I am thinking about getting a Mini-14. So do you like your Mini-14? What are the pluses and minuses of said platform? and go.
Accuracy normally kind of sucks. The mag selection is about the same as the ar15. 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, drum, ect. With a 5 round mag and a wood stock it doesn't look like an "assault rifle". Wouldn't run as dirty as an AR if you put a silencer on it.
Had one for years. Sold it back in '90s. Ok for what it is - the newer ones with the heavy(er) barrel and harmonic balance weight reportedly do better...
I had an original year ranch rifle and one made about a decade later. Both moved on to young people I was encouraging at the time as rewards for achievement. It ate all ammo I fed it and had fine accuracy out to 300 yds. The iron sights were good but I never had a scope on one. My Texas hunting opportunities just aren't that long legged. I like the weapon and consider it a satisfactory descendant of my beloved Garand.
I owned a Mini-14 Ranch and still own a first gen Mini-14 NFA machine gun conversion. Pluses: I like the wood and steel look. Even though it is effectively no different functionally than an AR or AK it doesn't "look scary" so won't attract as much attention, especially with the factory 5 round mag in place while higher capacity mags can still be handy. Looks just like your buddy's hunting rifle. Robust and reliable Ergonomics are great. I especially like the safety location. Easy to field strip - you can use a 5.56 cartridge as the tool to break it down. Minuses: Expensive compared to AR's and AK's Older (and IMO more attractive) models don't have really good accuracy although there are strits you can add that helps. Repairs need the services of a gun smith. Ruger will usually repair for free, however. Aftermarket magazines mostly suck and can't be relied upon. For defense you need factory Ruger mags which are steel making them heavy and only come in 5 and 20 round sizes. They are really LOUD compared to AR's Most versions have non-threaded barrels so you need a gunsmith if you want to add a CAN or a flash device. Every time you go shooting with your friends they will want to shoot it instead of their own rifle. Check out Nutnfancy's YT channel for Mini-14's. He ran them in competition and did quite well with them: nutnfancy
Owned the Ranch model in blued, wish I had gotten stainless, I may have kept it. Good truck gun, just never really fell in love with it.
Don't have the 14 , but had the mini 30 ,, 7.62x39 . All stainless steel so as not to wear out the components . Was pretty accurate , and compact . Good brush gun . The one thing that was awkward for me was it was a short rifle , which was a little awkward for some reason , probably just needed a different stock . But it's the same frame as the 14 I do believe. Me being tall and long armed is probably the reason for the awkward feel of it .
I've never held them both at the same time but the M14 feels more like the Garand and the Mini feels smaller, but still ok Oddly, yes
Your talking about the target model which is discontinued now. The wife has one and it shoots MOA or better, nice rifle but heavy. Have the Mini 30 that I used for pig hunting and it's 2-3" with a scope and was always reliable.
The early Mini-14's had a pencil barrel. Later versions have a thicker barrel to try to fix harmonic vibration issues that hurt accuracy. My 1976 Bicentennial MG. Note the giggle switch : Late Model Mini-14 - barrel is a wee bit thicker and flares as it gets to the piston block. I've been told this has substantially improved accuracy.: Late Model Tactical - the stock of the pistol grip version is for looks only. They have been known to fail, so I'd stick with the stock below.
Had a couple of them over the years. Never really put them on paper but they were fun to shoot and reliable. I used to take cartridges that had misfed in an AR, leaving two creases in the brass case from the bolt locking lugs, chamber and fire them in a Mini-14 without a hitch. After being creased, those same cartridges would not chamber in an AR and resulted in a jam (bolt wouldn't close) if it was attempted. The chamber pressure would straighten out the creases and leave a piece of reloadable brass. As 3M-TA3 stated, they are LOUD!
I have the 300 BLK version, scoped, threaded barrel. Magazines are expensive but the gun works and is good with a can.
My only suggestion would be, “Do NOT load up a dozen 30 round magazines, and make like a Tv Rambo and unload them all, as fast as possible”.... All you will accomplish is to burn the barrel out, waste a lot of cheap ammo, and prove to only yourself that An Idiot and his money, are soon parted.... I have seen a few “14s” that were treated this way, right out of the box, and after such abuse, they had a VERY hard time putting ten shots inside a Sq Ft @ 75Yds...
There's a tactical model in my safe right now and I've had one variation or another for about thirty years or so. Mine's a basic blued threaded tactical model with Techsights, a Choate ventilated handguard and a Wilson Combat flash hider. That's just personal preference stuff. The newer 581+ series are pretty good rifles.
I have a mini 30 I like it well enough, would not call it my most favorite animal in the zoo though. But still a reliable rifle when called on.
If you are a fan of the 80's TV series the A-Team, you inherit one, or you fined a smoking hot deal then go ahead and get one, otherwise you are much better off sticking with an AR. Ruger sells 20 and 30 round mags to anyone who wants them and even the price is reasonable at 19.99 to 24.99 new. The Mini-30 has been updated and Ruger also makes factory 20 round mags, but then again for a 7.62x39 platform the AK is a better option. These are my OHP Mini-14 GB with the factory folding stock (I have the original wooden stock w/carbine sling slot) and Mini-30 Tactical. I've had the GB for a long time now and the Mini-30 I got a great deal on. I prefer the AR platform due to it's operator level repairs, ease of maintenance, multitude of furniture, caliber adaptability, and costs.
Are you Set on getting a Mini? or would something else ( Not an AR) trip your trigger? How about a Kel-Tec SU-16? Neat design, runs quite well, and there is pretty good aftermarket support for them! Pretty slick little carbine that dosn't look scary and still takes standard AR mags and repair parts for the bolt! I'm getting ready to order one, just need to decide which one I want!
The only parts interchangeability with the AR platform is the mags, muzzle devise, extractor, ejector, and the bolt IF you chop the bottom half off. It is a decent platform, but I think hanging a thirty rounder gives it more of a "evil black rifle" look that civilians would find "scary". It is nice and light, the forearm turns into a bipod, and it has decent accuracy (like the Mini).
