wicked deals!

[beltfed]

Sorry the longevity of this rifle is for a good reason. They are a fine bullet proof rifle that will eat ammo and take a considerable beating. Yes they are not a tack driver but are accurate in the hands of a good shooter, that is the catch a good shooter.

I'm a better than average shooter (not to toot my own horn or anything) and they are not 'accurate' by any stretch of the imagination.

Edit:
I was going to post up some photos, but I must have deleted them from photo bucket.
Suffice to say I recently sold an older stock model that was in mint shape (I've had a few over the years), and with it benched with a 4 power scope and match ammo, this thing was printing into an 'A' zone at 100m. (About a 6" group). I'd say realistic and average for this firearm.
1" at 100m? LOL. maybe with one round groups. LMAO

 

[cman]

I don't get it, do you live in some remote area with no shops that carry 223? If I had a new rifle and no ammo I would go buy a few boxes while waiting for the delivery man.

Why would you waste the only rounds you had shooting freehand? You're showing what you can do not what the rifle can do. I might have done the same thing but there is no point posting a picture of it other than to show that the rifle functions.



I can understand someone wanting a cheaper non restricted rifle, what blows my mind is that guys will buy these as a budget alternative then spend hundreds of dollars trying to make them more tacticool with an aftermarket stock and a flash hider and all the other junk that's available for them that doesn't make them shoot any better. They end up spending the same money as a used XCR and still have a rifle that shoots 4 inch groups at 100 yards (on a good day).

If I was going to buy one I would leave it alone and just spend my money on ammo, mags and a recoil buffer so it isn't beating the hell out of itself. A scope is pretty much useless on a rifle that isn't accurate enough to shoot a coyote past 150 yards. If I really felt the need to blow some money on one an adjustable gas block would be the first thing I'd buy.

Yes i do live in a remote area, no ammo within 30-45 minute drive. i just wanted to give it a first test run, and post results. Im sure i can tighten the groups with some quality ammo, a bench, and some time to properly sight in my scope.

 

[Sqr]

I'm a better than average shooter (not to toot my own horn or anything) and they are not 'accurate' by any stretch of the imagination.

Edit:
I was going to post up some photos, but I must have deleted them from photo bucket.
Suffice to say I recently sold an older stock model that was in mint shape (I've had a few over the years), and with it benched with a 4 power scope and match ammo, this thing was printing into an 'A' zone at 100m. (About a 6" group). I'd say realistic and average for this firearm.
1" at 100m? LOL. maybe with one round groups. LMAO

Hogwash I say!

 

[cr5]

Hogwash I say!

Then prove us wrong and show us some legitimate pics of targets at 100 yards with at least 5 round groups. No BS excuses about fliers, just a straight up pic with one group that has all rounds within one inch.

The one I owned gave me the same results Beltfed got from his.
The only series of mini-14 that have shot any better have been the target series with the heavier barrel but then they are a much heavier rifle which is better suited to bench shooting than ranch use as was the original intent of the rifle. I've also never seen anyone post groups from the target model that were close to 1 moa, they are simply better than the ranch series and more in line with groups produced from an XCR-L or Tavor.

If you like the rifle then that's great, enjoy shooting it and have fun but don't try to tell people who have also owned them and seen first hand what they can do that they are capable of 1 moa when 99% of the rifles out there can't shoot 4 moa.
The rifle is reliable with quality magazines and is fun to shoot as long as you don't mind the rather large groups, that's about where it's good qualities end.
It is a terrible rifle for a handloader since it throws the brass so far, makes a large dent in every piece and is very hard to mount a brass catcher on.

 

[beltfed]

...The rifle is reliable with quality magazines and is fun to shoot as long as you don't mind the rather large groups...

A very good summation of the Mini.

Now if we could only get Norinco to knock them out with Stanag mags and sell them for $350-400 we'd all be better off...
Hell, they'd probably be able to improve the accuracy too....

 

[Trinimon]

Maybe I like the Mini14 because it reminds me of the A-Team.

 

[Suputin]

Maybe I like the Mini14 because it reminds me of the A-Team.

For $1000 you could buy an awful lot of A-Team DVD's and memoriabilia to remind you and prob have a ton of money left over.

 

[Trinimon]

For $1000 you could buy an awful lot of A-Team DVD's and memoriabilia to remind you and prob have a ton of money left over.

LOL, true. Maybe that's why the A-Team never shot anyone... not for lack of trying, maybe it was the gun?

 

[pmatuk]

youse sure make a guy feel good about his new purchase

 

[Suputin]

youse sure make a guy feel good about his new purchase

Don't blame the messenger. You chose to hand over your heard earned money.

 

[HeadDamage]

I like Rugers in general and I want to like the mini but I've owned one and if it is anything to go buy they are not an accurate rifle, mine was pressed to keep shots within in 6 to 8 inches at 100m. I've heard the newer ones are better, I hope so.

 

[cman]

Will it kill coyotes at 100 yards? Is it a semi auto .223 non-restricted rifle? Was it a great price? Will it defend my home from an onslaught of zombies......I think so.

 

[cantom]

After all the years Ruger has made the Mini 14...why on earth have they not been able to make the things shoot well?

Are the heavier barrel 581 series not better? Or still an inaccurate rifle?

Then prove us wrong and show us some legitimate pics of targets at 100 yards with at least 5 round groups. No BS excuses about fliers, just a straight up pic with one group that has all rounds within one inch.

The one I owned gave me the same results Beltfed got from his.
The only series of mini-14 that have shot any better have been the target series with the heavier barrel but then they are a much heavier rifle which is better suited to bench shooting than ranch use as was the original intent of the rifle. I've also never seen anyone post groups from the target model that were close to 1 moa, they are simply better than the ranch series and more in line with groups produced from an XCR-L or Tavor.

If you like the rifle then that's great, enjoy shooting it and have fun but don't try to tell people who have also owned them and seen first hand what they can do that they are capable of 1 moa when 99% of the rifles out there can't shoot 4 moa.
The rifle is reliable with quality magazines and is fun to shoot as long as you don't mind the rather large groups, that's about where it's good qualities end.
It is a terrible rifle for a handloader since it throws the brass so far, makes a large dent in every piece and is very hard to mount a brass catcher on.

 

[Trinimon]

Will it kill coyotes at 100 yards? Is it a semi auto .223 non-restricted rifle? Was it a great price? Will it defend my home from an onslaught of zombies......I think so.

Hey cman, jokes aside, I still think the Mini14 is pretty cool and you did get a good deal.... and it goes bang.

 

[Grock-co]

And the SKS crowd is silent

 

[cr5]

Will it kill coyotes at 100 yards? Is it a semi auto .223 non-restricted rifle? Was it a great price? Will it defend my home from an onslaught of zombies......I think so.

Great price? I'm not sure about that one. In my mind the Mini-14 is a $500 rifle. At least that's how cheap I'd have to find one to consider buying another one.
You're right though, if you like it and can live with it's deficiencies then enjoy your purchase and have fun shooting it.
I definitely think it's a better purchase than a Norinco T97, at least your rifle was made by a US company and comes with a warranty and parts support if you ever need it.

After all the years Ruger has made the Mini 14...why on earth have they not been able to make the things shoot well?

Are the heavier barrel 581 series not better? Or still an inaccurate rifle?

I've never shot one of the newer target models, I hear they shoot much better but the added weight is a trade-off. They aren't as nice to carry as the ranch series but I doubt they are much heavier than an SL-8, XCR, or ACR and I have carried my SL-8's and NR ACR around in the bush all day before without complaint.

And the SKS crowd is silent

They're just laughing at how their $200 rifle is just as reliable and shoots better than a mini-14 or mini-30. Or maybe they're too busy scrubbing the salts out of their rifle and haven't had time to check CGN for a while
I like my SKS but hate the extra step required to clean it properly so it doesn't rot.

 

[beltfed]

Well after yesterday's gong show it looks as though the Mini14 is a good purchase. Who knew.

 

[Trinimon]

Well after yesterday's gong show it looks as though the Mini14 is a good purchase. Who knew.

Heck within four years, we might only be allowed bolt action rifles and O/U shotguns if we're lucky.

 

[grelmar]

In spite of all the bad reviews about accuracy, and my horrible experience with my POS 10/22, I still want one. A Garand action .223? Sign me up. It just hasn't worked it's way to the top of "the list"... Yet.

Just a neat looking rifle, so long as it's in wood and blued steel.

And the SKS crowd is silent

Why bother? The same elitist ####-waddles who hate on Mini-14s are the same ones who constantly rag on the SKS. Both the SKS and the Mini-14 serve about the same function. Intermediate calibre carbine with "minute of bad guy" accuracy out to 200 yards. If you want match grade accuracy, get a match grade rifle. If you want a reliable, low maintenance, strong like tractor, rifle, then DON'T get a match grade AR, get an SKS or Mini-14.

Match grade AR's (and other rifles) are great at what they do, but they're a lot like high end sports cars - run great, but high maintenance. It makes as much sense to take a Ferrari out to fix fences as it does to throw a match grade AR behind the seat of your truck, and ignore it and let it beat around for 4 years between cleanings.

 

[Sqr]

Then prove us wrong and show us some legitimate pics of targets at 100 yards with at least 5 round groups. No BS excuses about fliers, just a straight up pic with one group that has all rounds within one inch.

The one I owned gave me the same results Beltfed got from his.
The only series of mini-14 that have shot any better have been the target series with the heavier barrel but then they are a much heavier rifle which is better suited to bench shooting than ranch use as was the original intent of the rifle. I've also never seen anyone post groups from the target model that were close to 1 moa, they are simply better than the ranch series and more in line with groups produced from an XCR-L or Tavor.

If you like the rifle then that's great, enjoy shooting it and have fun but don't try to tell people who have also owned them and seen first hand what they can do that they are capable of 1 moa when 99% of the rifles out there can't shoot 4 moa.
The rifle is reliable with quality magazines and is fun to shoot as long as you don't mind the rather large groups, that's about where it's good qualities end.
It is a terrible rifle for a handloader since it throws the brass so far, makes a large dent in every piece and is very hard to mount a brass catcher on.

These are from my Mini 30 as I sold my 14 following my AR builds. I do agree that OEM magazines need to be used for reliability and larger capacity good mags are hard to find unlike this cheap Korean piece.

100 yards