 Burris scope on ZEE rings already mounted.
 
There's a shop in AB that told me they won't stock MR1s anymore because everyone took them back for being inaccurate.

That knowledge is worth what we paid for though lol
 
I recently found a used 583 series with 3 mags on the EE for under $800.
I've owned a number of NR rifles in 223 xcr, su-16, vz58 in 223 t97 gen 2 and another mini14.
In my opinion for the money you can't beat them build like a tank, very reliable and new one are just accurate as anything I've owned.
Theres a reason people in states use them, even though they can hunt/carry ARs.
 
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my favorite 5.56/223 is my Ruger Mini 14.

i picked mine up right before the prices went sky high on them.
paid $750ish for it.

while i dearly love my rifle paying 1000-1200 for it..... i dont love it that much.
i have no idea why the price shot up on them or why it has stayed up, coupled with how expensive and hard to find the magazines are.

but, if ya can get one at a decent price they are good rifles.

like i said, i love mine more than any of my AR's and its more accurate than i am.
 
Purchased a mini 14 I have had Ruger arms for 55 yrs Never seena gu where mags was so hard to put in at times Got rid of the gun in 1 week Hate to be in a situation and could not get the mag in Many times would get stuck Poor rifle my opinion
 
zimmy said:
Purchased a mini 14 I have had Ruger arms for 55 yrs Never seena gu where mags was so hard to put in at times Got rid of the gun in 1 week Hate to be in a situation and could not get the mag in Many times would get stuck Poor rifle my opinion
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Takes practice my friend
 
The only way to hit the side of the barn with a mini is to shoot inside the barn, owned many over the years, but never again.
 
I just bought a 583 series Mini 14 Ranch Rifle. I paid $1039.00 for it. I haven't had much of a chance to shoot it as my go to place for shooting got snowed out. I'm taking it in to my local gunsmith to have the barrel threaded for a muzzle brake/flash hider. I'm putting on a Burris MTAC 1.5-6x42 scope as well. It seems to be well built and I can't wait to shoot it once the scope and MB are installed. I was thinking about adding an Accu-Strut for a bit better accuracy but I think I'll do a bit more research on it before I make that move.
 
saskcop said:
Bought a 580 series in stainless and had it for about a year as it wasn't as accurate as they claimed they should be. There is no way in heck that a mini should cost more than $1000. They just don't bring enough to the table to warrant the prices.
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My experience exactly and I got mine off the EE for almost NIB for $700 a few years back. New ones are far too much money and my $600 PSA AR would out shot it every time. Neat little reliable gun and still NR (for how much longer who knows), but just need more accuracy and they are way over gassed.
 
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