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Ruger Mini-14

kooch 44kooch 44 Member Posts: 19 ✭✭
edited May 2007 in Ask the Experts
.223 cal "new/unfired" $300.00 .......Saw this ad in paper
today...just down the st from me........ Is this a deal????????
I know nothing about the mini-14's..................

coonass

"A man is known by the
company his mind keeps."
T.A. Aldrich
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Comments

  • kooch 44kooch 44 Member Posts: 19 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thinking about acquiring a Ruger Mini-14 with a hi cap mag before they are banned.
    Are there any particular years that are better? The early years,middle, latter years? What year were they first manufactured and are they still in production? How accurte are they at 100 yds on the target. And would I be smart to get one with a scope?
    Carried the big brother in the miltary up till 64 and loved it. Shot expert on the range. However I understand they did not hold up under battle conditions. Missed Nam by one month. The way events are occurring, Will probably need all the firepower available.
    Any answers ideas and comments will be appreciated.

    *
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  • kooch 44kooch 44 Member Posts: 19 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I am an AR guy but I am interested in picking up a mini 14. I know nothing about them so I'd like to know if there is particular series that is better than most? I have a couple Garands, and it appears they share they same style action? I seem to prefer the ranch rifle in with the stainless and wood stock, not looking for something "tactical" after all I already have ARs. Any one have an opinion or helpful input? Thanks!
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  • kooch 44kooch 44 Member Posts: 19 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hello, I have a chance to get a mini-14 ranch rifle. Just wondering what some of your thoughts were, either pro or con. Thanks for your time.

    Without the NRA, the second ammendment would already be gone!
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  • kooch 44kooch 44 Member Posts: 19 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I need to know the approximate value of a used,early mini-14. It's in excellent shape except for some storage dings on the stock. It has the early Garand type rear sight and a gold bead front sight like on 10/22's. Serial # is 180-0049X. I understand the first thousand or so were either "Bridgeport" or "Southport" models before they moved. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
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  • iwannausernameiwannausername Member Posts: 7,131
    edited November -1
    Barrels are good for about 3500 rounds of rapid fire... accuracy is pie-plate at 100 yards or so.

    I'd look at the Saiga in 223, or move up to an AR or something in 308....
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  • tsavo303tsavo303 Member Posts: 8,913 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    +1
    Nobody has every explained to me why the MINI does better than any other rifle. not much cheaper than an AR that can shoot rings around it and has mags that are 1/5 the price.
    3* more expensive than an SKS, which is more accurate prob on average
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  • nmyersnmyers Member Posts: 16,892 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Ruger continues to disclaim any relationship between the mini-14 & the M14 rifle, despite the similar appearance. There have been no problems reported with the mini-14 under battle conditions; that's because it has never been adopted by any military organization, probably because it is a sporting rifle unsuitable for combat.

    The mini-14, & it's nasty brother the AC556 full auto version, HAS been adopted by a number of PD's, but only because they weren't aware that they could get M16's from the government at nominal cost.

    With mini-14 prices now up to the $500-600 range, there is little reason to consider one, especially when you can get a really nice AR-type rifle for a little more.

    On the other hand, those of us who fired a REAL M14 in the service have only one choice: an M14-clone.

    Neal

    M1Aserial.jpg?t=1178739105
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  • rufe-snowrufe-snow Member Posts: 18,650 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Go to this forum http://www.rugerforum.com/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/rugerforum//forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&forum=Ruger+Rifles+and+Shotguns&number=4&DaysPrune=5&LastLogin=



    It's on a Ruger collectors site, with a lot of posts concerning the Mini 14

    Some folks love em, some hate them. Read all the earlier Mini posts, before geting into them. Some of the early production ones from the 70's, have issues.
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  • MossbergboogieMossbergboogie Member Posts: 12,211
    edited November -1
    Some people dis like it for its accuacy. 3in at 100 is probably the best you can get stock. of course a AR is the more accuate but then again how many mines have failure to feed or eject. AR is prone to spring failure and some are more pickey than others the ruger eats everything and keeps on a ticking. Wolf steel cases is somthing you dont have to worry about in a mini. Not a match rifle. even the targets are not impressive but they are a fun little gun.
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  • gotstolefromgotstolefrom Member Posts: 1,479 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Most people who have them are not really thrilled with them, but keep them anyway.

    If I had it to do over, and wanted to stay with the same round, I would save a bit more coin and buy an AR.

    I'm not really thrilled with the round, but I am keeping the Mini-14 because I've got a wad of ammo ...go figure.

    What am I doing now ? Converting some safe space into cash to buy an M14 clone.
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  • rawhide54rawhide54 Member Posts: 432 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Unlike many others, I've had little trouble with mine. I've got an older one I bought in 1983. It shot way too far to the left when I got it so I sent it back to Ruger. They recrowned the barrel and it shot center from then on. Another thing I did that really tightened up the groups was to add a Ram-Line hooded rear sight aperture with an opening half the size of the factory sight. I've never had a scope on mine so I can't speak to accuracy beyond open sights but mine has hit where I wanted it to at 100 yards. The older ones have an adjustable rear sight somewhat similar to those on a Garand, where the newer ones have a poor open sight system. I'm not dissatisfied with mine but then I only paid $265 for it at the PX years ago. I'd never pay what they want for the new ones with what I consider to be worse sights.
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  • dfletcherdfletcher Member Posts: 8,179 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Since we're talking iron sights, on my Mini 14 I added a Williams adjustable rear with a very small peep and a globe front sight. Actually, I mounted the Eagle HK flashider, removed their plain post & inserted a Redfield round post. Much better sighting system than the factory.
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  • PC800PC800 Member Posts: 1,650 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I had one when I lived in AZ, made a nice horse back rifle. It shot minute-of-coyote just fine. Try to get an Ar-15 into a saddle scabbard! LOL
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  • ltslts Member Posts: 811 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    You might as well get one and enjoy it for what it is, a great all around shooter. I've 2 14's and a 30 ranch. Other than heating up the barrels, all I 'added' were Choate butt pads and front sight/hider combos that have the guards so the sight picture is the same as my AR's. Too bad the 'XGI' never made it to production as a 308 'mini' would have been a real hoot!
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  • deerhntrdeerhntr Member Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    the most current production ruger ranch rifles are not like the old ones, they did improve the accuracy. My current production ranch rifle does an inch and a half at 100 meters with the load it likes.
    everyone that i spoke to that owns the new ones report a major increase in accuracy over the old ones. If you live in an area where the Ar-15 is legal i would spend the few extra bucks and get one instead just for the fact that spare parts and mags are much cheaper and easy to find. the mini is a good choice but get a current production one!
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  • RugersforMeRugersforMe Member Posts: 25 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I own two MINI-14's . One is a stainless steel (not ranch rifle) and the other is a blued Ranch rifle.
    The stainless steel rifle will shoot 1.5" groups at 100 yds while the blued ranch won't do any better than 5 or 6 " at 100. Go figure.
    Neither have had any custom mods done to them-completely stock.

    I love to shoot them and they are totally reliable and will shoot ANY AMMO I feed them!!!!!!!!!

    If a SHTF situation ever arrives, it will be my stainless steel MINI-14 that I will relie on!!!!!!!!!

    One word of advice. While most MINI's will function well with MOST MAGAZINES, it is sorta hit and miss. I say invest the extra coin and buy Ruger factory 20 round mags!!!!!!!! They are worth it in the long run.

    Jeff
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