Mini-14 snobs

[Patriot762x39]

I have had my Mini14 for a few months now. Every time I hit the range all i hear is what a piece of garbage a mini14 is. I have never had a problem, not one since I bought this rifle. (Used gun, was manufactured in 1984.) I use Promag composite mags and wolf ammo. My groups are the same as what I shot with my Romanian AK or my Yugo SKS. I see no problem with this rifle as a survival/home defense weapon. So what is all the fuss? Or is it just gun snobbery? Also, does anyone know where I can pick up spare parts for backup? I'm looking for firing pin, extractor, and anything else I can put my hands on. Can be reached @ ronin072265@yahoo.com. You can never have enough spares.

[Southern Shark]

The problem was Ruger's attitude toward the Mini-14, and more particularly standard capacity mags in general. That's what really generates the anti-mini attitudes in my opinion.

I doubt Bushmaster will ever support a magazine capacity ban........

Of course on the flip side old man ruger is long dead and who knows where the company wants to go now.

[powerkicker]

I think the SKS guys think that they have a gun that shoots as straight for a quarter of the price and I can't fault their logic. I like my mini's because they're handy and shoot well enough. They aren't any better than an SKS though save for hi-caps capability and the sights. I have an SKS~D that takes AK mags so the sights and the readily available caliber are the only advantages. The mini has a rattly op-rod but I like them none the less. USA made and it works like my M14 does.

[SouthRider]

i'm amazed how often i hear of mini's that shoot poorly. i've had 2 .223s, 1 7.62x39. never saw a one that wasn't 3" at 100. the one i own now is reliably 1 1/2" at 100 with wolf 62gr and zero malfunctions once the plastic mags wore in. i've shot ARs a fair amount, not a bad carbine, just not my cup of tea.

let 'em piss and moan, then have 'em shoot unsupported standing at 100 yds. the better marksman, not the "better" rifle, will win.

[1911cc]

The AR guys go on about how superior their rifle is to the Mini-14. I usually just smile and say "I haven't seen a mini yet that needed a forward assist button", that usually chills them down a notch.

[V 2]

Years ago when i bought my first 180-181 series Mini 14 when they first appeared on the retail market the new Ruger was a first class hit with local ranchers and farmers adding the classic wood stock and a twenty round magizine the Mini was a bagin for under 200.00 bucks.

Accoss the bench rest or hood of the truck the mini will drop any coyotee just as fast as my Colt HBAR. I think a lot of people have placed the mini in the AW catagory where it dose not belong. Its a basically a base line carbine for general sporting use not really designed for HD use. I love my mini and it sits nice and proud with the Ponys.

[SouthRider]

"not really designed for HD use"??? What, you were in the boardroom at Ruger and they said so? I see little difference between it and the M-1 Carbine, except a better cartridge and better accuracy.

It'll do in my book.

Then again, my watch sez it's good to 300 meters ...

[1911cc]

Originally posted by SouthRider:

Then again, my watch sez it's good to 300 meters ... [/QB]

That's a pretty good distance for a watch. What kind of accuracy do you have at that range?

[Mannlicher]

the line from the AR crowd, that you have to spend a lot of money on your Mini before its accurate, is hilarious, in light of the amount of money most of them spend on their AR platform.
Now I am not saying my Mini is as accurate as my Colt HBAR, heavy target, but it is as accurate as some of my other AR rifles. It certainly is more reliable.

[ISC]

we need to go shooting sometime Mannlicher

[JackOfTradeZ]

The only problem with my mini is the barrel gets REAL hot after only a few rounds! I wouldn't want to depend on it for sustained rapid fire or combat. Itsa cool plinking gun only. Combat? use SKS. It's the rifle that kicked our ass in Nam.

[Wolf]

Well one has to admit that in general an average AR can shoot at least twice tight groups against an average Mini. Thats really where the snobbery comes from. Also availability of cheap and reliable mags over the mini holds it back. But AR's are twice as expensive as Mini's. Its all in what you put into it.

[1911cc]

Originally posted by JackOfTradeZ:
Combat? use SKS. It's the rifle that kicked our ass in Nam.

We kicked our own ass in Viet Nam.

[heliflyer]

The new Mini's now are the 582 model's and Ruger has made a serious attempt to straighten out their accuracy problem, by building their own hammer forged barrel facility.

I have a stainless, composite stocked Mini-14 that is the prior model to the new 582 model.

Last friday I heard that the CAL-DOJ was going to add centerfire rifles, with detachable magazines, to the ban list. Sooo, I bought four Mini's, two Mini-14's and two Mini-30's.

I had planned making this purchase after the first of the year, so, I moved it up in case that happens.

At least two of the Mini's are going to be sent to Accuracy Systems Inc. in North Carolina. One, Mini-14 the older model, the first stainless, composit stocked Mini-14 I bought, will be rebarreled with a 20 inch, .875 diameter, 1:8 twist, straight taper barrel in the original 223 caliber. Accuracy Systems installs three stock screws in to the mini, locking the action down much better than it used to be.

The trigger guard is all that locks the Mini into the stock now. I think the trigger guard locking system contributes to the Mini's accuracy problems, by allowing the rifles action, to wiggle around in the stock, while you're firing the firearm.

Another Mini, a Mini-30, will go to Accuracy System Inc. too, for the same sized barrel only the caliber will be changed to 6.5 mm Grendel.The 6.5 mm Grendel compares favorably to the .308 Winchester.

The other three, depending on how they shoot, will either stay at home, or be given the rebarrel treatment too. But they will stay in their original calibers...

Bill

[heliflyer]

Originally posted by 1911cc:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by JackOfTradeZ:
Combat? use SKS. It's the rifle that kicked our ass in Nam.

We kicked our own ass in Viet Nam. </font>[/QUOTE]I agree... I was there!

Bill