What do we think of the Mini 14?

[BillSmith]

Like the look of a Mini-14 in wood. Given attitude toward AR-15, bad black rifles, might eventually purchase a Ruger BUT...

Bill Smith hasn't bought one because he watched Hannibal Smith spew copious rounds at bad guys during A-Team episodes and missed every-fricking-time.

 

[Fulcrum]

First let me tell you that I have one (the last gen in 5.56) I added a better peep sight a sling and... That is it. I easily shoot up to 300 yards back to 100 and vise versa with no problem. I have never had any issue with it and cleaning it is easy. I live in CA and for a pragmatic guy like me this was the rifle to get over an AR15 because of the stupid fix mag or break action. Now if I were in a different state I would get something else for sure. But I am in Cali and I need a rifle I can rely on for anything that may happen. I would recommend it if you are in CA as well. I do have the wood stock which look awesome but I would recommend the plastic one so you won t be sad if you hit it against things. Here are my two cents hope that helps

I live in California too, and I got a Figjtlite SCR as a way to have a compliant "featureless" rifle. It reminds me of what you might end up with if a Mini-14 and an AR had a baby. The mini was on my short list for my first centerfire rifle, but I wanted to use it at events shooting out to 400 (maybe 600) yards, and I needed to be able to mount a scope on it easily and get everything dialed in for good, ergonomic eye alignment with the scope. For that use, I was steered away from the Mini. I think this SCR is going to work out well once I get a chance to try it out to the longer distances. I still would like to get a Mini someday for the fun and nostalgia.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

I’ve owned one of 580 and forward serial numbers where the redesigned the barrel. I love the M1A and Grand. As such, I think the mini-14 is a fantastic firearm that can still have a wooden stock. Accuracy is good enough for self defense and folks will grumble it is not accurate enough but I wasn’t looking for a target rifle. The only downside in mine (so not clear if it is a trend). It cannot make it through a 4 day rifle class without stoppages even when it has been thoroughly cleaned. This hasn’t happened once but multiple times. It can go 2 days (ca 500 rounds) but then needs a complete cleaning; I’ve tried simple partial cleaning by taking the rifle out of the stock and cleaning all the spots you can easily reach while still assemembed; I’ve tried adding more lube, etc. Nope. After 2 days which is usually 500 rounds stoppages occur. For me, that is fine for my my needs. Also, if I put it away dirty and let it sit, the Op Rod (think that what it’s called) can get stuck on where the gasses blow it back. Solution is simple in that after use I make sure that area is clean. For all of my self defense weapons I’ve spent considerable time pushing them to see what they can and can’t tolerate so I understand their reliability. If you have a mini-14 that can withstand more dirtyness I’d love to hear about it. For me, I choose the mini-14 over an AR any time of the day and would even pay more for it but I get I am an outlier in this preference.

 

[safetyfirstont]

I’ve owned one of 580 and forward serial numbers where the redesigned the barrel. I love the M1A and Grand. As such, I think the mini-14 is a fantastic firearm that can still have a wooden stock. Accuracy is good enough for self defense and folks will grumble it is not accurate enough but I wasn’t looking for a target rifle. The only downside in mine (so not clear if it is a trend). It cannot make it through a 4 day rifle class without stoppages even when it has been thoroughly cleaned. This hasn’t happened once but multiple times. It can go 2 days (ca 500 rounds) but then needs a complete cleaning; I’ve tried simple partial cleaning by taking the rifle out of the stock and cleaning all the spots you can easily reach while still assemembed; I’ve tried adding more lube, etc. Nope. After 2 days which is usually 500 rounds stoppages occur. For me, that is fine for my my needs. Also, if I put it away dirty and let it sit, the Op Rod (think that what it’s called) can get stuck on where the gasses blow it back. Solution is simple in that after use I make sure that area is clean. For all of my self defense weapons I’ve spent considerable time pushing them to see what they can and can’t tolerate so I understand their reliability. If you have a mini-14 that can withstand more dirtyness I’d love to hear about it. For me, I choose the mini-14 over an AR any time of the day and would even pay more for it but I get I am an outlier in this preference.

I support you friend lol. For my needs , mini 30 works pretty good.

 

[Trapper]

I bought a stainless ranch rifle in early 1990’s. It was 100% reliable and fun to shoot but the trigger wasn’t very good, accuracy was around 1.5” at 100 yards, and the twist rate was too slow for heavier bullets. I replaced it with a 20” 1:8” twist AR which fits my needs much better. I’m primarily a hunter and target shooter.

 

[joefrank64k]

I have one of the A-Team reissues recently offered by Ruger. Samson stock, correct barrel, even had the silver magazines. Cool looking rifle!!




I’ve got an older mini-30 that I’m not a fan of. It’s stainless with polymer furniture. It runs fine, I’m just not that into it for whatever reason. Will sell it one of these days.

 

[echo1]

I had a 180 series. An FFL offered me an as issued '54 Russian Tula SKS + 1K X39 for it 10 years ago. I took him up on the offer. PAX

 

[1029fd]

During the late '70s early '80's I was a pathetically poor college student and I wanted to buy my 1st 223/5.56 rifle. Couldnt afford a Colt AR. My uncle told me Turners Outdoorsman (the original that started them all on Long Beach Bl) had a sale on the Mini-14. I went and looked one over. It was blued, had nice walnut stock, and came with 1 five round magazine. I walked out the door with it 20 minutes later.. As i remember, it was a Series 181, sale price $139.99, so with tax ended costing me about $150 otd.

Long story short, I couldn't hit the broadside of an aircraft carrier with it and sold it a year later. It was reliable though. Fired every round (surplus military 5.56) I shot thru it without issues. The rifle was not made to be accurate and it was for the most part a truck gun. Something to have for basic defensive purposes or for dispatching the odd predator. Without a doubt it can be made more accurate but at that point you might as well invest in an AR.

 

[Tere_Hanges]

I had a 180 series. An FFL offered me an as issued '54 Russian Tula SKS + 1K X39 for it 10 years ago. I took him up on the offer. PAX

Solid trade decision.

 

[Gravel]

I really like mine. Did some easy work that helped accuracy, but it’s not a target rifle, and I’m okay with that. It’s about a 3 moa gun, plenty good for anything I need.

I still want an AR, but I’m not buying anything that needs stupid crap bolted on to be legal. My 5 year plan is to be in a free state, and first week out of CA will be a gun buying party!

 

[OmOpLaTa]

..

 

[safetyfirstont]

I really like mine. Did some easy work that helped accuracy, but it’s not a target rifle, and I’m okay with that. It’s about a 3 moa gun, plenty good for anything I need.

I still want an AR, but I’m not buying anything that needs stupid crap bolted on to be legal. My 5 year plan is to be in a free state, and first week out of CA will be a gun buying party!

Hell yeah

 

[Brandon Breeze]

Love my Mini's, even made a Shughart clone out of one of them, about as cool as it gets (IMO)

 

[Sheepdog1968]

During the late '70s early '80's I was a pathetically poor college student and I wanted to buy my 1st 223/5.56 rifle. Couldnt afford a Colt AR. My uncle told me Turners Outdoorsman (the original that started them all on Long Beach Bl) had a sale on the Mini-14. I went and looked one over. It was blued, had nice walnut stock, and came with 1 five round magazine. I walked out the door with it 20 minutes later.. As i remember, it was a Series 181, sale price $139.99, so with tax ended costing me about $150 otd.

Long story short, I couldn't hit the broadside of an aircraft carrier with it and sold it a year later. It was reliable though. Fired every round (surplus military 5.56) I shot thru it without issues. The rifle was not made to be accurate and it was for the most part a truck gun. Something to have for basic defensive purposes or for dispatching the odd predator. Without a doubt it can be made more accurate but at that point you might as well invest in an AR.

Heard a story from a firearms instructor who knew snipers who couldn’t get good groups with them so they did have problems. The 580 series and beyond fixed that issue. Been a while since I shot mine for groups (I didn’t buy it for that). I was getting with most ammo about 3 MOA. I usually shoot about 2 MOA at best (yes, I’ve shot 1 MOA but that isn’t my normal) so that rifle was about as good as I am. For a self defense weapon, I don’t need a 1 MOA rifle plus who in a self defense situation who would ever shoot that well anyway.

 

[DrewN]

Minis are just over priced now. They were a lot more attractive when they were a cheap truck gun that was fun to take to the range, and ARs were twice the price. I like them fine, but I like the .30 Carbine a whole lot better. And I have 2 custom Minis, a Target cut down and worked over by GunDoc (and styled like the old 10/22 Target because California), and an ASI -30 in 6.5 Grendel. I did get them both in the off list lowers days, but they were both a waste of money.

 

[ZeroFoxGiven]

I like the mini14 honestly, rugged, easy to handle. If Ruger was smart, they would retool to make a mini 14 that takes ARmags.

I would own one still in not for the reliance on Ruger mag patter only.

 

[ZeroFoxGiven]

Reliably innaccurate and entertaining. Does everything worse than a mid tier ar. 100000000 bonus points because a-team.

I think a lot of people overplay the (in)accuracy of a mini 14. While not tack drivers by any means, they are more than accurate enough minute of man.

 

[safetyfirstont]

(580 and above) It's accurate enough , slim / low profile , handy rifle . You don't have to queer it up to make it compliant , it's already that lol. Compared to an AR, no way nearly as customizable but you can do some things with it. Mags (ruger) aren't THAT expensive if you shop around (lanbos,cdnn) . If not AR mags, at least another (cheaper) source for mags would be great . I'm surprised mecgar or magpul hasn't come out with their own mini 14/30 mags.

 

[DrewN]

Good Mini mags would be amazing, but I guess they figure either sales won't be worth it, or maybe they just can't design them to be uber reliable. No point in a low volume product that also might ding your reputation. Ruger is 100% willfully leaving money on the table with STANAG compatibility tho. Rifle sales would FAR outstrip whatever paltry amount they earn from the proprietary magazines.

 

[KingRansom]

I have a mini 14 completely done up by ASI and a mini 30. I won't even try and get into a debate with people about whether they're good or bad, all I know is as a young kid watching BA Baracas sling that mini-14 with the folding stock and I was sold!