School me on the Mini-14...I think I want one...

[spencurai]

I know I see them all over the place in .223 and I like the idea that I can get that round a lot easier than I could get 7.62x39 before I traded off my AK-47 for lockers and gears on my jeep...

I was thinking of getting an AK but I keep walking past those cute mini-14s with what I surmise as an action that has to be more reliable than the AR variants.

School me PBB....I want to pimp my firearm!!

[TheRedHorseman]

Originally Posted by spencurai

mini-14s with what I surmise as an action that has to be more reliable than the AR variants.

[MikeW]

Get the Mini-30

[spencurai]

I know it is a matter of opinion but I frickin hate ARs....sorry.

[TheRedHorseman]

Originally Posted by MikeW

Get the Mini-30

And why?

[TheRedHorseman]

Originally Posted by spencurai

I know it is a matter of opinion but I frickin hate ARs....sorry.

Then get the new Arsenal Inc. SLR-106, folding stock .223 AKM goodness.

And reliability is not a matter of opinion, a mini 14 is a raging pile of shit in the reliability department compared to just about any AR15 out there(minus the vulcan/American spirit arms/etc... crappy ones)

[MikeW]

Originally Posted by TheRedHorseman

And why?

More punch than the .223

And its a better all hell breaks loose gun

[fullygruntled]

Owned a Mini-14 for a while due to believing tales about the AR, and because it was cheap.

Today, I don't own a Mini-14, but do own an AR.

The Mini is as fun as any other autoloader, but that's about it. For the dollar, an SKS is probably the better pick.

[Matt in TN]

I was thinking the exact same way you are now, and I bought a stainless/synthetic Mini-30. Let me save you the time - without Ruger mags (which are only available to us mere mortals in 5 rd versions) it's a jammamatic. Even with Ruger mags it's horribly innaccurate. So you've got an innaccurate, unreliable gun, that just happens to be made by one of the guys that was trying his best to help ban high-cap magazines from civlians' hands.

Skip it - buy something else.

[flecker]

Look... this is just my opinion, so take it for what it's worth (basicly nothing).

For 5-600 ucks I would get a good bolt gun in .223 before I got a mini. I have one, have had it for years.... Now the one you have pictured above is what's referred to as a mini-14 GB, the GB stands for Government barrel... If the one your getting is the GB I say go for it. If your getting the standard mini, get something else in your range. Why?

Heres my personal experience... Not as accurate as I would like (maybe a 150-200 yard reliable range), it's ok as a brush gun. The action is similar to an m-14, and nowhere near as reliable with anything other than factory mags. I don't like Rugers castings or steel work on these particular rifles, sometimes sloppy fitment. I could go on and on... like I said though it's just my opinion.

Now if you are going w/ the GB, or the neat little AC556 I say go for it! They would be a good investment... won't be around forever.

[flecker]

Originally Posted by fullygruntled

Owned a Mini-14 for a while due to believing tales about the AR, and because it was cheap.

Today, I don't own a Mini-14, but do own an AR.

The Mini is as fun as any other autoloader, but that's about it. For the dollar, an SKS is probably the better pick.

Yup... I would take my sks over my mini any day of the week.

[TheRedHorseman]

Originally Posted by MikeW

More punch than the .223

And its a better all hell breaks loose gun

No, not really, the 5.56 is cruising along at a pretty good clip and has a much greater wound pattern than the 7.62x39. The ammo for a .223 is much more consistant and accurate than the 7.62x39, all the "punch" in the world doesn't matter if you miss.

And for all hell breaks loose? The minis are inaccurate, unreliable, and both of these problems are even worse in the mini 30 model.

[flecker]

Originally Posted by TheRedHorseman

No, not really, the 5.56 is cruising along at a pretty good clip and has a much greater wound pattern than the 7.62x39. The ammo for a .223 is much more consistant and accurate than the 7.62x39, all the "punch" in the world doesn't matter if you miss.

And for all hell breaks loose? The minis are inaccurate, unreliable, and both of these problems are even worse in the mini 30 model.

werd.

[Boheefus]

I love mine, but aftermarket mags have to be fiddled with to get them to feed properly, mine is around 15 years old, the only times it jams are when I get a new aftermarket mag prior to said fiddling. Buy an M1A1 and be done with it..

[fullygruntled]

Originally Posted by TheRedHorseman

No, not really, the 5.56 is cruising along at a pretty good clip and has a much greater wound pattern than the 7.62x39. The ammo for a .223 is much more consistant and accurate than the 7.62x39, all the "punch" in the world doesn't matter if you miss.

And for all hell breaks loose? The minis are inaccurate, unreliable, and both of these problems are even worse in the mini 30 model.

I'd much rather shoot a deer with a 7.62x39 than a .223. Realistically, this is what the rifle will be used for more in a survival scenario.

[TheRedHorseman]

Originally Posted by fullygruntled

I'd much rather shoot a deer with a 7.62x39 than a .223. Realistically, this is what the rifle will be used for more in a survival scenario.

The new 60 grain partition gold projectiles are meant for deer, and have been getting great results.

I'd rather have a .30-30 lever gun over a mini 30, more accurate and more reliable with almost identical ballistics.

[fullygruntled]

Originally Posted by TheRedHorseman

The new 60 grain partition gold projectiles are meant for deer, and have been getting great results.

I'd rather have a .30-30 lever gun over a mini 30, more accurate and more reliable with almost identical ballistics.

and I'd much rather had a FAL instead of any of those, but we were talking about .223 and 7.62x39

[TheRedHorseman]

Originally Posted by fullygruntled

and I'd much rather had a FAL instead of any of those, but we were talking about .223 and 7.62x39

As would I, but he was talking about minis.

[fullygruntled]

Originally Posted by TheRedHorseman

As would I, but he was talking about minis.

which is pretty much the same, IME, regardless of the round it's shooting.

[DMG]

My Mini 14 has been great but I am bored with it. It is usually easy to bend the mag lips to make aftermarket mags function 100%.

[Joe_W]

Originally Posted by fullygruntled

I'd much rather shoot a deer with a 7.62x39 than a .223. Realistically, this is what the rifle will be used for more in a survival scenario.

This is the PBB, that gun will be used for shooting gun-confiscating marines, police, zombies, shaky Michael J Fox and other unlike-minded people

[Drunk tank]

I suggest saving your money and getting a different rifle. if you liek the rugar auto loaders... get the deerfield carbine. Box mag like a 10/22, action like a mini.... shoots a 44 mag. great round for deer! (i really want that rifle)

The mini's do tend to jam quiet a bit if youre using aftermarket mags. Now, if youre just going to stick with the factory 5 round mags.... go for it. I personally think it would make a nice little pack gun for a ATV, truck, or horseback.

If you even CONSIDER trying to make it tacti-cool skip it (and you probably will want to eventually). If you go the tacti-cool route... get an AR for accurate longer range stuff, an AK for blazing through rooms, or a FAL if you feel the need to sling 308's down range (expensive ammo and a 308 is not a round you shoot all day unless you like pain).

Note: I have an AR-15, AK-47 and sold my mini-14 about 3-4 months ago

[DMG]

Originally Posted by Drunk tank

I suggest saving your money and getting a different rifle. if you liek the rugar auto loaders... get the deerfield carbine. Box mag like a 10/22, action like a mini.... shoots a 44 mag. great round for deer! (i really want that rifle)

The mini's do tend to jam quiet a bit if youre using aftermarket mags. Now, if youre just going to stick with the factory 5 round mags.... go for it. I personally think it would make a nice little pack gun for a ATV, truck, or horseback.

If you even CONSIDER trying to make it tacti-cool skip it (and you probably will want to eventually). If you go the tacti-cool route... get an AR for accurate longer range stuff, an AK for blazing through rooms, or a FAL if you feel the need to sling 308's down range (expensive ammo and a 308 is not a round you shoot all day unless you like pain).

Actually the S.A. battlepacks of 308 are pretty cheap and my FAL doesn't kick much. I can shoot it one handed with no issues. My 308 AK kicks a bit more.

Have you shot your new AR build yet? How is it? It looks F'ing sweet.

[usmcdoc14]

Originally Posted by DMG

Actually the S.A. battlepacks of 308 are pretty cheap and my FAL doesn't kick much. I can shoot it one handed with no issues. My 308 AK kicks a bit more.

Have you shot your new AR build yet? How is it? It looks F'ing sweet.

He is a pussy I shoot my FAl and CETME all day long with no problems and my CETME does not even have a brake on it

[JeffHPK5]

The Mini 14 is also great if your in a traveling A-Team reenactment troop.......

but I sold a 14 and a 30 to get a AR.