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Mini 14 Purchase-I have questions

C10VetC10Vet Member Posts: 16 ✭✭
edited June 2003 in Ask the Experts
Hello,

I am in the process of purchasing a Mini 14 from a friend who owns a gun store. I have a few questions though. Any input will be appreciated. It is Stainless and comes with the black synthetic stock and scope mounts. He wants $550.00 for it. Is that a decent price? Should I hammer him for "Perks" such as a flash suppressor, Bi-Pod etc. etc.? Also, I live in California. Thanks!!

Comments

  • erictheredericthered Member Posts: 244 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I do not think this is a great deal. Someone who knows the rifle better may see differently but I don't think you are getting a good deal, Just punch in the Mini 14 in the auction and see how much an identical one will draw. I just did that and it seems to not be a very good price.

    My comment concerns the rifle. I bought one because I was told it was very accurate. I wanted a rifle that would do a half inch to an inch at 100 yds, and was dissapointed to find it shot more like a wwII carbine. It had a group of several inches. I am not crazy about the rifle.
    Eric

    thats'me
  • Laredo LeftyLaredo Lefty Member Posts: 13,451 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    C10vet.... Welcome to the forum. 550 for a Mini-14 is a bit high.
    They sell here in Cal for around 450. I have a couple Mini-14's and enjoy them a lot.
    Ruger never intended them to be tack drivers, and generally will not shoot sub MOA groups.
    There are a couple places that can rebarrel and rework the triggers and make very accurate rifles out of them, but it is not cheap.
    If you live in Cal your friend cannot legally give you any high cap mags he might have with the gun.
    If he is really a "friend" he should give you a better deal
  • PRZNCOP110PRZNCOP110 Member Posts: 947 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Laredo Lefty nailed it. The Mini can be got cheaper. Being in CA, the dealer cant legally give/sell you too much as far as extras go, Defintely no Hi Caps or flash surpressors. About the best you can hope for would be ammo, maybe a scope or soft case.

    The accuracy is fair for a semi auto carbine without optics. Mine goes about 2-2 1/2 inches. But I knew that when I bought it. For sub MOA, get an AR or a bolt action varminter. Minis are just plain fun to shoot, you will be happy with it, just look around for better prices.



    "SOCIETY PREPARES THE CRIME, THE CRIMINAL COMMITS IT"
  • William81William81 Member Posts: 25,484 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Shop around a little more, the asking price is too high. I have two Mini-14's, neither are tack drivers, but with the right ammo shoot accurate enough for my needs.

    Guns only have two enemies: Rust and Liberals....
  • ItGoBangItGoBang Member Posts: 1,529 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    It sounds like your looking at a Ranch Mini 14, They are good guns. But you should find it new in the box for under $500.00. And about a a flash suppressor, Thats a BIG NO! Ask your friend in the gun shop about what you can put on the Mini thats legal or not...[:)]

    It will hurt you, More than it will hurt me..

    Life Member... N R A

    Thanks for all the help!
  • Patriots49Patriots49 Member Posts: 751 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have a mini 14 ranch rifle, synthetic stock, stainless and I love it. Paid about $500 for it. If you are looking to drive tacks with it...get a good scope and zero it in, you may be a good shot, who knows[;)]. At 100 yrds, it can be fairly accurate, but I'm told they are not an AR-15. I am purchasing a Bushmaster in 2 weeks and have a feeling I will be leaving the mini at home on my trips to the range. Good luck

    The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.
  • fort_knoxfort_knox Member Posts: 263 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'm not sure what "the market" price is on these...and that can be significant. I looked up the price on these in Blue Book and the Standard Catalog of Firearms. Going by these reference guides it doesn't sound like a great price, but you aren't being gouged necessarily if it is a NEW "Ranch Rifle"...which it sounds like it is a Ranch Rifle anyway w/the scope rings/mounts that are with it.

    Blue Book: NIB:$625, EXC:$500 )
    Standard Catalog of Firearms: 100%=$580, 98%=$470
    These are for a new "Stainless Steel Mini-14 Ranch Rifle"...it is available w/a choice of stocks...wood or synthetic.

    There is an "All Weather" version w/only the synthetic stock available. I'm not sure if there is any other distinction between this and the other Stainless Ranch where you would have a choice of stock material? Anyway, it goes for the same price.

    The standard Ranch Rifle w/a blued finish and wood stock is significantly cheaper if your not stuck on having a stainless...about a $100 less ($465-$525).

    Do shop around though...maybe walking out of the door with a new one for a little more money would be worth not dealing w/an auction, etc.

    I like these...especially the Ranch Model. The standard rear peep sight is a little bogus in my opinion (they are usable of course), but there are a ton of replacements/upgrades available for these to make it more to your liking.

    The first thing I did with mine was order some blank discs from Ruger for the rear sight and drilled the hole smaller to suit my taste. Later on I purchased a complete replacement from Brownell's...different design/more robust. The scope mounting hardware is there also...another good option.

    ***And what has been mentioned about the flash suppressor and high capacity magazines...these are BIG concerns for you if you live in California...not legal. Actually, these (at least the flash suppressor) are not legal on these that were manufactured after Sept. 94'. They come w/five round cap. magazines also, and technically, I'm not sure anything larger is legal on a post-ban unit (manufactured after Sept. 94') in any state? With all of the options and accesories available for this rifle, you need to be very careful about what you choose to put on it...especially considering where you live. The NRA web-site has laws for your state...as well as others. I'm not sure of it, but it looks like the stainless versions were not available until 1999...so if this is the case, it is definetly a post-ban unit (it is not legal w/a flash suppressor or other pre-ban style components in any state).
  • drobsdrobs Member Posts: 22,620 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Check out this out:
    http://forums.gunbroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=58322&SearchTerms=Mini,14

    In the above link, SilverBox, was able to greatly improve the accuracy of his Mini-14. Do a discussion forum search on the Mini 14, you will find alot of stuff. $550 does seem a little high, unless that is out the door tax included?

    Then again, once you figure in shipping and transfer on the GB guns you get right up to $550 pretty quick. For example:
    http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=9303290


    Regards,
    190191.gif
  • SiouxDogEaterSiouxDogEater Member Posts: 18 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I only paid $375 for mine about 3 years ago. Stainless and wood stock. No extrad though. I don't blieve you are getting a good deal at all.
    Not sure if this helps...just my own experience.

    SiouxDogEater
    Keep the dirty side down!
  • C10VetC10Vet Member Posts: 16 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Wow!!

    Thanks for all the replies guys(and maybe gals-I don't know). I really do appreciate this wealth of information. I didn't know about the flash suppressor being illegal[:I], so I'll stay clear of that. All I want this rifle for is to go varmit hunting on my friends 40 acres of Coyote riddled back country. It seems to me that the .223 is the most economical way to go. I am an Army Veteran and I do like the Bushmaster but my wallet doesn't-if you know what i mean?[;)]Well, I guess I'll go hammer my friend on the price a little and if he doesn't want to bring it down, I'll just take myself and my money somewhere else.
  • rmeyerrmeyer Member Posts: 566 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    For that rifle in Calif. a good deal would be about 500 if new in the box. You could buy 1 at auction cheaper but by the time you shell out for shipping and transfers it's not worth the hassle to maybe save 10 or 20 bucks. Sounds like the perfect rifle for what you want it for. BTW it doesn't matter how fat the wallet is you can't buy a bushmaster in California anyway.
  • C10VetC10Vet Member Posts: 16 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks rmeyer, There are ways around the Bushmaster law though. Having friends out of state pays dividends at times. I am going with the Mini 14 anyway. That and also my wife and I are just about fed up with California's B.S. taxes, fees, tolls and anything else Governor Gray Doofus can get from us. Just my .02
  • rmeyerrmeyer Member Posts: 566 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I get tired of Calif. BS laws to but to skirt them for a Bushmaster just isn't worth it.
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