What are your experiences with the Mini-14

rivetc78 said:
Did you notice the price never changed for a mini-14 over the last year or so.
Our dollar went form .85cents to $1.07 back down to .80 cents and the price never changed.... interesting.:rolleyes:
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thats because their the same Mini-14's that were for sale back then, just sitting there collecting dust:rolleyes:
 
More-over it is a staple gun and Ruger makes a TON of them thus keeping it avail and priced normally. Since it is not a true black gun (comes with a wood stock) it doesn't appeal to the tacti-cool couch commandos.... which is the group of people that will toss a ton of money into something - and sellers know it... hence the stability of Mini-14 pricing (not tacti-cool out of the box and always a avail).

Realistically, until the 'target' model (by name you would assume accuracy) came out, who would look at it and think, 'I bet that gun is SUB-MOA', they are what they are.....
 
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I had a Mini-14 for about 12 years. I enjoyed the gun, although accuracy was lacking. With proper handloads I was able to develop a load that shot about 1.5MOA, that was the best I could ever get out of that Mini. Best thing I've done in my "firearms life" was sold that Mini-14 and four 5/30rd mags. Wolverine Supply hooked me up with the 5.56mm I was always dreaming of for those 12 long years with my Mini-14:

Sabre Defence XR-15 M4 14.5 barrel, 1 in 7 twist! I am now in love, I shoot one hole groups now instead of all over the paper!

I did enjoy the Ruger, however like most on this forum will say, they are not accurate but dependable. I used mine on the farm, perfect firearm for the back seat when working and the old coyote shows his head. Ranch Rifle was a great name for it, because that's exactly how mine was used. I trusted it always, but the accuracy has always been a thorn in my side. Too much reloading and tweaking to get a Mini-14 to shoot good. If you are expecting a dependable firearm for geneal use, then the Mini is for you.

If you are after accuracy, almost anything else in .223 or 5.56mm will fit the bill. I am sold on the AR platform.
 
I have used mini-14's for years and put 1000's of rounds of 5.56 and 7.62x39 through them. Standard models and Ranch Rifle models. They aren't "tack drivers", but for the money great guns. I have the mini-14 GB's in SS and Blue, not much difference in accuracy.Biggest selling point....you can take it out and shoot it! The only thing to change is the op rod spring on ranch rifles....for some reason they "set"> Wolf ruger op rod springs solve it!
 
I had one. Fun to shoot, looked kewl (SS factory folder) and would often but not always hit the broad side of a barn.

IMO there's better rifles for the money.
 
Sorry , but an 800 dollar rifle that shoots 3-4 moa at 100 ain't worth a ####. If you're just going to shoot ammo, buy an sks and spend the extra cash on ammo.
 
Have an older mini great gun getting 1.5in. groups with handloads legal to hunt with in Manitoba has been very reliable and will use ANY ammo you put through it. I have had a couple that I purchased on the EE $500-$650 both were stainless with folders and extras. O yea I also have an AR ($2500 invested and climbing) but comparing the two is like comparing apples to oranges and hunting Yotes with the AR if caught would cause a guy some legal grief.
So I enjoy my Mini for what it is.
Pete...... :)
 
People keep coming back to the mini because it is relatively cheap as a semi auto and most of all it is available, right now, today, at just about any store out there. I have been on waiting lists FOREVER for a non-restricted semi auto "black rifle"... I have taken my name off the AR180b list as it likely won't come in at all, and the thing has some real physical weaknesses. I missed out on a Robarms XCR at Epps just this month so I likely will get one some time this coming spring/summer (at about 2.5 times the price of a mini)... I like the SA Green/Black Special but thats $3000 plus! The SKS and 858 and those are fine, but who wants that ammo? Maybe everybody could do a little excercise regarding accuracy... get a tape out and measure out 1 moa, now 2, now 3... think about the diameters over 100 meters. 3 moa is not all over the paper. If you are shooting consistently 3 moa you will always come home from a hunt successfull.. you won't win any club matches, but...? Pissing on the mini for the 2-3 moa doesn't make much sense.

Gotta go...
 
I had a mini-14 that I loved and shot regularly.

It would shoot 2" groups all day, once I put a flash suppressor on it (dont know why the mini shoots sooo much better with the suppressor but it sure does according to Ruger experts)

I sold it about a year ago to purchase a new ar180b that I haven't put hardly any rounds through.

The mini 14 is not the nicest looking rifle but it works very well and is very solid. I never experienced any ammo sensitivity.

The biggest reason I had for changing to the 180b was the 10 round magazines and the "looks cool" factor.

Although I love the mini-14 I see little reason to purchase one with the abundance of available CZ858's, upcoming Norinco Type 97, and of course the M14 (best bang for the buck gun hands down).

If someone could bring in a couple thousand AR180b rifles we wouldn't have this thread. Except for A-team fans.
 
I to wanted an AR 180b but it is the mythical unicorn. I may also settle for a Mini-14. Eventually maybe an AR but they are strictly range guns and I don't like that. But the libs hate them so I will get one to piss them off.

For now, maybe a mini...
 
- I still have the Mini-14 I bought in Toronto in 1983. I would have sold it by now, but my wife and son like it. I did sell off - years ago - my Sudanese contract AR-10, my HK-91 and my AR-15 SP-1.

- So, for those of us stuck with a Mini-14 (for whatever the reasons), what is the best way to tighten the groups up a bit?
 
Im quick to bad mouth the Mini , having said that I have owned three over the years and still have one kicking around, relatively cheap and no 'res' 'prohib' statutes fun to have around and if they shoot 4-5 inches @ 100 you have a good one.........:)
 
jennis said:
Best way to tighten up the groups, move your 100 meter targets to 50 meters..............;)
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Hhahaha. :D.

Just a heads up. I had the trigger worked on for my Mini14 target. It's now very good. Considering how crappy it was out of the box, it's a huge difference. The trigger is actually good now. I recommend getting this done with the mini14 before shooting it. It'll probably be spring before I get to shoot mine :(
 
one can get both ans SKS and M305 for that price... just as accurate, if not more, just as reliable, if not more, and cheaper ammo for 7.62x39

I just can't see it as money well spent
 
Well, unfortunately there just are not many choices to be made when hunting with a semi-automatic. If I want to shoot yotes in the Hamilton area(getting harder now due to the shocking amount of land being taken away for box house surveys) and beyond there is a maximum caliber to be used. 223 is what I want to use, .30 is out of the question. Will also hunt int the Algonquin Park area.

Swiss Arms at $3,000, Type-97 at $850. Can't think of anything else. If AR's could be used for hunting like they used to then I would not be in this situation.
I am left-handed so the 97 is out.
 
Here is a list I have complied in my own search (add tax):

Swiss Arms Black Special/Classic Green - $2800 - available in VERY limited numbers (only 2 currently for sale that I know of in all of Canada) I love it but can't currently afford.

SKS - $300+ - hard to find with removeable mag and the non-corrosive ammo is not cheap or that readily available. Ergonomics aren't good.

CZ-858 - $600+ - available in limited numbers, and again the ammo (non-corrosive) isn't cheap or that readily available.

Robarms XCR - $2200 - unavailable till summer 09 unless one or two pop up here and there. Very nice, should have bought when i looked at one at Epps - poor decision on my part.

HK SL8 - $2200 - available, but... not everyones cup of tea. Interestingly enough, out of all I have tried, this one failed to feed/eject on two seperate rifles at two seperate occasions.

Ruger Mini 14 - $800+ - available almost anywhere. Never seen a fail to feed or eject. From what I have seen, will out shoot the SKS and 858, and has better feel...

Ruger Mini 14 Target $900+ - available only slightly less easily that the regular mini. Will outshoot the reg mini as well 1 to 2" groups is easy.

Armelite AR108b - $1200+ - unavailable until (maybe) summer 2009 (may never be again) but can come up here and there used. Has intermittent issues with the composite lower. Never tried one though.

Valmet Hunter - $2300 - $4000 - only AK non-restricted, hard to find or afford. There are several available right here on the board. The accuracy is similar to the new mini and if lucky the target (or so I am told)

Voere 2185 - $1500 (used) $2200+ (new - if you can find) - these are supposed to be pretty good and fairly accurate, very good ergonomics (my favourite handling rifle to date) but may have serious fail to feed/eject issues.

Norinco M14 - $500+ - available (dwindling stock, supposedly no more production) HEAVY and unweildy, I haven't seen one that had the sights lined up yet either... 308 though.

I likely missed some, but you have to pony up the cash to get a decent semi "black" rifle, unrestricted, and I think the Ruger fits pretty well into the range. From my personal experience from the Target I owned, it was quite capable, and as capable as most I have tried as well. The largest noticeable difference was the Swiss Arms and the HK. The HK's I tried all had ftf and fte issues though. These are between $1000 and $2000 more though... I would love to try a Robarms XCR, and am currently on the buy list for this spring/summer next year.

I am presently putting together a wish and design list for the Ruger Mini 14 Target... to make it more, well, "black" riflish... I figure at a total of $1500, I could have a nice custom one...

Anyway... hopefully there is something above worth while to read...
 
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