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Mini 14

CaptplaidCaptplaid Member Posts: 20,298 ✭✭✭
edited October 2012 in General Discussion
I realize this has been beaten to death but . . .my son bought an 18" SS brl., Ser#185-087-- that he thinks is a 1985? Correct? I know nothing about this fire arm. Is this considered a "Ranch" model? From previous posts I guess he shouldn't expect much better than a 3" group at 100Yds.? Kinda of a neat little firearm however. I opened the bolt to scope out the barrel. How is the bolt now released?! No comments[:D] Thanks for the replys.

Comments

  • CaptplaidCaptplaid Member Posts: 20,298 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    has anyone seen or does any one have a KMINI 14/5T stainless target model laminate stock,adjustable harmonic dampner i have a fellow who wants one
  • CaptplaidCaptplaid Member Posts: 20,298 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Dang! Wish I had the dough to go get this right now. It's at my local pawn shop! Nice looking stainless mini 14! Must resist the temptation![:D]

    http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=28775615

    heat1.jpg
  • CaptplaidCaptplaid Member Posts: 20,298 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I've been thinking about getting a mini 14 but i wanted to ask people about them first. Should i spend the $$$? I recently bought an AR-15 and i thought it sucked so i don't want to spend another big chunk of money on something that sucks and have to worry about selling it and taking a hit on the sale price
  • CaptplaidCaptplaid Member Posts: 20,298 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Are the newer ones any good?
  • CaptplaidCaptplaid Member Posts: 20,298 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Did Ruger ever make newer ones that are capable of shooting straight?

    What about trigger pull? Need a small atv and a rope to pull these triggers?
  • armilitearmilite Member Posts: 35,490 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Yes they redesigned a few things on them but they cost a lot more as well.
  • GuvamintCheeseGuvamintCheese Member Posts: 38,932
    edited November -1
    They have the tolerances of an AK.
  • MudderChuckMudderChuck Member Posts: 4,105
    edited November -1
    I always managed to shoot three inch groups at a hundred yards. My red dot is about 4 MOA, which may have something to do with it. I always thought with a good six power scope I could get two inch groups at a hundred yards.
    I use mine as a truck gun, when I see a Fox, I stop, jump out and take a shot or two. I've gotten pretty good at it , I hit way more than I miss.
  • Laredo LeftyLaredo Lefty Member Posts: 13,451 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by MudderChuck
    I always managed to shoot three inch groups at a hundred yards. My red dot is about 4 MOA, which may have something to do with it. I always thought with a good six power scope I could get two inch groups at a hundred yards.
    I use mine as a truck gun, when I see a Fox, I stop, jump out and take a shot or two. I've gotten pretty good at it , I hit way more than I miss.



    Exactly. Mini 14's make good home defense and truck guns, but not match guns. Ruger never intended to make them shoot sub-moa groups. They make a dependable, reasonably accurate ( hit a man at 200yds ) gun that doesn't cost a fortune.

    The newer guns that have the adjustable BOSS type system on the muzzle can be adjusted to match your bullet to the barrels harmonics and greatly reduce group size.
  • nordnord Member Posts: 6,106
    edited November -1
    A 12 oz. soda can is toast at 100 yards. That's with iron sights using a porch rail as a rest. This with an older Mini. Considering that the Mini has a light barrel and is/was intended to be able to place a good number of rounds on target reliably, I fail to understand why the bad rap some give Ruger. After all is said and done the Mini will deliver exactly what it was intended for time after time without the slightest problem.

    Oh... The Mini is not a bolt action target rifle! It's a utility rifle designed for an entirely different market and purpose. Not a bad thing at all!
  • fastcarsgofastfastcarsgofast Member Posts: 7,179
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by nord
    A 12 oz. soda can is toast at 100 yards. That's with iron sights using a porch rail as a rest. This with an older Mini. Considering that the Mini has a light barrel and is/was intended to be able to place a good number of rounds on target reliably, I fail to understand why the bad rap some give Ruger. After all is said and done the Mini will deliver exactly what it was intended for time after time without the slightest problem.

    Oh... The Mini is not a bolt action target rifle! It's a utility rifle designed for an entirely different market and purpose. Not a bad thing at all!

    Right on the nose.

    They are great rifles. I've owned several over the yeas and would not part wiht the ones that I have now.
  • JunkballerJunkballer Member Posts: 9,298 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by nord
    I fail to understand why the bad rap some give Ruger.
    I think if you ever shot mine you'd have a change of opinion but I will say it goes bang everytime the trigger is pulled. The noise/loudness certainly makes a good deterent against an approaching enemy [;)]

    "Never do wrong to make a friend----or to keep one".....Robert E. Lee

  • yoshmysteryoshmyster Member Posts: 21,996 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    "that doesn't cost a fortune"? I don't know about that. I mean out of the box new is crazy prices. $700/$800?
  • dreherdreher Member Posts: 8,891 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have had two over the years. I have had my currant Mini at least 20 years, maybe 25 years. Shoots a little less than 2" at 100 yds. It goes BANG everytime I pull the trigger, no jams.

    Fun to play with and it can fill in as a SHTF rifle. In a SHTF scenario I wouldn't have a shot over 100 to 150 yards because of the way the land lays. Even 4" to 6" at 150 yards is still very angle of man. What's not to like??
  • SWAT 50SWAT 50 Member Posts: 4,074 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    It' not a Match M14.

    If you don't like them Don't buy one , simple really.[:0]
  • jeffb1911jeffb1911 Member Posts: 2,113 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The new ones are much more accurate than the older ones. And factory 30 round mags are being made again. i can consistently hit the 14" gong at 300 yards at the range with irons. Figure that is accurate enough, especially with just irons.
  • Riomouse911Riomouse911 Member Posts: 3,492 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have an older Mini 14 and Mini 30. Both are good guns for what they were designed for (as stated earlier) reliable knock-around guns for ranch use or anti-personnel use if called for.

    I threw a camo synthetic stock on the 14, it's good for ATV afternoons when I do not want to thrash one of my more pricier AR's. I kept the 30 in the wood stock it came in. Neither will win a match...but based on my performances in the last few contests I entered it's probably due as much the operator as the gun [xx(]
  • Horse Plains DrifterHorse Plains Drifter Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 40,188 ***** Forums Admin
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by SWAT 50
    It' not a Match M14.

    If you don't like them Don't buy one , simple really.[:0]
    Exactly. They may not be the most accurate thing in this world, but they sure do not have the failure to feed/exract or crap where you eat issues that the AR styles forged their reputation on.
  • CaptplaidCaptplaid Member Posts: 20,298 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Big R had it for about 695 with scope rings. COmposite stock. stainless.
  • papernickerpapernicker Member Posts: 1,371 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have a homemade strut contraption with an attached BSA Red dot on it. Its no beauty but 100% reliable and shoots from 5/8" to around 1 1/2" at 50 yds, all in a circle with no flyers. Hot or cold barrel. I want to try with the scope that used to get me 1'(foot)groups, without the strut but I figure why bother and I don't want to mess with the red dot. I did bed the action thou, also.
  • SawzSawz Member Posts: 6,049
    edited November -1
    I dont know what you guys are talking about I was picking blackbirds off the top of cattails at 75 yards all summer one year where I was working out of town. That was with the peep sites, I never grouped it but it was performing just fine for what I had it for. Ive never considered semi auto as a gun to bench rest with anyway
  • MrM1A1MrM1A1 Member Posts: 2,764 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    You can get 2"-4" groups at 100yds consistently with a Mini. Interesting to note that our very own US military standard issue M16's and M4's are expected to have the same accuracy at that range, which is considered sufficient by our military.

    Like others have said, it's not a match rifle, it was and is intended for shooting live targets, and it is more than sufficient for that application.

    I love my GBF, wouldn't sell it for twice it's value.
  • burpfireburpfire Member Posts: 1,158 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    i always have to laugh when this topic comes up. does the gun even look like it is meant for group shooting? it was made to go out in the country and plink, or as a ranchers gun. if you want or need more than a 3 inch group, you have the wrong gun. i will say that the mini 14 has to be one of the most reliable guns ever made. owned many, including an ac556, and NEVER a jam out of any of them.
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