Ruger Mini-14 Under Rated?

Nighthawk

This seems to be the case among those who only shoot one a couple times and never really become used to the gun.Mine has served me well I have 2 Mini-14 .223's a .222 and a Mini-30 7.62x 39.With cheap crappy mags the guns sometimed tend to studder a bit,but so does alot of Rifles.There far from target rifles but out to 200yrds I can punch holes in a T-6 target all day.Ive got several Factory Mags about 7 10 RD Mason Mags and even some junk USA Mags that may work in one but not the other.I can usually tell if the Mag is not compatible with the gun by the way it locks up.If Ruger hadnt changed the dimensions of the Mag well so many times maybe it would have swept LEA by storm as Ruger had hoped.I didnt really need them but I bought 4 40 RD PMI Mags which are supposed to be OEM for the Mini-14 for many yrs and I have heard nothing but good things about PMI Mags.Can some of you tell me how well the PMI Mags are in 40 RD configuration.Whats your opinion on the Mini-14 Rifle?

Rugster




"Toujours Pret"

gskyhawk

not an anwser to your question but i have a mini -30 setting on layaway right now , any help on what brands of mags work best and where to find them would be appreciated , going to be looking for 10 and 20 round

drobs

Had one, sold it, would not buy another, unless those factory mags were more readily available. I'd rather have an another AR or Saiga.

Regards,

TOOLS1

If you need 40 rounds. You should have been running 30 rounds ago[;)][:D]
TOOLS

General TOOLS RRG

Don't go blaming the beer. Hank Hill

So much Ice, So much Beer. So little time. Shooter4

I don't have an anger problem. I have an idiot problem. Hank Hill

When I was a child, I thought as a child. But now that I am grown, I just wish I could act like a child and get away with it.

bobski

they are underrated for a reason....i need not say more.

hughbetcha

I've got a stainless Mini-14 in .223 with a flash-hider. It has always functioned well. I've only got two mags for it, a factory 20 and aftermarket 40 round but both work pretty well. I can shoot 1.5 inch groups at 100yds using the bipod. I think the Ruger is a great rifle, and would be even better if it was produced by a company other than Ruger that would attempt to exploit its potential with more accessories, different versions etc. A friend of mine works as a guard in the Calif. prison system where Mini-14 are issued. He has fired thousands of rounds out of the rifles and he thinks there is no better rifle made ie he says he wouldnt trade it for an AR-15.

roboman

The Mini-14 is the product of Ruger designers sitting around a table and wondering aloud "In what ways could we make the M-14 design completely suck?"

---

"The light that burns twice as bright burns half as long..."

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rldowns3

The mini-14 is mediocre.

bigdaddyjunior

I've seen a few that were modified to be good rifles, but at a cost of around $750-$800. For that much you may as well get an AR.

Big Daddy my heros have always been cowboys,they still are it seems

Nighthawk

With a very small amount of upgrades such as a Muzzle Break/Flash Suppressor and good Mags its a formatable opponent.As for the Dept.of Corrections they use the Mini-14 as well from their towers and their own Police carry the Mini-14 as their carbine.The Mini-30 Mags can be found at www.cdnninvestments.com and their not very expensive.gskyHawk my Mini-30 works flawless with Western Brand(Which wont work well in my Mini-14's)and Pro Mag is a very good Mag for the Mini-30 but they are only 10RD Pro Mags floating around now.
www.fourfourmag.com has some mini-30 Mags at a good price if Im not mistaken.Plus the mini-14 cost about half as much as an AR-15 thats one advantage for someone wanting a good Rifle who cant spend $1000.00 on one.gskyhawk let us know how you like your Rifle when you get it out?And BTW they share one of the AR-15 faults,and that is they must be kept clean to function reliably.Good Luck!!

Rugster




"Toujours Pret"

boeboe

Underrated? No. If anything, overrated. I'd take an AK over a Mini-14 any time.

To err is human, to moo is bovine.

Doc Feelgood

Rugster, I will jump into this to express my views just as an owner and not as some recognized expert. First of all let me state that my Mini-14 is an old one, actually the second one that came into this town after they were introduced, so I don't profess to have a working knowledge of the later ones. The day I picked it up I went to the range and put 250 rounds through it without as much as a hiccup. Perfect functioning, and that is the way it has been ever since. I was lucky enough to acquire enough factory mags that I have never needed any others. I use 20 rounders, not 30's. Although I have a Bushmaster, The Mini-14 is my favorite of the two. I think it is a fine weapon for my needs and I will never get rid of it. I guess guns are like so many other things: thank goodness we don't all like the same thing. Have a great day.

gskyhawk

Thanks Rugster I check on those , will do on letting you know how she shoots

gap1916

Over rated or under rated when compared to what? Compared to the AR15? Compared to the SAR 1 or SAR3. Compared to What I say again. For what it was designed for it is a very good rifle. It was not designed to be an assault rifle. My 2 cents [8D]

Greg
Former Marine
A N G L I C O

2gun

i own a mini 14 and a few aftermarket mags and while i am not thrilled at its paper punching ability, it will hit a mansize target at 200yds twice in quick succession. while i would rather carry nd ar or an ak i wouldnt have a problem shtf scenario with a mini 14. the one thing i think that would make it into a truly good weapon would be a thicker barrel.

no end to the ban here in ny.wish we could our congresscritters too.

gunnut505

Mini vs. AR HMMMMmmmmmm.
ARs have little pins, springs, o-rings and sundry other small, easily lost parts.
Minis have 2; the op rod spring(over a foot long), and the bolt hold open spring(vestigial remnant of progenitor).
ARs need a pipe cleaner over a foot long to clean the gas tube, sound like somebody's bashing a 55-gallon drum(next to your head) when fired, and are persnickety when it comes to ammo (try some heavy bullets and see what I'm talking about).
Minis (at least my 3 copies) are trenchermen when it comes to feeding time, fling heavier bullets than 55 grainers more accurately, come to point more easily, and have lots of accessories (not to say that you can't hang all kinds of useless crap all over either gun), and only cost $400.
My only concession to the black rifle craze was after the DC sniper got caught, I bought a Bushie. More to help out the Mfr. than to acquire a super-deadly, evil-looking safe queen. And it cost twice what a mini would have; even on GB!

"Qui non est hodie cras minus aptus erit" --OVID

select-fire

John Garand would be proud to see his design used on the mini's

" It Ain't Over till its Over"

steve45

I owned three Mini-14 rifles over the years and liked them. If they have a fault its that they are less accurate (on average) than the AR-15 type rifles. My minis averaged 3 to 4 inch groups at 100 yds sandbagged. Since most of my shooting is tin cans at 100 yds it was possible to miss the target due to the rifle and not the shooter. Still with a 20 rd mag you could clear the hill of targets. It bothered me that about half the cans had rock schrapnel damage and not a hole. With the AR-15 this has changed. Most all of the cans have a hole in them now. I fault my AK-47 for the same reason. Very reliable, mediocre accuracy.

RUGERGUNZ

Ruger Mini's excel at what they were designed to be. A rugged, light, quick-handling, semi-auto ranch type rifle. It is designed to be abused and still keep working. I own a Mini-14, probably one of my least accurate rifles. Still not bad accuracy but not 1 moa. If I needed a quick handling fast rifle with reasonable accuracy, the Mini-14 would be it.

So I say yes, it is under-rated.





"If ever time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced Patriots to prevent its ruin." Samuel Adams

gruntled

I've had a mini-14, a Mac 90 & a SKS. I sold the Mini-14 & the Mac 90 & feel the SKS will do anything the other two will do & at far less cost.

gap1916

Looking at the .223/5.56 semi auto rifles on the market, I believe the SAR-3 is at the top of the list. Dependable, Many accesories that are inexspensive. Hi-cap mags are plentiful and will not break the bank. As accurate as the Mini 14. My 2 cents [8D]

Greg
Former Marine
A N G L I C O

Hunter375

Love my Mini-14 stainles synthetic. HAve never had a hiccup with factory ammo, couple malf's with 40 gr,. handloads. Not exactly a tack driver (best 100 yd group was 1.54") but it is plenty reliable. I think for the price, you won't beat them. AR's are great, but more than double the $$. There are also lots of ways to accurize a Mini if you desire to spend the cash.

Liberal compassion inhibits progress.........think Republican and prosper!

fishermanben

My mini-30 would be my go to rifle ahead of my AR. I don't even know what brand mags I have, but I got them for $15 at a gun shop. They jam as infrequently as my AR green followers. The gun points easily. It has minimal recoil for it's weight. It is easy and relatively cheap to accessorize and make it unique. The only downfall is that every single one needs a trigger job, but then again, most semi-automatic rifles under $500 share that quality. So yes, I would say that mini-30s are under-rated. Most people who bash them are either fanatical AR or AK fans. They get tired of arguing with eachother on who has the inferior rifle, so they bash on the minis at their first opportunity.

Ben

"The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right time, but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment."

Hangfire

I consider the Mini 14 an exceptional value. I own several and have never been disappointed as to accuracy or dependability.Use factory mags or Thermold.

Love them Pre-64's!!!!-Bob