ruger mini 14 vs Norinco m4

tbrwlf

tbrwlf

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
266   0   1
Location
Sudbury Ontario
I am thinking of buying a .223 semi.
I am unsure if I want the non restricted mini 14. Which can be modified to do anything an M4 can do but I can still carry in the field if I feel like it.

OR, the resticted Norinco M4. Arguably a less well made gun, that I can only take to the range.

Please tell me why you would choose the M4 over the mini 14? If you would choose the mini 14, why it and not a mini 30?

This may have been covered in other threads but maybe not with what I am looking for.

Please be polite with your answers.
 
I would go with the new 580 series mini and mod it all you want. There is something to be said for being able to take it anywhere you want. Restricted laws suck.
 
Im in the same boat , being a new shooter and just about to get my pal in the mail ive been spending alot of my "awake" hours scanning and researching countless websites for both pistols rifles and shotguns .

Im down to 4 right now One of the norinco m4's , a norinco m14 or mini 14 , the non restricted cz858 or an SKS .

Ive been leaning toward the mini 14 because there is a particular stock you can get that just tickles my fancy something fierce . and also being a new shooter dont know if ill be able to afford shellin out for .308 right off the bat .

mini14gb-f.jpg


The only reason i could see getting the mini 30 is the fact that you could get surplus ammunition and not always have to buy factory ammo . Plus the way Im also looking at it is , i could get something cheaper right now out of the box and be able to go anywhere and have fun with it , then later down the road like around christmas drop the 1500 dollars on an AR style rifle system .

However in relation to just the M4 or the mini , epps has the mini for around 675 and the m4 for 899 . the price difference to me is negligible , my decision has to do with where i can take it and what freedom i have regarding transport .
 
The M4 Norinco (CQ 556) is restricted, not only can you only use it on the range, you can also only transport it to the range locked in a locked box. A pain for such a big rifle IMHO.

The Mini 14 you can bring anywhere.

Weight is about the same, the M14 (Norinco 305) is heavier than both, unrestricted but as said, heavy and ammunition is quite more expensive, not so easy to modify and if so, expensive.

I wouldn't shoot surplus in the Mini 30, heard that it was not made for that, would rather go with the CZ-858 which would be my first choice among all of them.

Or start with an SKS which is a great rifle. If you have the money, go with a CZ first.

Mini 14 is more expensive to shoot than a CZ and SKS because of the surplus.

CZ is overall the best out of them, very accurate out of the box.

Having said that, the Mini 14 is the nicest one.
 
Go Mini. And don't believe all the stories you may hear about them shooting patterns, not groups. I just sold one of the older pencil barrel 14's to a friend. Got it in a trade, guy said it wouldn't shoot. Changed the "WTF??" scope mount to a 1pc Leupold, put a Redfield on it, fed it some good ammo, and the guy got 5 shots in 1" at 75 yards. Mini's are easy to strip, good to work on, have tons of accessories, and are just plain fun.
 
Buy both. :D

Seriously though, buy both. Everyone needs to own an AR of some sort. The more out there the merrier, and as they drive the anti's nuts it makes it worth the investment on a number of levels. :)

And the Mini is fun. And non-restricted. And inexpensive. And takes the same ammo as the M4. And did I mention non-restricted? Sure you're probably not going to win every precision benchrest competition you enter in with it, but having semi-auto fun at the varmint patch or back 40 more than makes up for that IMO.

Mini-14 @ Frontier: $860
Norc M4 @ Marstar: $700
1000 rounds of ammo @ SFRC: $440
Total investment: $2000
Owning one of each (and annoying the anti crowd): Priceless
 
I have used the Har Bar strut which is much like an accustrut and it proved to tighten up groups and prevent stringing. It is definitely the way to go on an older mini. The new minis don't need such a thing.
 
saskcop said:
I have used the Har Bar strut which is much like an accustrut and it proved to tighten up groups and prevent stringing. It is definitely the way to go on an older mini. The new minis don't need such a thing.
Click to expand...

I imagine they add a bit of weight which would change the balance in a negative way too. On a new one anyways.

Been considering picking up a Mini. Would be nice if 5/30 round mags were more available.
 
Actually, they don't really hurt the balance as they put some weight out front and the muzzle tends to stay down a little better. They seem to also draw heat off the barrel too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom