ruger mini14
#1
Senior Member



Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Hammond, LA
Posts: 17,421

alrite i ordered my .17hmr for rat dispatch, now the last thing i want for the armory is a zombie gun
i have read a ton, and keep coming back to the mini14
i like this one

i am reading that i can safely shoot 5.56 in this rifle, is that correct?
i am also reading that this platform is slightly more forgiving than that of the AR, and MAY be less likely to be finicky if cleaning/care ever became an issue
i am not looking for 200+yd dimes with it, my eyeballs can't see that far anyway
tell me the cons vs AR15 if any
thanks!
i have read a ton, and keep coming back to the mini14
i like this one

i am reading that i can safely shoot 5.56 in this rifle, is that correct?
i am also reading that this platform is slightly more forgiving than that of the AR, and MAY be less likely to be finicky if cleaning/care ever became an issue
i am not looking for 200+yd dimes with it, my eyeballs can't see that far anyway
tell me the cons vs AR15 if any
thanks!
#5
Admirals Club 

Join Date: May 2010
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 2,447

x2 for the AR....you can easily find hundreds of part vendors online to "trick out" and AR....you can buy a budget AR and step it up for a couple of hundred bucks and make it look like a great one...I have a Rock RIver lower that I love...my next one will be from American Precision Arms though....By the way, you come off a lot cheaper "building" your own AR...just my opinion though, both are great zombie weapons
#6
Senior Member

Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Severna Park Md
Posts: 4,271

CGrand, I agree on the looks of the Mini 14 as well. love it. I actually want the more stock version myself. Im not gonna argue with the experts on accuracy.
OK so can I do a minor thread hijack? Anyone have an opinion of the little Ruger pistol that shoots the .22 LR?
OK so can I do a minor thread hijack? Anyone have an opinion of the little Ruger pistol that shoots the .22 LR?
#9
Senior Member



Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Hammond, LA
Posts: 17,421
#10
Senior Member

Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Marblehead, Ohio
Posts: 9,959

I thought about a mini 14. I asked a friend who is well connected about them. He made some inquiry's and said they are notoriously in-accurate? I'd do some googling about their accuracy before ordering one.
p.s. I stumbled across this site few days ago and it's got some appeal for me. http://www.gunblast.com/300Blackout.htm Interesting round.
I like it in this rifle http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-Q7EsIPGY8
http://www.300blktalk.com/forum/
p.s. I stumbled across this site few days ago and it's got some appeal for me. http://www.gunblast.com/300Blackout.htm Interesting round.
I like it in this rifle http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-Q7EsIPGY8
http://www.300blktalk.com/forum/
Last edited by Boataholic; 02-27-2012 at 05:16 PM.
#11
Senior Member



Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: West Carolina
Posts: 21,950

Mist, I gotta agree to disgree. My favorite rifles are my M-14's and I look at the "M"ini-"14" as nothing more than a smaller version with the same type action.

#14
Senior Member

Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: MA and ME
Posts: 16,795

Actually you can get 7.62 x 39 for about the same price if not cheaper than .223 (5.56). Georgia Arms has 1000 rds of .223 at about $350 and 7.62 x 39 is $100 for 300 rounds. Either way it's a little over 30 cents per. You can find both cheaper but be careful of steel casings and corrosive primers.
Mist, I gotta agree to disgree. My favorite rifles are my M-14's and I look at the "M"ini-"14" as nothing more than a smaller version with the same type action.
Mist, I gotta agree to disgree. My favorite rifles are my M-14's and I look at the "M"ini-"14" as nothing more than a smaller version with the same type action.


#15
Senior Member

Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: St. Augustine, Fl
Posts: 21,934

I have all three AR 15, MINI 14 and an AK
Here are the negatives in the MINI
1. at 50 to 75 yards it is OK accuracy on par with the AK BUT nothing like an AR 15.
2. A MINI is heavier than both.
3. You have many more accessories and options with an AR and probably more with an AK.
4. MINIs tend to be very tempermental about magazines... To be truely sure of function, go with factory mags, a 20 rounder, is about 25 bucks
5. I find I shoot both the AR and AK much more than the MINI
6.
I will always hang onto my MINI but it pretty much sits in the safe...
I love the MINI 14's action and it is rifle that will keep on shooting even when pretty dirty. For the money you will spend for a new one, I would spend a little more and get an AR or spend less and get an AK...
If you buy WOLF ammo which an AK is designed to shoot it is cheaper than 223 stuff..
Here are the negatives in the MINI
1. at 50 to 75 yards it is OK accuracy on par with the AK BUT nothing like an AR 15.
2. A MINI is heavier than both.
3. You have many more accessories and options with an AR and probably more with an AK.
4. MINIs tend to be very tempermental about magazines... To be truely sure of function, go with factory mags, a 20 rounder, is about 25 bucks
5. I find I shoot both the AR and AK much more than the MINI
6.
I will always hang onto my MINI but it pretty much sits in the safe...
I love the MINI 14's action and it is rifle that will keep on shooting even when pretty dirty. For the money you will spend for a new one, I would spend a little more and get an AR or spend less and get an AK...
If you buy WOLF ammo which an AK is designed to shoot it is cheaper than 223 stuff..
#17
Senior Member

Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: MA and ME
Posts: 16,795

An Armalite AR10T is what you'll find in my safe with a 24 inch stainless target barrel. I really need to get a regular barrel to shoot crap thru it. No need to tear up the good one.
#18
Senior Member

Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Saugus, Ma. USA
Posts: 11,418

Actually you can get 7.62 x 39 for about the same price if not cheaper than .223 (5.56). Georgia Arms has 1000 rds of .223 at about $350 and 7.62 x 39 is $100 for 300 rounds. Either way it's a little over 30 cents per. You can find both cheaper but be careful of steel casings and corrosive primers.
Mist, I gotta agree to disgree. My favorite rifles are my M-14's and I look at the "M"ini-"14" as nothing more than a smaller version with the same type action.
Mist, I gotta agree to disgree. My favorite rifles are my M-14's and I look at the "M"ini-"14" as nothing more than a smaller version with the same type action.

If you want a plinker get an ak 47 in 7.62x39 (roughly equivalent to a 30-30 performance wise) or for really cheap ammo get an ak 74 in 5.45x39 (their equivalent to our 5.56). 5.45 is the absolute cheapest rifle ammo by far.
#20
Senior Member



Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Hammond, LA
Posts: 17,421

ordered the marlin 17 with the scope that you posted, thanks for the tip!
i almost switched gears and got a rem 17 fireball, but damn that rifle is heavy
i'm going to swing by bass pro tonite and handle a couple of mini's and see how they fit me, alot of the complaints i see are weight-related, plus the issue with non-factory mags
i almost switched gears and got a rem 17 fireball, but damn that rifle is heavy
i'm going to swing by bass pro tonite and handle a couple of mini's and see how they fit me, alot of the complaints i see are weight-related, plus the issue with non-factory mags