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AR15 vs Mini 14

haredawgharedawg Member Posts: 54 ✭✭
edited May 2010 in Ask the Experts
If you had to choose which gun would be the more reliable,accurate,dependable,so another words which of the 2 would you take to the field and why.
Reason I ask is I plan on getting one of these 2 guns and value what you guys know/say about what to pick thanks guys
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Comments

  • sandwarriorsandwarrior Member Posts: 5,453 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    haredawg,

    The AR-15. I can make it reliable enough. Which, when it's clean, is pretty good relibility-wise. But, it far and away has the accuracy advantage over a Mini-14. A lot of times with a Mini-14 it's a guess as to whether or not you'll hit a target past 250 yds.

    Edit:

    I should say a smallish target. It's not like @ 200 you can keep 'em in the 10 ring let alone the X-ring shooting a Mini-14. I've always said they are a truck gun intended for MOC (minute of coyote) out to 200 yds. Most any decent AR will keep 'em all in the X-ring if you do your part. And, with that rifle it's easier to do your part accuracy-wise than most.
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  • ofitgofitg Member Posts: 359 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I own both, but I'm not a big fan of either one. If I had to choose which was better, I would say the AR15. In my experience, the AR15 is more reliable, and the Mini-14 is notorious for losing accuracy as the barrel heats up.

    Other considerations - the AR15 platform has been adopted by many countries for military use; as far as I know the Mini-14 has never passed acceptance tests by any military.
    Since the AR15/M16 has been so popular as a military weapon, accessories and spare parts are abundant (and probably will continue to be available for the next 100 years).
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  • carbine100carbine100 Member Posts: 3,071 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    AR hands down. Reliable, accurate, and accessories beyond the imagination. Availability of other caliber uppers make for a lot of versatility.
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  • cpermdcpermd Member Posts: 5,273 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    AR15 is the choice.

    CP
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  • dfletcherdfletcher Member Posts: 8,179 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The AR 15 is easier to shoot and more accurate in nearly any configuration. You can pretty much take any upper and mate it to any lower and it will go "bang" and shoot good groups. I have about 5 ARs and a few more uppers and only one Mini 14. The Mini 14 I have couldn't hold 5" groups at 100 yds and point of impact wandered. It went off to Accuracy Systems for some work & about 10 months and $600.00 later it shoots very, very well with a 16" stainless barrel and some other work done. Still though, I really like my Mini and would rather spend a day at the range with it than any of my ARs. I just like it better, reminds me of the modern day M1carbine.
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  • armilitearmilite Member Posts: 35,490 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    AR in 6.8 Remington more punch then a .223 on a reliable platform.
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  • sandwarriorsandwarrior Member Posts: 5,453 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by armilite1015
    AR in 6.8 Remington more punch then a .223 on a reliable platform.


    You know you can get those in a Mini now don't you?
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  • melkormelkor Member Posts: 191 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Get a M1A and skip the horrific RUGER products and ARs are great for coyote not people.
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  • beantownshootahbeantownshootah Member Posts: 12,776 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by haredawg
    If you had to choose which gun would be the more reliable,accurate,dependable,so another words which of the 2 would you take to the field and why.
    Reason I ask is I plan on getting one of these 2 guns and value what you guys know/say about what to pick thanks guys

    What "field" are you talking about?

    The "field of battle" or "field of groundhogs"?

    AR-15 is more intrinsically accurate.

    Reliable and dependable are the same thing, I think. [;)]

    I'd say the Mini-14 is probably more reliable if abused, neglected, or run in a really dirty environment. If you're never going to clean the gun or do any other maintenance, its probably a bit better. (Note that if reliability is your issue, you could also look at a .223 Saiga, which is a sporterized Russian-built AK variant).

    Another advantage of the mini-14, like the Saiga, is that it lacks some of the cosmetic features that get it banned as an "assault rifle" in different states.

    AR-15, though, has so many OTHER advantages (including numerous caliber conversions, greater availability of low-cost mags parts and other accessories, and ability to customize the platform in any way you like in terms of barrel length, contour, sighting system, trigger system, etc), that I'd have to give the nod to the AR-15.
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  • shoff14shoff14 Member Posts: 11,994 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    federal200yard77grain.jpg


    200 yards with a black gun and factory ammo. ;)
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  • tsr1965tsr1965 Member Posts: 8,682 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I will give another vote for the AR-15. Also, if you are interested in reading more on this subject, do a search, right here , as there are several threads relating to this.

    Best
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