Thinking of getting RUGER Mini-14 .223

I'll add another positive post. I've had a Ranch rifle for the last 3 years and am more than happy with the way it shoots. I did a few mods to get it to shoot better, but all were realatively cheap.

-Choate flash suppressor
-trigger job
-small gas bushing
-re-torqued the gas block
-recoil buffer
-2-7x32mm Elite 3200 scope and
-I handload 60gr V-Max's for it

It will shoot 3 round groups into 1.25" @ 100yds no problem, the barrel does heat up rapidly though and they get bigger just like 99% of all light barrelled rifles.
 
The minis I have shot all grouped about the same as my CZ858, but unlike my CZ, the mini actually did go bang everytime I pulled the trigger. I have found the mini to balance muzzle light, and as such was harder to shoot tight groups with unless you really got in a good position, and really concentrated on the trigger pull. In my opinion, when compared to the other non-restricted autos on the market, the mini stacks up as better than CZ, and not as good as the armalite AR180B. And yes I have owned them all.

You will find a lot of people on this site who have have very strong opinions about the minis, but little experience to back it up.
 
"Ruger has never made an accurate rifle and never will."

My Ruger K77VTL MkII will shoot 3 shot groups at 100 yards that you can completely cover with a dime (assuming good bullets, good loads and good shooting).
 
GIXXER said:
Part of the problem for the original poster is that almost all of Jeffs other suggestions cannot be hunted with in Ont (south)
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Do you mean legally or just because of all the irrational gun fearing liberal hippies from hell?.

As for the mini 14, I own a stainless version, all stock as of right now.
I can get 4 in groups at 100 yards, it is the light barrel version.
The barrel does tend to heat up quite easily, but this gun does everything that I wanted from it, especialy considering I bought it mint for 550$.
They look cool, they have lots of accessories, they are relatively cheap to feed, and mine atleast has been extremely reliable, it just keeps going.
Pretty soon I will be adding a flash supressor or some make, modifiy the trigger pull, and torque the gas block but thats for later on.

If you have a sweet spot for the mini 14, or 30 then buy one, there are not really any major reasons not to for the price.

I also own a yugo m59 sks, which has been relatively accurate I must say, moreso then I was expecting.
An sks would be what your looking for if you wanna stay cheap cheap. They are very reliable, and quite able to kill something without grazeing it at decent ranges 100-150 yards, in the right hands.
 
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Mini-14

I like the Mini - in fact I have 2. Dont just get caught up with what the label whores are saying. Lots of people here ONLY buy $2000+ guns, then you can expect accuracy/perfection out of the box. The Mini has a good name - really only bad thing about it is the accuracy. Born in 1971 and still kicken - infact lots of models and options - its a tank, or is work horse better!

Pro
NON-Restricted.
They always work even if you never clean it.
I have never had one break on me.
They are cheep to feed.
Parts and mods are easilly available.
Lots of information on them.
NEW ones are more accurate - I have not tested this.

CON
They are NOT sniper rifles!
Mags are pricey.
$500-800 for the rifle.

Funny thing is that I tried a discussion thread about this gun a while back and it got just ugly. It was funny... the one guy (ljungman) sold his mini and in his exchange ad said it was 'dead on' then a week later in that thread said how inaccurate it was. Now it has been censored so his lie is not visible. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=72579
 
Like some one said in S. Ontario we can not use a 7.62mm SKS or VZ. That ticks me off big time. But rules with the MNR are rules..... What's the sense of buying a rifle & keep it in the safe?

The mini is a good gun for coyote or ground hog. Like others said it isn't a precision rifle but hey if you can pop 5 rounds in a couple of seconds you're bound to hit with one. Plus, stay asured that a round WILL come out every time you squeeze that trigger.

:runaway:
 
What about for a close quaters bear gun? Could it be more effective than a shotgun?

*Note: talking about black bears*



We own one. Its a great plinker, good for knocking bowling pins over!
 
Bowie said:
The minis I have shot all grouped about the same as my CZ858, but unlike my CZ, the mini actually did go bang everytime I pulled the trigger. I have found the mini to balance muzzle light, and as such was harder to shoot tight groups with unless you really got in a good position, and really concentrated on the trigger pull. In my opinion, when compared to the other non-restricted autos on the market, the mini stacks up as better than CZ, and not as good as the armalite AR180B. And yes I have owned them all.

You will find a lot of people on this site who have have very strong opinions about the minis, but little experience to back it up.
Click to expand...

Now that is interesting. I thought the CZs were the cat's bum according to all that is expressed on here.
 
One of my cz's crapped out, sent it for warranty repair, now it runs like a top. I have 2 858s, run countless rounds through them, and the only thing was the trigger went on one. could have been a manufacturing error, who knows, but I think the czs are reliable.
 
Just saw a copy of Shooting magazine at the store that had
"1MOA Mini 14" for the cover story. I was to cheap to buy it though as they have it at the library in a couple weeks. I always liked the looks and handiness of the 14 but was to cheap(obviously) to buy one. If they got it 1MOA even with handloads without totally changing what was good about it the 14 will be one to watch.

Jeffmans "pro's and con's" post should almost be a mini sticky.
 
GIXXER said:
You cannot hunt in S ONT with anything over .275
M-14 =.308
CZ/VZ =.308
SKS =.308
Click to expand...

WOW!

I don't hunt but this law seems to be bordering on irresponsible.

I'm not a hunter so I've got a dumb question: can you hunt large game (moose) with a .223 mini-14? - I'm not playing stupid, I really am stupid :p and don't know.

Jeff
 
I had a brand new mini stainless with the folding stock etc. here my opinions>

-inaccurate to say the least. Don't think your going to shine with that gun.

(having said that "666" a member here has spanked me at a few tac matchs with his mini!)

-I found the gun heated up on me after rapid shooting.
-it was fun gun to shoot, it would be blast to shoot if we had full cap mags again. it was alot louder than my AR
-fun little unrestricted gun, easy to shoot and handle, the mag catch gets a little getting used to.

would I buy another one, absolutely.
 
I like my mini. It eats anything you feed it (so far) always goes bang, never had one operating malfunction, and looks cool with a choate pistolgrip stock. Wish it was a Ranch model though, the side scope mounts suck. Accuracy is not great, but I usually get 3-4" at 100yds... minute of bad guy at least.
Drew
 
JeffMan said:
WOW!

I don't hunt but this law seems to be bordering on irresponsible.

I'm not a hunter so I've got a dumb question: can you hunt large game (moose) with a .223 mini-14? - I'm not playing stupid, I really am stupid :p and don't know.

Jeff
Click to expand...
The theory is that larger calibers are more dangerous to the rest of the public
Because you know that 1 shot you will take at a deer with a 30-30 is more likely to hit someone far off than the 60 shots you take with that 220 swift at groundhogs :rolleyes:
 
GIXXER said:
You cannot hunt in S ONT with anything over .275
M-14 =.308
CZ/VZ =.308
SKS =.308
Click to expand...

why do you guys still live in Ontario? That place has the most retarded friggin rules in all of Canada.
sheesh.. pretty soon they might ban condoms becuase some people have a latex allergy.
I hate Ontario... get real.

oh ya.. my mini is an excellent rifle. I almost prefer it over my AR.. the mini can come with me in the bush... the AR stays home.I think the only benefit I see to owning an AR in Canada is to say " I have one".. yay.
 
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